Chapter 144

Angela

Pulling my phone out, I snap several pictures of the document that will ruin Fiona. She was foolish enough to sign such a contract, and Ethan was foolish enough to keep it out where someone like me could easily find it.

“I, Fiona Bowen Aldridge (Party B), agree to enter into a sexual partnership with Ethan Montgomery (Party A).

Party B agrees to perform duties as agreed upon with Party A on page two. In exchange, Party A will assist Party B with three tasks as described on page three.

As specified by Party A, the agreement will not be terminated until one year after the agreed date of signing. If Party B terminates the agreement early, Party B will be subject to pay Party A the following fee…”

I make sure to specifically zoom in and take a picture of the part of the agreement where Fiona has agreed to do sexual favors for Ethan. Of course, I blur Ethan’s name so he doesn’t get implicated before emailing the incriminating evidence to my contact in media.

Then, I call her.

Giddy, I can’t stop myself from grinning as I slide the contract back into its envelope and put it back in the drawer. If Fiona wants to take my man from me, I’ll make sure she regrets it.

“I just sent you an email,” I say as soon as Alicia answers the phone.

“What is it?”

“Something that will ruin the girl trying to steal Ethan from me,” I answer, slipping out of Ethan’s office and down the stairs.

“Ooh, tell me more.”

Even though Alicia is human, she’s been useful for spreading gossip. If it weren’t for that, I probably wouldn’t keep her around. I’ve already told her all about Fiona and how she thinks she can take Ethan from me. Alicia was completely on my side, thinking Ethan and I were a couple and that he broke up with me to go out with Fiona since I couldn’t tell her the truth.

“I was in Ethan’s office and found a sexual relationship contract between them. I want you to spread it all over the media, but make sure Ethan’s name is nowhere to be seen. I want her to take the brunt of the spotlight, and not the good spotlight, if you know what I mean.”

A soft laugh filters through the phone, and I can practically hear the smile in her tone as she replies, “I understand completely. She won’t know what hit her by the time I’m done with her.”

“Good. This bitch deserves to feel the consequences of her actions.”

Fiona

“Keep your chin up and push for that conversation,” Isla says, patting my arm. “Ethan seems to care for you, but men don’t always have everything straight in their heads. He may be thinking that keeping something from you is helping when you see it the opposite.”

I nod, muttering, “He does like to have control of everything.”

She chuckles.

“From the worried tone on the phone yesterday, I’m sure everything will be fine. You two just need to have a calm and open conversation,” Isla says as she pulls up to the front doors of Silverclaw Company.

After sitting at the park for nearly two hours, I stayed at Isla’s last night. I needed some time to think and going back to Ethan’s place wasn’t an option after I left the office so abruptly. I also didn’t want to see him yet.

Maybe it would’ve been better to get my own place while we are still figuring things out.

“He sounded worried?”

Isla smirks and turns to me.

“Probably sweating like a pig,” she says, and I bite back a laugh.

“Thanks, Isla. I’ll see you tonight.”

“Maybe,” she says, smirking again and winking. Rolling my eyes, I climb out of the car. That girl only has one thing on her mind half the time, and it doesn’t include me coming back to her house to sleep.

Waving one last time, I head inside.

Since it’s not quite eight yet, there are a lot of people in the lobby, which isn’t unusual. No. What’s strange is that everyone goes silent when I walk in before they break out into whispers and sideways glances.

A shiver runs over me, and I suddenly feel like I’m back in my first week of working at the office. Dirty glances are shot my way as I walk past people I’ve been nothing but kind to. Women watch me with wrinkled noses and curled lips, while the men watch me with interest and wandering eyes.

Clutching my bag, I move faster, shuffling through the crowd in my best attempt to disappear, but just before I reach my elevator, I catch Angela’s sneer.

The look of triumph on her face has worry coiling its icy hand around my throat, trapping my breath and filling me with anxiety. Nothing good comes from Angela looking that excited about anything. The last time I saw her looking so proud was right before she shoved me down a set of stairs.

It only means bad things.

And if she’s grinning, does that mean she has something to do with all the whispers going around? Is she planning something?

I slip into the elevator, pushing the button in quick succession until the doors slide closed. If there’s something wrong, Ethan will know, and if he doesn’t, I’ll tell him. He won’t be able to disregard Angela hurting me twice.

At least that’s my hope, until I walk to my desk and find a note propped up against my monitor with Ethan’s neat handwriting.

Fiona,

I wanted to talk to you before I left, but you wanted to be left alone. I have to go back to the pack for an important meeting about the Lycan King Selection. I shouldn’t be gone for long.

I’m sorry for causing you pain. It was not my intention.

When I get back, I will come find you.

Wait for me.

Ethan

Scoffing, I toss the note in the trash bin and sit back in my seat. He couldn’t even bother to tell me in person that he was leaving, and now I’ll have to deal with Angela on my own.

Again.

Is that why she was so smug?

Does she know that Ethan left me here again?

I glance at the note sitting in the bin and a sliver of worry flitters in my chest. I hope nothing too serious happened in his pack. While I’m not happy that he continues to leave me, despite the promises to be there for me, I don’t wish ill on his pack or his family.

Pulling my phone out, I go to call him, but my finger hovers over his name, and I wonder if he’ll actually answer this time. Even as I press his name and as the phone rings, I hope he’ll answer. I hope and hope, but soon, the call goes to voicemail, and my chest tightens with a familiar sinking sense of disappointment.

Silently, I take a breath and turn my computer monitor on, deciding to work instead of focusing on the disappointment I feel. Someone has to call Ethan’s clients, let them know he will be out of the office unexpectedly, and reschedule his meetings.

“Excuse me, are you Fiona?”

Turning, I find a woman standing beside my table. I hadn’t heard her walk up, but that’s probably because I was too busy ignoring the whispers and sideways glances.

“I am, but who are—”

The woman sits in the chair next to me, grinning, “So how much did you get?”

“What?”

Confusion fills me as she leans in, smacking my arm playfully, “You know, when you signed a contract to be your boss’s mistress. Was it Mr. Montgomery or a different boss? Did you make a lot of money off of it or—”

“Stop!”

Everyone in the room turns to look at me, not that they weren’t already, and I clench my jaw. How did she find out? I have no idea who this woman is, but suddenly, the whispering from this morning and the sideways glances make much more sense.

Does everyone else know, too?

“Is it Mr. Montgomery?” Another woman asks, making me turn.

“Did you trade sexual favors? That’s disgusting,” another woman says.

Standing, I grab my things and dart out of the room, wondering all the way back to my desk if Angela had something to do with this.