Chapter 45 Friends, Foe, And Frenemy

Chapter 45 Friends, Foe, And Frenemy
Ezra had his arms crossed. "It's not a crime. It’s just that it is too early for you to come here.” 

Scott leaned in. "Are you sick or something?"  

“What do you mean?” 

Scott sucked in his breath and leaned back on the chair. “It just doesn’t make sense.” Scott continued when Ezra furrowed his brow. “You don’t take breaks from work. You don't appear unwell, either. Tell me. What's happening?”

Ezra folded his arms.“How did you know I was here?” 

“I checked your office, of course. Milan said you decided to stay home. The Ezra Queen I know is not like that. He doesn’t use money to play.”

"Perhaps all he needs is a day off from the stress." 

Scott laughed. “A day off? Don’t make me laugh, you comedian. You love stress. You once said that making money kills all that. What changed? Was it Emma? Or…" He smirked. “You have someone here, and you don’t want me to know about it?” 

"Scott. This is my personal life.” 

"Ugh. Don’t be boring. Are you fucking a new person? Does she have a large bosom or ass? I really have no idea what you enjoy. Where is she from? Korea? Japan?" 

"Okay. That is it!” Ezra yelled louder, startling Scott in the process. "I am pleased to have you here. I'll tell you what. Since the caretaker isn’t here yet, why don’t you do the job? At the very least, it will cause me to save more money." 

Confusion glistened in Scott's eyes. “What job?” 

“Heather is unwell. She's in a room upstairs, and I was going to have her stay, but you're her friend, aren't you? I don't have the time, so take her to the hotel and get someone to look after her.” His phone started ringing. His gaze shifted away from Scott and towards his pocket. Ezra brought his phone out and checked the caller. "Excuse me," He said to Scott as he walked away. 

Scott rose from the chair and headed for the stairs. He checked each door to find out which one Heather was staying in, and when he arrived at the last one, he stood in front of the shut door, took a deep breath, and flipped it open. 

Heather jumped as if she had seen a ghost, her phone sliding into the mattress. Then she exhaled when she saw it was Scott. She recollected herself. “I told you not to come.” 

“I don’t think he likes you.” He closed the door behind him and approached the bed. "It appears that you will be spending the rest of your day at the hotel."

"What the heck are you talking about?" 

As he sat at the foot of the bed, Scott reached out and gently rubbed one of Heather's legs. "You have very sexy legs, very long and very sexy." Heather violently wrenched her leg free of his grasp, causing Scott to laugh. “He requests that I look after you. He said he doesn’t have the time to do that for you. Heather, I am the only friend you have.”

“All of this is your fault. He would have allowed me to stay here with him if you hadn't arrived, and—" 

“And what? Ignore you all day while a caretaker takes care of your sick ass? I know you want to get together with him, but you will end up hurt.” 

"I prefer that to what you and I are doing."

“Yet you like it. The last time, you yelled my name instead of his. That is a sign that I am still the person who can make you feel alive.” 

Heather rolled her eyes and stepped out of the bed. She reached for her bag and grabbed her phone. 

“Where are you going?” Scott called after her as she reached for the door. 

Heather turned back around. "I would rather stay in the hospital than go to the hotel with you."

Scott rose to his feet and walked over to her. "You need to control your rage." He gently grabbed her chin and lifted her head slightly. "You know I will go to any length to make you happy, right?" 

Heather jerked his hand away. "Then go ahead and do it. Okay? I do not want to go to the hotel with you and have you all over me like a little child glued to his mama when he is hungry for breastfeeding. I want him. I told you I wanted him, Scott. It is either him or nobody." 

“Is that right?” 

“Yes. So please excuse me.” She turned to walk away, but he stopped her. 

“Listen to me. If having him makes you happy, we can work around it." He let go of her hand when he saw the innocent look she gave him. 

Heather took a deep breath. “And how do we do that? He is no longer in love with me. Getting his attention is so fucking hard. Scott—” 

“Come inside.” When she did, Scott shut the door behind them. He returned to the bed, his hands roughing his hair. He then returned his attention to her. "There are some things that Ezra has not said to the world yet. But I have a hunch that the child is not his." 

Heather was taken aback. “What child? You are scaring me.” 

“You must be aware of the name, Miss Facer.” 

Heather nodded. "I am familiar with her. She is currently trending. Why?” Heather was kept on her toes as she waited for Scott to respond to her question. “Don’t tell me...” 

“The two of them had a fling three years ago. She stole a lot from him, and I am curious why he forgave her three years later." 

“Get to the point.” 

Scott immediately rubbed his lips. He had promised his friend that he would not tell anyone about Zoe until he was ready to tell the world, but he could not risk losing Heather. There was this spark between them that he was not ready to let go of. He also could not let Ezra have her, but he had to make her happy by convincing her that he could get her what she wanted. 

Ezra Queen.

"There was a child's surprise shortly after she started working at his company." 

“So you are telling me that he has a child? How come no one is aware of it? Are his parents aware?" 

“No. They are not. But consider this: if the child were his and Emma was not trying to get something out of it, she would have reached out to him a long time ago, met his family, and the child would have been known to the world, but she didn't. Why? Perhaps because there was something she was looking forward to.” 

"I don't agree with that. She might not want the public to know about the child. Maybe she just wants the child to have a normal life.” 

"Do you want him or not?" 

"I do." She said hesitantly. “I do.” then she said calmly.

"Then pay attention to what I have to say. There is just one method for getting him. Get Emma out of his life.”

Heather laughed ruefully. “But I don’t think they are together. If they are, it would be in the media.” 

"I'll bet everything he has feelings for her. Follow my instructions if you wish to have him. Learn more about the child and get a lock of her hair.” 

“No. I am not going to do that.” 

“You will. Take a test. If it turns out that she is not Ezra's daughter, let him know about it. He will be in such pain that only you will be able to comfort him.” 

“But shouldn't we tell the world about this if it turns out to be true? It would ruin her that quickly.”  

“And you will lose him that quickly.” He placed his hands on her shoulders. “Just carry out each step one at a time. After Ezra learns about the child, you can get rid of Emma.”

Inhaling deeply in relief, Heather wrapped her arms around Scott's neck and grinned brilliantly. “Now I like that plan better.” 

At the same time, Ezra returned to the living room and was shocked to see Scott was not there. He had to inform the caretaker who had called earlier that the plan had changed. After that, Winter called him. She let him know that she would be stopping by and spending the night at his place since she was worried about him and wanted to be sure he wasn't lying to her about his health. 

When Ezra heard footsteps coming down the stairs, he turned around. Scott was behind her. Ezra tucked his hands into his pockets and smiled forcefully. "I thought you had already left."  

Scott guffawed. “I wouldn’t dare do that. I appreciate you looking after her.” 

“You will be fine, Heather. He'll see to it that you're taken care of.” 

Heather nodded. "I know. I appreciate you sticking around this morning. It means a lot.” 

"Yeah. Just be cautious and stay out of the rain. You don't want to become sick all over again.” 

Scott gave Ezra a handshake. "Alright. I'll speak with you later. Don't forget to show up for work tomorrow. All work and play make you lose more money.” 

Ezra laughed when he heard Scott use the phrase. “Looks like I am rubbing off my words on you.” 

“You are.” Scott led Heather to the elevator, and Ezra settled down on the couch right after they were gone.