"Fuck you," Ethan says, pointing a finger in Paco's face. "I did what you wanted, so why won't you leave me the fuck alone? I'm not your slave, asshole.""You are as long as I have something against you, and you know what it is," he spits. "So quit complaining. You're not giving me what I want!""That isn't up to me!" Ethan hisses. "You think I have total control? Damien has an eye out on everything. He was suspicious that last time, so there's not much I can do. My hands are tied, I've told you this before.""That doesn't interest me," he says through gritted teeth. "I have people who need this information. They're going to fucking kill me.""How is that my fucking problem?" Ethan asks. "Tell your boss that there's nothing I can do anymore."Paco takes a gun out of his pocket and presses it against Ethan's cheek. "Watch it, asshole. You've got a lot of attitude for someone who fucks their family right in the ass on a daily.""Shut the fuck up," Ethan says, giving him a menacing look.
I'm on edge.There's a lot of tension in the air. This Damien-Ethan feud needs to come to an end, but how's that going to happen when it hasn't even been acknowledged? Technically, everything is normal. Theo doesn't suspect anything. I know because she would've mentioned it by now. I also know that this isn't just my imagination; I see the way they're looking at each other, the way they rarely speak when they're home. Ethan always ends up leaving and spending the night at Penelope's and Damien will stare at the ceiling the way he always does when there's something on his mind.It's Theo's birthday and they've invited anyone who can be called a friend. Damien made sure to exclude anyone he deems 'dangerous' from the guest list. I'm sure he only did that because of me and I'm not complaining. I'm friendly with everyone here, but there are a few exceptions. Herbert, for instance. I don't like him. There's just something about the way he looks at people that gives me the creeps. Damien gu
He was right.I've been working non-stop all day. I've been organizing meetings, answering calls, typing up letters. Penelope has her hands full today do I really had to step in. It's a good thing I left at six, a lot had to be done.When he has a meeting, I leave the building for an hour and a half or so. I go to the café nearby, where I used to meet up with Devon. I'm a regular customer now and everyone knows me by my name. I rarely think about Devon. He hasn't tried to communicate with me at all. The last time I saw him was the day I cut him out of my life, right under our apartment building. Sometimes I'm afraid I'll see him, but I never do. I don't know if he even lives in this city anymore and honestly, I don't care. I'm just glad that he's in the past.I have my coffee and my cream cheese and smoked salmon bagel and I read through a few documents. He wanted me to proofread them. Actually, he wanted Penelope to do that, but I intervened and told him I could take care of it. She'
Gillian Davis.Where do I begin? There's something about her smile that irks me. She's trying so hard to be this demure person and I feel it in my bones that she isn't like that. At all. Her almond-shaped green eyes are constantly searching and they're too curious. I don't like the way her full lips curve upwards at the end of every sentence. She's wearing dark jeans and a red loose top that matches the color of her hair. She constantly shifts from one foot to the other and why is she nervous? It reminds me of how I felt when I first met Damien and it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.It's been five minutes. We should've left by now, we should be talking about what I found out concerning Paco. Instead, he's asking this woman questions about her previous job and how many years of experience she has and he's being too nice. He wasn't as nice to me, but that's in the past. It's not like I'm going to bring it up. That doesn't necessarily mean that I'm not bothered. I am and I wish I wasn
Her back is turned to him.Damien knows she's angry, but there's not much he can do to placate her. She didn't like Gillian, at all. She tensed up as soon as she walked in with Penelope and her mood changed. He should've talked to her about it, but that wouldn't solve the issue. She'd be furious regardless. She wants to keep working there and the truth is that he doesn't want her involved in his business. End of story. It's not safe, he has a lot of enemies. It'd be much easier to get to her there.Why can't she see that?The truth is that he has no choice but to hire Gillian. She's Penelope's recommendation. Penelope is someone he trusts with his life and that woman is her friend. Saying no would cause unnecessary strain in their relationship and that's the last thing he wants. But agreeing to hiring her means he'll be at war with Amelia and he doesn't want that either.The solution should be simple; keep looking. It's clear that Amelia has a problem with her and he should probably f
Damien hasn't even bothered to give me a call.I didn't sleep last night and I know he didn't either. Neither of us moved an inch, though. I secretly hoped that he'd reach out for me, but he never did. When he got up this morning, I thought that maybe he'd wake me up. He didn't. He left without me.I know his point is valid, I know. We've talked about this countless times before. He's trying to protect me and keep my away from the men he deals with, I get that. The only problem is Gillian Davis and why he didn't discuss her with me. He doesn't seem to understand that. I hate that she isn't even part of the company and she's already causing problems, I didn't want to give her so much importance. But nothing he says will change my mind; I hated everything about her and I only met her for approximately fifteen minutes. I was his secretary too, so I would know when someone walks in there with second intentions.I don't know what her deal is, but she's looking for something. He can tell me
"I hired that woman," he says.I look up, but he doesn't meet my gaze. We've been holding each other in silence for the last thirty minutes and everything felt perfect until now. Despite how great he just made me feel, this news doesn't sit well with me. It's hard to swallow and it just sits in my mouth, making it bitter.He finally meets my gaze and his expression changes everything for me. It dispels my growing anger. He didn't want to tell me this, but I guess he didn't want to prolong the inevitable.I nod. "OK."I don't know what else to say to him. I told myself that nothing would ruin this moment and I'm going to make sure nothing does even though a small part of me has died upon hearing this. Am I being a little too dramatic? Maybe. But I can't change the way I feel about her. I can't shake off that first impression.I can't help but feel like she's taking my place."Penelope spoke to Ethan," he says, confirming what I already knew. "I couldn't say no."I touch his face. "I me
This place is insane.There must be at least five hundred people here. The party's being held in the lower level of the house, which I'm sure was designed solely for the purpose of hosting parties like this. I keep forgetting that I'm in a house; this place is a nightclub. The floors are black and shiny, the walls are dark and velvety. The music is loud and upbeat and everyone's wearing a costume. Everyone. When she mentioned a costume party, well, this is not what I was expecting at all. I thought we'd be overdressed, but I was mistaken. We're actually underdressed compared to everyone here. The Huntingtons are Batman and Catwoman this year, that's what she told me, and I'm blown away by how amazing they look."Theo," I say. "This is insane.""What did I tell you?"Even the waiters are dressed elegantly. I've had two glasses of champagne and I haven't been here for an hour. I've met even more people tonight and my head is spinning with new names and faces. Theo seems to know everyone