Episode 9: The Point Is...
1022 Words
ETHAN'S POV
"Could you snap out of it already?" Olivia huffed, snatching my phone from me at the table. "We're here to have a good dinner and not sulk over some desperate whore."
"What are we talking about?" Nina looked away from the wine the server was pouring into her glass, an intrigued smile on her nicely painted face.
"Your brother chooses to annoy me by practically gawking at his ex-wife right in front of me."
"Liv I wasn't..."
"What? Going through Amelia's i********: page?"
"Amelia Wright?" Eva Moreno's incredulous gaze considered us.
That name ceased to be a thing in our household for about a year now only to spring up from nowhere.
"We bumped into that clodhopper last night and all you son does is talk about her."
"I'm not doing this with you." I forked an oyster into my mouth instead of dwelling on a conversation that would only piss me the hell up.
Did she imagine I wanted to go back to Amelia? For f**k sake. I'd rather thread on hot coal than get stuck in that rut again.
"That girl ruined your life." Eva Moreno pointed out.
No, mother was wrong. My life was ruined because my career stagnated the second Amelia walked away with her head high.
"I'm only confused about her involvement with Ian Hunt." I fed them the satisfaction they desired.
"It doesn't take much for a w***e to hook onto a steady flow of cash," Olivia tugged her hair from her face and added, "Not to worry, guys like Ian Hunt aren't the type to keep. He probably doesn't remember her name."
"Liv has a point," Nina piped up to fill me with hope, "I had Amelia checked this morning, there's no history with Mr. Hunt. No one's actually spotted them together until last night."
If Ian Hunt realized the stuff Amelia was made of, and how impressive her brain cells worked, they might want to play for keeps.
Why the hell did this bother me?
Dinner tonight with the people that mattered didn't feel as good as it used to. With Olivia's foul mood and the plaguing thoughts of Amelia actually making something out of her life deflated me.
I was sinking, in no time it would be clear for all to see. The only way to stay afloat was to lure Amelia back to the business. Maybe a promising paycheck? A promise of love?
I groaned inwardly as I watched the women of the household chatter about skincare products and fillers.
"How about we cut down on these fillers and start tilting towards the maternity angle?" Eva suggested.
Olivia's face fell. "I beg your pardon?"
"You two have kept this for so long."
"You should legit tell that to your son."
It all balled back to me. Where was the nearest exit?
I reared my seat and got to my feet, "I'll use the bathroom."
Five more minutes of sanity then I will be back to the table. It was all I needed to restrain me from running nuts.
I reached the restroom in no time and leaned against the vanity counter. My gaze was on my phone expecting a reply from Amelia.
My hopes of getting one came crashing down to realize she blocked me. Splendid.
A bitter laugh left me.
I'd actually imagined she'd be eager to talk, to grab my offer. Maybe a text message wasn't enough. Just an extra push then this wagon was on the road again.
I returned to the table, unsure of what went off but Olivia's face was knotted and so was Mother's.
"Eva's being so disrespectful right now I can't even look at her."
"All I said was to get a job, " Eva's tone raised. Another feud was brewing.
"These hands were made for shopping, not slaving away. Besides Ethan works, that's what a man's there for."
"You're working my son to death with your extravagant lifestyle."
"Mother." I chided softly only because I didn't want to offend Olivia.
Mother was right. Olivia needed to work a day in her life to know just how hard it was to make money.
"Could we knock this off?" Nina snapped, "I brought this entire argument up but if Ethan can afford a Birkin purse I don't see any need for the drams."
I couldn't. Those purses weren't cheap. Luxurious travels and fine dining it was only a matter of time before my business folded up. How could Olivia not be so sensitive to these things?
Amelia perfectly understood the struggles of building a business. Well, she did until she walked away when the brand was just gathering momentum.
I needed her back. Back in the business.
"Would I be so crazy to offer Amelia a position in the business?"
The entire table fell silent. Olivia's jaws sagged. All dumbstruck.
"Don't joke this way." Olivia cooed when she recovered from her shock.
"I mean she could slip information from..."
"Wrong business move," Nina clucked her tongue, taking the long-stemmed glass to her lips.
How could I tell them I needed Amelia back in the game or we fell flat in the face?
"I'll forgive you just said that." Olivia scowled, "Give it a few more days then you'll see that your ex-wife was nothing but an escort to Mr. Hunt."
"That's not the point, the point is..."
"Why is this up for discussion?" Olivia intercepted my words, "I came here to have a nice dinner so could you just chill out and try not to ruin dinner for everyone?"
I was the problem now?
I shoved my plate aside. The evening was ruined. Amelia always had a way of ruining things even in her absence.
"Nina, let's talk sometime this week." I got to my feet.
"I'm not passing on dessert because you choose to be grumpy." Olivia huffed.
"I have some work to finish before midnight. I'll have a chauffeur come pick you up."
Without waiting to know how everyone felt about me walking out of dinner I headed towards the exit. This night did nothing to help the war waging inside me.
- Writer
