Page 87 of Pucking my Enemy Boss

Her words hit like punches, and every one of them hits a mark I didn’t even realize was a bruise. “That’s ... it’s not like that,” I manage, but the words feel weak.

“Oh, right.” Her eyes narrow, daring me to explain myself with that same razor-sharp glare. “So, you expect me to just forget that and fake smile at you? I’m not that kind of a hypocrite, Ethan.”

The accusation stings. Badly. She thinks—well, actually, she’s not entirely wrong. But she’s so far off on thewhythat I’m almost ready to laugh. Almost. “You wouldn’t understand,” I say, as if that will magically make everything better.

Her mouth twists. “Try me, Ethan. Or is honesty off-limits in our littlewhatever-this-is?”

Whatever-this-is.The words chill the room more than the morning frost outside. Holly spins on her heel, storming out before I can even decide if it’s smart to stop her. But before she can reach the stairs, the unmistakable buzz of my phone interrupts the air between us.

The name on the screen reads Mandy. It’sher,of course. I lift my head to meet Holly’s icy gaze as she turns back. “Go on,” she says, her voice flat, deadpan. “Take it. Probably someone important, right?”

Holly bolts out of the room before I can even get a word in edgewise. The door slams like thunder, echoing through the house, leaving me stranded in a mess of eggs and guilt.

The eggs are cold by the time I finally pick up the phone, my voice barely registering a greeting. Mandy’s voice crackles through, soft, polite, almost apologetic.

“Ethan, sorry if this is a bad time…” She sounds hesitant, like she knows she’s adding another layer of trouble on an alreadyheaping stack. “But I’ve got the papers ready. We could meet up, sign them, get everything squared away.”

The thought of funding Aunt Gloria’s next little venture makes my jaw tighten. But it’s Mandy—the only one from that side of the family who doesn’t make my blood boil. So I manage, “Sure, where?”

She suggests her hotel, with that same cautious tone, and I agree. At this point, meeting at her place is the least complicated part of my day.

Not knowing what to do with Holly, I head out and drive to the hotel, hoping that will give her some time to cool down. The hotel lobby greets me with warm, low lights and the hum of quiet jazz drifting through the air. Mandy sits by the window, looking smaller than she ever did growing up, as if guilt has taken inches off her frame.

“Hey,” she says, looking up with a cautious smile. “Thanks for coming.”

My nod’s stiff. Businesslike. “Let’s just get these papers signed.”

She hands them over, and for a few minutes, the only sounds are the scratch of pen on paper and Mandy’s soft breaths, steadying herself. Once I’m finished, she hesitates, looking at me like she’s summoning courage from somewhere deep.

“You … you don’t look good, Ethan. Is everything okay?”

I almost laugh. Everythingokay? Not by a long shot. But Mandy’s eyes hold genuine concern, not the nosy prying I’ve come to expect from others.

“It’s the woman I’m in a relationship with; her name’s Holly.”

“Wow, that’s wonderful.” She claps. “Knowing you, I was worried you wouldn’t let anyone in after … you know.”

“Well, she’s kind of irresistible.” I admit, the words pulling themselves out before I even realize I’ve said them.

Mandy grins. “Sounds like you’ve really got something good going on with her.”

I shake my head. “Not at the moment. Everything seems fine a couple of days ago, and now … I don’t even know who I’m dealing with. She just shut down on me, and it’s like she’s a million miles away.”

She nods, thoughtful. “Sometimes, it’s not about the distance. People … well, sometimes we don’t even know what we’re feeling ourselves. Maybe it’s something she can’t express yet.”

A huff escapes before I can stop it. “Or maybe she just doesn’t care anymore.”

Mandy sighs, shaking her head. “No, it doesn’t sound like that. You should talk to her. Be honest. Sounds like you’re both holding something back, and if that’s what’s keeping you apart…”

The thought sticks, even as I brush it off. Maybe she’s right, maybe this whole mess is because neither of us is saying what needs to be said. As I leave, her words echo in my mind, mingling with the realization that waiting around for things to get better won’t fix a thing. It’s time to take control, even if that means being vulnerable for once.

A plan forms in my mind, and the first step is to take control of the situation with Raymond Blue. I need to ensure Holly’s safe. The phone feels heavy as I scroll to the name I’d saved as‘The leech’on my phone.

The line clicks, and there’s that smug, slippery voice. “Mr. Carter,” he purrs, “to what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Listen carefully, Blue. Whatever plans you’ve got for Holly—you’ll drop them, now. If you don’t, I’ll make it my mission to ruin you so thoroughly your grandkids will feel it.”

There’s a chuckle on the other end, casual and infuriating. “Always the charmer, Ethan. But fine, I can see you’re serious. For now, I’ll play nice.”

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