Page 44 of Best Served Hot
He didn’t quite know how to take it and laughed awkwardly. ‘What’s going on here?’ he asked, trying to change the subject.
‘Lighting issue,’ Nicole said vaguely.
‘Oh? Anything serious?’ Ethan questioned.
‘Nope, being sorted as we speak,’ Nicole said.
Alex realised she was keeping him from the details because she was trying to avoid the firing of the young spark. It was pretty cool of her. Alex had to stop admiring her like this.
If Nicole could just stop being great for a second, Alex felt she might have stood a chance. If she could just tell someone off for a wrong coffee order, the whole thing could go away. Alas, that wasn’t Nicole. She was just too wonderful. It was bloody annoying.
‘Great,’ Ethan said, uninterested. He turned to Alex. ‘While I’m here, can I borrow your assistant? I just need to ask her about some paperwork from, there’s er, she left some, from before…’
Alex could feel Nicole trying not to roll her eyes as she turned to her. ‘Alex, do you have the time for a meeting with Ethan or have you got anything you need to catch up on while we’re down?’ Nicole asked her. The implication was clear. If Alex wanted out, she didn’t have to go.
But why not? Why not go to Ethan’s office to watch him do another of his sweaty little song and dance routines?
‘Nope,’ Alex shrugged. ‘I can nip over to the office for a second.’
Ethan turned his back to leave, and Alex took the opportunity to exchange a quick look with Nicole. Alex conveyed through that look that she appreciated the out, but she was happy to go and see what silly game Ethan wanted to play today.
And she felt Nicole’s message back. ‘OK, but be careful.’
Alex rode the lift with Ethan in silence. They didn’t even look at each other. Whatever he wanted to say, he was saving it. That was OK with Alex.
She was getting used to the tension. But he wasn’t. And that was all that mattered. Nicole wanted him to suffer, and he was.
They reached the office, and Ethan went around his desk and stood behind it, spread-legged, hands on his hips. Alex had the idea he was trying to make himself look bigger.
‘Right. This has to be over now,’ he told her brusquely. ‘You have to go. So I’ve gotten you a producer gig. Permanent. I know that’s what you wanted. It’s your ticket, so take it.’
Alex didn’t sit down this time, following Ethan’s lead. She was nearly as tall as he was, and she wouldn’t let him look down on her. ‘What’s the job?’
‘Soap. Daytime. It’s been on for twenty years already. Which means it’s effectively going to run for as long as you want it to.’
‘And that’s it, is it? I take this, and you never hear from me again?’ Alex asked casually.
‘That’s right.’
Alex examined her nails, taking her time. ‘What’s to stop me from taking the job and telling your wife anyway?’
Ethan licked his lips anxiously. ‘You tell her, I tell pretty much every contact I have that you slept with me to get this job. And they’ll tell everyone they know because everyone in this industry is a gossip. Eventually, your name will be mud.’
Alex was kind of impressed. It was a pretty good threat. He’d thought this one out.
‘I see.’
‘The only jobs you’ll get are with producers who would find that the quality of shagging their boss is one they want in their employees. And you don’t want to work in places like that.’
Alex snorted. ‘Thisisa place like that,’ she reminded him. ‘And you’re abosslike that.’
Ethan rolled his eyes. ‘Oh, here we go.’
‘What do you mean, here we go?’ Alex asked.
‘You made your decision to sleep with me. No one pressured you. Don’t make me out to be Harvey bloody Weinstein.’
Alex let out a long sigh. ‘God almighty, how in the hell didyouever get that woman to marry you? I mean,really?’
