Fall From Grace

“Is she okay?” I ask because I hate the guilt inside of me for hurting her. Even though she hurt me too.

Chelsi shakes her head. “No, she’s not. She’s a mess. You know I’ve never seen her like this after a breakup. All those times she leaned on Owen when she was sad, but she’s devastated this time.” She looks at me with sorrow in her eyes. “Shit, I shouldn’t have told you that because now I am sure you just feel worse.”

My heart breaks at her words, and I drop my head to my chest. My own tears fighting to come forward. I never wanted her to feel this pain. This deep agonizing twisting pain that I feel in my soul.

“She isn’t going to publish the article, Carson. So your job is safe.”

I growl as I look at Chelsi. “I don’t give a shit about my job.”

She raises a brow at me.

And then it hits me. “Wait, why isn’t she going to publish the article?”

“Because she doesn’t want to destroy you. Just the idea of it happening is already destroying her.”

“Where is she?”

“Not here.”

“Can you tell me where she went?”

“I love you like a brother, Carson, but no, I won’t tell you where she is.”

“Can you do something for me then?” I plead.

“I don’t like that look on your face. It’s the same one you have in the courtroom.”

“Please, Chelsi.”

She sighs. “What is it?”

“Can you grab me her computer?”

A look of shock hits her face, and she takes a step back. “I care about you, Carson, but she’s my sister-in-law. I won’t let you delete that article.”

“I’m not asking for that reason. You said yourself she is thinking about not publishing it. But I can’t let her do that. This is her livelihood, and she is a damn good journalist. I won’t let her destroy her future over a man who doesn’t deserve one.”

“Carson, you deserve—”

I hold my hand up. “Please, Chelsi. This is the last favor I will ever ask of you.”

“I sure hope it’s not,” she says. “I don’t know if she took it with her. She was going to—I don’t think she did.”

The screen door slams shut as Chelsi heads into the house. I try not to think about what Chelsi was going to say. I have no idea if I want to know. I run to my car and grab a jump drive. Then head inside. I wait patiently at the table until I hear her coming up the stairs. I breathe a sigh of relief when I see the laptop in her hand.

“What are you going to do?” she asks me as she hesitantly sets the computer down in front of me.

“The right thing. The moral thing.”

“Are you sure about whatever it is you have planned?”

I nod. “More sure of this than anything.”

* * *

“Mr. Taylor, I am very much appreciative you sent this to me. But you know what the implications are? You know what will happen to you?”

“I know,” I say into the phone.