Chapter 3
I was completely fed up. Grabbing my bag, I got ready to walk out.
I scoffed, "You're really out of your mind."
But Ethan yanked me back and snatched my phone right out of my hand.
Not even asking me, he went ahead and saved his number in my contacts all on his own.
His tone was pure authority, leaving no room for argument.
"For our wedding next month, I'll have a designer create a custom gown for you," he said.
After Ethan even touched my phone, it felt gross—like it had been tainted—and I didn't want to touch it again.
I dumped the rest of my soda water onto his clothes—finally, Ethan snapped and couldn't keep his composure.
He barked, "Charlotte, do you have any idea how much this suit costs?"
While he was busy dealing with the mess, I slipped out of the bar as fast as I could.
But at the entrance, I was confronted by a gaudy bouquet of red roses.
A young girl smiled at me.
"Mr. Perry sent these for you," she said.
I turned my gaze away in disgust and demanded, "Throw them away."
But the girl was stubbornly persistent and flat-out refused to let me pass, blocking my way like she owned the place.
She said, "Please, just take the flowers. We're barely scraping by—no returns, okay?"
The bodyguard who'd been waiting at the entrance stepped right up, blocking the girl with his imposing presence and standing at my side.
He looked so forbidding that the girl almost burst into tears on the spot.
With Ethan closing in fast, I gave an irritated wave and hurriedly flagged down a taxi.
I never expected to run into Ethan here—what lousy luck.
I should've read my stars this morning.
As soon as I got in the cab, my phone started ringing.
"Where are you? The driver said he couldn't find you," William asked.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself not to snap.
"Some nutcase showed up. Took a taxi home on my own," I replied.
There was a short pause, then William asked, "Is the little one behaving today? Want to come to the Carters' event tonight?"
"Yeah, I'll go," I replied.
I was already annoyed—if I stayed home any longer, I'd totally lose it.
"Okay, I'll send the driver to get you," William said.
*****
The desserts at this party were right up my alley—couldn't have asked for better.
Sweet but never too much, with just the right amount of cream.
I was halfway through my dessert when, out of nowhere, someone slid a mille-feuille right in front of me.
I glanced up and met Ethan's eyes, smiling at me in that familiar way.
He said, "You even tracked me down to this place? Your intel is ridiculously good.
"You're just as clingy as ever."
The dessert suddenly tasted way too sweet, and I shot him a glare.
I scoffed, "Funny how you're a married man, yet you still go around acting like you can flirt with anyone you please. Not worried people will talk?"
On my way here, I decided to do a little digging on a whim.
Had a friend pull some strings, and turned out Ethan was still hitched.
He waltzed right up and proposed—if word got out, everyone in the business would roast him for years.
At my words, Ethan looked a little rattled and glanced around nervously, like he was worried someone might overhear.
Then he leaned in closer and whispered, "I am handling it right now. The divorce papers will be ready before the month's over—I promise."
I looked away in disgust, thinking how blind I'd been to fall for him three years ago.
Suddenly, Ethan's face lit up with realization.
"So, you think I'm still tangled up with Sophia?" he pressed.
He started to pull me closer as he spoke.
He said, "Charlotte, if there's something on your mind, just spit it out. Acting like a little kid is beneath you."
I snapped, "Touch me one more time, and I'll call security."
Ethan's face darkened.
"Charlotte, my patience is wearing thin," he warned.
Just then, his phone started ringing.
"Okay. I'm coming now," he said into the phone.
After hanging up, he said to me, "If you like the desserts, I'll ask the waiter to bring you some more. Be good and wait for me here, alright?"
He walked a couple of steps, then paused—still looking a bit worried—and came back to add, "I'm just heading over to talk business with Mr. Foster. Don't get the wrong idea."
Ethan was so smug it almost made me laugh. Honestly, I was pissed, but it was just absurd.
I suddenly recalled the name he mentioned, and I wondered if he was talking about William.