Chapter 13 #3
I take a step towards her, a growl emitting from my throat. “I’m not trying to justify anything because I didn’t do anything. Not this time. She ran. She couldn’t handle how things were progressing, and she ran. And if you think you can?—”
“That’s enough, Ethan.” A firm voice reaches my ears as Alex inserts himself between me and Sarah, his eyes narrowed into slits, his stance protective. “She’s very small.”
“I can take him,” Sarah sneers but one look from her boss has her averting her gaze and muttering, “Not that I was going to do anything.”
I shoot Alex an insulted look. “I would never raise my hand on a woman. We were just having a conversation.”
“Well, don’t yell at my employees,” Alex warns. “Your lover’s quarrel has?—”
“Lovers?” Sarah makes a face. “I should be so unfortunate. He’s dating my roommate. And being an ass about it.”
Alex pauses, a strange look in his eyes. “You two are not together?”
Sarah just makes a face. “No. And please don’t insult me by asking again.
She doesn’t want to see you, Ethan. That’s the whole point of resigning.
She’s not running away, she’s putting an appropriate amount of distance between the two of you.
I told you not to fuck up. You just couldn’t help yourself, could you? ”
My jaw tightens. “There was no fuck up. Things were fine between us. She suddenly decided to leave.”
“Who wouldn’t, after you rub an ex-flame in their face?” Sarah’s upper lip curls in disgust.
“I didn’t rub anybody in her face. And Elizabeth is not even an ex. She’s someone I had dinner with once.”
Sarah just coughs. “Likely story. ”
It’s hard to remind myself that this is Natalie’s friend, and I can’t wring her neck.
Alex standing between us also helps the situation.
“Natalie doesn’t need you fighting her battles.
I came here because I wanted to know what was going through her mind, but clearly you’re not going to be of any help. That’s fine. I’ll find out myself.”
“There is nothing to find out! You just aren’t good enough for her! And that stupid contract that you made her sign, don’t worry. I’m cashing in the bonds my parents gave me for my birthdays to help her pay you back the penalty fees. You’re such a fucking jerk.”
“I don’t want the money,” I snap. “And I won’t accept her resignation either. This is a waste of my time. I don’t know why I bothered coming here. I’ll just go directly to the source.”
“She’s not home,” Sarah says abruptly.
“What?”
I see the rage in her eyes. “Because of the pictures some magazine published of the two of you, her mother showed up at the apartment a few days after Natalie returned. She—” Sarah struggles to speak.
“—Anyway, Natalie isn’t there, and I’m not telling you where she is either.
The last thing she needs is for her family to track her down. ”
I take a step towards her, snarling. “Where is she?”
“Ethan.” Alex steps in my path. “Whatever your problem is, it’s with your girlfriend, not Sarah. Sarah, go inside. Have Martin prepare two coffees, black.”
I watch the woman leave, agitation eating me up. Where is Natalie? Where has she been this past week? Did I once again drive her out of her home?
“Come on.” Alex begins walking towards the restaurant. “Why don’t you tell me who Natalie is, and what is going on with you that you’re harassing my sous-chef over her.”
I follow him, my thoughts a mess. We head inside, and once we sit, a server delivers two coffees to our table. I look over and see Sarah standing behind the bar, and when our eyes meet, she flips me off with both fingers.
“Sarah.”
Alex’s warning has her disappearing into the kitchen.
“I don’t know how you tolerate her,” I mutter under my breath.
Alex shoots me an amused look. “It’s complicated. She drives me crazy, though.”
I sip the coffee and look around, trying to calm down and organize my thoughts. “I heard you got married.”
“Married,” Alex echoes, looking away. “Yeah. BethAnn passed away two years ago. Cancer.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” I say quietly. “I didn’t know. That must’ve been hard.”
Alex's voice is weary, filled with an old pain. “I was prepared. We both were. I finally decided to return home. Saw this place up for sale. I’d been managing BethAnn’s parents’ restaurant for them back in Australia, so I decided to buy this place up and expand it.”
He grins. “I met that one when she slashed my car tires.”
“Sarah?” I go still. “She did what?”
Alex grins, as if greatly amused. “Apparently, she got stood up by someone and thought that was his car. I was too drunk to get angry, and she took me back to her place to sleep it off. She thinks I’m going to fire her.”
“Aren’t you?” I raise a brow.
“Nah. She’s one of my best chefs. I’m keeping her.”
There’s something proprietary about the edge of his tone when he says those words, and I wonder if Natalie’s rebellious friend is aware she’s roused the interest of someone as dangerous as Alex.
“So, this Natalie?—”
“Natalie Thorne. ”
Alex freezes. “Lucas’s baby sister. Is he okay with that, his best friend and his sister?”
I give him a terse smile. “Lucas has been busy in the time we’ve been apart. You missed out on a lot.”
“Clearly.” Alex sips his coffee. “You and Lucas aren’t close anymore?”
I shake my head. “We were working on a business model together, and he stole my client list.”
“Fucker.” Alex shakes his head. “Not surprised, though. He tried to join my family business, and my brother took one look at him and called him a rat. I knew you two were friends, but there was always something off about him. But screwing you over takes balls.”
“It was my first company, one I had been working on for a while.” I drain my cup of coffee.
“He deleted the client list I had saved as back up and contacted the clients behind my back, offering them lower rates. Fucked over my plans, but I handled it. I rallied up some investors, acquired a failing company, and flipped it over. Been doing that for years now.”
“So I heard.” Alex looks quietly impressed. “But his sister?”
“It’s complicated.”
“And you think he’ll welcome you into the family?” my friend chuckles.
“No. But he’s not been on talking terms with her for a while.”
Alex studies me, his brows furrowed. “Holy shit. You’re serious about her?”
I don’t answer, just watching him.
He exhales. “Well, I wish you luck then, my friend.”
I sigh, looking down into my coffee cup.
Luck.
I’m going to need it because the woman I want wants nothing to do with me.
‘I can’t survive you again.’
But can I survive without her?