Chapter 15
As I stand alone in the quiet of my penthouse, the memory of Jessica’s departure lingers in the air like a ghost. Her words echo in my mind, a stark reminder of the boundaries that exist between us.
“We can’t do that again, Ethan.” Her voice rings clear in my ears, the firmness of her tone leaving no room for negotiation. It’s a statement that reverberates with finality, a line drawn in the sand that I can’t cross.
I can’t help but replay our conversation in my head, each word etched into my memory like a permanent scar. She was right, of course. Getting involved with an employee is risky, and I can’t afford to let my personal desires cloud my judgment.
But despite the rationality of her words, there’s a part of me that can’t help but feel a pang of disappointment. I had allowed myself to hope for more, to imagine a future where Jessica and I could have more than an employee-and-employer relationship.
“Friends sounds good.” Her reluctant agreement echoes in my mind, a bittersweet reminder of the connection we share. It’s a small consolation, but it’s better than nothing.
Someone would think that my experience with Lysa would have taught me a lesson to stay away from dating my employees. But when it comes to Jessy, I’m ready to risk everything and go against every one of my rules.
As I sink into the solitude of my thoughts, I can’t help but wonder what the future holds for us. Will we be able to move past this moment, or will it forever hang between us like a shadow?
Only time will tell. But for now, I’m content to dwell in the memories of our fleeting connection, grateful for the unexpected bond we’ve forged in the midst of uncertainty.
I spend the rest of the day trying not to think about her as I try to make sense of what is going on with the Miami hotel. I was supposed to go to Miami this morning, but I had to change my plans because of Jess. It felt so wrong to leave when she was still in my bed.
This morning, when I woke up with her sleeping next to me, I found myself enthralled as I watched her sleep, and I ended up canceling my flight. I could always reschedule the meeting after all—one of the perks of being the boss. That moment was precious, a moment I will cherish forever, as I now have it etched into my memory.
After finding some discrepancies in the figures, I send an email to the manager in Miami, scheduling a one-on-one meeting with him and the accountants on Wednesday.
They had better have a good explanation for this, or they would be kissing their jobs goodbye. But that will be after they’ve paid back every missing cent.
By seven,I throw on a shirt and black jeans and drive myself to Mom’s for dinner. She’s making her famous roast chicken for roast, and we are having dinner.
As I walk through the door of my mom’s house, the aroma of her famous chicken roast hits me, instantly bringing a smile to my face. It’s comforting to be back in the familiar surroundings of my childhood home, surrounded by the people I love.
Mom greets me with a warm hug, her eyes twinkling with excitement. “Ethan, darling, so good to see you!” she exclaims, planting a kiss on my cheek.
“Hey, Mom,” I reply, returning her hug with equal enthusiasm. “Smells amazing in here. Is dinner almost ready?”
She nods, her smile widening. “Yes, just putting the finishing touches on everything.”
“Where is Amy?” I ask.
“Anywhere but my kitchen. That girl almost burned down my kitchen this afternoon because she was trying out some silly recipe she found on YouTube.”
I throw my head back, laughing. “She still has refused to give up on cooking.”
Mom rolls her eyes, giving a shake of her head. “I’ve banned her from going into my kitchen.”
“I can hear you guys.” Amy pads into the living room sock-foot.
“It’s a good thing, so you get to hear again—that I don’t want you in my kitchen.”
Amy scoffs, sarcastically adding, “You guys are so unsupportive!”
“Yeah, so long as it doesn’t involve you burning down my kitchen.”
“It was an accident!” Amy feigns anger as Mom disappears into the kitchen, not paying her any heed.
I join Amy on the couch, unable to contain my amusement at the banter between her and Mom. Despite the teasing, it feels good to be home, surrounded by my family’s familiar dynamic.
“So, how’s work been?” Amy asks, turning to me with genuine interest.
I lean back against the cushions, stretching out my legs. “Busy, as always. You know how it is.”
Amy nods sympathetically. “Yeah, I can imagine. But hey, at least you get to boss people around all day.”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “It’s not all it’s cracked up to be, believe me. Dealing with incompetent employees can be more exhausting than doing the work yourself.”
“Well, I can’t imagine.”
“Yeah, sure, you can’t.”
“Have you considered giving me the job yet?”
“We’ve talked about this.”
“But why can’t you just give me a job?”
“Because you have no experience.”
“But how will I get any experience if you don’t give me a job?” she retorts.
“I never said that I don’t want to give you a job, but you are insisting on starting off as a manager. You’ve refused to start off small.”
She huffs. “I don’t want to start off small. Why would I do that?”
“To gain experience, that’s how it’s done.”
She scoffs, picking up her phone and indicating an end to the conversation. A few minutes later, Mom informs us that dinner is ready.
As we gather around the dining table, the aroma of Mom’s famous chicken roast fills the air, making my mouth water in anticipation. We pass around dishes of mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, and gravy, each of us piling our plates high with delicious food.
“So, Ethan,” Mom begins, her eyes twinkling mischievously as she looks at me. “I heard an interesting rumor today.”
I raise an eyebrow, pretending to be focused on cutting into my chicken. “Oh? And what rumor is that?”
“You know, the one about you having a special someone in your life,” she says, her tone light but teasing.
I feel a sudden tension in the air, and I shoot Amy a warning glance, silently willing her to keep quiet. But of course, she can’t resist adding fuel to the fire.
“Oh yeah, Ethan,” Amy chimes in, her tone innocent but with a knowing glint in her eyes. “You never told us about your secret admirer.”
I shoot her a glare, but she just shrugs innocently, clearly enjoying herself far too much.
Mom chuckles, clearly enjoying the opportunity to tease me. “So, Ethan, care to share the details? Who’s the lucky lady?”
I try to deflect, taking a sip of water to buy myself some time. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Mom. You know I’m married to my work.”
Mom raises an eyebrow, unconvinced. “Hmm, well, Amy seemed pretty convinced earlier. She said she overheard you talking about her on the phone.”
I shoot Amy another glare, silently cursing her for getting me into this mess. But Mom’s not one to let things go easily.
“So, who is she, Ethan?” she presses, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Don’t keep us in suspense.”
“There is nothing to tell.”
But Mom just laughs, shaking her head in amusement. “Alright, alright, if you say so. I won’t pry,”
Later that night,I lie in bed staring at the ceiling, feeling the weight of Jessy’s absence like a palpable presence in the room.
It’s strange how quickly I’ve grown accustomed to her company, her laughter, her witty remarks. Tonight, without her beside me, the silence feels deafening.
With a sigh, I reach for my phone on the nightstand, hesitating for a moment before deciding to send her a text. Maybe it’s too late, maybe it’s too forward, but I can’t shake off the feeling that she might be feeling the same way I am right now.
I tap out a message, trying to convey the emptiness I’m feeling without sounding too dramatic.
Me: Hey, Jessy. Just making sure you got home safely.
Jessica: Hi, Ethan. Yes, your driver dropped me off hours ago. You can breathe easy now.
Me: Good to know. Can’t have my star employee getting lost on the way home.
Jessica: Flattery will get you nowhere, boss.
Me: Worth a shot, right? So, how was the rest of your day?
Jessica: Uneventful, thankfully. Yours?
Me: Quiet. Just the way I like it.
Jessica: You mean you didn’t go out and conquer the world?
Me: Nah, decided to take the night off from world domination.
Jessica: It must be tough being a supervillain.
Me: It has its perks. So, is this how I should expect all our conversations to go from now on?
Jessica: What do you mean?
Me: You know, witty banter and all that.
Jessica: Only if you can keep up.
Me: Challenge accepted. But seriously, is this how you talk to all your bosses?
Jessica: Only the ones who text me during the weekends to check if I got home okay.
Me: Touche. But in my defense, I was just concerned about your safety.
Jessica: Sure, Ethan. Keep telling yourself that.
Me: Fine, busted. I’ll admit it—I was just looking for an excuse to chat with you.
Jessica: Well, consider this your last excuse. No more texting your employees after hours, got it?
Me: Understood, boss. I’ll stick to business hours from now on.
Jessica: Good. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a date with my pillow. Goodnight, Ethan.
Me: Goodnight, Jessy. Sweet dreams.
I turn off my bedroom lights and go to bed, thinking about Jess and imagining she iswas here with me.
I’m sitting behind my desk, going through some reports on my computer, when I decide it’s time to address the staffing issue at the hotel. I buzz my assistant and ask her to send Lysa in.
A few moments later, Lysa walks into my office with her usual confident stride, a smug smile playing on her lips. I can’t help but feel a sense of annoyance at her presence, especially after our recent encounter, where she tried to seduce me.
“Good morning, Ethan,” Lysa says, her voice dripping with false sweetness as she takes a seat in front of my desk.
“Morning, Lysa,” I reply, keeping my tone neutral as I gesture for her to sit. “I wanted to talk to you about staffing for the hotel. We’ve been considering adding another concierge to the team to help with the increasing workload. Do you have any recommendations?”
Lysa’s eyes light up with a mischievous glint, and I can’t help but feel a sense of unease at her reaction. “Actually, I do have someone in mind,” she says, her smile widening. “Jessica.”
My eyebrows shoot up in surprise at her suggestion. Jessy? I hadn’t considered her for the position, but Lysa’s recommendation intrigued me.
“Why Jessica?” I ask, trying to keep my tone neutral.
“Well, she’s proven herself to be competent and reliable,” Lysa replies smoothly, her eyes locking with mine. “Plus, she has excellent customer service skills and a great rapport with guests. I think she’d be a valuable addition to the concierge team.”
I consider her words for a moment, weighing the pros and cons of hiring Jessy for the position. Despite my reservations about Lysa’s motives, I can’t deny that Jessy has impressed me with her dedication and professionalism.
“Alright, I’ll take your recommendation into consideration,” I say finally, making a mental note to speak with Jessy about the opportunity later.
As she exits my office, I can’t shake the feeling of unease that settles over me. I wonder what Lysa’s true motives are for recommending Jessy, and I resolve to keep a close eye on her.