My alarm was ringing loudly, but I wasn't ready to wake up especially after the event of last night, so I tried to pretend as if the alarm wasn't there, but I just couldn't.I groaned rolling over and putting a freaking pillow on my face but it doesn't stop, so I reached to shut it off only to see almost a million missed calls in my phone.And I wasn't exaggerating at all.I squinted my eyes at the screen in an attempt to see better since my vision still very much blurry with sleep.Mom (5 Missed Calls)Rachel (10 Missed Calls, 3 Texts)My heart skipped, did someone die? Wait! Did Ethan die?But why the hell was my mom calling me? Shouldn’t she be on her honeymoon, sipping cocktails on some exotic beach with her new husband?I didn't want to overthink it as I was too exhausted to deal with whatever new hell awaited me.I dropped my phone on the bed and pulled the covers over my head. Maybe if I ignore it, the world will go away.But I should have known better as not up to a second lat
Before I could ask the bastard what he heck he was doing here, he shoved a crumpled newspaper on my face.What the hell? I snatch it away from him as my eyes went to the bold headline."Ethan Blackwood’s latest conquest—how long until this one is replaced?"And beneath it was another photo, it was different from the one Rachel had sent. It was still a perfectly timed shot of Ethan and me from last night but this time, my hand was interlocking his. His fingers firmly wrapped around mineHe was whispering something in my ear as I smiled his gaze directed at me, sharp yet amused, like he’s whispering something only I can hear.It didn't look as if he forced me to this dinner, on the contrary we seemed madly in love."So a senior staff wasn’t enough for you?" The venom in his voice made me snap my head up, He didn't even bother hiding disgust written all over his face as his nostrils flared like a bull seeing red."You just had to fuck the boss too right Sophie?" He intentionally made hi
His office was quiet, there was no whispers or side glances from my co workers just Ethan's Intense gaze.He moved to his desk playing with his pen before sitting down and his piercing gaze never left mine.I keep my head high refusing to let him see how rattled I am.But now that we were here alone, the weight of every thing came crashing down as the adrenaline rush from my confrontation with Alex had finally left my system.I wasn't sure Ethan was fazed about the articles or even gave cared about what people would say about him calling me to his office, but he was the boss he could afford not to care, but I couldn't I was very much replaceable in both his life and in the office I got bored of the silence, seeing as Ethan was not going to make any effort to speak, I took the initiative, as I crossed my arms in an attempt to ground myself. "So I guess this is the part where you fire me?"A lazy annoying smirk appeared on his face as he leaned in against his desk, his hands still casu
Even where Ethan had done that display, there was still eyes on me and I wasn't just imagining it.Rachel wanted to treat me to lunch and I knew we weren't just going to eat, she was doing to force my tongue spill the tea.When he walked into the café section everywhere went silent as everyone not so subtly glanced at me as I could feel their judgements from their whole body expression.I forced myself to keep my head high as we found a table while Rachel on the other hand.seemed completely unfazed as she sat across from me, sliding her tray onto the table with grace that only a Blackwood could pull of while I stabbed at my salad, pretending not to feel like a zoo exhibit."Don't worry you will get used to it," Rachel remarkedI blinked trying to act as if I didn't know what she was talking about "What?"She smirked nodding toward the nearby tables that was still talking about me "The attention, the gossip and the rumors. It’s all part of the fun, isn’t it?"I exhaled glancing around
By the time mid-afternoon rolled around, my bladder was screaming for relief. I pushed away from my desk and made my way to the restroom, slipping into one of the stalls.The moment I sat down, I heard the sound of the door opening and I heard the clicking of heels making an annoying against the marble floors, I forced myself to keep shut I didn't want to interact with the women here, all I had to do was keep shut for twenty minutes or so while I wait for them to get out, after all the just came to retouch their makeup."...such a desperate little slut. It’s pathetic."I froze, they were talking about me."Did you see the article? A million dollars just to take her out? Please.""Like, come on, Ethan Blackwood could have any woman in the city why would he pick her unless she was screwing him?"They bursted out in a cold cruel laughter. I couldn't helo but feel angry I gritted my teeth, fingers clenching into fists, they didn't even know half of the story but here they were judging me
The clock on the wall ticked away the minutes, each one dragging me closer to my stupid dates or what ever the hell it was supposed to be.I could cancel, he's that might work. I could pretend to be sick, make up some excuse, and save myself the trouble of sitting across from Ethan Blackwood while he smirked like he had already won. Maybe that’s what bothered me the most that he had bought me.No matter how much I tried to sugarcoat it up as a charity auction, no matter how much I told myself it didn’t mean anything, the reality was still the same. Ethan had thrown a million dollars just to get me alone for one night.And I knew why, because he wanted me and men like him don't no for an answer and this was another way to remind me that no matter how hard I fought against him, I was still in his hands?My fingers curled into the sheets and I took a decision , I wouldn't go, I would let him show up to some overpriced restaurant alone, humiliated, knowing that for all his money and powe
I used to think I had escaped my mother and that as long as I worked hard enough, fought hard enough and became my own person, I would never have to put up with listening to her crazy idea. But I was so wrong, I held up the dress she had brought touching the silky fabric as I realised that I had never truly left, she was still there as always planting thoughts in my head and reminding me what I came from, and what I swore I would never become. I couldn't help as memories of my childhood that I thought I had long forgotten flooded my mind. Our home was not really a home, it was a stage, where my mother was at the star performer, the boyfriends came and went like the seasons and of course each one was wealthier than the last and of course each of them was making promises that they never intended to keep. Some of them played house with me pretending they cared and others never even bothered but none of them stayed behind because they never loved us. I had learned early that men lik
Ethan didn’t do ordinary things, he always took things two steps forward shocking everyone, and now I was beyond shocked.He had rented a freaking private rooftop for the dinner, it wasn't enough that he paid a huge amount of money to make me his date, he had to rent a private rooftop.The city view was beautiful but it was nothing compared to the world Ethan had created for just the two of us, the rooftop was enclosed in glass and had candles making it give a real first date kind of vibe, there was white tablecloth with fine silver wear and over a hundred fresh roses arranged on the floor and table.The air smelled like jasmine and our from Ethan's own scent, everything was breathtaking and the fact that he and taken his time to plan this made it even more romantic.Maybe he did it to disarm me and I wasn't going to deny that it worked.“Is it up to your taste?” He teased me and for a moment I couldn't even speak, I gripped the hem of my dress trying to find my words but how could I
I turned back to Ethan, his hand still hovering like he wanted to reach for me again but didn’t dare.“Ethan,” I said, almost begging him to say, “What were you going to say?”His eyes met mine. “Don’t trust her, Sophie.”My pulse jumped. “Why? Make me believe you just don't tell me what to do.” He opened his mouth to speak but then Rachel appeared with a smile on her face.She was dressed in something effortless and expensive, her designer sunglasses pushed up into her waves. She looked like a magazine cover come to life.“Sophie, oh my God,” she said, eyeing me from head to toe. “That dress is stunning on you, you’re glowing!”I blinked, still wanting Ethan to speak, but I could tell he wasn't going to Rachel's gaze went right past Ethan like he wasn’t even breathing in the same room.“I’m parked outside. Come on, they’re expecting us you are gonna thank me by noon.”She held out her hand and I was about to take it, Ethan stepped between us.“She’s not going with you.”Rachel’s sm
Sophie's POVRachel kept on talking as if what Ethan was saying wasn't her concern.“Well don't listen to Ethan, what I planned was amazing.” Her eyes gleaming with excitement. “It will be just us girls and I have got us booked at Valentina’s, with all the VIP things, steam rooms, facials, massages—the works.” She paused and glared at Ethan. “You will love it, Sophie. So relaxing, play you need to loosen up.”I opened my mouth, unsure what to say.Ethan didn’t say anything., but I could sense that he had a lot to say. “I thought it would be nice for her to get a break from all… this.”She waved vaguely toward him, but we both knew what she meant, that Ethan was the problem here.That’s when Ethan coughed out loud.Rachel flinched before regaining her sugar-drenched composure. “Just saying—it’s bonding and I am trying.”Ethan stepped forward, clenching his jaw. “Sophie is not going anywhere.”Rachel scoffed, tossing her hair over her shoulder like the queen of chaos she thought she wa
Sophie's POVEthan was pacing my room, like a mad man on rampage and I actually understood where he was coming from.“He’s been sending money to Callahan.” He repeated.He kept walking and then finally he started staggering and the, his back but the wall and he sank like his legs gave up on him, he looked like he was about to drown.His hands clawed at his shirt, as he was hyperventilating.I walked up to him and then dropped to my knees to stay beside him. “Ethan, hey please look at me.”But he didn’t look.“Ethan—look at me.” I repeated as I cupped his face trying to make him feel calm, my thumbs brushed over his cheeks. His eyes were glassy like he wanted to cry, but he was trying to hold it together.“Breathe with me,” I said calmly. “Okay? In... one, two... hold it. Now out. Nice and slow.”I repeated it until I felt him mimic my breathing and then his breathing calmed down, our backs were against the wall looking like two people whose life was over.He let his head fall forward
Sophie's POVI didn't know what to say, but Ethan was giving me a very apologetic look, but my look was anything but accommodating.He needed to know that his mere presence wasn't going to change anything.“What the hell are you doing in my house?”“I need just five minutes of your time.” He said and I nodded because it was rare to see Ethan Blackwood begging for something from a common girl like me. “I came to apologize.”A laugh escaped from my lips before I could stop it. “It’s a little too late for that, don’t you think?”“Sophie—”“No, do not say my name like we are still fine and like you didn’t shut me down and tell me to mind my business when all I did was trying to care.”He flinched at words, I was pleased that she was flinching like he should.“I was angry and I wasn’t thinking—”“Exactly,” I cut him short. “You weren’t thinking Ethan you were freaking spiraling, and I tried to help and you practically told me to disappear.”His silence only made me more angry and when I lo
Ethan's POVI have been missing Sophie, and I have been a terrible asshole that doesn't deserve her one bit.she was too kind, he was like a freaking saint who but up with me ever fucking time, she could do way better than a broken bastard like me but she still stayed.But it doesn't change the fact that I still wanted her.I know I hurt her. Maybe not with my hands, but with my words first and then my silence.I could apologize. But I won’t, because apologies don’t fix people like me.I want to make myself believe that she was better off without a sadistic mother fucker like me and a woman like her needs someone softer, who doesn’t wake up every morning with a bitter ass mood and snaps when he didn't .Still… I miss her.But not enough to seek her out.But the only thing I've been doing right this week is following Callahan, and the bastard's life was indeed monotonous.I parked my car behind him, as he stepped out of his sleek black BMW at Silver Pines Golf Club, he was laughing int
ONE WEEK LATER- Sophie's POVIt had been a week, seven freaking long, quiet days since Ethan last spoke to me.He hadn’t called or even texted, I didn't even get a forwarded meme or a “hey.”And I didn’t reach out either, not because I didn’t want to, but because I meant what I said. If he wants to talk to me, he knows where to find me.And more importantly, he owed me an apology. I wasn’t going to chase someone who could so easily brush me off like I was just another person in his life So when Monday came and I went to the site for the hotel expansion because we have been neglecting it. If he wanted to pretend I didn’t exist, fine. I could still work without him.I didn't know if it was because I hadn't been here for a while but everything came together just perfectly, to say that it was stunning was an incredible understatement.It was regal with floor to ceiling windows and it didn’t look like something built in under a year.“This is impressive,” I muttered to myself as I smooth
We were just about to leave when the receptionist called me back."Miss? Miss — could I have a word?"I turned, blinking, to find her standing halfway out from behind her desk, her hands were fidgeting nervously with the hem of her cardigan as she glanced around, as if afraid of being overheard.Would you mind if I spoke to you... alone for a moment?" she asked, her voice polite but still sounding very urgent.I blinked but before I could answer, she turned her apologetic smile toward Ethan."Sir, if you don't mind—?" she gestured vaguely toward the parking lot.Ethan looked between us, frowning slightly, looking at her very suspiciously as he always looked at everyone. But after a few seconds, he gave her a small shrug and muttered, "I'll be in the car," before stepping fully outside."I'm sorry," she said in a rush, "I just... I needed to catch you before you left."I shifted my bag higher on my shoulder. "It’s okay. What is it?"She glanced toward the door, as if checking to make
As we left the hospital, I took in a deep breath, but it didn’t help.Ethan walked in front without waiting for me, his shoulders tight, his head down like he, I hurried after him.We pulled out of the hospital lot as we drove in silence, there was a lot I wanted to ask but I couldn't find the right words to say them.But then finally, I couldn’t take it anymore."So," I said carefully trying to keep my tone neutral, "What’s the plan? What exactly do you want to do now?"He stared straight ahead as his eyes were locked on the road. His knuckles were so tight on the steering wheel, they looked almost white and bloodless."What else? We will visit Rose Callahan," he said without hesitation.I studied him quietly, feeling his uneasy he was, there was more to this, so much more he wasn't willing to share."Ethan," I said slowly, "I’m not dumb. Something’s going on between you and your ex-stepmother, I am not dumb not to notice and that whole thing back there? That wasn’t nothing."His re
The second she said his name, it was like an electric shock shot straight through Ethan. His body tensed, his usual composed exterior cracking as his eyes locked onto the nurse with an intensity that almost startled me. His reaction wasn’t subtle in any way it was as if someone had just tossed a bucket of ice-cold water over him, and he was struggling to process it.He looked both relieved and scared at the same time, and it was understandable. I could practically feel his anxiety pressing on my chest.“You worked with Dr. Callahan?” Ethan asked, his voice desperate. The nurse blinked at him, a little startled by his intensity. “Yeah. Unfortunately,” she muttered as she didn't try to hide her bitterness. “For a long time.”“Can I—” Ethan paused, swallowing the words as though they were fighting their way out of him. “Can I ask you some questions about him?”He asked it like she was offering something precious, like every word she could give him was the missing piece to a puzzle tha