The Billionaire And The Ice Queen (A Fantasy Romance)

#9 Ethan

“Are you on your own?” I asked, pressing the phone to my ear as I walked into the walk-in wardrobe for more privacy. Not that anybody should hear anything from my bedroom. The walls were soundproof, but Merek had better hearing then a bat.

“Why?” Lily asked in a hushed voice.

“Why are you whispering?”

“I don’t know.”

I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose. “Does that mean nobody is with you?”

“Yes,” she whispered back.

I swallowed the retort, put the mobile on speaker then started to do some press up.

“Ethan, are you still there?”

“Yes.”

“Why are you puffing?”

“Push…. Ups…. To …. Get …. rid…. of…. My…. Anger.”

“That bad.” I heard a scraping sound like a stool being dragged out. “What has he done this time?”

She knew me too well.

“Got…. Engaged.”

Lily gasped.

She didn’t know the half of it. “To…. A…. Witch.”

Silence.

I stopped exercising and waited for her reply.

“Fairy dust!”

I snorted. It wouldn’t have surprised me if her flat mate had heard her exclamation. “I would have used a more stronger word for it.”

She ignored my comment. “What happened? When did he meet her? How long have you known? Does-“

“Come over.” I interrupted her tirade of questions. “Maybe you can get through to him.”

“He’s with you?” She sounded surprised.

“Yes. I had no choice.” Why was I defending myself? I had done nothing wrong. “Just get here, I’ll explain everything later, I promise.”

“I’m on my way.” She called off without saying goodbye. I glanced at the phone as I prayed, she wouldn’t get hurt on her way here. Maybe I shouldn’t have rung her.

Ping.

Lily: Sorry. Meant to say goodbye.

I couldn’t help but smile at her message.

Ping.

Lily: Don’t hate me

You couldn’t hate Lily or be angry with her for very long, she wouldn’t let you.

I typed a one-word reply.

Idiot

I shook my head, jumped up and headed for the kitchen. The aroma of fried garlic hit me before I entered the room.

Why was he cooking? Was he hungry? We were meant to eat before we arrived at the event.

Merek stirred something in a pan. “Is Lily coming?” He asked, keeping his back to me.

How did he know I talked to her? Had he heard our conversation?

“You always call her when you can’t get what you want from me.” He answered my unspoken question, still not facing me.

He was more observant than I gave him credit for, but I didn’t comment on his observation. I had the patience of a rabbit, so it was best I kept my lips glued together.

“She’s on her way.” Pulling the stool out from under the breakfast bar, I sat down and waited for Lily to arrive.

Merek ignored me and kept on cooking for what looked like a large gathering, while I drummed my fingers on the table. I struggled not to think about Ivy or Crystal, yet the harder I tried the more I thought about them, especially Ivy. It would have been better if I had gone to the gym, but I didn’t trust Merek not to do a runner.

Finally, the bell Jingled an agonising thirty minutes after I spoke to Lily. I whipped around, rushed to the door, and flung it open.

“What took you so long?!” I gritted out.

She stepped forward, hugged me, and patted me on the back. “I am here now. Everything is going to be fine.” Then shoved me out the way and walked into the hall.

Taking her coat off, she headed to the sitting room and flung it on the chair. “Where’s Alex?” She was the only one in the family to call him by his middle name.

I picked up her coat, took it to the closet and hung it up. “He’s in the kitchen, cooking for a banquet.”

“Poor Alex.” Running her fingers through her shoulder length blonde hair

I turned my dumbfounded gaze at her. “Poor Merek.” I sputtered. “What about poor me.” It peeved me when everyone felt sorry for the fool when it was his fault to begin with.

She hugged me again, making me lose my frustration as I shimmied out of her grasp. Too much hugging for my taste, probably why she did it.

“Come on.” I strode to the door. “Let’s go see him before he empties my cupboard.” Trying not to shudder from the contact, I scurried to the kitchen.

Merek had set the table for three, with all the dishes he had cooked laid out, and stood at the sink washing the utensils.

“Alex!” Lily Shrieked, as if she hadn’t seen him for years when in fact, they watched a movie together, here, last week.

He turned in time before she hurled herself at him. He returned her hug, the only person he showed any true affection to. Well, except for Crystal.

“Once you finished your show of hatred for each other,” I said sarcastically. “Can we eat, before this….” Pointing to the food. “Gets cold.”

Merek, being the mature person he was, stuck his tongue out at me. He was back to his normal self, for the time being.

As soon as we sat down Lily bombarded him with questions. I happily ate as I watched him squirm.

He informed her what he had already told me, as she ate from the huge portion of chicken curry she had piled on her plate. Merek hadn’t touched his.

“Aren’t we in a pickle.” Lily said, demolishing a quarter of her food. I didn’t answer and kept on chewing.

“I think we should all sleep on it and see what we can do tomorrow.”

Gaping at her, I wished I hadn’t gotten her involved. Going to sleep did not solve anything. What was she thinking?

“Close your mouth Ethan, I don’t want to see what you’re eating.” Turning away from me she set her gaze on Merek. “Before you go, I want you to give me your mobile.”

His head snapped up. “No.”

This answer did not deter her, and she chewed away at her food. I wondered where all the weight went, she never exercised, yet her figure stayed the same.

“You will not talk to the Witch.”

Merek slammed his hand on the breakfast bar, shoved his chair back and leaned forward, his face inches from Lily’s. “Her name is Crystal.” He growled. “She’s mine!”

I started to get up, ready to intervene should things get out of hand, not that I feared he would harm his own sister.

 Lily had stopped mid chew at his uncharacteristic behaviour, picked up her fork, which had a piece of chicken and stuffed it in his mouth.

“You are an intelligent man Merek, don’t make me reconsider that.”

I bit my tongue to stop myself from laughing.

“Now I want your mobile.” She went back to eating. “Don’t worry I’ll return it tomorrow morning.”

Merek looked at me for help, when he didn’t get the response he wanted, his shoulders slumped, and dug out the mobile from his pocket, gave it to Lily and stormed out without saying a word.

By this time half the food on Lily’s plate had gone and mine was still piled high.

“It’s best if we don’t discuss it now because it’s too fresh.” She shovelled more food into her mouth. “You’ll both be in a better frame of mind by tomorrow morning.”

“Your sleeping over?” It was a good thing I had three bedrooms otherwise she would have chucked me out of mine. Even the wardrobe in the spare bedroom was full of her clothes. She came over whenever she wanted which, thank god, is not a lot.

She raised her brown at me. “Do I have to reconsider your intelligence too.”

“Don’t make me laugh, Lily.” I said dryly. “I might rupture a spleen. And anyway, I can’t do tomorrow morning.”

“Why not?”

“I have to work.”

“What’s the point of being your own boss if you can’t hand it over to some other poor soul.” She screwed her brows together and pointed her fork at me. “Of course, they’ll hate you for making them work on the weekend.”

“I have to do it.”

She munched away while staring at me, reminding me of a cow as they regurgitated their food and chewed on it for hours. A good thing she didn’t know what I was thinking, otherwise she would have poured the curry over my head for comparing her to a bovine.

“What’s so important about this meeting?”

“Cyberespionage. I have to see it through myself.” She opened her mouth, but I cut in before she could say anything. “It shouldn’t take me long. I’ll be back before midday.”

Gaping at me her mouth fully open, I had a perfect view of the semi chewed food.

“You want me to entertain Merek while you’re at work?” Her green eyes were ready to pop out. “Are you insane.” She put her fork down and wiped her mouth with a napkin as I got up, wrapped the plate in cling film and put it in the fridge. Nothing goes to waste under my roof. Should Merek find out he would have a fit. I knew how it was to go hungry.

“The witch has been around him for a week, and by the sounds of it she used a strong potion on him. He will go nuts if he doesn’t see her tomorrow. Most likely he wouldn’t sleep tonight.”

“You can handle him.” I encouraged, making my way to the door. “I have faith in you.”

Lily still looked gobsmacked and had not moved from her position. Before she regrouped, I rushed out and locked myself in my bedroom.

Deciding to sleep early, I flopped onto the bed, planning my escape route tomorrow morning, without them being the wiser.

As I planned, the unbidden image of Ivy haunted my mind. This must be how Merek felt but ten times worse. Not that I felt sorry for him, we were in this predicament because of his stupidity.

I shoved the thought of him out of my head, instead fantasising about Ivy. I must have been more tired than I thought, the next thing I knew I woke up early the next morning in the same position I flopped onto the bed. Rubbing my face, I dragged myself out of bed and into the shower. I changed the water temperature to cold, jolting my body awake. I quickly got changed and sneaked out into the hall, waited a whole minute, listening for any noise. The flat was quiet.

Lily always awoke late; she loved her sleep but Merek was an early riser. I started heading to his room but stopped myself. He was a sensitive sleeper due to his super hearing, over a short distance. Unlike me, I can hear from 10miles, and inaudible sound that the human ear can’t detect.

I tiptoed to the front door, opened it quietly as I could, and shut it just as gently. I owed Lily big time. I believed her when she said Merek was going to be a nightmare. However, this was just as important since it affected us all.

Traffic on Saturday was busy in London like any other day, even at seven o’clock in the morning. I thumped the steering wheel when I saw the line of stationary cars that ran for miles. My own stupid fault, I should have left an hour ago.

By the time I parked the car, my stomach protested its hunger. Glancing at my mobile I saw that it was past nine thirty. Knocking my head on the steering wheel, I ignored my rumbling stomach, got out of the car and made my way to Ivy’s office. This was the first time that I had ever been late anywhere. If someone had done it to me, I would have made sure they never forgot it.

Yet I felt no guilt for what I had done to others, and I didn’t excuse myself for being late. I should have set my alarm, I had no one to blame but myself.

I pressed the buzzer for Ivy’s office, on the ground floor, and a woman that was every man’s fantasy opened the door for me. She leaned her hip against the door frame.

“Can I help you?”

“I’m here to check the IT system”

Her gaze travelled down my body slowly then made its way back up as I spoke to her.

She bit her bottom lip. “Yes.” Not moving to let me through.

I gave her a stony glare. “I’m Ethan Westfield-“

“Oh, so you are the Mr Westfield.” She perked up and stuck her generous chest out, not caring that she rudely interrupted me. The tight dress hugged her hourglass figure. She was the type of woman who knew the assets she possessed and showed it off to its full advantage.

She stuck her hand out. “My name is Sonia, I work here.” I stared at the hand then back at her. I wished Mary was here.

The woman might be great to look at, but she had trouble written all over her. Even if Ivy hadn’t taken over my mind, I still wouldn’t have chosen her. I want a long-term relationship not a volatile short term one.

“Can you tell Miss Hope that I am here.”

She pouts and stepped forward intending to put her hand on my person. I glared at her and she abruptly stopped, her hand a few inches away from my arm.

Usually my glance would make people shiver with trepidation. Sonia just glanced at me and a slow smile took over her face. She was not scared, my glare only seemed to perk her interest, and desire took over her eyes.

Turning around, she took a few steps into the long hall, before pivoting her body sideways, crooking her finger at me. “Follow me.”

She seductively walked into the office, making sure I had enough time to gaze at her figure from behind.

Now, I can’t deny that she made my pulse quicken. I might want a long-term relationship but that doesn’t mean I’m blind.

However, it was nothing to what Ivy does to my body and mind. I kept my gaze glued to the back of her head and not her body. A hard thing to do but I stuck to it.

When we arrived at the main working area, there were women sitting around a long rectangular table with computers in front of them. They all turned to face Sonia when she entered.

The minx turned slowly to face me, and the whole room went silent. I knew not paying her any attention will only push her, but then if I did it would also make her think I’m interested.

“Mr Westfield.”

I turned my glare back at her.

“May I call you Ethan?”

I opened my mouth to say over my dead body when she carried on talking.

“Ethan it is,” she said with a seductive smile and eyes that said let’s have some fun.

I had seen men who prowled on women, but she was the first woman I had come across who acted this way.

I found her attitude, too aggressive, not that I liked submissive women, but this behaviour only cooled the rising temperature. What she didn’t know was it put me off.

Before she could carry out whatever she had planned to say, Ivy’s door opened.

I didn’t stare at her fearing my true feelings for her would show.

Her distinctive smell whiffed over to me on the cool breeze that came from her room. It caressed my warm skin making my heart gallop. I glared more at Sonia as I tried to get my emotions under control.

Sonia, thank god, decided to glance at Ivy, giving me a break. Before I could feast my eyes on Ivy, Sonia smirked, making my hackles rise.

“You don’t look well.”

My glare returned. How dare she make fun of her.

“I am fine. Thank you for your concern.” Ivy said sarcastically. Sonia’s smile evaporated as she straightened her shoulders.

“Of course, we’re worried.” She flashed me a glance and sent me another seductive smile. “I can look after Ethan if you’re…. Not well.”

Ivy didn’t bother answering, which irked me. I gripped my backpack on my shoulder as I planned to make her want me. Internally smiling, I relaxed my grip, I liked a good challenge. She may be uninterested now, but I’ll have her running after me.

 “Is there something wrong with the system?” Ivy said to the other women in the room. I didn’t pay attention to them; my eyes were only for her. “Or have you caught up with all your work?”

The tapping of keyboards grew louder as Ivy turned to me for the first time since she came out of her office. Her gaze never met mine which concerned me. This is not the Ivy I met yesterday or the woman I saw at the charity event. Had Merek’s action knocked her that much?

“I’ll show you where you’ll be working.”

Sonia took a step closer. “I’ll see you at lunch.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to answer when pigs fly, but that would only encourage her, so I kept it to myself and closed the gap between me and my beautiful prey.

My ice queen.

Her scent wrapped around me, pulling me towards her. I closed the door behind me. I wouldn’t put it past Sonia to eavesdrop.

Unlike Sonia, Ivy hid her figure from view, with the slightly loose clothes she wore. The urge to undress her in the office, to find out what lay beneath was all consuming. I swallowed and listed countries that started with the letter A. It helped for a bit until I had to squeeze past her to get to my workplace, in the tiny office which I hadn’t payed attention to, not with Ivy in front of me.

Her sent was overpowering, tantalising me to get closer. I lifted my hand to touch her when she turned away.

“Ivy.” I growled. How dare she walk away from me.

Swallowing the desire to grab her, I tried to concentrate on why I was here. “We need to talk.”

She turned her head to gaze in my direction but did not my eyes. There were dark circles beneath her eyes, marring her beauty. Her baby blue eyes had lost the fire I saw burning yesterday when I spoke to her.

Somehow, she looked unkempt. I missed the plastic Barbie facade she always plastered on to her face for those she didn’t know.

“We have nothing to discuss.” Any other time those words would have angered me but seeing her this way had me wanting to hug her and demanding to know what was wrong. However, I still needed to talk to her.

“I have to disagree.”

Her shoulders slumped further, and I hated myself for insisting. She was not up to it but I gripped the table to stop myself from grabbing her.

“Not now. I have a meeting at ten.” And with that she walked out not once looking back.

The table cracked slightly but did not break under my grip.

This day just seemed to get worse.