Billionaire Bad Boy, Broken Underneath

Chapter 19

Carissa's POV

Ezra has Jason over for work. They've been in the study for a while now. I arrange two cups of freshly squeezed juice for them. As much as I find my boss very annoying, I must say, his dedication to his work is somewhat admirable. I don't think I've met anyone who works as hard as he does. I’ve caught him a couple of times in the wee hours, working in his study. Sometimes it's a bit much and I don't know why but I worry for his health. If there's one person who doesn't prioritize their health, it's Ezra.

With the way he works, I do wonder when he finds the time to entertain all the women that flock around him. Speaking of which, it's been a while he had one over. Well, he could be meeting them in hotels or wherever for all I know. Ezra seems like the kind of person that cannot go a day without s*x and I wonder if he never gets tired. It's bad enough that he's so handsome and wealthy so ladies are always drawn to him. I mean, he speaks their language so he can have as many as he wants. I try not to think about how that affects me. I tell myself over and again that nothing can ever happen between Ezra and me.

We are two very different people with different values, beliefs and ideologies. I wonder what a disaster it would be if we ever get together when even now, it's difficult for us to agree on something. I can't help it though. He gets on my last nerves. It doesn't help that he looks utterly delectable. I won't lie, I get carried away sometimes by all that beauty that I even forget why I'm mad at him in the first place. I really need to focus. That's what I tell myself everyday I wake up but I seem to be doing a really bad job at focusing. He can be very distracting even when he's not trying.

I let out a breath as I carefully pick up the tray and march towards the study. They've been holed up in there for hours now and I figure they would need a small break because knowing Ezra, there's no stopping when he starts. Poor Jason. Even he would be exhausted. That I'm sure of. I place the tray on one hand when I get to the door and knock with the other. I twist the knob when I hear the signal to go in.

Ezra’s gaze is fixed on his screen and Jason clearly looks like he needs a break. Exhaustion is written all over his face. I turn to Ezra and he looks nothing of the sort. If anything, he looks like he's only starting out. He has his reading glasses on, and boy, does he look good in them. I recollect my thoughts when they start going places they shouldn't. I place the tray on the desk and only then does Ezra look up.

“I figured you guys would be thirsty so I brought some fresh juice” I say to them.

“You're a lifesaver, Carissa. Ezra here plans to do an entire year's worth of work today and I'm exhausted already” Jason says as he grabs a glass and down half the content.

“Stop whining, Jason. We're not even halfway done” Ezra says with an expressionless face.

“No, You are not done. I'm done for the day. Hailey wouldn't like that you're stressing me this much” Jason rolls his shoulder. Ezra raises a brow at him and turns to me afterwards.

“Thank you, Carissa” he says as he grabs his glass.

“Alright. I'll come back for those” I say, motioning to their glasses and turn to leave.

“So, you're not gonna save me from him?” Jason directs his question at me.

“Ezra wouldn't budge even if I tried. Your friend is a workaholic as you well know. So I'm afraid you're alone in this” I say over my shoulder with a smile. I hear Jason's muffled sounds as I leave the room.

A few hours later, I return downstairs. I hear Jason and Ezra's voices coming from the tennis court at the side of the property and I can only imagine how much convincing it took Jason for Ezra to agree to ditch work and go play a game of tennis. Interesting. I seize the opportunity to go clear out the cups from the study. I load the cups into the tray when I hear a phone ding. I know it's Jason's phone from the screen saver which is a cute picture of him, Hailey and Nadia. A message pops up and I didn't mean to look but I do. The content of the message is weird. It's a threat to Jason to pay up the money he owes or he wouldn't like what's coming.

I stand up straight and leave the room immediately. I hear the sound of their voices as I arrive at the kitchen. I think towards the weird phone call I overheard Jason make when we were over at his house. I didn't pay much mind to it then but with this message, everything seems very suspicious. Jason doesn't seem like the kind of person who would get involved in shady business but you never really know people. He has a sweet family. I bet he wouldn't risk their security by getting involved with the wrong people right? Because what I read was no small threat.

I contemplate telling Ezra about the call and the message but I'm confused. It might be something personal to Jason and I don't want to risk their friendship falling apart because I couldn't keep my mouth shut and mind my business. It's not my place to tell. I say to myself. If Jason wants Ezra to know, he would tell him himself. What if it's nothing serious and maybe just a prank someone might be pulling on him? I don't want to blow things out of proportion when I'm not even sure what's going on.

I decide not to mention it to Ezra. Honestly, it's really not my place to tell. How would I explain snooping through his friend's phone? It could even cost me my job. I think over it again and decide it's best to let it slide. It really might not be anything I'm thinking. I don't even know what I'm thinking at this point. I rinse out the cups and set them aside to dry out when I hear them come in through the back door. Jason goes to the study and I see Ezra heading my way. He stops right in front of me.

“You good?” he asks when I keep staring at him, lost in thought.

“Yea, sure. Do you need anything? I was just about to start prepping for dinner” I return my focus back on him.

“Okay…” he studies me for a second before speaking again. “I'll be out for a bit. I need to drop Jason off at his. He didn't drive here and his driver is unavailable at the moment”

“Alright. Dinner should be ready when you get back” I say with a small smile. He squints his eyes at me a bit before heading out. I return to work, pushing thoughts of Jason to the back of my mind.