Avoiding Ethan was impossible.I tried. I really did.He was always there, impossible to ignore, always throwing in some comments that got under my skin. But as much as he irritated me, my mother was worse she was practically draping herself over Robert. I knew they were getting married soon, but still.My mother had a toxic talent: luring in old, bored men with her hourglass figure. I had inherited the same shape, but unlike her, I preferred to cover it up rather than flaunt it.She played the part of the long-suffering woman who had raised her daughter alone, and that was exactly why she needed me here today. But I knew how this worked. She would get bored after six months, divorce him, and if she was lucky, walk away with half his money or at least the expensive gifts.That’s how we went from a trailer to a suburban house in three years. And now? Now she owns a mansion.One would think I am being too harsh on her, but stick around and see for yourself.I kept my focus on Rachel, pr
Rachel’s head snapped toward him, her eyes flickering with surprise. “Wait, your company?”“Is there any other Blackwood Corp that I don't know of?” Ethan’s voice is filled with sarcasm, but his pride is unmistakable. It made me want to gag.Rachel turned to me with a kind smile, her wide eyes filled with excitement. “No way, I work there.”Was I supposed to celebrate?My stomach twisted as all eyes at the table turned to me.My mother’s interest immediately piqued now that the conversation involved her new family. “As what?”“As an intern but placed as my secretary.” Ethan’s grin was downright smug, like he knew he had just gained the upper hand.My mother’s sigh was loud and grating, her disapproval evident. “A secretary? Really?” She shook her head with a patronizing smile. “Well, I suppose it’s a step up from…whatever you were doing before.”My jaw tightened, my teeth clenching so hard I thought they might crack.And, of course, she wasn’t done.“And what was she doing?” Ethan ask
Ethan found his way to my side, his demeanor annoyingly relaxed. "You don't look pleased at all?" he murmured, his voice laced with amusement, of course I knew he didn't give two shits about me, this was all part of his sick game I forced a tight smile. "Just tired. It has been a very long day." He knew I was talking about the hell of an interview, so he smirked. I knew he was was still hellbent on turning me into the joke of the dinner. I hated how he looked so handsome. Then again, the devil was once the most beautiful angel. "Hope you're njoying yourself?" he asked, changing the topic with that fake innocence in his voice. “I guess so?” I shrugged, uninterested in entertaining him. “You guess so? You're at a Michelin-star restaurant Little Sophie.” I raised my eyebrow at that nickname, 'Little Sophie' but I don't know why I found myself liking it. I rolled my eyes before I could control it, but there wasn’t any reason to be rude to him, not yet anyways So I mustered a p
Monday morning arrived far too quickly. The elevator ride up to the executive floor of Blackwood Corp felt like a slow march toward my hell, doom, and possible end. I had decided to dress down today, violently avoiding anything red or remotely appealing. Instead, I wore a slightly ruffled black dress that stopped below my knee and a blue blazer jacket, my hair in a plush bun. And after downing three cups of coffee, I knew I could do this. Lie. I can't do this. I can't handle this at all. My heart pounded against my ribs, my palms damp as I clutched my bag. But despite the anxiety clawing at my throat, a sense of satisfaction settled deep in my chest. I had gotten the position. Not my traitor of a best friend. That fact alone made this worth it. I told myself this job was a fresh start, a chance to prove myself, but when I stepped into Ethan’s office, I realized just how naive I had been. He stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, hands in his pockets, looking effortlessly
I was barely two hours into my day when my phone buzzed with an internal call from Ethan’s office.I exhaled sharply before answering, here we go again. “Yes, sir?”“Bring the documents from my desk and make three copies. Now.”The line went dead. No please, I didn't want to go to this office but there was no room for negotiation. I gritted my teeth but grabbed the damn files anyway.Ethan barely glanced at me when I walked in. He was behind his massive desk, flipping through emails on his laptop. The room smelled like expensive cologne and power, a scent that was quickly becoming suffocating.I moved toward the copy machine in the corner, trying to do my job and leave as fast as possible, but his voice cut through the silence.“You and your mother,” he mused. “You guys are not close at all, are you?”My hands shook for half a second before I continued. “I don’t see how that’s relevant.”Ethan leaned back in his chair, watching me like a hunter amused by his prey’s weak attempt at esc
The donut sat in the small paper bag on my desk, mocking me because deep down I knew I couldn't pull this off.I stared at it, tapping my fingers on my, debating whether I should just throw the damn thing away.It seemed like a good idea this morning. A peace offering it was a small, almost ridiculous way to break the ice before I apologized to Ethan. Because I owed him one.I wasn’t the type to regret my words, but the second that comment about his mother had left my mouth, I knew I had crossed a line. A deep one. The kind that couldn’t be erased with a simple “I didn’t mean it.”Because I had meant it, at the time I meant every single word I said.I had wanted to hurt him. I hated the way he always seemed so untouchable, so unaffected by anything. And now, after reading the truth, after seeing what his childhood had really been like, I knew just how wrong I had been.I sighed, rubbing a hand over my face.The office was alive with its usual morning buzz, but I hadn’t seen him yet.E
The wedding rehearsal dinner was exactly what I had expected, it was lavish, excessive, and filled with people who thrived on appearances.It was the kind of event where people pretended to be happy, pretended to be invested, but in reality, they were just waiting for the perfect moment to sink their claws into someone else's life, and my mother was at the center of it all.She laughed a little too loudly, touched Robert a little too often, and made sure every single person in the room knew how “blissfully happy” she was. But it wasn’t just Robert she was entertaining. I caught the way men looked at her as if she were a prize to be won. She knew it too, and from the way she entertained them I was almost certain she had found her next husband here.But if you ask me, This rehearsal dinner was pointless. My mother and Robert had been married more times than I could count, if anyone knew how to say “I do,” it was them.I drained my third glass of wine, feeling the more then fed up, the w
His lips was hovering just above mine it was close enough that I could feel the warmth of his every breath, his heart beating, and how his breathing felt almost hitched.I could see the tiny specs of gold in grey eyes, how long his lashes were, how thick his brows were. He was incredibly handsome.Not that I didn't notice before, it was as if I felt more aware of that fact.I was entirely frozen, rooted to the spot, completely stuck in the space between fight and surrender. This was wrong in extreme ways and yet, I didn’t pull away from his electric kiss.Ethan’s fingers lightly went up my arm, barely touching me but still enough to leave a trail of heat as he went in circle, his eyes never left mine, dark with desire and he was waiting for me to come undone, he was daring me to make the next move, but I wasn't going to.I swallowed hard. “This is a mistake.”His smirk deepened, but there was something different in his gaze now, it made my stomach twist in ways I wasn’t prepared for.
Rachel took a long pause and then her eyes went to Ethan but I knew her next words were for me.“Do you even know why he is with you, Sophie?” she repeated. “Have you ever asked yourself what he really wants?”Ethan’s body stiffened like she was about to hit a nerve. His jaw clenched and his hands balled into fists at his sides.“Rachel,” he warned.But she ignored him, which was very predictable.She took a single step forward. “He found you at your lowest, didn’t he? When you had no one, when you were confused, vulnerable, lost…” She tilted her head. “That’s what he does. He thrives on women who need saving. But once you’re whole, he’ll walk away. Just like he always does.”My fingers clenched around the edge of my towel, knuckles white. “You’re lying.”Rachel didn’t flinch. “Am I? You never wondered why it was you? Of all people, why the broken, quiet girl who didn’t belong? Or did he make you feel special enough to ignore the math?”I turned to Ethan.He looked at me, but he was n
I reached the door with incredible speed but before I could open it, Rachel's voice called out.“Sophie, please sit down, it's nothing important.”Her voice was sweet like she was trying to convince a child not to lick candy.I paused as my hand was on the doorframe every though. everywhere was heavy with steam“Are you sure?” I asked, turning slightly to face her.She gave me a nice innocent smile that did nothing to calm me down.“I am positive, it might just be a mix-up or someone looking for the wrong person.”She stepped closer with her usual calmness, but there was something about her that offered the fact that this wasn't the Rachel I was friends with.Her fingers brushed my arm lightly like she was coaxing me back into the tub.“Come on,” she said. “Let it go, we are supposed to be relaxing, remember?”I hesitated but eventually, I sat down even though I didn't want to.My mind was far from calm. It was racing, I could hear Ethan's voice pleading for me to stay and the way Rac
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