2. Aging like a fine wine

I turned around slowly, refusing to believe my own ears. This can't be happening to me. Not now!

But there he stood, my worst nightmare. Ethan fucking Miller in all his glory.

"I thought it was you when I saw your name in the job application but didn't want to believe it at first. But there you are, Corey Price," Ethan said. His blue eyes were twinkling.

"In the flesh," I said curtly. My head was throbbing. This isn't what I had in mind when I started this job.

"You look good. Great, actually," Ethan commented and looked me up and down.

You don't say asshole...

"You look the same as always. Like an insufferable bore," I said nonchalantly. I didn't even care about this job anymore as I felt rage bubbling inside me.

"Whoa, buddy! No need to be so hostile. Don't tell me you're still angry at me. It's all in the past now," Ethan said and smirked, revealing a perfect set of teeth.

I took a good look at Ethan, and it pissed me off even more. He had gotten even sexier over the years. He was six foot three, tall, dark, and handsome. Taller than I remembered. I could see the outlines of his muscles underneath the well fitted expensive white shirt that was paired with an Armani suit. Typical.

His eyes were a brighter shade of blue, and his face looked sharper. The bastard was aging like a fine wine.

He didn't have a ring on his finger, which means he wasn't married or anything. Not that I cared.

Darn...I was hoping he'd be fat and ugly so I could show him I turned out better than him. Karma, you bitch. Why aren't you doing your job right?

I stopped daydreaming as I felt his eyes staring at me intently. I should pretend like he doesn't affect me. I cleared my throat.

"Never mind what I just said, Mr. Miller. I'm here to do my job, so let's not bring up the past from now on," I said.

"No need to be so formal, Corey. We are old friends from high school, so we can be on first name basis," Ethan said and tried to touch my shoulder, but I shrugged his hand off me.

"Let's make something clear. We were never friends, nor will we ever be friends. Not now or in the future. So please, call me by my family name. I want to keep our relationship strictly professional from here on out," I kept my voice firm.

Be strong, Corey. You're not scared of Ethan anymore! I reminded myself.

"Is that how it's gonna be?" Ethan raised one eyebrow. He was grinning like this was all a joke. I tried to compose myself. It wouldn't be professional if I started to throw punches at my boss.

I nodded.

"Very well then. I won't keep you any longer. My assistant Sally will show you to your office and tell you what to do. Welcome aboard," Ethan said and rang his assistant.

A blond woman walked in and greeted me politely. She was beautiful, like a model. I wondered if Ethan was interested in her. Knowing how he was in high school, I wouldn't be too surprised.

We walked into another large office. It wasn't as big and lavish as Ethan's, but it still exceeded my expectations. Maybe working here won't be as bad as I thought it would.

Even if that means I'd have to see that jerkface every day.

I looked in the mirror on the wall and let out a sigh of relief. At least I looked nothing like how I looked in high school. My tousled brown hair was slightly shorter. I styled it perfectly to make myself look sophisticated. I liked what I saw in the mirror, so I had absolutely nothing to worry about.

The rest of the day went smoothly. Sally showed me around the office and let me know what kind of work I was expected to do. I didn't see Ethan again as he never came out of his office.

Good.

"Holy crap!" Ally exclaimed after I told her about my new boss.

"That is correct," I said miserably.

"This got to mean something. Maybe fate brought you guys together so he could repent his sins, and you two live happily ever after," Ally said.

I winced. I couldn't imagine being with that douche bag.

"I wouldn't be with him even if he was the last man on the planet. Besides, he is not even gay," I said.

"You don't know that for sure," she protested.

"I told you what he did to me in high school! Even if he is some closeted gay guy, I won't let him touch me with a six feet pole. He can kiss my ass," I said, irritated.

"Or suck your dick," she added.

"Ally!"

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry, jeez. No need to bite my head off," Ally laughed.

"It's just...seeing him again opened some old wounds. He really hurt me, Allycat. And I don't mean just physically," I said quietly.

Ally pulled me into a hug. "I'm sorry. We can stop talking about him. I know how hard it was for you to forget him, and now you have to work with him. This must be rough."

She had no idea how hard it was. I needed to find a quick distraction, and I knew just what to do.

I took my phone out and opened the dating app where I met hot single men. After scrolling through a few profiles, I paused as someone caught my attention.

He had shoulder length dirty blonde hair and blue eyes with a sharp nose. Best of all, he looked nothing like Ethan. I looked at his name, Jacob Smith.

I typed hello and hit send. He answered right away. We texted back and forth a few times, then finally set up a date.

This is good...I thought. Jacob was kind of sexy, so he'd help me stop thinking about that douchebag. A hot steamy night with a stranger was all I needed. I thought.