Chapter 62

Fiona

The last hour of my shift at work is mind-numbingly boring with no papers to file or print, no calls to make, and no schedules to plan. Honestly, without Ethan here, I feel a bit useless. I have his schedule on hold until he gets back, and Ryan is taking care of pretty much anything else that usually requires Ethan’s attention.

No one came to me today, except Ryan to check on me, for any tasks.

Don’t get me wrong, I like not having anyone bother me or bully me, but sitting up here in the quiet all alone is maddening.

It’s not much louder when Ethan is here, but at least when he is, I have a great view to look at. Now, I just stare into his empty office lit by sunlight alone. The thought of him being off somewhere without me sends my mind into a spiral, but I stop my imagination before it gets crazy.

Ethan is on a personal business trip, and he’ll be back soon.

I can’t remember how many times I’ve told myself that today because the mantra has been on repeat in my head since he left. I want to believe Ethan when he said everything was fine, yet my mind is stuck on when he brought up danger.

The only thing that keeps me from contacting him and asking if he’s alright is what he said just before he left this morning.

“Do you trust me?” He’d asked, cupping my cheeks and lifting my head.

“Yes,” I whispered, fighting back the desire to kiss him.

He leaned in slowly, pressing his warm lips to my forehead before saying, “Then trust that I have the strength and prowess to come back to you.”

I’d slightly giggled at the word ‘prowess’ even though he was serious.

“I trust you.”

“You ready to head home?”

Whipping my head up, I finally notice Ryan standing beside my desk. His arms are crossed over his chest, a smirk pulls at his lips, and one eyebrow climbs higher and higher on his forehead.

“Daydreaming about a certain billionaire CEO, Mrs. Aldridge?”

I sputter, my face flaming as he wiggles his eyebrows suggestively.

“I’m just teasing you, Fiona. I’ll drive you home,” he says with a chuckle. I narrow my eyes at him while simultaneously pushing down the annoyance at his jest. This morning, he insisted that I ride with him to work since Ethan left, and even though I’d argued, said I could drive myself, he told me he wanted to do it.

When I still didn’t give in, Ryan pulled the ‘Ethan said” card and told me Ethan would want me to ride with Ryan.

“Yes, I’m ready, Ryan.”

Grabbing my things, I follow Ryan down to the car, and instead of getting in the back seat, I climb into the passenger seat. It’s almost funny when Ryan turns to look at me with a wide-eyed, unexpected expression.

“I’ll sit here,” I tell him unnecessarily. Clearly, he can see that, but I felt the need to say it.

He hums in response, starts the car, and pulls out of the parking lot. Our ride is silent but comfortable, giving me time to take in the city as it passes by. People stroll through the city, talking and laughing like they have no cares in the world.

What would it be like to freely live with no worries?

Everything came crashing down around me so fast that I don’t remember what it feels like to live without worry.

It’s only been a handful of weeks, yet it feels like years have gone by since I found Jack and Jessica together in his office.

“Hello?”

I tear my eyes from the window to look at Ryan again.

“This is he.”

Ryan has his phone to his ear as we pull into the driveway of my house.

“What happened?” The alert tone piques my interest and my worry. That stupid, hollow yet thick feeling that’s been roiling in my gut grows heavier when he barks, “Where?”

Ryan listens to whoever is speaking on the other end of the phone before hanging up.

“I’ve got to go. An emergency popped up at the company that I need to return to deal with. You go on inside. Take tomorrow to rest and prepare for your date with Ethan. I’ll come get you when its time to go meet him,” he instructs, then hops out of the car, comes around the front, and opens my door.

“Is the emergency something I can help with? Do you need me to—”

“Thanks, but I can handle it. It’s nothing for you to be worried about,” he says, waving off my question. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He watches me until I enter my house and only leaves after I close the door.

Was that true? Was there an emergency at the company or was he lying to keep me from worrying.

“Do you trust me?”

Ethan’s voice whispers through my mind, and even though I trust him, my thoughts lie with the other man he’s meeting. I don’t know him or anything about him, so I can’t judge whether he’s trustworthy or not, but if he is Ethan’s rival, there must be something about him that isn’t good.

My gut drops at the thought, and I begin pacing back and forth in my entry hallway.

Had something happened to Ethan?

Surely, Ryan would… no. He wouldn’t have said anything if Ethan was in trouble. However, not knowing what eats at me like acid creeping along my skin. It makes me burin inside and out, tightening my skin over my bones the more I think about the possibility of Ethan being in trouble.

I try to ignore the hollow pit in my stomach. There’s a feeling as if something has happened or is about to happen, but I don’t know what.

So, I reach into my purse, searching for my phone, and just as I pull it out, the phone rings. I jump, startled by the sudden sound and the unknown number flashing across the screen.

“Hello?”

“Fiona Aldridge?”

“This is she,” I answer. The man’s unfamiliar voice sets me on edge.

“There has been a problem with Mr. Ethan Montgomery,” the man says, and the unease in my stomach grows. “I haven’t been able to get anyone else on the phone until you answered, Ma’am.”

“Did you call his friend Ryan?”

The man clears his throat before answering, “Yes, but he is unable to meet me. He gave me your contact.”

“What happened? Where is Ethan?” I ask, biting at my bottom lip. I pray that nothing bad has happened. Please be a flat tire or a broken-down car. Nothing serious. Please, please, please.

“Mr. Montgomery has been injured. I am calling to let you know Ryan is sending me to pick you up so that I can bring you to see Mr. Montgomery.”

I gasp, clutch the phone against my ear as my heartbeat pounds louder than the man’s voice.

“Is Ethan okay?”

“While meeting with Mr. Moore, Ethan and Mr. Moore got into an accident. I’m not sure if Ethan will make it,” the man says, and my world nearly shatters.

He may not make it.

May not.

Make it.

“Wh-when are you coming?”

“I’ve just pulled into your driveway,” he tells me, and sure enough, when I throw the door open, a black SUV sits in the driveway. I bolt through the door, shoving my phone back in my purse as my heart pounds. Fear and worry claw at my throat, clogging it to where I can’t speak. My voice doesn’t come out when I climb into the car.

The man merely nods at me, tells me he’ll take me to see Ethan.

If Ethan isn’t alive when I reach him, I don’t know what I’ll do.