chapter 4
1161 Words
Chapter 4
"Uuummm, we shouldn't be doing this," I said, pushing him away. "You have a girlfriend. Why are you cheating on her?"
Ethan stammered, "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to... I wasn't thinking."
"Don't take this to heart," he added, still stuttering. "This never happened."
He quickly stepped out, calling out, "I'll be having breakfast by 8."
I found my dress, got changed, and made my way to the kitchen. But Ethan had already left for his office, instructing me to bring his breakfast there.
I rushed to my apartment, changed into a simpler yet classy dress, and headed to his office. As I walked in, one of his bodyguards ushered me in.
"Good evening, ma'am," he said, bowing. "The boss has instructed me to direct you to his office."
As we walked past the female staff, I heard envious whispers and malicious stares.
"She's not even that pretty. How did she manage to get him?" one of them whispered.
"Let her enjoy the moment of being in the public eye for a while. We all know she's just one of his regular whores."
I almost yelled in shock, wondering how they knew me. I had never been to his office before.
Just then, my phone rang, but I ended the call quickly, catching up with the bodyguard as we reached Ethan's office.
He instructed me to drop off Ethan's food on his desk and leave.
Later, as I tried to hail a taxi, I received a call from Sarah.
"Hey, bestie!" I exclaimed, eager to share my story.
But Sarah's tone was serious. "For your sanity, please do not open any social media platform."
She hung up before I could ask what was wrong.
I stormed into her apartment, demanding to know what had happened.
"You just need to calm down and ignore the comment section," Sarah said, trying to placate me.
But my curiosity got the better of me, and I checked my phone. What I saw shocked me.
Pictures from the previous night's dinner were all over social media, with hurtful captions and comments.
"Why would they take pictures of me stuffing food in my mouth? Why would they take pictures of me in my drunk state?" I exclaimed, mortified.
Sarah reminded me that I hadn't told her about my outing with Ethan, or that I was pretending to be his girlfriend.
"We're not in a relationship," I explained. "He asked me to act as his girlfriend for just one night, threatening to fire me if I declined."
Sarah was outraged. "How controlling can he be? Now he's put you in the limelight, and you can no longer work at the bar because of your trending photos on social media."
"You know what's worse?" Sarah added. "Everyone assumes you're Ethan's girlfriend now. You'll face harassment and scrutiny everywhere you go. You can't even go back to your normal life."
I realized she was right. I would have to quit my job at the bar to avoid more social media scandals.
"He has to get me another job," I said, determined.
For now, I decided to take a break from social media to preserve my sanity.
As I walked to the kitchen to prepare lunch, Sarah's words still lingered in my mind. What had I gotten myself into?
I couldn't wait until the next morning; sleep had eluded me. Thoughts of how I would resume my normal daily life filled my heart, and in those thoughts, I drifted off to sleep.
I woke up early the next day, before the c**k crowed. I couldn't even find the appetite to eat breakfast and hurriedly dressed up and dashed out for work.
I had no intention of making Ethan's breakfast; I was only there to demand a new job. His actions had brought significant consequences upon me.
I sat in the living room with my hands crossed below my bosom, fuming with anger. I tried to gather my thoughts so I wouldn't stutter when I spoke.
Soon, Ethan descended downstairs.
"You should be making breakfast, not sitting on my sofa like you own it," he said condescendingly.
I stood up to him, "I'm not here to cook for you. I'm here to demand a new job. Being a maid here won't pay my rent or feed me. Your selfish actions have cost me my job as a bartender."
Ethan looked confused, "How does losing your job have to do with me?"
I asked, "Have you checked any social media platforms after the night we went for dinner?"
He replied sarcastically, "Some of us have companies to run and don't spend time on unrealistic things like social media."
He pulled out his phone to confirm my anger.
"Oh, that's you stuffing food in your mouth like a street beggar. And there's another picture of me helping you in your drunk state. The captions and comments are mean, though."
Ethan still didn't understand why I was upset.
"You should thank me for helping you in your drunk state. Anyone would have taken advantage of you, but I saved you from that."
I yelled, "If you hadn't forced me to act as your girlfriend, would I have been in this situation?"
Ethan smirked, "You should thank me for giving you the privilege to dine with people of great caliber. Be ashamed of yourself for making a fool of yourself. In fact, I need an apology from you. Now the world thinks I have a drunk as a girlfriend."
He offered me a deal, "Well, I'm merciful. You can be my full-time maid or be my acting girlfriend, and I'll pay you handsomely in a month."
But I refused, "I'll never be your full-time maid. You've treated me with disrespect and disdain, and I won't tolerate it. You forced me to act as your girlfriend, and now I'm facing the consequences. I won't be your maid, and I won't be your girlfriend. I deserve better than to be treated like a servant or a plaything."
Ethan's voice trembled with emotion as he spoke. "You look so much like my ex, even prettier," he said, his words laced with pain and sadness. "She left a scar on me, she broke my trust. I don't believe in love anymore; you women are fake and deceitful."
He paused, his voice cracking with emotion. "I was the perfect man anyone would ever ask for," he continued, his words filled with regret and longing. "I was a kind-hearted person, always looking out for others. But my ex cheated on me, she stole from me, and she left me scarred and broken."
His eyes welled up with tears as he gazed at me, his voice barely above a whisper. "You remind me of her so much," he said, his words filled with pain and vulnerability. "I just need healing, I'm a damaged soul," Ethan said, grasping my hands to stop me from leaving, his eyes pleading for understanding and connection.
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