Chapter 63
MAY.
“Thank you,” I say, unable to suppress my giggling. It’s been the most eventful day in my life, and my stomach still hurts from laughing and eating so much Panforte. Not my fault. The moment he realized how much I loved them, he kept buying them, and I couldn’t stop stuffing my mouth with it.
Ethan’s fingers tighten around mine. “You’re most welcome. Do you want that?” He asks, inclining his head toward the ice cream cones in the child’s hand we walk past.
I make a face. “No. I’m full. I was staring at the child, not at the ice cream.”
We cross the lobby, heading over to the counter and as Ethan hands the receptionist a tip, I turn around to steal another glance at the little girl whose cheeks are covered in frosting and chocolates. She is a blonde little angel with tiny dots of freckles adorning her skin. Her eyes are a warm amber, and they light up like the sun when she smiles.
I watch her mother plait her beautiful hair into a braid, and my fingers twitch with a sudden urge to lift her. Or any child.
“Beautiful, isn’t she?” Ethan’s voice is so close to my ear, I jolt forward, my heart fluttering.
“Y—yes,” I say, momentarily distracted as Ethan’s arm curves around me, tugging me closer possessively. My cheeks turn red as I note the stares we get. Stares I receive. Envious, from the women, and dare I say a couple of men are checking me out.
When I say men, I’m talking tall, muscular, broad-chested, long, dark-haired Italian men in the most exquisite suits. My gaze falls to the ground and I hide my smile, suddenly feeling like a teenager. Not that I ever had men check me out when I was a teenager. I was much too busy hiding in big clothes and getting holed up in the library for hours, reading.
“We could make one or two tonight,” Ethan whispers hotly against my ear, and I swallow, heat spreading up my thighs, and I start to think of a smart comeback to give when a high-pitched female scream splits the air, nearly deafening me.
“Chase!”
Ethan halts abruptly, like a cord attached to him has been yanked, and I pull away a little, only to turn and find a familiar blonde careening for him. Instinctively, I move aside, and she crashes into my husband, nearly toppling him over, and I watch her arms go around his neck in a tight embrace.
My husband stands absolutely still, like he’s gone into shock, as another woman holds him like he’s her estranged lover. A slice of something red and hot ripples through me and I squeeze my fists, clearing my throat.
Unsurprisingly, he moves then, pulling her off him, but not before she’s kissed his left cheek. “You have no idea how happy I am to see you here! You look great! What brings you here?”
He angles away from her before she can hurl herself at him again. His grey eyes meet mine in a silent apology that frankly only makes me angrier. “Ashley,” he says sternly. “I’m with my wife. Meet May.”
The Ashley turns then, and I am beyond mortified to see the crazy blonde who got me sacked from my job, staring at me with stormy eyes. “Oh, hello. I didn’t notice you standing over there.” She extends a hand to me. “I don’t believe we’ve met.”
What the hell…?
I take her hand, wrapping my fingers around her skin that’s just as smooth as a newborn’s, with newly manicured blue nails, and then I squeeze it so tight, she grimaces. “Sure, we have! You came by my workplace sometime last month. Surely, you must remember me.”
She snatches her hand back, but I don’t let go. Not until Ethan’s fingers circle around my wrist, nudging me softly.
“Workplace? It must not have been important enough to remember,” she says, and gives her full attention again to Ethan. “My brother is here. I would love for you both to meet, Chase!”
I glance up, and it just gets even better. Strolling down in the company of a shorter middle-aged woman is Mr. Bryson. He sees me and flashes me a grin, waving with his free hand. I steal a glance at Ethan, and he just looks angry. The kind of anger that tells me he is seconds away from punching someone.
The pair stop in front of us, exchanging awkward pleasantries. Even meeting with Ethan’s family wasn’t this weird. It only gets worse when Mr. Bryson’s companion takes my hand in hers, and they start trembling. She smiles, and her eyes are silver-lined, tears forming. “Hello, dear.”
Ashley steps in, taking the woman’s hands off mine, chiding her in a hushed tone as she leads her away from me, gearing her in Ethan’s direction. “Mother, this is Chase Anderson. The man I told you I met at the…”
Her mother’s eyes don’t leave mine. They are mournful and joyous at the same time. Like she is both relieved to see me and aggrieved. It makes me feel uncomfortable and I look away first, only to have Ashley’s words replaying in the back of my head.
Chase Anderson.
I look at Ethan, and his expression is unreadable. I have no idea why the name rings a fucking bell. Perhaps, it’s something Ginny mentioned in the passing, but it is the sudden fear that darkens Ethan’s eyes that has me tucking away the information to look up the moment I get back to the suite.
But there’s no need for any of that because Ashley’s mother takes Ethan’s hand in hers. “Mr. Anderson, I’ve heard so much about you, and I must commend your work. Such achievements. A successful man, very much like your father. We were well acquainted, your father and I.”
Ethan nods. "Yes--"
The woman cuts him off and says something that I find rather interesting. "There's an event I'll be hosting. Large, only for the distinguished like yourself. I'd like very much for you to attend and be a guest speaker. It isn't every day we get the attendance of the most successful billionaire in the country at these sorts of events."