Chapter 25
I’m in the middle of a set of bench presses when my phone vibrates insistently in my pocket. Ignoring it at first, I focus on the weight in my hands, pushing myself to finish the set. But as soon as I set the barbell back in its rack, my phone buzzes again, the notifications piling up.
I wipe the sweat from my brow with the back of my hand before reaching for my phone. The messages are from Lysa, and they’re becoming increasingly insistent.
Lysa: Hey, Ethan, can we talk? It’s urgent.
Lysa: Ethan, are you there? I need to ask you something important.
Lysa: Ethan, this is serious. Please, answer me.
I sigh, feeling a growing sense of irritation. She has been acting strangely lately, and I have a sinking feeling that her messages have something to do with Jessy.
Me: What’s up?
I finally reply, trying to keep my tone neutral as I type out the message.
Almost immediately, another message pops up on my screen.
Lysa: Is there something going on between you and Jessica?
I furrow my brow, taken aback by the directness of her question. How does she even come up with this stuff?
Me: Where is this coming from?
I reply, hoping to deflect her inquiries, but she isn’t easily deterred.
Lysa: I’ve just noticed some things, that’s all. Are you seeing her outside of work?
I let out an exasperated sigh, feeling a surge of frustration building within me. Why does she always have to stick her nose where it doesn’t belong?
More messages from her appear on my screen, and I feel a knot forming in my stomach as I read her words on how convenient it was that we both got stuck in a cabin on our trip.
I grit my teeth, feeling a surge of frustration at her insinuation. Is she seriously suggesting that Jessy and I orchestrated being stranded together? The idea is absurd, but I know Lysa well enough to understand that once she gets an idea in her head, she won’t let it go easily.
I take a moment to compose myself before responding, my fingers tapping out a reply on my phone.
Me: It was just a coincidence, Lysa. There’s nothing more to it. Besides, what Jessy and I do outside of work is none of your business. I suggest you focus on your own responsibilities and leave the personal matters alone.
I hit send, hoping that will be the end of it.
Drake glances at me, his brow furrowing with concern. “Hey man, what’s up? You look like you’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders.”
I let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through my hair. “It’s Lysa. She’s been bombarding me with messages, asking if there’s anything going on between Jessy and me.”
Drake’s expression hardens, a flash of annoyance crossing his features. “I thought we already discussed this. I told you to set boundaries with her and make it clear that her meddling isn’t welcome.”
“Yeah, I know. I guess I was just giving her the benefit of the doubt. She apologized and promised to change.”
Drake listens to my explanation, his expression skeptical. “So, she apologized and promised to change? Ethan, you know what they say about leopards and their spots.”
I nod, acknowledging his point. “That is so true.”
Drake’s voice carries a tone of concern as he continues, “Look, I know you’re trying to help Lysa, but sometimes you’ve got to put your foot down, man. If she’s causing this much trouble, maybe it’s time to reconsider keeping her around.”
I nod, acknowledging his words. “I hear you, Drake. I’ll keep that in mind.”
I step into my penthouse,the familiar scent of home enveloping me as I kick off my shoes. As I round the corner, I’m met with the sight of my sister, Amy, lounging on the couch, scrolling through her phone with a casual air.
“Hey, Amy,” I greet her, trying to mask my surprise. It’s not unusual for her to drop by unannounced, but her timing today seems particularly inconvenient.
“Ethan!” She looks up, a bright smile lighting up her face. “Didn’t expect to see you home so soon.”
I offer her a wry smile as I shrug off my coat. “Well, here I am. What brings you over?”
“Just felt like catching up,” she replies casually, though her eyes gleam with mischief.
And I chuckle, knowing there’s more to her visit than she’s letting on. Amy has always had a knack for prying into my personal life, and I have a feeling today will be no different.
“Didn’t your chef come around this week? There is no food in your kitchen, and I’m starving,” she groans.
“I will go shower, and we can go grab breakfast at the cafe down the street,” I inform her as I make my way up the stairs.
“No, I don’t want to go there. They don’t know how to make a good latte.”
“We will go wherever you want then.”
As I sitacross from Amy at the table, her casual mention of Jessy catches me off guard. I try to maintain my composure, taking a sip of coffee to mask my surprise.
“Yeah, she mentioned she was heading home for the weekend,” I reply casually, though inwardly; I’m wondering why she hasn’t returned any of my calls.
Amy raises an eyebrow, her gaze probing. “She seems like a sweet girl. You two getting close?”
I shrug nonchalantly, though I can feel a slight flush creeping up my neck. “We’re just friends, Amy. You know that.”
“Sure, just friends,” she teases, a mischievous glint in her eye.
I take a sip of my coffee, feeling a pang of frustration. It’s strange she hasn’t returned any of my calls, but she picks up Amy’s calls without hesitation.
I pause for a second, contemplating Amy’s latest question. Why won’t I just date Jessy? It’s a question I’ve asked myself countless times, but one I can’t easily answer. I can’t exactly tell Amy that it’s Jessy’s decision for us to remain just friends. That would only lead to more questions I’m not ready to answer.
Instead, I pivot the conversation, steering it towards safer territory. “You know how it is, Amy. Things are complicated. Besides, I’m in no rush to jump into anything serious right now.”
Amy raises an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced by my response. “Complicated, huh? Well, just make sure you don’t let a good thing slip away.”
I offer her a tight-lipped smile before changing the subject. “So, how’s Mom doing?
“Oh, she’s doing great! She’s been busy with her garden lately, you know how she is. Always fussing over those flowers.”
I chuckle, picturing our mother tending to her beloved garden with the same dedication she’s always had. “Sounds like her. I should give her a call sometime soon.”
“You definitely should,” Amy agrees, her expression softening. “She misses you, Ethan. We both do.”
I feel a pang of guilt at her words, realizing just how long it’s been since I last spent quality time with Mom.
“I’ll make sure to give her a call tonight.”
I lean against the doorframe,facing Lysa’s pleading gaze. It’s been a long day, and her presence feels like an unwelcome intrusion. Crossing my arms over my chest, I try to muster patience as she makes her case.
“Lysa, we’ve been over this multiple times,” I say, my tone firm but not unkind. “It’s not going to work between us. You’re better off moving on.”
Her hopeful expression crumbles into one of disappointment. “But Ethan, I’ve changed. I can be better, I promise,” she insists, reaching out as if to touch my arm.
I step back, out of her reach. “I appreciate that you want to improve, but it’s too late for us. I’ve made up my mind.”
Tears well up in her eyes, and my heart softens despite myself. Emotional confrontations have never been my strong suit, especially when they involve someone I once cared about.
“Lysa, please understand,” I continue, my voice gentler now. “We had our chance, but it’s time for both of us to move forward separately.”
She nods slowly, wiping away a tear with the back of her hand. “I...I understand,” she murmurs, her voice choked with emotion. “I just...I’ll miss what we had.”
As Lysa stands there, her words hanging in the air, memories flood back to me. I remember the moment I walked in on her, caught in the act of cheating, the betrayal etched into my mind like a scar.
“Please leave,” I say, the words coming out colder than I intended. With a heavy heart, I shut the door firmly, cutting off any further conversation.
Leaning against the closed door, I take a deep breath, trying to push away the hurt and anger that resurfaces whenever I think of our past. It’s a wound that has fully healed but is also a reminder of the trust that was broken and the love that turned sour.
I walk briskly through the hallway, my mind preoccupied with thoughts of Jessy. Ever since she returned from her trip, she’s been avoiding me, and I can’t help but wonder why.
As I approach the elevator, I notice a crowd gathered around it, murmuring anxiously. My heart skips a beat as I realize something must be wrong.
“What’s going on?” I ask one of the maintenance guys, and my tone is urgent.
“It’s the elevator,” he replies, gesturing towards the closed doors. “It’s stuck again, and there’s someone inside.”
My stomach tightens with worry, and without hesitation, I press the call button for assistance. As I wait for a response, I can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right.
Finally, the doors slide open, revealing Jessy standing inside, her expression a mixture of frustration and fear. Relief floods through me at the sight of her, but it’s quickly replaced by anger as I realize what must have happened.
Turning to the maintenance guys, I demand answers, “Why is the elevator malfunctioning again? And why wasn’t it fixed?”
One of them shrugs, avoiding my gaze. “We didn’t have the materials we needed for a full maintenance check—Lysa didn’t provide them.”
My jaw clenches at the mention of her name. It’s clear she’s been neglecting her responsibilities once again, putting the safety of our employees at risk.
Without another word, I march toward Lysa’s office, my frustration boiling over. She needs to be held accountable for her actions, and I won’t let her get away with it this time.