I didn’t go back to work after trying to run away from the paparazzi. Instead, I ran back to the house…to Leo’s house, and slammed the door shut behind me. I was panting and anxious. When I looked out through the window, I saw that there were men with cameras across the road. They were waiting for me to step out again.

Overwhelmed with emotion, I rushed to the bedroom where all my things were. I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed to go. I couldn’t live this lie. I started stuffing my bags with my things and packing up. It was going to take me a while. I had moved to this house with all my belongings and my whole world.

It could have been an hour or even two hours later that I heard the front door open. My first thought was that it was one of the cameramen who had found a way to get in the house.

“Jessie?” I heard Leo’s voice, and then he was at the bedroom door. “Did you notice the cameras? I chased them…” he was speaking but then his eyes fell on the bags that were lying packed in the room.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

I’d hoped that I could leave without seeing him. In fact, I wasn’t expecting Leo to return to the house till several hours later. I figured that by then I could be on a plan to Hawaii or Puerto Rico or wherever else I could get a ticket for.

“I’m leaving. I’m not going to be able to do this anymore.” I replied, meeting his eyes.

I was expecting a fight. I thought Leo was going to lose his calm, but instead; he just stood there, looking at me with his head tilted to one side.

“Okay.” he said.

“Okay?” I spluttered.

“I was just coming home to tell you that I spoke to my uncle and everything is back on track. He’s giving me the company. So, you’re free to go.”

It felt like the wind was knocked out of me.

So, it was over for real. I didn’t need to make a scene. Leo was done with me, and now he wasn’t going to stand in my way.

“Congratulations.” I told him, in a meek voice. I was genuinely happy for him. This was all he wanted since I’d known him, and now it was coming true.

The fact that I was having my heart broken was of no consequence to him.

“Where are you going to go?” he asked and I cast my eyes down to my feet. I couldn’t look at him anymore.

“To the airport, and I don’t know where from there. Somewhere away from New York.”

“How long will you be gone? When can I expect you back?” he asked.

“I don’t know.”

Leo stepped towards me, and I could see there was a change in his eyes.

“Jessie, I’m going to miss you. I’ll miss being married to you.” he said. The closer he came to me, the tighter my chest felt. I wished he’d kept his distance because he was making this very hard for me now.

“We weren’t really married to each other, Leo!” I snapped.

“I don’t know what marriage is supposed to feel like if this isn’t it. I enjoyed being with you, in this house, having you around, coming home to you.”

My lips quivered as I stared at him in silence and shock. I couldn’t tell if he was just saying these things because he was grateful or if he meant something else.

“I liked it too.” I said weakly. I didn’t want to overstep my boundaries, but Leo did. He reached for my hand and lifted it up to his lips and kissed my fingers.

“Is it wrong of me that I don’t want you to go?” he asked. My shoulders heaved with emotion, my nostrils were flared. If he was just teasing me, he was being very cruel.

“Why don’t you want me to go? You got what you wanted. It’s over now.”

“Because I’m in love with you, Jessie. I always have been. I should have told you sooner so you could make your decision accordingly, but I never acknowledged it to myself either. Not until I realized how amazing it is to be married to you.”

My mouth fell open. This couldn’t really be happening. Did Leo Cormack just admit he had feelings for me?

“Jessie, say something, please.” he said, letting go of my hand. My words were caught in my throat. I couldn’t get them out without breaking into a million tears.

“I…I love you too.” I finally managed.

Leo looked surprised as well, but then he pulled me into his arms, wrapping them tightly around my waist.

“Are you serious, Jess?” he asked, and I nodded. He kissed me, tenderly at first and then roughly, biting my lip and exploring my mouth.

By the time we parted, we were both breathless and panting for air.

“This is insane!” he exclaimed, and we laughed…a sort of nervous, excited giggle. It didn’t feel real.

“I didn’t tell you because I didn’t think you felt the same way!” I said.

Leo lifted me up in his arms and spun me around.

“I’ve felt this way since college, Jess. I’m crazy about you, and I hate every guy who has ever touched you.”

“Can you imagine how I feel about all those supermodels you kept dating?” I asked with a laugh, and he was smiling too.

“They mean nothing to me, Jess. Every other woman I’ve been with has been because I tried to forget you. For ten years, you’ve always been the one.”

His words were ringing in my ears, and I felt like I was in a daze, floating on clouds as he held me in his arms.

Nothing else mattered now but him. And the fact that we could finally be together; truly and completely. No more lies.