Chapter 7

Ethan’s POV

Her shriek echoed from my office down to the dining hall where I stood chatting with Jacob, my good friend.

Then her yell followed.

“Thief! Thief!”

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Oh my God…”

“Was that Jennie?” Jake asked, confusion written all over his face.

“Yup.”

Everyone heard it. The entire place went tense. Murmurs erupted as security rushed upstairs.

I began walking toward the elevator, Jacob close behind me.

“Is there really a thief in your office?” he asked.

“Nope. Just my assistant.”

When we got to the office, everyone was watching a scene unfold, their faces confused and concerned.

My doors were wide open and anger flared in my chest. I hated it when people invaded my office without permission.

I stepped forward and saw them inside.

“God… this is embarrassing,” I muttered, rubbing my forehead.

“Get out. Get out!” I barked.

They flinched, scrambling and sprinting out of my doorway.

I walked in, Jacob closing the door behind us. The moment he saw what I saw, he burst into laughter.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. His laughter was too contagious.

“Okay, what the hell?” I asked between laughs.

Jennie was on the ground, struggling to break free from Anna’s grip. Anna was on top of her, her expression—

Flawless.

Just like Belle’s.

My laughter faded.

I stared at her.

She reminded me of that day… the day Belle fought for me. The way she grabbed my bully’s hand while he screamed in pain. The way she took a chair blow meant for me, leaving a bruise on her arm.

“Ethan! She’s hurting me! Call security to drag this homeless slut out of here!”

Jennie’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

“Okay, okay. That’s enough.” I walked toward them. “Anna… Anna, let her go.”

But Anna wasn’t ready to release her. Hell, she looked like she might kill her.

And damn…

She was kind of hot.

“Ethan?!” Jennie screamed.

But Jake had already pulled Anna away from her.

The moment Jennie stood and Jacob loosened his hold, she seized the opportunity and punched Anna hard in the stomach.

Jacob froze in shock.

Anna collapsed to the floor, clutching her abdomen. I rushed forward and caught her.

Rage exploded inside me.

“What the fuck is wrong with you, Jennie? Have you gone mad? Have you lost it again?!”

I don’t think I had ever yelled at Jennie before.

Our mothers had been best friends long before we were born. When Mrs. Charles Lorien gave birth to her, Eden and I adored her. She was the sister we never had.

Well… not anymore.

Not after Eden started sleeping with her.

They became friends with benefits, destroying the brother-sister bond we once shared. It disgusted me. It felt wrong… like blood betraying blood.

But right now?

I didn’t give a damn.

Jennie looked hurt by my outburst.

“You’re choosing this lowlife over me?”

“First of all, stop calling her names,” I said, staring down at Anna, who was still wincing in pain. “She’s my assistant.”

I lifted her into my arms.

I didn’t look back at Jennie. I didn’t care about the betrayal on her face or the shock in her eyes.

Anna came first.

I placed her gently on my desk, sweeping files aside without thinking.

She whimpered softly, curling into herself, clutching her stomach. Seeing her like that tightened something deep inside my chest.

“Look at me,” I said, my voice lower now.

I leaned over her, trapping her between my arms.

“Ignore her. Just breathe. Tell me where it hurts.”

“She’s a thief!” Jennie shouted. “I saw her with that necklace!”

“I don’t give a damn about any necklace,” I said coldly.

Anna trembled beneath me, her breathing uneven.

“But I saw—”

“I said I don’t care,” I snapped, turning to Jennie with a deadly calm. “You laid your hands on her. In my office. Now get out before I lose my temper.”

Jennie opened her mouth, saw my expression… and left.

“I’ll check on Jennie before she kills someone else,” Jacob muttered, slipping out.

Silence fell.

I turned back to Anna.

“It… it hurts,” she whispered. “My stomach…”

“Don’t move.”

I grabbed the desk phone.

“I need an ambulance at the vilonia corporate tower, executive floor. Blunt force to the abdomen. Possible internal injury. Now.”

I slammed the phone down and leaned over her again.

“They’re coming, Anna. Just breathe.”