Chapter 13

I opened and closed my mouth a few times, wanting to retort but not having anything to say. Ethan using my own words against me had effectively shut me up.

I looked back down at my food and continued to eat in silence.

Ethan nudged my arm and cracked a wide smile. He was trying to lighten the mood, though I felt a little silly about even bringing it up. Ethan didn’t owe me an explanation.

“I transferred your salary for the month while you were setting up downstairs,” He stated, to change the subject and get my mind away from the image of him and Sarah.

It worked, I perked up.

Ethan smirked into his cup while taking a sip as I brought my phone out of my pocket to check my bank account.

The amount was nearly two times more than I had expected a manager’s salary to entail. My eyes bulged at the number on my screen, and I whipped my head over to meet his eye.

Ethan wasn’t looking at me anymore, though. His lips curled upwards while he finished eating his lunch, refusing to pay attention to the questions practically written across my face.

He left his office shortly after eating to go back to work. Tristan came in to show me out of the building.

While waiting for the elevator, I double checked my account to make sure I read it right. The numbers weren’t changing.

I was so unbelievably grateful for everything Ethan had done for me. I planned to spend the rest of the day searching for something to gift him for all the kindness he’d shown me. I just didn’t know what he would want. I didn’t know him that well.

Tristan and I stepped into the elevator when I realized I could just ask him. As Ethan’s beta he would understand Ethan better than anyone else.

“Tristan,” I shuffled in place. He hummed in response. “Is there anything that Ethan would like to receive as a present? Anything that he doesn’t already have?”

Tristan laughed quietly in response, “Ethan has everything and lacks nothing. He’s the man who has it all - really.”

I frowned, feeling a little dejected.

“If you want to give him something special that he doesn’t have yet, maybe you should spend the night warming his bed, if you know what I mean.” Tristan joked, wiggling his eyebrows at me. My stomach flipped at the suggestion and I could feel the start of a deep red blush creeping to my cheeks.

There’s no way Ethan would want that, right?

My thoughts strayed to the night I fell in the shower and Ethan had to cover my body with his suit jacket. I remembered the way my body felt against him, the attentive way he cared for me-

Now that I thought about it, Ethan hadn’t worn that jacket again since that day. Perhaps the water and soap from the shower damaged it. I felt guilty at the thought.

That’s what I would do for him: I’d buy him a new suit to replace his old one.

When I got to the house, the first thing I did was run up the stairs to Ethan’s room. I needed to check his suit size and take a mental note of the colors and styles he preferred to wear. I wouldn’t want to buy him something he won’t use. It would seem impersonal and a waste of money.

When I approached the room, the maid was stepping out the door. I smiled and greeted her.

“Hello,” I stopped her, “Do you mind if I go into that room and look around?”

The maid’s eyes narrowed a little in wonder, but she gave me permission to go in. I didn’t want to mess up her clean room, so I was careful to avoid smudgeable spots.

I made my way over to the closet at the corner of the room, and pulled the door open to reveal a giant walk-in space with numerous suits lining the walls. Once I stepped into the closet, I inadvertently took a deep breath through my nose.

The room smelled like Ethan’s cologne, it was comforting in a way. Though, I wasn’t really sure why. Sure, I liked the way Ethan smelled. It was pleasant and clean. But there was more to it, the scent made my stomach warm and I felt a pull in my gut.

It went beyond just smelling pleasant.

Ethan’s clothes were extremely well organized. I was worried that if I rifled around through the suits and hangers, I would ruin the meticulous arrangement of them.

I left the hangers alone, and made my way to his bedside in hopes that there might be some used clothes to compare with. Disappointment struck through me seeing that the maid had already cleared everything on the floor away, but I did notice a piece of clothing crumpled on the left side of his bed.

Maybe that could work.

I picked the cloth up between two fingers and held it up. It turned out to be the very same jacket that Ethan had used to cover me in the shower. I wondered why he would have it lying on his bed if he wasn’t wearing it.

Holding the jacket up at arm's length, I studied it to get a good idea of what sort of things Ethan might like later on. I tried to shake out some of the wrinkles from the fabric, causing the sleeve to hit something on the bedside table, making it fall to the floor with a sharp clink.

I cringed at the sound, praying that I didn’t break anything. Goddess knows that whatever it was, it would be expensive to replace or fix.

A small object glinted underneath the bed, I reached for it. I knocked a beautiful pearl and emerald earring off the table.

My mind swirled with a thousand questions as to why Ethan would have this piece of jewelry on his nightstand. Though, only one thing made any sense to me.

The earring must be Sarah’s. I placed it back on the table, careful not to drop it again.

Feeling as though I had a good idea of the sorts of things Ethan would like to wear, I made my way towards a men’s boutique downtown. Tristan didn’t tell me much information, but he did say that Ethan liked to buy most of his suits from that store.

I recruited the help of a salesman who seemed like he knew what he was doing. Ethan’s favorite brand was unbelievably expensive, and my low budget annoyed the salesman. Everything was so expensive that I couldn’t even afford the cheapest suit in the boutique.

I groaned inwardly, I’d have to go to a different store that sold more generic clothes.

I thanked the salesman for his help, though he didn’t pay me much attention. Someone else had drawn the gaze of everyone in the shop.

A strangely familiar blonde walked through the doors, everyone stopped to stare at her.

It was Sarah Silvers.

The salesman who was previously helping me, sprinted up to her and asked what she was looking for. Sarah listed off her preferences, naming Ethan’s favorite brand and the colors he liked to wear.

“Yes Miss Silvers!” A chorus of clerks echoed as they all went in search of the items she requested. I figured she must be buying a suit for Ethan.

When she picked the very same suit that I first requested for Ethan, I figured that was only more proof that they were in fact dating. Ethan just wanted to tease me by not admitting it before.

I abandoned that shop, sneaking by Sarah and her crowd, and found another store that offered far more reasonably priced suit sets. I did my best to find one that Ethan would like.

I got a plain, generic looking suit that I hoped would look good on him. Though, Ethan never looked bad in anything he wore.

I don’t know how he did it, but he always made his clothes look better. Even if they were just sweatpants and a t-shirt.

Feeling satisfied with my purchase, I went back home.

Ethan was in the foyer waiting for me when I stepped through the front door; his face unusually serious and grim.

“Ethan-” I started to greet him happily, but he raised a hand to cut me off. The smile fell from my face and I clamped my mouth shut as he grit out his words.

“Did you go into my room?” He demanded.