His Married, Human Mate

Chapter Eleven

Leona POV

I was angry and shocked. I can’t believe Aj had the nerve to just show up here and then accuse me of doing something! Like he even cared! I can’t believe Ethan punched him! What was going on with all the men?! My head was spinning with everything that was going on with my life.

I finally made it to my station and luckily Brittany was there this morning. She smiled at me, but that quickly faded when she saw I was upset. “I take it you aren’t having a good morning?” She asked me inquiringly. I shook my head no. “I understand. If you want to talk about it I am here.” She told me still watching me her voice full of the tenderness a mother should have. I nodded and swallowed hard refusing to allow my emotions to get the best of me. “I do want to talk about it but not yet.” I told her softly. If I started telling her I might break and I couldn’t afford to break right now at work in front of everyone. She nodded at me in understanding, “Whenever you are ready.” She told me and turned and started working. I decide I should follow suit so we don’t get behind on production numbers and setting myself and my emotions on auto pilot so that I could make it through today.

***

BRINGGG! The lunch bell rang and grabbed my attention. I jumped startled by the loud sounds so close to me. Everyone headed to the lunchroom, and I followed as well hoping to grab something out of a vender machine since I forgot my lunch this morning with all that was going on. Before I even get into the break room someone comes over the work intercoms.

“Leona, please report to the front gate. Leona, please report to the front gate. “ I roll my eyes knowing this could be me getting called up to get fired after AJ’s stunt he pulled this morning. I turned quickly and almost ran straight into Ethan.

“Hey there. Slow down a bit. “ he chuckled at me with a smile. “Sorry.” I say not meeting his eyes afraid to see the pity in them. “What’s wrong?” he asked his voice softer than expected. I just shook my head and tried to step around him but he matched my step blocking me from going. Annoyed a glanced up to see his face full of concern also. “To the gate probably to get fired after Aj showed up this morning.” I told he and shrugged my shoulders. “Oh, you’re not going to get fired. You didn’t do anything wrong. Here I will walk with you.” He turned and held out an arm in the direction of the door to the front gate.

I am debating asking him not to but he spoke like I wasn’t going to be able to talk him out of it. I headed out to the gate where the security shack was. AJ wasn’t there, thank goodness, but there weren’t any bosses either. Just a older gentleman in a suit with somethings in his hands.

Once close enough he spoke, “Are you Leona?” he asked me. “Yes, who is asking?” I responded. He opened a zipper binder and pulled out a yellow legal envelop and reaching it out to me. “You have been served.” I took the paper and gentleman in the suit turned and left. Ethan by my side causing this to be even more embarrassing than if I was alone. I am not sure why, but a tear slid down my face as I stood there looking down at the folder in shock knowing what was inside was divorce papers from my so called husband who was abandoning not only me but our son.

Ethan’s hand reached up and wiped the tears from my face. “Please don’t. This is humiliating enough. I don’t even know why I am crying.” I told him. “He does not deserve a woman of your quality and beauty. It truly will be his loss.” He pulled me chin up to look him in his eyes, his eyes searching my face to watch and see if I believed his words. He was probably just saying them out of comfort but I felt my cheeks get hot with his words and tingles where he held my face.

I quickly wipe my whole face and groaned. “I don’t have time to process this right now. I am starving and I need to eat while I can before lunch is over.” I spoke out loud mostly to myself but also to Ethan.

“Let me take you to grab a bit to eat?” he asked me.

“Right now? We don’t have time for anything like that.” I tell him. “We can do whatever we want. My cousin owns the factory and he won’t mind. I can just shoot him a quick text and we are done for the day and we can go eat somewhere you like and forget everything for a little bit. Just say the word.” He tells me lifting his chin slightly and pulling his phone out of his pocket as if to pretend he is already sending his cousin a text. I didn’t know that about him but I believe everything he was telling me.

“Are you serious?” I dead panned looking at him and the door going in wondering what I should do. He nodded. “Just say it.” He said. The last place I wanted to be was work after crying and getting served divorce papers, embarrassed and hurt but here I was feeling slightly okay in my brokenness with Ethan who only looked at me as if I was whole and offering an escape even if it was a little while. I almost didn’t believe myself when I heard my voice speak, “Okay.” I answered.

“okay?” Ethan asked his face a little shocked but a smile spreading across it. I nodded my head slightly grinning in return of his. “Okay, let’s do it.” I tell him. He hit a button on his phone and then quickly slid it into his pocket. “Okay,” he said and smiled down at me. We walked to the parking lot and got into his Charger and left.