Chapter 12
Icrack my knuckles as I stare at the screen of my computer; it’s a habit of mine that I always engage in when I’m trying to make sense of a difficult situation.
The number on the spreadsheet before me doesn’t add up, and I’m having a hard time figuring this out.
It’s a report from one of our hotels in Miami. Last year, it wasn’t doing well, so I had to put more money into it, hoping it would do better. But it’s been a year, and the numbers before me aren’t encouraging. It seems to have gotten worse.
I look up when I hear my office door open, and Sarah, my secretary, peeks in. “It’s getting late. I would like to call it a day if there isn’t any other thing you would like me to do for you.”
I glance at my wristwatch and realize it’s already past 7:00 p.m. “I had no idea it was this late. You can leave. I don’t need you to do anything for me.”
She’s silent for a moment, and when I look up, I see she’s still standing at the door. “You still haven’t been able to make sense of the numbers?” she asks, now stepping into my office.
Raking my fingers through my hair, I let out a harsh breath. “No. None of it makes sense. Either the manager over there is mismanaging the funds, or there’s an underlying issue that I’m yet to find out about.”
“It’s getting late. How about you head home? I’m sure by morning, you might be able to figure it out,” Sarah says in her motherly tone.
Sarah was Dad’s secretary, and she became mine after Dad passed on and I had to take over the business. She’s one of the few that I trust here and the only one that knows my true role as the CEO of Reid Holdings. Lysa’s dad was also one of them until he fell ill and had to retire.
“Yeah, maybe I will take your advice. Sorry I had to drag you here on the weekend.”
She gives me a warm smile. “Just make sure it reflects in my next paycheck.”
“It absolutely will.”
“Goodnight, Mr. Reid.”
“Goodnight, Sarah.”
Sarah is a middle-aged woman who sometimes acts like a mother to me at the office, not hesitating to tell me her mind and putting me on the straight path. I like that about her.
After she leaves, I decide to take her advice. Drake already texted asking that we have drinks together this evening. I think I will just have to take him up on his offer.
I’m just about to grab my jacket and head out when the last person I want to see right now walks through the door.
My heart sinks as I see Lysa sauntering into my office, a suggestive smile playing on her lips. I know exactly what she’s trying to do, and I’m not in the mood for it.
“Are you heading out already?” sShe asks, her expression a little unreadable.
“Yeah, anything you want?”
“I just wanted to let you know that we’ve carried out the routine check, and everything is in perfect condition.”
“Hmm. Finally.” I grab my keys. I’m driving myself as I gave my driver the day off.
“Ethan…” she drawls, causing me to cringe. “Baby, I’m sorry that you got stuck in the elevator. It was never my intention for that to happen.”
“Lysa, you’re missing the point. This isn’t about the fact that I got trapped in the elevator. It’s about the guests to whom it happened as well—it doesn’t bode well for us.”
She pouts. “Yeah, I see what you mean. I’m sorry that happened. The routine check has been carried out, and everything is fixed now.”
“Good.”
“Ethan…”
“If that will be all, you can leave.” But she doesn’t move a muscle; she just remains there, batting her eyelids at me.
“What do you want, Lysa?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady despite the turmoil swirling inside me.
She takes a few steps closer, her gaze lingering on me in a way that makes my skin crawl. “I miss us, Ethan,” she purrs, her voice dripping with honeyed sweetness. “I miss what we had. Don’t you miss it too?”
I resist the urge to roll my eyes at her blatant attempt at seduction. “No, Lysa, I don’t miss it. And I don’t want it back.”
Her smile falters for a moment, but then she quickly recovers, taking another step towards me. “Come on, you can’t deny that there’s still something between us. Why fight it?”
I grit my teeth, feeling my patience wearing thin. “Because it’s over, Lysa. It’s been over for a long time, and it’s not coming back. I suggest you accept that and move on.”
Her expression darkens, and I can see the anger simmering beneath the surface. “You can’t just throw me away like this, Ethan. I deserve better than that.”
I shake my head, my frustration mounting. “You had your chance, Lysa, and you blew it. Now, if you don’t mind, I have plans, so if you could please leave…”
She huffs. “I cheated, so what? It was a one-time thing, and I have asked for your forgiveness over a million times. What else do you want from me?”
“And I’ve forgiven you, but not enough to get back together. We can’t go back to the way things used to be between us.”
“Oh, Ethan,” she tries to throw herself at me, but I take a step back. “It meant nothing, and I was thinking about you the whole time…”
“Lysa, stop. You are humiliating yourself, so please, just stop.”
But before I can finish my sentence, she closes the distance between us, her hand reaching out to trail lightly down my arm. “I know you still want me, Ethan. I can see it in your eyes.”
I jerk away from her touch, my temper flaring. “That’s enough, Lysa. I won’t say it again—leave. And this had better be the last time you will ever try something like this, or I’ll have no choice but to fire you.”
For a moment, she stares at me, her eyes blazing with a mixture of anger and hurt. But then, with a defiant toss of her head, she turns on her heel and storms out of my office, slamming the door behind her.
I let out a sigh of relief, feeling the tension drain from my shoulders. Dealing with Lysa is always exhausting. And I’m going to fire her one of these days if this continues.
As I step out of the building, the crisp evening air greets me, and it”s a welcome change from the canned A/C of my office.
I meetDrake at our favorite bar, a cozy spot he owns where we often retreat to decompress after a hectic week.
We settle into a VIP booth, ordering a couple of beers as we catch up on each other’s lives. The conversation naturally drifts towards football, a topic we both share a passion for.
We discuss recent games and players and speculate on upcoming matches, losing ourselves in the familiar banter.
Between sips of beer, I fill him in on the latest developments with Lysa. I recount her unexpected visit to my office, her attempts at seduction, and the general headache she’s been causing me with her constant tantrums and lack of professionalism.
Drake listens intently, his brow furrowing in concern as I recount the details. “Man, I never liked that girl,” he says, shaking his head. “She’s nothing but trouble, and you’ve been way too patient with her.”
I nod in agreement, knowing deep down that Drake is right. Keeping Lysa on staff has been more trouble than it’s worth, and her behavior is only getting worse. “I know, I know,” I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “I’ve been trying to give her the benefit of the doubt, but it might be time to cut ties.”
He gives me a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “You’ll figure it out, man. Just remember, you gotta do what’s best for the business, and sometimes, that means making tough decisions.”
“Yeah, you are right about that.”
As the evening wears on, we continue to chat as ; my mind keeps drifting back to Jessica. Despite the jovial atmosphere of the bar and the distraction of our discussions about football, I find myself unable to shake thoughts of her.
I remember her confident smile and the way her eyes lit up when she talked to her colleagues, and wasn’t aware that I was looking.
I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I shouldn’t be dwelling on Jessica when I’m out with my friend, trying to unwind after a long week. But no matter how hard I try to push her out of my mind, she keeps creeping back in, a persistent presence that I can’t seem to shake.
I take a long sip of my beer, hoping to drown out the images of Jessica with the taste of alcohol, but it’s no use. She’s firmly lodged in my head, and try as I might, I can’t seem to escape her.
As I drive through the dimly lit streets back to my penthouse, my mind still occupied with Jessica, I catch a glimpse of a figure up ahead that looks eerily similar to her.
My heart skips a beat as I squint through the darkness, trying to make out the features of the person walking by the roadside. Am I hallucinating?
As I approach, my suspicions are confirmed, and a surge of relief washes over me. It’s her. Jessica is standing there, her form illuminated by the faint glow of the streetlights.
Without a second thought, I pull over to the side of the road, my heart pounding in my chest as I hurry to step out of the car. Ignoring the chill in the air, I hastily make my way over to where she’s waiting. My concern for her overriding any other thoughts or considerations.
“Jessy?” I call out, my voice filled with worry. What is she doing here at this time of the night, alone?
She turns towards me, her expression a mix of surprise and confusion as she recognizes me standing there. “Ethan?” she murmurs, barely audible.
“What are you doing out here? Are you alright?”
She hesitates for a moment; her gaze flickering with uncertainty as she takes in my concerned expression. “I...I was trying to hail a taxi,” she explains hesitantly, her voice tinged with exhaustion. “But it’s been a while, and none of them seem to be stopping.”
I notice she’s shivering, so I take off my coat and drape it around her shoulders. “You shouldn’t be out here alone,” I say softly, my tone filled with genuine concern. “It’s late, and it’s not safe. Let me give you a ride home.”
She hesitates, her gaze moving between me and the road. “I don’t want to be a bother,” she says softly, her words tinged with reluctance.
“You’re not a bother,” I assure her, stepping closer to gently place a hand on her shoulder. “But standing out here trying to catch a taxi is dangerous, especially at this hour. Plus, there’s road construction up ahead, and it’s causing all the cab drivers to avoid this route. You’ll be waiting out here for ages.”
She nibbles on her bottom lip, clearly torn between accepting my offer and insisting on finding a taxi on her own.
“Please, Jessy,” I urge gently, my tone soft but firm. “Don’t be stubborn. Let me take you home.”
After a moment of hesitation, she nods, her expression grateful as she steps closer to my car. “Thanks.”
I hold the passenger door open for her, gesturing for her to climb in before I make my way around to the driver’s side.
As I settle into the driver’s seat and start the engine, I steal a glance at Jessica and notice how beautiful she looks in the black body-con dress that she has on.
“Went on a date, huh?” I ask before I can stop myself.
She lets out a frustrated breath. “You have no idea. It was a disaster.”
“Wanna talk about it?”
“I’d rather not,” she says, turning to look out the window.
I feel a sense of relief wash over me that her date was a disaster. She’s mine and should be on dates with no one else but me.
I’m glad that no man seemed to measure up to her, glad that she’s here with me now, even if it’s just for a short drive home.