Chapter 26
Fiona
“You’re Fiona Aldridge, right?”
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Turning, I find a man standing in the doorway of the supply room. He’s tall and muscular with tan skin and an unsettling smirk. I’d been making copies extra slowly so I could take a few minutes of space without anyone hovering over me.
Now this guy shows up, and he knows my name,
Did Ethan send him to find me?
Can I not get a break for two seconds without someone watching or controlling everything I do?
“Yes, I’m Fiona,” I tell the man.
He nods, steps into the small room, and closes the door behind me. Instantly, my mind tells me this isn’t right. Then the lock clicks behind him, and my nerves jump into overdrive.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
He steps towards me.
I step back.
My heart hammers in my chest as he
gets
closer.
“I’ve seen you around and I couldn’t help but admire how pretty you are,” the man says.
“Th–thank you, but I have to get back to work.”
Not even bothering with the papers, I dash around the man, but he’s fast and grabs me by the wrist. My body swings back, out of my control, and collides with the wall just before the man presses his body to mine and pins me against he wall.
“Get off me,” I order, trying to rid my voice of the nervous tremor.
“You don’t really want that, babe.”
A hand slides up my thigh, dragging my skirt with it, and I curse myself for wearing a skirt today. I push at the man, but he merely grabs me by the shoulders, spins me around, and shoves my face into the wall.
Pain bites at my cheek, and tears fill my eyes for the second time today.
“I’ve heard that you like to open your legs for anyone willing to give you a bit of attention,” the snake hisses, making me whimper. I thrash in his hold, but he pins my wrists behind my back. “Don’t you like the attention, little slut?” He asks, pushing his erection up against me.
I gasp, fear climbing up my throat, and I whimper.
“Get away from me.”
He doesn’t move away, instead, he leans in closer, rubbing against me and sniffing at my hair.
“Vanilla. Damn, you smell goo-”
The door suddenly bursts open, and I’m released. My body slides to the floor as Ethan yanks the man off me, his fist raining down on my attacker’s face.
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Ethan’s eyes are wide and furious, flickering with unbridled rage as he lands one final punch to the man’s face and knocks
him out.
*Fiona.”
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I jump at my name and scramble to my feet. To afraid and embarrassed to say anything, I run out of the room. Ethan yells my name, but I ignore him and make a beeline for the elevator, finding safety and silence there.
No one else tries to stop me as I close the doors and ride up to our offices. I’ll pack my bag and take the rest of the day off. Maybe even take tomorrow off.
With the way my hands are shaking, and I can barely see as I try to pull my keys from my bag. I’m not going to be able to function properly. I hear Ethan shout my name again, anger clear in his voice, and I bite my lip to keep the sobs in.
I can’t deal with an angry Ethan on top of everything that just happened.
“Fiona! Stop!”
My bag slips through my fingers, clattering to the ground as everything spills from it.
Before I can move, Ethan spins me around and pins me to the door by my waist. His grip is gentler than the man before, but
I still squirm and whimper. Immediately, he releases me and holds his hands up in surrender.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you, Fiona,” he starts, moving between me and the door. Trapping me. “I just… what is the problem? You can’t run from me and continue ignoring me!”
“How is any of this about you?!” I yell, “I was just assaulted, and you want to get angry at me for… for what?”
“Why are you ignoring me today?” His question is a demand, and I laugh. It’s not a happy laugh that escapes me.
The sound is soft, cracked, and strained as it leaves my chest.
“Because I feel trapped, Ethan,” I whisper. “Everything is happening so fast and there’s so much going on that I can’t get a moment to breathe. Everything hurts.”
He steps closer but stops when I step back. I can’t have him touch me right now. I want him to, but I feel dirty.
“I like you, Ethan, but every time we’re together, I’m left with a feeling that I’ve been used and thrown away. Do you know how that feels?” My voice cracks at the end of my question, and I squeeze my eyes closed to hide the tears. “I feel alone in this so–called partnership, and I feel that all you want to do is control me.”
“I can’t have someone control me again, Ethan. That’s all Jack did and all my father does. I don’t want to be stuck in another relationship where all I do is get suppressed,” I explain. “I can’t tell if you truly have my best intentions at heart of if you’re just using me like they did.”
He stays silent, and I feel his fingers brush my forearm. I jump, and then the touch disappears.
Tears roll down my cheeks as I continue, “That man tried to rape me in the copy room because your employees are spreading rumors that I’m a slut and that we’re sleeping together.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Why didn’t I- I didn’t feel like you’d listen, Ethan,” I say, opening my eyes. I gasp.
He’s right in front of me, his hands still out in a surrendered motion, but he’s less than a foot away. When I don’t move away, he lifts a hand and cups my cheek. The warmth and tender touch has me leaning in without thought.
“I’ll listen, Fiona. I want you to be honest with me about your feelings,” he murmurs, stepping closer to where our chests touch. “As for the company, I’ll clear the rumors away and deal with anyone who hurts you. While we’re together, even for
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this short time. I’ll make sure you’re okay.”
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The tinge of worry in his eyes and in his tone make me melt. The tenderness he shows is different from his usual brash and cold exterior, and I can’t help but wonder if this is how he is inside or if this is a rare moment of kindness.
“Will you have dinner with me tonight?”
The words leave my mouth before I realize I’d been thinking them.
I’m sorry, but I already have plans tonight.” he says softly. Something in my chest shifts, and I pull back. I try to shove the disappointment down, but it rears its ugly head and settles in the middle of my gut.
Turning my head, I try to hide it, but Ethan cups my cheeks again and leans in, pressing his lips to mine.
Heat bursts through my body as his lips seal over mine in a silent promise to make it up to me.
His hands, gentle and controlled, slide down my waist, over my butt, and under my thighs, lifting me. Immediately, I wrap my arms and legs around him, kissing him back.
My fingers slide into his hair as he lowers me to sit on his desk.
Our lips move together until he pulls away a moment later, leaving me breathing heavy and wanting more.
What is happening?
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