Chapter 47 Forty Seven
The conference room smelled faintly of polished wood and brewed coffee.
Antonia noticed everything, too much, too sharply, because nerves had turned her senses into overdrive.
She sat stiffly in one of the leather chairs, her back straight, hands folded tightly in her lap.
Beside her sat Austin.
Calm. Composed. Almost deceptively so.
Antonia still couldn’t believe she was here.
She had replayed the moment she said yes a hundred times in her mind. The hesitation. The warning bells. Helen’s voice echoing in her head—Don’t do it, Antonia.
But Austin had looked at her with so much hope. So much relief. And she had been tired of always being the woman who said no, who walked away, who left people stranded with their disappointment.
Saying no to him had felt cruel.
Saying yes felt terrifying.
Her gaze drifted around the room again, then back to the door. This will be quick, she told herself. In and out. Smile. Answer a few questions. Leave.
That was the plan.
Austin shifted slightly beside her, his knee brushing hers. She inhaled sharply, then forced herself to relax.
“You okay?” he whispered.
She nodded, though it was a lie. “Just… still wrapping my head around this.”
He reached for her hand then slowly, carefully, as if giving her time to pull away.
She didn’t.
His fingers laced gently with hers, warm and grounding, and he squeezed lightly. Not possessive. Not demanding. Just grateful.
“Thank you,” he murmured. “For being here. I know this isn’t easy.”
She swallowed. “You owe me a lifetime supply of pastries for this.”
He smiled faintly. “Deal.”
Her heart thudded painfully against her ribs.
This closeness, this intimacy, felt dangerous. Too natural. Too convincing.
Focus, she told herself. This is just an act.
The faint creak of the door cut through her thoughts.
Antonia’s spine stiffened.
Austin straightened beside her, releasing her hand but keeping it close enough that she could still feel his presence.
The door opened wider.
The HR Manager stepped in first, tablet tucked under her arm, expression professional and unreadable. She glanced at Austin and Antonia, offering a polite nod.
“Good morning,” she said.
“Good morning,” Austin replied smoothly.
Antonia echoed the greeting a half-second later, her voice softer.
Then someone else walked in behind the HR Manager.
Antonia’s breath caught.
Her heart stuttered, once, twice, then began to race wildly.
Priscillia Walton.
She knew that face.
She knew that posture. That elegant composure. That calm authority that filled a room without effort.
Her mind screamed no even as her eyes refused to look away.
This couldn’t be happening.
The owner of the restaurant.
The CEO.
Kennedy’s mother.
The world seemed to tilt on its axis.
Antonia’s fingers curled instinctively, nails biting into her palm as Priscillia lifted her gaze, and their eyes met.
Recognition flared instantly.
Antonia saw it.
The slight pause. The subtle narrowing of Priscillia’s eyes. The flicker of surprise she tried, and failed to mask.
This was not just bad luck.
This was catastrophic.
Priscillia recovered first.
She schooled her expression into polite neutrality and continued walking into the room, taking the seat at the head of the table with practiced grace.
The HR Manager followed, settling beside her.
Austin glanced at Antonia, sensing the sudden tension in her body. “Antonia?” he murmured under his breath.
She didn’t respond.
Her chest felt tight, like the air had been sucked out of the room.
Of all the restaurants. Of all the CEOs. Of all the places in this city…
Her mind raced ahead, imagining the unraveling that was about to happen. Questions. Recognition. Judgment.
Kennedy.
Had Priscillia mentioned this interview to him? Would he walk in any second?
Her stomach churned violently.
Priscillia folded her hands on the table and looked directly at Austin. “Mr. Austin,” she said calmly. “Thank you for coming.”
“Thank you for having us, ma’am,” Austin replied, confident and respectful.
Us.
Antonia flinched inwardly.
“And this must be your fiancée,” Priscillia continued, turning her attention to Antonia again.
Antonia felt exposed under that gaze.
“Yes,” Austin said, smiling as he reached for Antonia’s hand again, firmer this time. “This is Antonia.”
Priscillia’s eyes remained on Antonia for a long moment too long.
“Antonia,” she repeated slowly, as though tasting the name.
Antonia forced herself to breathe. To smile. To nod politely.
“Ma'am,” she said, her voice miraculously steady despite the storm raging inside her. “It’s… nice to meet you.”
The lie burned.
Priscillia tilted her head slightly. “Likewise.”
But the warmth didn’t reach her eyes.
The HR Manager cleared her throat, sensing the tension but not understanding it. “As you know, this meeting is simply to verify the information provided during Mr. Austin’s interview.”
“Of course,” Priscillia said smoothly. “We value transparency here.”
Her gaze flicked briefly to Austin, then back to Antonia.
“And honesty,” she added.
Antonia’s pulse thundered.
Austin squeezed her hand again, unaware of the history sitting across from them.
“How long have you two been engaged?” Priscillia asked.
The question landed like a loaded weapon.
Antonia’s mind went blank.
Austin answered quickly. “Six months.”
Six months.
Antonia nodded, swallowing hard. “Yes.”
Priscillia studied her intently. “And the wedding date?”
“We’re still finalizing details,” Austin replied. “But we’re hoping it to be after she gives birth.”
Priscilla's gaze shifts from Antonia's face to her stomach.
Antonia felt dizzy.
Priscillia leaned back slightly in her chair. “I see.”
The silence that followed was thick, heavy, layered with unspoken things.
Antonia could almost hear her own heartbeat.
This wasn’t just an interview anymore.
This was a collision.
Past and present slamming into each other with no warning.
She could feel it—Priscillia was connecting the dots.
The woman her son had introduced to her months ago as his fiancee.
The woman, now seated here, engaged to another man.
Antonia’s throat tightened painfully.
She wanted to run.
To stand up, apologize, and flee before the truth tore its way out of her mouth.
But Austin’s hand was warm in hers.
Trusting.
Believing.
And she had already stepped too far into this to retreat without destroying him.
Priscillia finally spoke again, her tone unreadable. “Mr. Austin, you know we specifically stated that only married people are eligible for this job position”
Austin blinked. “I know...”
“The only reason we're considering making this exception is because I was impressed by your resume, and also because you're engaged to be married soon.” Priscillia continued calmly.
Antonia’s breath hitched.
Austin nodded.
"My son will join us momentarily," she added. "He’ll be bringing the portfolio you'll be handling henceforth."
Antonia’s eyes sprang wide open.
Kennedy Walton was coming.