By noon he had called me to his office and I braced myself for whatever impossible task he was about to throw at me. I barely had a moment to collect myself before he slid a handwritten list across his desk. He smirked as if he was savoring the moment.“Call them.”I looked down at the list, my stomach twisting the second I read the names they were all women.I lifted my eyes to him wanting some kind of explanation or ustification for what he was making me do. “Who are they?”His smirk deepened as he was taunting me. “Former acquaintances.”Translation- he was making me call his former lovers.I swallowed hard, forcing myself to maintain a neutral expression, he wanted a reaction and I wouldn't give him one. I nodded and went to my desk to make the calls, he didn't even need to ask me what to say, I already knew what the sadist of a man needed.I picked up the phone, my fingers stiff as I dialed the first number. The ringing felt endless, a chilling build-up to what I already knew w
This man was hellbent on breaking me and the way wasn't even over.I could handle the coffee runs, the infuriating games or one-night stand dismissals. But then, he cranked it up a notch by piling impossible deadlines onto my plate, pushing me to the edge of sanity.Every time I thought I was finally catching up, another last-minute assignment landed on my desk.Prepare these reports in an hour.Reschedule my meetings, not just once, twice.Find this obscure document from five years ago, right now, he was relentless. I barely had time to breathe before his name flashed on my screen again.Ethan: Come to my office. Now.I slammed my laptop shut, my patience finally snapping.When I stormed into his office, he barely acknowledged me, too busy skimming through a file.I crossed my arms. “This is ridiculous.”That got his attention. He looked up, dark amusement flickering in his eyes. “What is?”I clenched my jaw. “The deadlines. The unnecessary errands. The impossible workload. This isn’
His voice was deep and unmistakable, my head snapped up, and there he was standing just a few feet away, completely dry as his hands casually tucked into the pockets of his tailored coat there was a smirk on his face as if he had been enjoying the show.My pulse jumped from the shock to pure rage.I blinked at him, rainwater was steaming down my face and it was dripping from my hair as my soaked blouse clinged to my skin.Meanwhile, he stood there looking unbothered, perfect, and completely entertained by my suffering.I hated him.I squared my shoulders, ignoring the shiver from the cold. “What the hell are you doing here?”Ethan tilted his head, gaze lazily sweeping over me. “Watching you self-destruct, apparently.”My fingers curled into fists. “Go to hell.”His smirk widened. “Ladies first little Sophie.”I clenched my jaw, every nerve in my body screaming at me to walk away and ignore him. But I was cold, wet, and pissed off, and Ethan Blackwood had just witnessed my very publi
The moment I settled into the passenger seat and the leather cold against my damp skin, I realized just how much trouble I was in. The rain had ruined me.My dress which was already thin, clung to me like a second skin, the soaked fabric outlining every curve, dip and inch of me.And he could see it.Worse was the way the cold had hardened my nipples, making them painfully obvious beneath the material. I didn’t need to look down to know, I could feel it, the way he fabric stuck, the way the air-conditioning only made it worse.I crossed my arms over my chest instinctively, but it was too late as Ethan had already seen.He didn’t say a word, didn’t make some smug comment or cocky remark. But he didn’t look away either.His hands gripped the steering wheel tighter, knuckles flexing. His jaw ticked, the muscle there twitching like he was clenching his teeth too hard. And his eyes were dark, burning, dragging over me like he was trying not to react and this was some kind of test of his s
When Ethan pulled up in front of the small, worn-down building I called home, I couldn't help but feel very insecure and it was very much understandable, I had seen the freaking mansion the man lived in, I'm sure this was the poorest apartment he had ever seen.I didn't know how to tell him to leave, so I just kept quiet hoping he would read the room, so I reached for the door handle, eager to escape the sexual tension.“I’ll walk you up,” he said casually, it was evident that he didn't get the information.I froze not knowing how to move or breathe amy fingers gripping the door of the car. “That’s not necessary at all.”He ignored me, already stepping out of the car.I let out a frustrated breath but didn’t argue. What was the point? Ethan Blackwood didn’t ask, he just decided. And right now, he has decided to invade my space.The stairwell was suffocating. Maybe it was because he was here his entire presence felt heavy and was invading me even though he wasn’t touching me at all.At
"I want you."All my working brain cells were begging me to run away, I needed to flee from this man. He was a walking, talking, breathing and living temptation.And yet stupid me couldn't move.I was backed against the wall of my own apartment where had followed me inside without asking, taking up space like he belonged here. Like he belonged anywhere he wanted to be.His eyes were locked onto mine, dark and unreadable.“I—” My voice caught. I barely knew what I was going to say.His head dipped lower, his lips just inches from mine. “You what, Sophia?”I pressed my back harder against the wall, as if that would create some kind of escape. But there was no escaping Ethan Blackwood.I swallowed hard. “You—”His head tilted slightly, gaze sharp as a blade. “I what, Sophia?”He said my name like a challenge, like he already knew I didn’t have an answer.I licked my lips, my throat dry. It was a nervous habit, but his gaze flicked down, tracking the movement. My stomach flipped.This was
It felt like I had just gotten slapped on the face, I was confused, humiliated, angry.“You don’t get to do that.” I screamed to no one in particular because he was already gone.Without thinking I picked up a vase and threw it on the floor.Damn! I just realized that I would be the one to clean that up.It was official, I despised Ethan Blackwood, but I couldn't deny that my panties were flooded with obvious need for him.I stood frozen, staring at the door long after it had clicked shut.My room was filled with everything he had left behind, the scent of his cologne, and even his jacket.My hands were trembling so I curled them into fists, nails digging into my palms as if pain could somehow ground me.What the hell had just happened?I exhaled sharply, pushing away from the wall and rubbing my arms, trying to shake off the sensation of him. It was useless.I should be relieved that he left. That he didn’t push further. That I hadn’t completely fallen into whatever game he was play
Avoiding Ethan Blackwood should have been easy. He was a CEO with a demanding schedule, and I was just another employee buried under paperwork.But Ethan wasn’t just my boss, the man he was a storm, one that had an uncanny ability to find me no matter where I tried to hide.And I wasn't just an employee, I was his secretary.I spent the entire morning avoiding places he was likely to go to, intentionally planning my movements.I skipped my usual coffee break because I knew he would be there. I took the long way to the copy room just to avoid passing his window. When I saw him walking down the hallway, I immediately ducked into a random meeting room, pretending to check something on my phone until he was gone.It was ridiculous. It was childish and yet, it still didn’t work.At exactly noon, my phone vibrated on my desk.Ethan: My office. Now.I stared at the message, my stomach knotting.I could ignore it. Pretend I didn’t see it. Maybe even claim my phone was on silent. After two mi
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