The Ruthless CEO's Obsession

7

SOPHIE

“What? It’s Friday. Since when does Harrison make people work on Friday nights?”

I almost mention Ethan, but I stop myself before the words come out. “Sorry. I’ll try to come if I can.”

“I’m keeping you a place at the Velvet Lounge Club.”

“Well, my knee is messed up after today, so maybe dancing isn’t the smartest idea tonight.”

“What happened?”

I explain everything to Vanessa and tell her exactly how I hurt myself. “Honestly, Nessa, I have no idea how long I’ll be stuck working tonight. I’ll try my best.”

“Okay. Tell Harrison he’s turning mean with age.”

“I’ll tell him.”

After we hang up, I finish getting ready. I change clothes a couple more times before finally picking a light pink skirt that sways around my legs and a white shirt that shows just enough cleavage. It’s right on the edge between casual and dressed up. It doesn’t look like I tried too hard.

I stop in front of the mirror for one final check.

Not bad at all.

Good luck ignoring me tonight, Ethan Calloway.

My phone buzzes.

“My chauffeur is downstairs waiting for you.”

I blink at the screen.

He sent his chauffeur?

“Isn’t that breaking some Personnel department staff rule? Looking up my address?”

“It’s listed in the company directory. And I’d prefer you don’t fall and destroy your other knee.”

I laugh quietly to myself. Just because I know it’ll annoy him, I type back, “I’m perfectly capable of walking.”

“The car is waiting outside. Bring your laptop.”

I walk to the window and look down. Sure enough, a black car is parked in front of Sophie's apartment building.

The clock says 5:40.

“You said six.”

“I did.”

“Little impatient, aren’t you?”

It takes less than five minutes to walk to Calloway Holdings Tower from here. Driving is almost unnecessary.

“Sorry. I forgot you’re someone who arrives late.”

I instantly narrow my eyes. “And you’re back to acting like a dickhead.”

“I’m just being honest.”

“I’m never late. Today was an exception. Ask anyone.”

“I don’t need to ask anyone. I can usually tell how seriously people take their responsibilities the moment I meet them.”

That makes my irritation spike immediately.

“I’m pretty sure I take my responsibilities a lot more seriously than you do, Mr. Trust Fund Baby,” I shoot back.

The second I send it, another text pops onto my screen.

“BTW, I’m kidding.”

Damn it.

I shouldn’t have said that.

He never replies after that.

Now I feel bad.

I slide my purse over my shoulder, grab my laptop bag, and head downstairs where Ethan’s chauffeur waits beside the car. The second I open the door, the smell of food reaches me.

Golden Orchid.

I stop when I realize Ethan is sitting in the backseat beside several takeout bags.

He’s dressed simply in jeans and a fitted gray T-shirt, but somehow that makes him look even better. The material stretches across his chest and arms, and my stomach tightens before I can stop it.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, confused.

“They don’t deliver.”

I climb into the car slowly. “Then why didn’t you choose another restaurant?”

“Because this is what you wanted.”

My chest feels strangely warm hearing that.

I try not to react. “You could’ve picked somewhere else. It’s only Thai food.”

In that calm voice of his, Ethan says, “I just moved here. I don’t know which places are good yet.”

“When did you move?”

“Two weeks ago.”

“From where?” I ask, pretending I don’t already know.

“Boston.”

I lean back against the seat. “So you’ve been spending the last two weeks partying?”

“No. I’ve been working.”

He answers so seriously that I almost laugh.

Instead, I roll my eyes. There’s no way Ethan Calloway spent two straight weeks buried in work.

He notices immediately. “Why did you just roll your eyes at me?”

I shrug and turn toward the window.

The conversation dies after that, and before long the car stops outside Calloway Holdings Tower.

Ethan and I walk into the building together, but Harrison is just leaving as we arrive.

He pauses when he sees us. “Sophie? Ethan? What are you both doing here this late on a Friday?”

“We’re reviewing projects,” Ethan answers smoothly.

Harrison sighs. “Ethan, I keep telling you that you can’t spend all your time working. It’s Friday night. You’re young. Go enjoy yourself.”

Then he looks at me. “Sophie, don’t let Ethan’s terrible work habits rub off on you.”

I glance at Ethan for a second.

Either he really does work nonstop and I judged him wrong... or Harrison completely believes whatever image Ethan gives him.

Harrison looks back at Ethan with a frown. “We already talked about this, Ethan.”

Talked about what?

Ethan shifts beside me and breathes out slowly.

Without really thinking about it, I reach over and touch Harrison’s arm lightly. “It’s actually my fault, Harrison. I left work early because of my knee, and I wanted to catch up before Monday. Honestly, it still feels strange having my projects taken away before I finished them.”

“I understand that, Sophie, but it’s still Friday night.”

“Don’t worry. I forced Ethan to buy me my favorite food. He even had to pick it up himself because they don’t deliver.”

I give Harrison a playful wink.

He laughs softly. “Alright then. Just promise me you two aren’t planning to stay here all night.”

“That definitely won’t happen. I’m seeing my friends later,” I tell him.

For the briefest second, Ethan’s face changes. Like disappointment flashes across it. But it disappears so quickly I’m not fully sure I saw it.

Harrison finally seems satisfied and leaves.

The second he’s gone, Ethan looks at me. “Why did you lie to Harrison?”

I press the elevator button. “I don’t know. But don’t expect me to start doing it regularly.”

He nods once. “Still. Thank you.”

I shrug.

The elevator opens, and we step inside. Ethan enters a code into the panel, and moments later the doors open into a quiet private hallway on the top floor.

Ethan steps out first and unlocks a gray door.

I stay standing inside the elevator for a second too long.

He brought me to his skyline suite?

“Sophie?”

I look at him carefully. “This is your home?”

“Yeah.”

“Why are we here?”

“I hate working in the office after hours.” He studies my face closely. “Sorry. Is this weird? We can go back downstairs if you want.”

I slowly step out of the elevator. “No. It’s fine.”

“Okay. Make yourself comfortable.”

Ethan walks farther inside and sets the takeout bags down on the table.

I quietly take in the space around me.

The skyline suite overlooks Lake Washington. The windows are huge, the furniture is modern, and everything looks expensive without trying too hard. The whole place feels brand new.

“This place is really nice.”

“Thanks. I had it remodeled recently.”

Probably paid for with trust-fund money.

Ethan grabs plates, silverware, and bottled water from the chef’s kitchen before placing everything on the table.

I lower myself carefully into one of the chairs and hiss softly when my knee bends.

Ethan notices right away. “Sophie, you’re bleeding.”

I glance down and immediately look away from the blood showing through the bandage.

His mouth twitches slightly. “I’m guessing blood isn’t really your thing.”

“Definitely not.”

“Wait a second.”

Ethan disappears down the hallway, then comes back carrying an enormous red first aid kit.

I stare at it. “Wow. You really expect injuries around here, huh?”

He laughs quietly.

And the moment I hear it again, I realize something I probably shouldn’t.

I really like hearing him laugh.