Chapter 64
1017words
'Why are you even speaking?' another guy asked her.
'Shut up, Herbert. Why are you even here?' she snapped and began eating.
I looked at Ethan thinking he'd better control her. She was speaking too vily to her coworkers.
He was eating as if he hadn't heard the rude remarks she was making to the others.
'Oh, hello. I believe your name is Emma. The fiancee,' she said, dragging out the last word as if it was the worse thing.
'Mrs. Hollen,' Daniel corrected.
'Danny-boy, she's not married to Ethan as of yet. Therefore, she's not entitled to his surname.'
I was reaching my breaking point but managed to throw a fake smile at her. I wasn't about to let her shake me.
Ethan was glaring at her now. She flashed him a wink and continued eating.
There is definitely something wrong here.
'Is there something I should know here?' I spoke up, folding my arms over my chest and looking at Ethan.
He gazed up at me. 'Umm, no,' he answered.
'Well, how exactly did you know what I want to clarify?'
'What?' Linda asked, looking puzzled by my question.
'What? Don't you hear clearly? You're the COO, part of your job should be attentive listening. Besides, I wasn't speaking to you,' I said, trying my best to remain calm, but I had had it with her.
'Emma, calm down,' Ethan said, leaning in to take my hands in his, but I pushed them away.
'I am calm.'
'Oh this one is feisty. Like I said, you know how to pick them, Ethan,' she said with a laugh.
My blood boiled. I directed my question to her since she wanted to be the center of attention. 'When exactly did you tell him that?'
She remained silent when she saw the look on my face.
'Okay, everyone, just stop it! Can we have a peaceful dinner without any conflicts?' the personal assistant asked, holding up her hands.
I sipped on my glass of water and continued eating.
'Ethan, remember when we were in Paris and we went to dinner at that restaurant? I believe this is the same food they just served us. Remember that, and then we went to—?'
He cut her off. 'Linda, why did I even invite you here?'
'Why wouldn't you?' I asked. He opened his mouth to begin but I immediately shut him off. 'You two think I don't see what's going on here? She's here calling you by your first name and being rude to everyone like she has more power than you.'
'Emma, that's not what—'
'Shut up, Ethan. Was it hers?' I asked him.
He should know damn well what I was asking about.
He pulled me on my feet and moved us to a far end of the restaurant, away from everyone.
'Emma, I need you to forget about Linda's crazy remarks and focus on me and the others.'
'I asked you a question at the table and I demand an answer.'
'The answer to what?'
'Was the red lace underwear hers?'
'Emma, are you really asking me that here, and in front of the others?'
'Answer my question!'
'Emma, nothing happened between us like what you're thinking.'
'So it was hers. Oh my...' I held my chest. I felt like if my heart was dropping to the floor.
'Okay, Emma. I'll tell you the truth because you're my fiancee and I shouldn't be hiding anything from you. Here's the truth. After the miscarriage, I was a wreck, okay. I looked at it as your fault so I pushed you away. Then, one day at work, my best friend, Martin, came over and we went to lunch then headed back to my office. I told him about my problems and we started drinking. We drank an entire bottle of Hennessy and, obviously, I got drunk. Linda came into my office and, I think, I began to dance with her. Martin left us alone. I kissed Linda and we made out on my desk, but I didn't have sex with her. She must have taken off her panties and stuck them in my jacket when I wasn't looking.'
'What kind of babbling bullshit is this?'
'Emma, that's the truth. We didn't have sex.'
'That still doesn't make it okay. You had your mouth on another woman and y'all made out in your office. Of course she's going to think there's something still going because you still have her around. Why is she even here after that happened?'
'Because I didn't want to raise any red flags.'
'Red flags, my ass. Sometimes I wonder if you really are ready for a family, or if you're in this to feed some kind of ego.'
'Baby, look at all the obstacles we overcame and I'm still here with you. I could have married Sharon, regardless of how much money she tried to steal from me. But here I am with you, Emma. I love you.'
'Did it only happen once or she did she come on to you again?'
He raked his fingers through his shiny hair. 'No. She tried to come onto me in my office last Saturday but I refused her. She bashed your name and I suspended her for a week. I came directly home to you afterwards.'
The truth of it was in his eyes. I read those things like my favorite books, and they told me he was telling the truth because they were sparkling. If he were lying to my face they would appear cold and dark.
I hugged him, rubbing his back. I wasn't about to let him go again for that whore at the table. I looked over in her direction; she was looking back at us with such hate.
I giggled to myself. What you're trying to do won't work Linda, he's mine. Mine! Do you see this? I flashed my engagement ring finger at her. She gave a scoff and turned back to the table.
