Chapter 17 His Name Is Ethan Hayes
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As I passed by those senior executives, they each gave me knowing glances and greeted me with overly warm smiles. “Good morning, Mrs. Hartwell.”
“Good morning,” I replied with a gracious nod, smiling politely.
Queena’s expression darkened. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she strode quickly toward the conference
room.
When I reached the door to my office, Shawn happened to be stepping out of his. The moment his eyes landed on me, his brows furrowed. He was probably judging my outfit again–something about it seemed to
bother him.
I couldn’t care less. After what happened last night, I had every right to feel the way I did.
“I’ve got a meeting,” he said, his voice tight. “What do you want for lunch?” Even in his hurry, he made the effort to speak to me.
I turned to him and glanced at him. “I’m good. I’ve got lunch plans with Melanie.”
Shawn wasn’t used to me turning him down. He didn’t like it. But now, it was becoming routine. There wasn’t much he could do about it.
“All right,” he said shortly, then walked away.
That morning, I was still handling the transition of duties with the current managers at the hotels. By eleven o’clock, I left the office and headed to lunch with Melanie.
Melanie was already scanning the restaurant, eyes darting from one handsome man to the next. She wanted nothing more than a sweeping, soul–deep kind of love–the kind people wrote books about.
I understood. She was getting impatient, but I kept telling her not to rush.
Still, she was restless. “Tiffany,” she said, “I’m two years older than you. You’re 26, and I’m 28. You’ve got a 6- year–old daughter, and I haven’t even held any guy’s hand. Tell me, what’s it like to kiss someone?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. Of all things, why would she ask me about kissing?
“It’s nothing special,” I said with a shrug, sipping my tea. “Pretty overrated, honestly.”
The moment I said it, I heard a deep chuckle coming from the table behind us.
I turned and spotted a man in a black shirt, quietly sipping his tea like he was waiting for someone.
That face–I remembered him clearly. He was the guy that showed up at our class reunion. The one our class president treated with so much respect. What were the chances?
Melanie saw him too. She mouthed to me, He’s gorgeous.
I wasn’t sure if he’d laughed at what I’d said or if something else had amused him. Either way, I felt mildly self–conscious.
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Chapter 17 His Name Is Ethan Hayes
pretty girls stick with pretty girls.”
I couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Melanie sure knew how to flatter people when she wanted to,
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Maybe my laughter drew his attention because the man behind us turned and looked straight at me. His gaze was calm but piercing, like still water with something deep beneath.
I met his eyes for just a second, and for some reason, something inside me stirred–like the soft pluck of a harp string.
Melanie suddenly became far more ladylike; she ate less than usual. I knew that look. She had her eye on one of the men behind us. Unfortunately, she didn’t have an excuse to start a conversation.
She gave me a look, asking if I could help her somehow. I shook my head and said quietly, “I’m not into men anymore. If you like him, go for it.”
Melanie knew about my messy marriage. She also knew I wasn’t exactly hopeful when it came to love. But she hadn’t experienced men and was full of fantasies about them. She just didn’t know how to make the first move and get his number.
I excused myself to go to the restroom–and quietly paid the bill on the way out. On my way back, I nearly bump into someone at the corner and knocked his phone right out of his hand.
The sound of it hitting the floor made my heart thump. I bent down quickly to pick it up–and saw the screen had cracked.
“Dang it!” I muttered to myself in annoyance. “It’s okay.” Came a calm, low voice from above me. “It’s my fault. I wasn’t holding it properly.”
That voice.
I looked up sharply–and saw the man from the table behind us. He wasn’t wearing glasses now. Without them, he looked even more refined. There was something quiet and noble about his presence.
“I’m Ethan Hayes,” he said, introducing himself out of nowhere.
I froze for a second. I hadn’t asked for his name.
After saying it, his eyes stayed fixed on mine, deep and searching, like he was waiting for a reaction.
“I broke your phone screen. Let me pay for it,” I said, worried about the damage.
“No need,” he replied softly. “I’ll take care of it.”
“I insist,” I said, turning back to my table.
A moment later, I came back and pressed 3,000 dollars–the only cash I had–into his hand. “Get yourself a
new one.”
He stood quietly in the hallway, unmoving. When I handed him the cash, he gently caught my fingers. “I’m Ethan Hayes,” he said again.
I stared at him stupidly and said, “You already told me that.”
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Chapter 17 His Name Is Ethan Hayes
My eyes widened in disbelief. I stared at him, studying his face. “That was you?”
Ethan nodded. “Yes, it’s me.”
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My mind flashed to that night again–his car, a luxury Mercedes—and how my classmate had acted so deferential toward him. He didn’t look like someone who’d ever struggled with tuition.
While I stood there, stunned, he reached over and tucked the money back into my hand. “You’ve already given me enough. It’s just a phone screen. I can handle it. No need to give me more.”
I looked down at the cash, then back up at him in amazement. “So, the person who told the charity foundation they wanted to take me out to dinner–that was you too?”
Ethan lowered his head, chuckling. When he looked at me again, his face and the tips of his ears had turned red. “Yeah. That was me.”
“Oh, if I’d known you were this handsome, I would’ve said yes to dinner right away.” I grinned playfully, teasing him. What could I say? Making a good–looking guy blush was fun.
“Really?” Ethan’s voice had dropped to a husky tone. “Then let me take you out–maybe tonight.
I chuckled, shaking my head. “No need. I was only teasing. Just seeing you doing well, living a good life, that’s exactly why I made that donation in the first place.” I smiled warmly at him, then suddenly remembered something. “Do you have a business card?”
He quickly reached into his pocket and handed one to me.
I glanced at it and grinned. “A friend of mine is actually pretty interested in you. If you ever get the chance, maybe you two could chat sometime.”
Ethan didn’t say a word.
I was ready to leave, but before I could take a step, Ethan suddenly grabbed my wrist. His voice came out fast, tinged with nervous energy. “I’m not interested in your friend.”
I froze, startled by his bluntness.
His eyes locked onto mine, shadowed and intense. “The one I’m interested in is you.”
I nearly jumped. Damn it, that caught me completely off guard. I’d clearly taken the joke too far.
Gently, I pulled my hand from his grip and gave him a playful, cautious smile. “You’re going to be disappointed. I’m already married.”
I lifted my hand, ready to show him my wedding ring–only to remember I’d taken it off a few days ago.
Ethan’s gaze dimmed, his voice dropping to a quiet murmur. “I know. Your husband is Shawn Hartwell. But, word is, things between you two aren’t exactly great.”
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