Page 39 of Wildest Desire

I walk over to the sitting room, looking towards Ethan first, then to Selena who’s smiling at me. Pouring myself some coffee, I sit at the table and pick at the croissants on the plate.

“Tell Emily, that if she wants to ever talk business with me again, she will never speak that name.” Ethan waves his hand to her and sits down next to me.

He looks so tense right now. Everything Selena has told him has been bad. I watch Selena close the door behind her as she leaves, before turning to Ethan who's filling his glass with whiskey.

When he sets the glass down on the table, I pull it close to me. “It’s too early to be drinking,” I say in a small voice, and he looks at me. I place my hand on the back of his neck. “Talk to me. Who's Edward Cult? That name has irritated you today,” I tell him, moving closer to him.

“How are you feeling this morning?” Ethan pulls my chair closer to him then takes my coffee.

“I feel fine. How are you feeling today?”

“I’m a big boy, I can look after myself.” He gives me a wink and smiles, and I can’t help but smile back at him.

“I bet you could.” Breaking off some of my croissant, I take a bite as I look at him. “What's happening between us? I mean, I’m not your call girl anymore, so…” I bite my lower lip. “I’m going to talk to Dan today, and tonight, I’ll leave—”

“You’re not leaving. I’ve spoken to Dan, and told him you will be staying here and we are going to fight Sam this time,” Ethan cuts in, and I look at him. “Do you remember the reason I paid four million dollars for you to be my call girl?”

I place a piece of croissant in my mouth, and think about this question. “You wanted to have sex with me, and I did, so I must be the most expensive sex you’ve had,” I say, drinking the whiskey he poured for himself.

“I didn’t pay four million dollars to have sex with you. I spent four million dollars so you would go out with me. I knew you wouldn’t date me after our first meeting, so I was willing to pay whatever you asked for… To date you,” Ethan tells me. I look at him for a moment, wondering what I should do now. My ex-husband is back in my life, and I’m trying to keep those around me safe, and here he is, talking about wanting to date me.

Getting off the chair, I take the glass and fill it up again. I take my phone out of my pocket as it rings. “Hey,” I say.

“I’m downstairs, coming up now,” Dan says ending the call. Drinking my whiskey, I look over at the door.

“It’s open,” Ethan shouts. Seeing Dan and Jon in the doorway brings a smile to my face.

“It’s a bit early to be drinking, don’t you think?” Dan walks over to me, and takes my glass off me.

Leaning on the bar, I watch them shake hands with Ethan. “So, what’s your plan, then?” Dan asks, then sits at the table and starts eating the breakfast which is laid out on the table.

“She's staying here with me,” Ethan says, and I start shaking my head looking at the floor.

“I’m leaving tonight. I have enough money to last me until I can get back on my feet,” I say looking back up at them.

“I’m not risking losing my family because you think that you can pay—” “I'm not paying you anything. Jackie canceled our contract from the fucking start. The minute you signed and left, I tore the contract up,” Ethan shouts at me.

“All this has been so you can get me to fucking date you? Well, my answer is no, and I'm leaving tonight,” I tell him, and look over at Dan and Jon. My eyes follow Dan as he walks toward me.

Standing in front of me he cups my face. “I don’t want you to keep moving around,” he whispers so only I can hear what he’s saying. “Are you saying no because Sam is here, or are you saying no because you don’t want to be around Ethan?”

I need a moment to myself. I feel like I’m alone here, and no one cares how worried I am about what Sam will do or who he will hurt. On top of all that, I can’t believe Ethan went through all this just to date me. Why the hell would I date him? He’s still an asshole. An asshole that still has my skin on fire when he touches me.

Seeing my phone flash as it rings, I see it’s Helen. “Hi,” I say as I pace around the kitchen.

“The girls are all going out tonight, want to join us?” she asks.

It’s perfect timing; I need a night out, even though Sam is out there and looking for me. It hasn’t ever stopped me from living my life before, so why should it now?

“I would love to go out,” I tell her, and I hear a chair creak on the floor behind me. “Let me know what time and which bar.”

“Great, I'll send a message. See you tonight,” Helen says.

Hanging up with her I put my phone on the counter. “I’m going out with the girls tonight, want to come?” I look at Dan, and he looks back at me.

“Would love to. Message me the time and place.” Dan walks over to me as Jon walks over to the door. “Just so you know, I’m on Ethan’s side, and if he's willing to pay four million dollars just to date you, he’s willing to do a lot more to keep you safe.” Dan kisses me on the cheek and pulls me in for a hug.

As they both leave, I look at Ethan sitting on the chair playing with his phone on the table, but his eyes locked with mine. It’s amazing how many words can be said by just looking at someone the way he’s looking at me now. ‘I won’t let you leave. You’re staying with me. Trust me.’ His phone starts ringing, making me break eye contact with him. He answers the call, and I walk over to the bedroom, to think about what I want to do.

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