Chapter 55 Ethan
ETHAN
And what he means by that is, confirming his target list of clients and all the ways we need to kiss their ass this year to gain their business.
He’s been pushing me harder and harder; even with the college courses he demands even more from me every passing week.
Yet, there’s no compensation for anything I do other than a base salary that hardly gets me by.
Especially because he takes his ‘cut’ of what I ‘owe him’ and still it seems like I never make a dent in it.
I don’t regret it. I don’t. Hannah got the care she needed and I’m so grateful. But I fucking hate how much control he has over everything in my life now.
I pull up in the empty parking lot of our office, parking in the front because the only other car that’s here is my fathers pristine baby blue Lamborghini.
Didn’t Lamborghini’s go out of style in like 1989? I think to myself as I forcefully keep my hand clenched in my pocket to avoid keying it as a pass by.
The building is locked so I use my key card to access the main lobby doors and take the elevator up to the top floor where his office is located.
“It’s about time,” my father spits out as I glance at my watch a look of confusion on my face because I’m actually five minutes early.
“What are we doing here on a holiday anyway?” My tone drips with annoyance and he snaps a glare in my direction.
“You wouldn’t be in the financial predicament you’re in if you put in some extra effort. Your entitled generation has no idea what it's like to work hard. Do whatever it takes to get the job done.”
…whatever it takes to get the job done… I internally mimic as he says the words because he’s said that more times than I care to count.
“Right. So, what do you need me to work on?” I ask, ignoring him, something I’ve learned to become highly proficient at.
He’s always been this way but over the past few months it’s gotten worse. Probably because I’m forced to work so closely with him, but he also hasn’t been able to get in with Christian or Dane, and I think his poor-sport attitude is rearing its ugly head.
I never really understood our relationship.
I mean, we’ve never truly had one. Life has always been about work for him.
His image. Even my mother couldn't take it anymore.
Not only did he only care about work but he had multiple known affairs.
She stayed married and miserable until I turned eighteen, then finally left—just a few months before the accident.
“You know, I debated bringing this sensitive matter to your attention but with your attitude this morning I don’t think I care about your feelings or how it will affect you and Hannah.”
I sit up, my spine ramrod straight, because he has my attention now. He never talks about Hannah unless it’s to remind me of her medical expenses. Frankly speaking, I know he doesn’t like her. He tolerates my relationship with her. Why? I’m not sure, but I never wanted to question him about it.
“What are you talking about?” I inquire, my words slow and calculated because his body language makes me feel completely on edge.
“I knew I didn’t trust her. That she would betray you the moment she had the chance,” he says, shaking his head as if disappointed.
But that’s the thing. He’s never worried about anyone but himself so his behavior is…weird.
“I was told Dane would be at Afterburn last night so I decided to go.”
Oh fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
He pulls out his phone, tapping on the screen then angles it in my direction. My eyes saucer out of my head as I hold my breath.
“He was there with your girlfriend. Hands all over her, kissing her.” My fathers voice is oddly calm, almost kind. It sets me on edge even more. He’s never kind, especially about my feelings.
“I snapped these pictures and left because I’d seen enough after that.”
I peer down at his phone and the picture is of Dane and Hannah standing in the viewing area next to the stage. I must have left to check on the room already because my father swipes through and it’s just the two of them.
Dane wrapping his arm around her waist, kissing her neck.
Swipe.
Dane using his fingers to tilt her chin so he can kiss her lips.
Swipe.
Dane having his eyes only on my girl and taking care of her while I’m getting us a room.
He swipes again and this time it’s Dane, his face exposed as he lifts his mask, peering down at his phone with a smirk as he texts me back. A glint of pure joy in his eyes as he responds and it takes everything in me not to smile.
“I didn’t think anything of it, until I saw her hideous scar and I knew immediately who it was. He’s fucking your girlfriend, Ethan. Stealing her from right under your nose.”
I pause, trying to articulate words. How do I tell him? How do I tell him we’re all involved? I want to spit out the words, I’m bisexual. They’re there. Right there.
My heart rate picks up as my pulse pounds in my ears. I swallow thickly, taking in a deep breath. I need to tell him, there’s no other way.
This is the first time he’s shown any concern for me, for something that could affect me so dramatically. He seems worried about me, like he’s on my side. I still feel skeptical though.
“It’s not what you think,” the words come out a whisper that he doesn’t even hear.
“He’s fucking one of his students. That’s a huge problem for him.” He pauses and I almost blurt out my secret. I open my mouth but he quickly spits out, “It’s great for us.”
“What?” I reply, confused.
“He’s fucking a student. If that gets out it will destroy his reputation and credibility. Hannah will be ruined, she’ll lose her course credits and will need to start over—if any other University will even let her in.”
I’m stunned as I take in his words. He’s not concerned for me or worried about Hannah. His words are sharp, confident. Intentional.
“I don’t think he cares much about Hannah, but he sure as hell wouldn’t want this getting out. We’ll be using this to our advantage,” he states, factually as if were part of a strategy in his first quarter projection report.
Jesus Christ. I knew my father was a horrible, disgusting man. I never knew he would go to these lengths, ruining everyone around him solely for his own benefit.
“You can’t do that,” are the only words I can manage to muster as my thought process explodes into a sea of confusion.
How do I stop this?
If I tell him the three of us are…What are we? A thing? Together? In love?
That will make it worse. He’ll think Dane coerced me into being with him sexually. He’ll attach whatever is owed on Hannah’s medical expenses to her and I hate the stress that will put on her. If he does all this I won’t have to work for him.
A brief moment of relief passes through me knowing I won’t be stuck under my father’s thumb, controlled by him. He won’t be able to hang the money over my head but I hate how selfish that makes me feel.
That makes me just like him.
My scowl is unavoidable as he snaps his neck in my direction.
“I can do whatever the fuck I want!” Thankfully the office is empty, otherwise everyone in the building would have heard him. “I’m going to the Dean with this.”
“Wait. Don’t.” I put my hands up. Everything Hannah worked on this semester, her perfect grade, diminished and everything she stands for, ruined. “I can get him to work with us…with you, without any of this.”
A moment passes between us as he contemplates my words. A look of disgust passes over his face. “You’re weak for her son. Women aren’t worth it.”
“Just let me take care of it. Give me a week.”
He pauses again. Appraising me. He’s right. I’m weak for Hannah. For Dane. I’m weak but not in the way he thinks. I just need time to figure out how to get out of this mess without anyone getting hurt. Specifically Hannah and Dane.
“Your classes start back up next week?” he asks.
I nod.
It’s the last semester. We don’t have Dane’s class anymore, he’s teaching the same course to a new group of students, but Hannah still has two more courses that she needs credits for. I have just one more.
“Get his accounts here with us in a week and I won’t say anything about this. But that doesn’t mean you should let this go. Once a cheater, always a cheater.”
You would know.
“I’ll get it done,” I say with an undeniable confidence.
He smirks. “That’s the spirit I’ve been looking for."