Chapter 33
Fiona
“Well, I’m calling to let you know you passed the job interview with flying colors, and I would love for you to join my company,” he says. I bite my bottom lip, cringing.
With everything going on, I’d forgotten to call him and let him know I already got a job.
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“I’d love for you to come take a tour and meet with me to discuss the job you’d be doing. I have a great office for already have everything set up so you would only need to bring the office supplies you have, but if you don’t have any, we can definitely order some.”
I want to interrupt, but he continues, leaving me no space to speak.
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“There is paperwork you’ll need to fill out, so coming in soon would be good so we can get that processed quickly. It’s the usual tax documents, identification forms, and consent forms for various tests we require before starting work. I know you were wanting to start soon, so how would coming in on Tuesday sound?”
I peek at Ethan again to find he’s now turned slightly my way, his head tilted to the side a bit, and his jaw ticking.
The annoyance confuses me, but I brush it off. He’s probably still angry at the Jack situation.
“Chris, I’m sorry. I meant to call you to tell you I’ve gotten a secretarial job at the Silverclaw Company, so I’m sorry that to have wasted your time,” I tell him while picking at a piece of lint on my pants.
“Oh.” Chris mumbles, and I can tell he’s disappointed. Again, guilt hits me. “Well, congratulations, Fiona. Silverclaw is amazing and I’m sure you will have an amazing experience with them.”
“Thanks, Chris. I have to get back to work, but I’ll talk to you some other time.”
With that, we hang up and before I can even put the phone away, Ethan whirls on me. His red face is the first thing I notice, then I notice he has his hands clenched into fists again.
“You’re still in contact with that man?” He snarls. Surprisingly, he doesn’t move toward me, and I am thankful for that. I ⚫ don’t want him to crowd in on me again. As much as my body liked it, I don’t feel like being close to him while he’s angry.
“Ethan, I forgot to tell him I had a job. I interviewed for a position at his company so of course he would call,” I tell him, standing up. This time, I move in on him. He doesn’t get to be angry right now. Not over this. “And what do you care? It’s not like he asked me out.”
Ethan scoffs and rolls his eyes, something I never thought I’d see the buttoned–up billionaire do. It gives me pause, but then I remember what we’re arguing about.
“Are you sleeping with him?”
“Excuse me?” I bark. Ethan narrows his eyes again, and I feel like a bug being pinned to a glass case.
“Are. You. Sleeping. With. Him?”
“Why would you ask that? I just told you I haven’t violated our contract which means I haven’t been with anyone other than you!” I scream, shoving at his chest. He doesn’t budge, and that only adds fuel to the fire burning in my body. “I’m not some whore who goes around sleeping with any man that will give her attention, Ethan. Where do you get the audacity?”
Hurt fills me, growing from a small seed to a large, overwhelming mass of vines. After explaining my emotions, how I felt about Jack and how I felt about everything that’s happening, I can’t believe he would still be this cold.
His glare remains just as hard, and he doesn’t answer my question.
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Chapter 33
Exhaustion rises in me, and I just wish we could stop arguing.
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“Chris and I have no relationship, and if we did, I would’ve told you or broken off the contract we have,” I tell him, walking to my desk and falling back into my seat. “Stop and think about it for a second, Ethan. Think about everything I told you before you left on your trip. I want and need your help. I know I said you were using me, but it was also my choice.”
I take a breath before continuing, “So I don’t know what you need me to tell you to prove I’m not lying or manipulating you, but I’m not. Yes, I kissed you to annoy Jack, but I also…”
I stop myself. Was I really going to admit I wanted to kiss him.
I had wanted him to kiss me.
I had missed him while he was gone, and seeing him, having him so close while acting
this way was too much.
Even with the entitled attitude, the overwhelming and random possessiveness, and the inability to accept that I am not here to hurt him, I want to get to know him better. I want to find out why he’s hiding behind the anger and accusations.
“Also, what?” Ethan questions, stalking toward me. He stops before coming around the desk, which I’m grateful for. If he touches me right now, I think I’ll give in and tell him everything he wants to hear.
“I just want you to hear me like you said you would. You promised you’d be on my side, but the accusations make me feel like you’ve been lying,” I admit.
If he doesn’t understand after everything I’ve told him, I don’t know what I’ll do. I feel like Ethan should understand, and I thought he did, but then he did a one–eighty, and it’s almost as if he’s forgotten our agreement to help each other.
“Did something happen while you were gone to make you change your mind?”
Ethan looks down at me as I lean in, peering up at him. If I can get him to open up, maybe we can clear this up.
“No, I just…” he sighs and drags a hand through his hair, mussing it up and making a few pieces stick up. “I’m sorry. I know I’m all over the place. There are some things happening at home, and my parents are putting a lot of pressure on me.”
His parents.
He doesn’t usually talk about his parents.
“Is that really a reason to take your anger out on me?” I ask. I understand being under pressure, but it’s not an excuse.
“No. I’m sorry,” he says again, shaking his head. “It’s not alright, and I’ll do better. I didn’t mean to be so critical, and you’re right.”
“I don’t know if an apology is enough, Ethan. I need real reassurance and words aren’t solid enough. I’ve been lied to for a long time, and going through another relationship that is full of lies isn’t something I want,” I explain.
Ethan nods then turns to look out the window beside my desk. When he doesn’t say anything else, I stand, grab my lunchbox, and step around my desk.
“I’m going to take a little time to myself and let you have time to think things over while I eat lunch,” I murmur and scurry away before he can say anything else.
How did I go from wanting him back to wanting to take space from him again?
