Chapter 94

Fiona

Rubbing my tired and burning eyes, I walk into the meeting room. Not only does the box of meeting papers feel heavy in my arms, but my body itself feels like it has fifty extra pounds on it. Ever since I woke up late this morning with a raging headache and an aching body, I’ve been dragging.

I couldn’t sleep last night, couldn’t keep my mind quiet, and couldn’t get the look on Ethan’s face out of my head.

As we drove away, I shouldn’t have looked in the mirror. It was a mistake because the hurt I’d seen on his face reflected the hurt I felt inside. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so soft before, and it took everything in me to tell Isla to leave him behind.

Was I wrong to run?

It was the question that bounced around my head all night last night. It kept me awake along with the traitorous whispers from my heart.

I shouldn’t have left.

I did the right thing by leaving.

All night long, resulting in a lack of sleep and a headache that doesn’t seem to be going away. I trudge through my tasks of setting up the meeting materials, creating the packets, setting them out, and making sure there are enough for each attendee.

Isla had asked me last night if I had a plan, which made me laugh. A plan? I didn’t even know how to plan for what happened.

Could I find somewhere to live in such a short time? I’d rather be homeless than move back in with my father or Jack. Those houses weren’t even an option. I’m thankful for Isla offering her home to me for however long I need it, but I’ll need to move on before long.

“Good morning, Mrs. Aldridge,” someone says. I offer a weak, yet polite greeting as they find their seat. A few more people filter in, and I sigh. Maybe I should’ve taken the day off, but at the same time, I didn’t want to let Ethan down.

Even with our current situation, I don’t want to disappoint him. I want to work here because I like the job. It gives me a purpose, but am I going to lose this too?

I pinch the bridge of my nose, willing the endless worry to cease. My head pounds almost as hard as my heart, as I lean against the wall and close my eyes. For one second, I wish everything would just stop. I just need a moment to catch my breath, but it seems like one thing after another keeps pulling me under the raging waves.

There’s no escape. Nothing is going to pull me out of the sorrow dragging me down. I feel like my chest will cave in if I keep going this way, the ache growing to heavy for me to support it.

The only thing I can do is push myself forward. I can’t count on someone else to save me again. I have to save myself this time, so I push off the wall.

A hand clamps around my arm, startling me and making me spin around.

“Fiona, hey,” Chris says, smiling broadly. My eyes immediately scan the room for Ethan without my permission.

“Chris, what are you doing here?” I don’t remember seeing his name on the guest list, but I could’ve easily missed it with how distracted I’ve been lately.

He grins, his head tilting to the side as one of his eyebrows quirks up. It’s almost like he’s trying to be cute, but I’m too tired to play games right now. He seems to understand this by my rigid posture, and he straightens up.

“I’m here for the meeting. My company is partnering with Silverclaw for the development of the hospital,” he answers, motioning to the room.

“Right,” I murmur, remembering he’d said something about working with Ethan’s company from time to time. I’d just forgotten about it.

“How are you settling in here? Are you liking the new job so far?” Chris asks, falling into step beside me as I begin setting pens at each seat. He’s close enough that I can feel his body heat, and it sends a wave of discomfort through me.

He’s too close.

“It’s good,” I half-lie. “There are a lot of nice people here and the work is good too. It keeps me busy but not overwhelmed.”

It’s not the work that’s overwhelming. Honestly, the work is helping me calm down a bit. It’s everything other than work that is stressing me out, but I can’t tell Chris that.

“How is Ethan as a boss? He seems like he’d be hard to work for, being so particular and all,” Chris comments. The words cause a wrinkle of annoyance to form in my chest. What’s his deal? Does he know Ethan enough to make comments like that?

I have to put the annoyance aside, replacing the mask of calm politeness as I answer, “Ethan is an amazing boss. There is nothing wrong with being particular when making decisions. In fact, it’s better to have high standards if you want something done the right way.”

Chris stares at me, and I realize the mask slipped with each word. Gone was the polite woman that let men walk on her like a doormat. In her place, a snapping anger has risen its head to strike.

“Let me tell you, Fiona. I wish I’d snatched you up before Ethan had a chance. It’s a shame he got you first, though,” Chris says, shaking the dazed look off his face. His words are polite, but there’s a biting undertone to them that makes me pause.

What exactly did he mean by that?

I grab a few waters from the mini fridge, watching with shock when Chris does the same thing as he continues speaking, “I can tell you’re loyal to Ethan, so I won’t ask you to leave him.”

He pauses and sets the waters in the middle of the table, peering at me from over his shoulder because his words kept me from moving.

When he notices I’m frozen to the spot, Chris turns around and grins. He closes the few feet between us and takes the water bottles from my hands, setting them on the table. Then, he has my hands in his.

The tingle I feel with Ethan is nowhere. In fact, the touch of Chris’s hands makes me feel clammy and gross.

“But, if you want, I would like to take you to dinner tonight.”

If I wasn’t shocked before, I definitely am now. Why is he asking me this at work, and in front of other people, no less. I glance around the room, spying Sophie who watches us with confusion. I send her a look of alarm, silently asking her what is going on.

Why is Chris doing this here, or at all? I’ve never really given him signals that I liked him… have I?

Did I lead him on the last time we met and now he thinks he can hit on me?

My eyes find Sophie again, and she shakes her head, not knowing what to say. Before I can ask for her help, she darts out of the room.

“I- I’m sorry, Chris, but I’m not in a place right now that- that I can go on dates. I have feelings for someone, but things are complicated and—”

“Is it Ethan?” He asks, interrupting me. I stare at him for a minute while trying to pull my hands out of his.

He doesn’t let go, though. If anything, Chris’s hands tighten around my fingers, keeping me from pulling away.

“I-I’d like you to let go,” I tell him, whimpering when his fingers squeeze even tighter. The room goes silent, the other attendees watching us as Chris backs me up toward the table. My butt hits the edge, and I teeter, unbalanced on my heels.

“Is it Ethan?” Chris asks again.

I nod, unable to speak.

“I can’t be anything more than friends with you, Chris. Now, if you’ll let me get back to work,” I mutter, trying to get away, but his hand slides up my wrist, and he pulls me to him. The space between us disappears, and I gasp.

A flicker of fear ignites in me as I’m unable to get away, but just as I’m about to think of a last resort, a throat clears from across the room.

My eyes fly up and relief fills me.

“Ethan.”