Chapter 9
Nelly
I shriek as I slip while putting on my robe after getting out of the shower.
Ethan suddenly bursts into the bathroom and breaks my fall by grabbing my wrist and pulling me towards him. The force of his pull makes him lose his balance, and we both topple to the ground, me on top of him.
My head lands on his chest, and he groans. He must have hit his head on the ground. “Oh my … Ethan, are you alright?”
I scramble to my feet, pulling him up with me as he whimpers and opens his eyes. “Are you okay? Did you hurt your head?”
“I’m fine, I think … I just …” He trails off when his eyes land on mine, then drifts down my body. I realize my robe is slightly open, so I quickly tug it close.
“I’m sorry, I … I didn’t mean to … I came in to check on you, heard you shriek, and acted out of impulse.”
“It’s fine, I’m fine … Your impulse was quick enough to save me before I hit the ground.”
Heat warms my cheeks and the side of my face while I keep my hands on the robe’s sash. Every part of me is aware of Ethan’s breath and the tension ebbing from his shoulders.
“I’m really sorry, Nelly,” he says when I carefully walk out of the bathroom, hoping I won’t slip and break my neck this time.
The awkward silence in the air thickens when I glance at Ethan again. His gaze lingers on mine. Neither of us says anything, and then we speak at the same time. “Hey, I was just—”
“You first,” I say, waving a hand towards him.
“I came in to say thank you for dinner,” he says after I suck in a deep breath. “I shouldn’t have snapped at you earlier, Nelly. I was just feeling a little bit …”
He sighs, then shakes his head before taking a step towards me. Instinctively, I move back an inch. He towers over me, and I have to look up at him to meet his gaze.
Ethan has been in my life since he and my brother became friends in college. I’ve liked him for years, and I’m finally past all the feelings he stirs up inside me.
So why do I feel this way when he looks at me?
It’s hard to ignore the dizziness sweeping through me. When he is this close to me, I can ely breathe.
How did I think I could handle being married to him and living in the same house?
Panic builds in my chest, but I ignore it, tearing my gaze from his.
“We’ll get used to it and find our rhythm. Don’t worry.” I crack a smile, hoping that would lighten the mood, but Ethan’s gaze only grows more intense.
“Ethan…”
“I’m used to eating alone,” he blurts out before I can say a word. “I know it sounds crazy to you, but it’s the truth. I live in this big house alone. I do everything alone, and even though it seems like I have people—You, Tom, Grandpops—sometimes it still feels like I’m alone, and I’m used to that.”
“You’re not alone,” I interrupt, moving closer to him again. The magnetic pull is undeniable, and there’s no fighting it at that moment. The need to be close to him is greater than ever and I give into it, reaching out to touch his arm and stroke it gently.
He’s still wearing his suit, and it’s a bit damp from his fall in the bathroom, but none of that matters.
He lowers his head, and I scan his expression, taking in the flush on his cheeks. “Thank you, Nelly. For doing this whole fake marriage with me, and for trying to make me feel better.”
“It killed you to say those words to me just now, didn’t it?” I tease with a light laugh, relaxing a little when he laughs with me. “You’ve never been one to apologize.”
“Don’t make it sound like I’m a jerk,” he counters with more laughter, and I tip my head back to let the mirth roll free before sniffing.
“You’re not a jerk. You’re just …” I pause and twist my fingers together before sighing. “You’re just you, Ethan.”
“Yeah,” he dips his hands into his pants pockets. “Just don’t go around doing stuff that’ll make it weirder for us than it already is. I don’t expect you to be here when I get back or make me dinner or breakfast. I don’t expect you to do anything more than what you’ve already done, Nelly.”
I nod in response, and his eyes sweep over me again, and he tilts his head to one side as a smile lifts the corners of his lips.
“Right.” The weight of his words makes my heart sink a little. “I understand perfectly.”
It takes another moment before he backs away. “Goodnight.”
Once he’s out of my bedroom, my knees give way, and I drop onto my bed, scared that my heart will explode from the intensity of its racing. My cheeks burn hot scarlet, and I spread my arms out before taking a deep breath.
Ethan is one hundred percent right. I don’t owe him anything, and I shouldn’t worry about taking care of him. When I woke up this morning and found his fridge empty with only a jar of coffee beans and skimmed milk, I decided to make the place a bit cozier for us.
I went shopping, stocked up the entire house, and prepared dinner because it felt like the right thing to do.
But that doesn’t matter.
The more distance between Ethan and me, the better. I should focus on my company now and the merger, nothing else.
Definitely not these feelings he stirs inside me.
***
Tom is pacing my office when I get there the next afternoon. He’s been in L.A. the entire week with his wife, Robyn, and I still haven’t had the chance to have dinner with them because playing the part of Ethan’s fake wife keeps me occupied.
We spent the previous evening at a charity function my parents had always partnered with. I haven’t made many public appearances in the months following the accident because of the media craze, but this was the perfect chance to make a statement.
Show that Ethan and I are happy as a couple and still going strong, regardless of what the world might think.
I’ve read a few of the social media comments on our posts, and many don’t believe Ethan’s capable of staying in a marriage. The media’s wild opinions have never been much of a concern to me, anyway.
Right now, Tom’s urgent message to meet him is pressing on my mind.
“You okay?” I ask, after closing the door behind me as he takes off his suit and dumps it on the chair facing mine. “I just got an update on the settlement for the air crash victims.”
“We've been working on that settlement for months, and the amount they're asking for is outrageous. We can't afford to pay it right now, but if we don't, the consequences could be severe. An engine failure caused the crash, and as the manufacturers, we bear the responsibility. I plan to pay the settlement, no matter what it takes.”
Tom is quiet while I explain, and when I turn around to look at him again, he's pale. “Is there a problem? Did something happen with the settlement?”
“No,” he sighs and adjusts his tie. “Ethan came to see me today. He offered to pay the settlement on your behalf, out of his own pocket.”
“What?” The wind is knocked out of my chest and I feel a little faint. “Why would he do that?” I brush a lock of hair out of my face and my head spins for a moment.
What is he thinking? It will cost a fortune for Ethan to pay off the settlement, and we’ve not even merged yet. My mind churns with a relentless chain of worrisome thoughts.
“He’ll come and talk to you about it, but he wanted me to convince you to let him do this.”
“But I can’t …” I stutter. “I mean, his board of directors might not even agree to a merger and now he’s going to spend millions of his own money?”
A knock interrupts our conversation, and the door swings open before I can answer. Ethan walks in with his phone pressed to his ear, but he ends the call immediately.
“What are you thinking?” I ask. “Tom told me about today. You plan to pay the settlement?”
“Someone has to,” he answers with a shrug. “You want to save your company? This is the only way, Nelly. I knew you’d be like this, and that's why I went to Tom first.”
“Ethan, there might be another way. I’ve been able to discuss a loan with a close friend of my parents before they died and they’re willing to…”
“And enter into more debt? Nelly, come on, that's not what you want. We need to make the merger happen and my board won’t agree to it with all the risk it poses. This way I eliminate the risk. It’s a good business decision.”
His words make perfect sense, and they settle in even though every part wishes there’s another way.
He’s sacrificing so much already, and I don’t know how I’ll ever repay him.
Ethan looks from me to Tom. “The settlement would bankrupt you, and it would affect me too once we merge. I can’t let that happen. Back me up here, Tom.”
“Ethan’s right,” Tom chirps in. “We can’t bear the burden of this debt alone, Nelly. If we decide to take a loan, then …”
“A loan isn’t an option,” Ethan cuts in. “I won’t advise it. Not when you have my offer as an option. I’m willing to do this, Tom … Let me do this.”
Dead silence envelops the room for a moment and I close my eyes for a bit, my head pounding. It’s hard enough dealing with my guilt at failing my parents and nearly costing them their company, but knowing Ethan’s sacrificing his trust fund for me too is enough to make warmth radiate through me.
“Can you give us a moment?” I say to Tom, my voice trembling.
Tom only nods before exiting my office. I walk to Ethan and take his hands without thinking. Ethan has always been there for me in many ways. Over the last five years, I buried memories of his selflessness aside to help me get over him, but now they rush to the surface, filling my heart.
All the times he flew from Boston to come to see me in school because I was sick. He’s always there, looking out for me, and at this moment, I can’t muster up any words as tears fill my eyes.
“You don’t have to do this, Ethan.”
“I want to do this,” he insists. “This company means everything to you. You’ve always talked about making your parents proud, expanding their company, running it … This is your dream, Nelly. I’d do anything to make sure you have that.”
His eyes soften on mine, and I swallow hard to push down the lump in my throat. “Then make it a loan, Ethan. I can’t let you make this sacrifice.”
“You don’t have to do that, Nelly.” He moves one hand to my cheek and touches me gently. “I can’t let you do that, especially since we’re married. Even if it’s a fake marriage, it’s not right.”
“Okay, then an investment. Ethan … Let me feel less helpless by repaying your kindness. If it’s an investment, then you make money from it too. The accountants and lawyers can figure out the split, and how many shares you’ll get from the merger.”
He finally nods, and I allow myself to lean closer to him slightly so I can press a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you. This means everything to me.”
I pull back after my words, but his hands slide around my waist slowly and he keeps me in his embrace. It’s a tempting moment when his eyes drift to my lips, we both spring apart like we’ve been burned.
“I would do anything for you,” Ethan whispers. “You should never forget that.”
My heightened senses become remarkably aware of him. His scent, his warm breath. Ethan’s intense eye contact is unnerving too. I completely forget every decision I’ve made to not let him sway me ever again.
“The real work starts now, love,” he trails a hand down to my chin before toying with some strands of my hair. “Once we sign the merger documents, I will introduce you to the board of directors.”
“I’m ready,” I announce after releasing a shuddery breath. “I’ll never forget this Ethan, ever.”
Ethan looks like he’s about to say more, and the solemn look on his face lingers before he nods. “You’re welcome.”
Ethan leaves a moment later, and Tom comes in again.
“We’re letting him do this?” he asks.
“Yes,” I nod. “But only as an investment. I can’t take it for free, Tom. He’s given so much already.”
“He has,” Tom agrees. I spend the rest of the afternoon with my brother, and my mind kept wandering back to Ethan and the look in his eyes when I pulled back from our hug.
I dare to think of it as desire and longing. The only problem is with Ethan’s track record.
I can’t fall for it this time.
There’s the chance that he looks at a dozen other women the same way.