Chapter 20 #2
I could see that happening, but even then, two months ago perhaps. Not so much now.
Not because of my current situation or because of these feelings I have for him, but because of who he is. I’ve seen him. I’ve spent time with him. He’s not that person. Would Rose lie?
Why ?
It makes no sense to me.
As I reach the office building, I consider talking to Ethan. But something stops me.
This has no bearing on our life together.
When I said the past was buried and done with to him, I meant it.
I stare at the glass doors with the company logo on them.
Let’s say I believe her. Even if I were to assume Rose was telling the truth about what he did, he cannot be that good of an actor.
His feelings for me, the ring his mother mentioned, the lengths he went to get me to give him a shot.
Nobody goes that far to play around with a person. Sometimes, one has to take risks.
I decided to risk my heart once again with Ethan.
If I get so easily influenced by every outside factor, what kind of partner would I make?
I swallow, burying all my doubts somewhere deep inside me.
No, I want to go into this relationship with my eyes open.
This isn’t just about me anymore. It’s about the child we share together.
Everything I know about Ethan goes against what Rose has told me. He's manipulative, but not like this. And if Rose was single after she broke things off with Lucas, why would Ethan pursue me and not her?
I don’t trust Rose’s version of events. And I’m not going to bring it up to Ethan and jeopardize our still fragile relationship.
Pursing my lips, I walk inside the building, my mind made.
Adjusting to being back in the office is not hard, but fixing the damage Ethan has done takes some time. It takes me two weeks to make sure that all my i’s are dotted and my t’s are crossed.
I have to call in the fired employees, have private discussions with them, and have them sign NDAs and new contracts.
All except one eagerly accepted the new terms. The last one decided to pursue her further studies, and after some discussion with Ethan, we decided to give her a small payout for the unreasonable firing and have her sign a non-disclosure agreement.
She was more than happy to sign the NDA in exchange for a handsome sum that would help her pay for her masters.
The situation in the Marketing Department has gotten better. Ethan decided to update the security cameras within the entire building. The consensus was that somebody was definitely trying to get Iris fired. I’ve not had a chance to discuss this with Iris yet.
Two weeks have passed, and while I’ve met Iris when she came to welcome me back, we’ve not had a sit-down. Today, I plan to rectify that.
With just twenty minutes left till lunch, I ask my assistant, coming to stand in the doorway that separates our offices, “Do I have any meetings scheduled for after lunch?”
Layla checks the calendar and shakes her head. “You have a meeting at four with the new finance head.”
“Good. I’m heading out now. I’m taking a longer lunch today.”
I am about to walk out of the office when I hear Ethan’s voice. “A longer lunch? Who are you going to lunch with?”
Layla’s eyes turn wide as I look towards the doorway. Ethan has his suit jacket hanging from his arm, and he looks like he’s getting ready to go somewhere.
“I’m going out to lunch with Iris.”
“Why?”
He takes a step towards me, making me blink. “Did you need something from me, Mr. Wilder? Do I need to share my calendar with you?”
He gives me that wicked, charming smile of his. “I think that’s a good idea. Miss Peterson, send me her?—”
“Don’t you dare, Layla,” I snap, scowling.
Layla is sitting, frozen in place. “Ah?— ”
“Go on your lunch break,” I tell her.
“But there’s still time?—”
“Go.”
She scrams out of the office, the door slamming shut behind her.
I cross my arms over my chest. “My calendar, Ethan? What do you want?”
“I was going to take you out to lunch. Apparently, you have other plans.”
“I’m failing to see the point here.” I pick up my phone and wallet, checking to see if I have some cash.
“You really should pay more attention to me, Natalie.”
He plucks the phone and wallet from my hand, putting them aside on Layla’s desk, his voice dark and husky. “I don’t like being ignored.”
Without thinking, I take a step back, trapping myself against the door frame. “And I don’t like being monitored. What are you, the NSA?”
“Too bad.” He leans down, our breaths intermingling. “I like monitoring you.”
It’s hard to think straight when he’s this close to me. “Some might call that behavior toxic and controlling.”
“Maybe,” he agrees, brushing his lips against mine. “I call it protective. What if someone more charming than me steals you from under my nose?”
I scoff, my breath shaking as he kisses me more deeply now. “Someone more charming than you? Is that even possible?”
He’s not letting me speak, pressing me into the door frame, his lips stealing my breath as he ignites a blazing fire within me. My hands reach up and grasp his vest, trying to find purchase, my legs trembling.
He likes doing this, messing with me till I am a tangle of needs and desires. And then he walks away like everything is fine, leaving me all hot and bothered. But this is the first time Ethan has touched me in the office like this.
I pull away from him, my voice raspy. “Don’t even think about it. We’re in the office.”
“The door is closed.” His mouth presses against my jaw, peppering hot wet kisses along the side of my neck. “Nobody’s going to come in here. Besides, it’s lunch time.”
“And—” My fingers dig into his collar as I stumble past the door frame, into my office, “And I have to go out for lunch.”
“Do you?” he laughs breathlessly.
My hip hits the edge of my desk, and I hear the door to my office close with a loud snick.
“Y-Yes, I do.”
His fingers are underneath my blouse, tracing patterns over my skin with a feather-light touch that’s driving me insane.
“E-Ethan—I swear?—”
His other hand is creeping down, sliding inside my skirt. My eyes widen, and I grab his wrist. “Don’t even think about it.”
He gives me the most innocent look he can muster. “I wasn’t going to do anything.”
I glare at him, trying to gather my still functioning brain cells. “You are such a jerk. You know what you were doing.”
I push him back, and he lets me, stumbling onto my two-seater, a grin playing on his lips.
“You were going to get me all riled up like you have been for the past two weeks, and then just saunter out of here.”
“I don’t saunter.”
“You’re a jerk.”
“I resent that.” He’s still smirking. “I just missed you.”
I roll my eyes at him, fixing my shirt. “No, you didn’t.
You just like messing with me. But this is the first time you’ve done so at work.
I told you to behave yourself. How can you be so irresponsible?
If anybody walks in and sees us, it will take one minute for the news to spread like wildfire through the office.
Do you know how hard I’m trying to make sure to keep things professional— Are you listening to me, Ethan ? ”
He’s gazing at me, but it’s obvious he’s not paying attention to any of the words I’m saying.
“Ethan!”
He blinks.
“I’m going to lunch. You’re impossible.”
He grabs my hand. “Have lunch with me.”
“No. I want to meet Iris. We talked about it this morning. And you and I aren’t taking our relationship public so?—”
“Because you don’t want it to be public.” He frowns. “Not me. I’m not the one ashamed of our relationship.”
I go still. “I’m not ashamed.”
He releases my hand. “Are you sure about that? Because I have no problem letting everybody know that we are involved.”
“Involved?” I look at him. “What are we, Ethan? Am I your girlfriend? Am I your lover? Or am I the woman living in your house and carrying your child? Which do you think sounds better when telling everybody?”
He reaches out with his fingers and intertwines them with mine, pulling me forward into his lap. “I don’t like the word girlfriend. I’m too old to have a girlfriend. Simply calling you my lover seems disrespectful.”
My mouth is dry as he studies my fingers, playing with them. “How about fiancée, or future wife? I like those terms.”
My heart flutters in my chest. “What?”
“I like fiancée.”
“It’s only been a few months since we’ve met again,” I stammer. “I’m not your fiancée.”
“Then future wife?” He wraps his arms around my waist. “I always liked the idea of promise rings as a boy. Maybe I can give you one of those, but with a diamond.”
“That’s an engagement ring,” I protest.
“Is it?” His lips curve. “I wouldn’t know. ”
“An engagement is too fast. We agreed to a year together.”
“Then, future wife, it is.”
“It’s the same, Ethan!” I complain, flustered. “I don’t want to move this fast. What if?—?”
The words get stuck in my throat.
He watches me. “Finish that sentence.”
“Nothing. I should go?—”
He doesn’t let me move. “Let me finish that sentence for you, then. What if I get bored of you and leave? Is that what you were going to say?”
I wet my lips. “No, I mean?—”
“We can go get married right now,” he says calmly. “Will that reassure you that I’m playing for keeps here? We can get a marriage license at the city clerk’s office. We can register our marriage there?—”
“That’s enough!” My body feels cold. “Why are you talking like that? Marriage is a serious business.”
“And so am I about you.” He raises a brow. “You’re the one who needs reassurance. I’m willing to provide it.”
I stare at him. I could call him out on this bluff, but I have a sinking sensation in my stomach that he might actually do it. Given his track record, there’s nothing I can put past him.
“Not girlfriend,” I finally say. “But we’re involved. That’s it. I don’t want a ring. Not yet.”
A reluctant smile tugs at his lips. “Well, I wouldn’t have minded calling you my wife.”