CONTRACTED: His Dangerous Obsession

Get Rid Of Her

Phoebe pushed open the front door and stepped inside. But something felt off.

The house was dim and quiet just the way Ethan had always loved it. His cologne lingered in the air, mixed with the scent of expensive liquor and the subtle aroma of vanilla.

She closed the door and adjusted the laptop bag hanging from her shoulder. Inside the bag was the proposal she had spent the last three weeks working on for Lane Holdings. It was a proposal that could change everything for Ethan's company and she had planned to surprise him with it tonight.

Her fingers tightened around the small velvet box in her other hand. A thoughtful gift for Ethan as his company, Lane Holdings, achieved a new milestone. Something to remind Ethan that she was still here to support him. Still his.

As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she moved towards the staircase. She could see the warm light visible under the bedroom door.

Just then, a soft laugh came from behind the bedroom door.

Her heart skipped a beat. She stood still on the stairs and listened, she could hear muffled voices. She told herself she was being paranoid and that there was a reasonable explanation.

Her feet took her up the staircase anyway. By the time she reached the top, her hands were trembling. She could hear the voices more clearly now.

"Ethan, stop." A woman's voice, giggling.

Phoebe's stomach dropped.

"Why? Are you scared someone will walk in on us?" Ethan laughed quietly. She had known that voice for four years.

"Mhmm. Isn't that part of the thrill?"

Phoebe's grip tightened painfully around the velvet box. She recognised the second voice.

Scarlett.

Ethan's so-called distant cousin.

Her hand stretched to the doorknob but before she could touch it, Scarlett spoke again.

"When are you going to marry me, Ethan?"

"Soon, my love. Just be patient a little longer." Ethan murmured but Phoebe could hear him.

"You keep saying soon."

"And I mean it," Ethan replied immediately.

Phoebe could not breathe.

"I am tired of hiding," Scarlett said, her voice taking on a whine. "Do you know how annoying it is pretending to be your cousin around her and acting nice to her? I am sick of it."

"Just a bit longer. I promise." Ethan's voice was low and soothing. "I just need to close this deal with the Yates Corporation. Once that is done, I will be set. Then I will get rid of her and marry you."

Get rid of her.

A sharp ringing filled her ears. The hallway seemed to spin around her.

Ethan laughed softly and Phoebe felt like she had been punched in the gut. She stood there with her hand on the doorknob and the laptop bag on her shoulder and the velvet box in her fingers and she did not move.

She felt like she had been drenched in icy water. Then everything in her body seemed to give up at once. The velvet box slipped from her hand and hit the ground with a quiet thud.

Her breathing became shallow.

Four years.

Four whole years.

She turned immediately without another thought and rushed down the stairs, her legs almost giving out. She pulled the front door open and walked quickly, out into the night.

She did not stop walking until she had put enough distance between herself and that house. Her vision blurred from tears she refused to let fall yet.

She ended up on a curb two streets away and sat down. The laptop bag slid off her shoulder onto the ground.

She stared blankly ahead, the cars passed occasionally but nothing felt real to her. Then, the tears started, running down her cheek like an opened dam.

Four years.

She had given him four years. She had poured herself into his company, into his vision, into a future she had genuinely believed in. She had written proposals and attended meetings and stayed up at night crafting strategies and she had done all of it because she loved him and because she thought he loved her back.

She pulled out her phone and called her best friend, Ama.

It rang twice before it connected.

"Phoebe?" Ama's groggy voice came through the other end.

Phoebe opened her mouth but nothing came out.

"Are you okay?" Ama asked.

She opened her mouth to say she was fine. "Can you come get me?" came out instead.

Ama's tone changed instantly. "What happened?"

Phoebe shut her eyes tightly. "I just... I cannot go home right now."

There was silence, then Ama asked, in a quieter voice, "Where are you?"

Phoebe told her.

"I am coming," Ama said immediately. "Stay there. Do not move."

The call ended.

Phoebe lowered the phone slowly. The cold finally started sinking into her skin now, but she barely noticed it.

Her mind kept replaying Ethan's voice over and over again.

I will get rid of her.

Thirteen minutes later, a car pulled up. Ama jumped out before the engine fully died.

One look at Phoebe's face and she could immediately guess what had happened.

"Oh no."

Phoebe tried speaking but burst into tears again instead.

Ama walked over quickly and pulled her up from the curb without saying anything. Phoebe buried her face into Ama's shoulder and cried properly this time.

Ama held her tightly. "It's okay," she murmured. "I'm here."

Phoebe's shoulders shook harder.

Ama rubbed her back gently before pulling away enough to look at her face. "Let's get in the car. It is getting cold."

She guided Phoebe into the passenger seat and shut the door behind her before hurrying around to the driver's side. She turned the heating on before she started the engine and adjusted it until the car started getting warm. She checked that Phoebe's seatbelt was on. Then she pulled out onto the road.

For a while, none of them spoke.

Phoebe stared out the window silently. She had stopped crying but her chest still felt tight. She could feel Ama glancing at her every few minutes.

"Just say it," She said finally.

Ama glanced at her twice before finally sighing. "You know I am going to say it."

"Say it then."

"I warned you about him." Ama started. "I told you not to go all out for that man. I told you something was off. And you were so blinded by love you almost made me the enemy for saying so."

"But I genuinely loved him," Phoebe said. Her voice cracked on the last word.

"But did he love you?" Ama asked. "When I told you he was using you, what did you do? You defended him. You told me I did not understand your relationship. You told me Ethan was different and that he's the best thing that happened to you after—"

"Ama—" Phoebe cut her off.

"No." Ama's voice was firm. "Do not Ama me right now. I sat and watched you give that man everything. And I kept quiet because I did not want to keep fighting with you about it. But I was right, wasn't I."

It was not a question. Phoebe pressed her lips together and nodded.

Ama exhaled slowly. When she spoke again, her voice had lost the anger. "What happened?"

And this time, Phoebe told her everything. By the time she finished, her face was wet again and her hands were folded in her lap.

Ama said nothing for a long moment. Her jaw had tightened and her eyes stayed on the road.

"I am sorry," Phoebe said quietly, looking down at her lap.

Ama gave her a long look then looked back at the road. "I will accept that apology only if you never go back to him. Not for anything. If you go back to that man, I will personally end your life and walk myself to the nearest police station."

Phoebe let out a weak laugh that sounded more painful than amused. "I promise."

"Good." Ama turned into the private driveway of her house and slowed the car to a stop. "Because I cannot be managing my own life while your love life stresses me at the same time." She glanced over. "I hope he rots."

"Do you really hate him that much?"

Despise. Loathe. Worse." She pulled the key from the ignition. "I always wondered what you saw in him. But love is blind I suppose." She opened her door. "Come on, get down."

They went inside together.

Ama's private house was warm and well-lit. Phoebe showered while Ama searched through her closet.

By the time Phoebe stepped out wearing only a towel, Ama had already laid a dress neatly across the bed.

Phoebe looked at the dress. Then at Ama. "Are you going somewhere?"

Ama looked up calmly. "We're going out. You and I."

"Tonight?"

"Especially tonight. You are not spending tonight crying over that idiot." She pulled a seat out. "Sit down."

Phoebe complied. Ama began applying makeup to Phoebe. When she was done, she picked the dress up and shoved it into her arms. "Get dressed."

Phoebe dressed. When she turned around, Ama looked her over and nodded, satisfied.

"Isn't this too revealing?" Phoebe asked, tugging at the hem nervously.

"It is not."

"My legs are literally outside.".

"This is exactly why I never wanted you with that man." She sighed dramatically and gestured toward the full-length mirror on the wall. "Four years with that i***t and you forgot you are hot. Take a look."

Phoebe turned to the mirror. She stood there for a moment and then turned slowly, taking herself in from every angle. She had even forgotten how clothes could fit. The dress hugged her body perfectly. Her makeup was soft and clean. Her curls framed her face beautifully.

For the first time that night, her eyes softened and a smile spread across her face.

Ama folded her arms proudly behind her. "Like what you see?"

"Mhmm," Phoebe nodded, her eyes suddenly filled with tears again.

"Don't you dare, Phoebe Quinn." Ama pointed a warning finger immediately. "If those tears smudge that make up, I will give you something to cry about really."

Phoebe laughed through the tears. "You're a bully, Ama."

"I love you too, Pookie," Ama said, disappearing into the closet.