Chapter 0019

•DARLA•

“I want to know how you even got in that elevator and ended up spending an hour with him inside it,” Ethan demanded as we opened the door and got inside our rented villa after discovering that we would be in Atlanta for a little while.

“I got in the elevator to go to the ground floor, Ethan. I wanted to talk to the guy because Abigail accused me of being after him, the elevator incident was purely coincidental and if I knew that it was going to be stuck, I would’ve used the stairs.”

I sighed as I walked to the bedroom, took off my jacket, and tossed it on the couch near the closet.

“You’re right. You should’ve used the stairs. You and I are supposed to be fixing things between us instead of getting stuck in elevators with our exes!” He ranted.

“Can you calm down, please? Nothing happened between Elijah and I, and nothing will ever happen. I don’t think you should worry yourself about him since you still have to sort things out with your ex-girlfriend before you and I can label whatever is happening between us.”

“I thought we had talked about it.”

“Of course.” I rolled my eyes and got dressed in comfortable clothes before I turned to him with a surprised look on his face.

“Are you saying that you don’t trust me when I say that I’m over her? It’s been a year since we last saw each other, and she called me that night to tell me that she missed me and all that bullshit. I didn’t even want to entertain it. I told her that I missed her because I wanted to get her off the phone.”

“Men and their lies,” I groaned. “Trust me, you do not have to make a fool of yourself in front of me when I know everything that you said to her, Ethan. I was there when you were talking with her and I decided to let it go because this was business from the start, nothing more.”

He sighed. “Fine. Can we put everything behind us and focus on what we are here for and see where this takes us?”

“That has always been my plan from day one,” I responded as I walked past him and went to the kitchen to get something to eat.

When I got to the kitchen and was about to warm up the Italian takeaway that I ordered on our way home, there was a knock on the front door and I groaned as I walked to the door to answer it.

“Dad… Mom.”

I was so shocked to see them that I never realized how it would feel to see them again after I divorced Elijah and left Atlanta.

“Hello, Darla. Can we come inside?” My father asked.

I just stood aside and let them in, and they walked inside the living room with Anthony behind them.

“Your brother here told us that you were back in town and are now working with Elijah on his new project as an architect. As your family, we deserved to know of this new development, especially after you bailed out of the business arrangement that we made with them when you got divorced from Elijah.”

“I don’t owe you or anyone anything. I got myself where I am, and if there’s anyone I can answer about my business endeavors, it is my husband, Ethan.”

“Do you think that your marriage with Ethan makes you worthy enough to sit with men and discuss business?” Belinda asked with a snarl. “You're a woman, and whatever worth you think you earned because of marrying another big fish won't keep you safe from the birds that prey on little fishes like you.”

“I earned every single penny in my account, unlike you, who married a man to take care of you and forgot all about your dreams.” I sneered. “Don't ever think that I'm as inferior as you are when men look at you.”

“You will regret this…” She narrowed her eyes on me.

“I went five years without a word to you guys. What makes you think that I will need you now after everything that I’ve achieved all on my own without your help?”

“You will regret this, Darla.” My father chimed in. “This industry will suck you dry and spit you out like you’re nothing, and only then would you realize how important we were in your life.”

“Then let it,” I shook my head as I looked at my father. “I don’t care, as long as I won’t be running to you for anything. I had no one ever since my mother died when she was giving birth to me and I accepted that fact when you made me feel like I wasn’t your blood, but the product of your infidelity with my mother.”

“I am your father, Darla. You better watch your tone when you talk with me.”

“My father is dead to me,” I replied.

When they saw Ethan approaching behind me, they swallowed their words, turned around, and left.

Ethan turned to me and wrapped his arms around me.

“I’m so sorry, Darla.” He pulled me to his chest. It felt as if he was embracing all the pain away, and I was grateful that he was there for me.

But our sweet moment was cut off by a sudden knock on the door that sent shivers down my spine, thinking that my parents were not done with insulting me.

I went to open the door and send them away when I saw a young lady at the door with a traveling bag beside her.

“Hi, how can I help you?” I asked curiously.

“I’m Rachel. Is Ethan inside the house?”

“Ethan?” I arched my eyebrows, wondering what she was doing at our villa at this time of the night.

“Yes, please,” she scoffed. “I don’t have time for this. I need to speak with him.”

Ethan walked toward the door and stood behind me.

“Rachel, what are you doing here?” Ethan asked her.

“Since you kept ignoring my texts and calls, I decided to come and find you myself because I’m not going to be abandoned now that I’m carrying your child.”