‘This is an interesting development.’ He nods between the two of us, shoving his hands into his pockets. ‘I assumed it was Ryan throwing you a bone with the tour, but clearly it’s a different bone you’ve been working on this entire time.’
It’s one thing trying to find a weak spot with me and entirely another to poke Chloe’s.
Leaping from my seat, I tower inches above Ethan. ‘Watch your mouth.’
Chloe stands, inserting herself between us. ‘Jayden.’ The warning in her tone reminds me we’re in a public place, but my fists clench with a rage I haven’t felt in years.
Ethan chuckles and shakes his head as he places a hand on Chloe’s arm. ‘When he tires of you, call me. I want to discuss a merger.’
With that, he turns and leaves. Only when he’s gone do I sit down again.
‘Sorry about that,’ Chloe says in barely more than a whisper.
‘Why are you apologising for him? I’m sorry I spoke out of turn. I gave him the ammunition he needed.’ I order a bottle of wine from a passing waitress while my heartbeat continues to pound in my chest.
‘It’s ok. It was really very satisfying.’ A rare grin flashes across her face for a millisecond before she gathers herself. ‘Seriously though, you didn’t have to lie for me. I’m perfectly capable of fighting my own battles.’
‘Princess, when you’re with me, you’ll never have to.’
She swallows hard and her mouth opens like she’s going to say something before thinking better of it.
The waitress returns with the wine. She pours us each a glass half the size of what we might actually need to get through this conversation. I shouldn’t ask Chloe about her past when I have no place in her future, but I can’t help it.
‘So, he’s the one who nearly ruined it for all of us…’
Chloe swallows a large mouthful of wine and sets her glass down. ‘I hired him to manage my office. We were together for almost two years.’
I have an insatiable urge to slam my fist on the table, or through Ethan’s jaw, but Chloe’s normally so reticent when it comes to her personal life, I let her speak.
‘He left me for an office junior and I never saw it coming. It ripped open every barely closed wound in my heart. I’d survived my parents’ deaths, but never truly grieved them. Then when I lost Ethan, that grief hit me like a tsunami.’
‘Chloe, you should probably take some time with your sisters. Let them help you through the grief. It’s something that never goes away, but you can’t learn to live with it if you’re constantly running from it.’
‘You speak like someone speaking from experience.’
I lower my gaze and squeeze Chloe’s hand tightly. ‘My mother left us when I was three. It took me a ridiculously long time to grieve for her because I spent most of my childhood thinking she’d magically return.’
‘Oh, Jayden, I’m so sorry.’
‘I know your parents are gone, but they didn’t choose to leave you. Mine did. Both of them, though in very different circumstances.’ I take a sip from my drink and hold Chloe’s gaze. While I have her undivided attention and her shield is lowered, there’s something I need her to hear.
‘I’m so sorry about your parents, Princess. I do feel responsible, even though we had no idea.’
Chloe straightens her back and leans across the table. ‘You listen to me this second, Jayden. Just like my parents didn’t choose to leave me, you didn’t choose for your father to get into that car.’
No matter how either of us feels about it, it doesn’t change the outcome. ‘I’m sorry Ethan hurt you when you were already hurting.’
‘To be honest, it was my pride he hurt the most. In the weeks I wasted nursing my broken heart, I took my eye off my business. Ethan took half of my clients. If it wasn’t for Ruby’s diligent eye, he might have taken them all. His company is my biggest rival. Or should I say,wasmy biggest rival before I landed Ryan’s farewell tour.’
‘Wow.’ It’s one thing being dumped, but being dumped and fucked over takes things to another level.
‘I know, right?’
‘We’re not all like him, you know.’ Who am I kidding? I’m no better. Not really. If I was, I’d stay well away from Chloe, instead of letting this thing between us bloom like a rose in a field full of strangling poison ivy.
Her gaze rises to meet mine. ‘I’m finally realising it.’
‘About the boyfriend remark. I didn’t mean to make things worse. Ryan hired you because you were the best woman for the job.’
