Chapter 32
Every moment with Jessy feels like a gift, a precious treasure that I never want to let go of. She’s like a ray of sunshine in my life, brightening even the darkest of days with her infectious laughter and genuine warmth. I can’t help but fall deeper in love with her with each passing day.
But as much as I want to shout my love for her from the rooftops, I have to remind myself to tread carefully. If I want this to work, I need to respect her decision to be discreet about our relationship.
It’s not easy to maintain a professional fa?ade when all I want to do is pull her into my arms and never let her go.
The temptation to steal kisses and touch her whenever I get the chance is almost unbearable, but I know I have to resist, at least while we’re in the office.
Yet, even in the midst of meetings and paperwork, I find myself constantly drawn to her. The way her eyes sparkle when she’s passionate about something, the way her smile lights up the room—she’s utterly captivating, and I can’t get enough of her.
Every stolen kiss, every secret touch when no one is looking, only serves to fuel the fire between us, igniting a passion that burns brighter with each passing moment.
But it’s not just her beauty that captivates me; it’s the way she challenges me to be a better man.
With Jessy by my side, I feel like I can conquer anything, and I’m capable of being the person she deserves.
“Come in,” I call out as a knock comes on my office door. When the door opens, a wide smile spreads across my face.
As Jessy steps into my office, a warm smile graces her lips, and my heart skips a beat at the sight of her.
Without thinking, I get out of my chair, close the distance between us, lean in, and steal a quick kiss, unable to resist the magnetic pull between us.
She chuckles softly, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she playfully tries to push me away, but not before I steal another kiss.
“Hey there, handsome,” she says, her voice laced with affection. “You know, we have to be careful about these impromptu displays of affection.”
I grin sheepishly, feeling a rush of excitement at the playful banter between us. “Can’t help myself when you’re around,” I admit, my tone tinged with adoration.
“Well, you have to try,” she teases.
I steal another kiss before I go back to my seat. “I take it that you are not here because you were missing me just like I was you?”
“No.”
“Liar,” I tease.
“Will you please focus?” She is smiling now. “I’m here to talk about the upcoming event. There are a few things Rachel thinks might need your approval. She asked me to talk to you about it since she had a family emergency and couldn’t come in this morning.”
“Yeah, I’m aware of that. Take a seat and let me hear the ideas.”
As she takes a seat opposite me, she launches into a discussion about the upcoming event, her passion and dedication evident in every word she speaks. I can’t help but admire her drive and determination, and I find myself hanging on to her every word.
“We’re really putting in the effort to make a good impression for the regional manager and the CEO,” she explains, her brow furrowing slightly with concentration. “Rachel and I have been brainstorming ideas nonstop.”
I nod in agreement, impressed by her commitment to excellence. “You two make quite the dynamic duo,” I remark, unable to hide my admiration.
“Thank you. I’m sure you are working nonstop on your end, too, to make a good impression on the regional manager.”
But as she continues to talk about the event, a pang of guilt gnaws at me. I want to tell her that she doesn’t have to worry about impressing anyone and that, as the CEO, I have everything under control.
But the words are stuck in my throat, fear gripping me at the thought of revealing my true identity to her.
What if she sees me differently once she knows who I really am? What if it changes our relationship in ways I can’t predict?
Instead, I offer her a reassuring smile, masking my inner turmoil behind a fa?ade of confidence. “You’re doing a fantastic job, Jessy,” I say sincerely. “And I’ll make sure to up my game as well. We’ll knock the regional manager’s socks off.”
She returns my smile, her eyes shining with appreciation. “I’m sure we will.”
But even as she speaks, I can’t shake the feeling of unease that lingers in the back of my mind. How long can I keep up this charade before the truth comes out? And what will happen when Jessy discovers who I really am?
What I admire most about Jessy is the fact that she likes me for who I am without knowing the full extent of my status or wealth. Unlike so many other women who are drawn to me because of my position as CEO at Reid Holdings, Jessy sees me simply as Ethan.
And that’s something I cherish more than words can express.
As the conversation about the upcoming event winds down, I can’t help but feel a pang of disappointment at the thought of parting ways with Jessy.
Despite the lingering tension between us, I find myself craving her presence more than ever.
“Hey, babe,” I begin, and she quickly stops me.
“It’s Jessica to you while we are here. Focus Ethan.”
A smile curls up my lips. I like seeing her this way, trying hard to put me in line to avoid us being noticed.
“I have a feeling that you do this on purpose.”
I shrug, a lazy smile on my face. “Maybe.”
Her eyes widened, but I could still see the amusement in them. “Ethan!”
“I’m sorry. I promise to do better. I was thinking...would you like to grab lunch with me?”
But before I can even finish my sentence, her expression shifts, a hint of caution flickering in her eyes. “Ethan, have you forgotten that we’re supposed to keep our distance while we’re at work?” she reminds me, her tone gentle but firm.
I groan inwardly, cursing myself for my forgetfulness. “Right, I keep forgetting about that.”
“You just promised to try barely a second ago.”
“This is me trying.”
She shakes her head at me, smiling. She knows I’m only this way when we are the only ones in the room.
“Well, since you won’t join me for lunch, how about I order for you instead? You barely touched your breakfast.”
She had been rushing to come to work because she woke up late after I made her stay up all night writhing underneath me while I did unthinkable things to her body. She spends most of her time at my place now.
“Well, there will be no need for that because I will be having lunch with Amy,” she informs me.
I groan, pretending to be hurt. “So my sister gets to have lunch with you, and I can’t.”
“Stop whining and I might just make it up to you tonight,” she says with a wink.
“I love the sound of that.” I’m now grinning from ear to ear like a schoolboy.
Jessy rolls her eyes in mock exasperation, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “You’re impossible, Ethan,” she teases.
As she turns to leave my office, I can’t help but watch her go, a sense of longing stirring within me.
While I’m preparingto leave for lunch, Amy saunters into my office, dressed in Gucci shorts and a crop top, with sneakers to match.
“Let me guess, you are here for your lunch date with Jessy?” I say, shifting my attention back to the screen of my computer.
“Yes, you guessed correctly. And I’m here to get your card—debit or credit. Either will do.”
I look up from the computer. “I’m sorry, why?”
She throws her hands open. “What do you mean, why? I’m going to have lunch with your girlfriend. I need your card,” she stretches out a hand. “Hand it over.”
I fish out my wallet, take out one of my American Express cards and hand it to her.
“See, that wasn’t too hard.” She snatches the card from my fingers and slips it into her purse.
“I’m so happy that you’ve finally decided to follow your heart. I’m so happy for you and Jessy.”
I can’t help but roll my eyes at her theatricality, but a part of me secretly appreciates her enthusiasm. “Thanks, Amy,” I say, offering her a grateful smile. “It means a lot to me.”
But Amy isn’t finished yet. “You know, Mom’s already planning your wedding in her head,” she continues with a laugh, leaning back in her chair as she gestures animatedly. “She’s been talking about flower arrangements and seating charts for days now. I think she’s more excited than you are!”
I chuckle at the mental image of my mother getting ahead of herself, her excitement palpable even from a distance. “Well, tell Mom to hold her horses,” I reply with a grin. “Jessy and I are just taking things one step at a time.”
Amy nods in understanding, her expression softening with affection. “You will have to tell her that yourself. I would be surprised if she hasn’t booked a hall for the wedding already. You know how Mom can be.”
“I guess she will be disappointed to know that Jessy and I are taking things slow.”
The dimly litambiance of the bar envelops us as we settle into our usual booth, the faint scent of whiskey lingering in the air, mingling with the chatter of patrons and the clinking of glasses. Drake and I exchange greetings with the bartender before turning our attention to the menu and scanning the list of drinks with interest.
“So, how’s life treating you, Ethan?” Drake asks, taking a sip of his beer as he leans back against the plush cushion of the booth. “You seem a bit preoccupied tonight.”
I let out a sigh, running a hand through my hair as I try to put my thoughts into words. “Honestly, Drake, I’m a bit worried about something,” I admit, my gaze flickering towards the swirling patterns of condensation on my glass. “It’s about Jessy.”
Drake raises an eyebrow, a curious expression as he leans in closer. “What about her? Is everything okay?”
I take a moment to gather my thoughts before responding, the weight of my concerns weighing heavily on my mind. “It’s just...she doesn’t know the full extent of who I am,” I explain, my voice tinged with uncertainty. “She sees me as her boss, but she doesn’t know I am the CEO, about my family’s influence, or the extent of my wealth. And I’m worried that it’ll change things between us if she finds out.”
Drake nods in understanding, and his expression is sympathetic as he listens intently to my words. “I get where you’re coming from, Ethan,” he says, his voice low and reassuring. “But keeping secrets from someone you care about isn’t the answer. Eventually, the truth will come out, and it’s better to be upfront about it from the start.”
I furrow my brow, the weight of Drake’s words sinking in as I consider his advice.
“I know you’re right, Drake,” I admit, feeling a sense of unease settle in the pit of my stomach. “I should have told her, but I didn’t want things to change between us. She makes me feel...different, you know? And I’m scared that when she finds out the truth, she won’t see me the same way anymore.”
Drake reaches out to place a comforting hand on my shoulder, his gaze steady and reassuring. “I understand your concerns, man,” he says, his voice firm yet gentle. “But any relationship built on deceit doesn’t last. If Jessy cares about you as much as you say she does, she’ll understand and accept you for who you are, regardless of your background.”
As we continue our conversation over drinks, the familiar buzz of the bar fades into the background, replaced by a sense of clarity and determination. I need to tell Jessy the truth.