Hot Coffee (The Hollens) novel Chapter 40

Ethan's POV

I had a shitty day at the office. My company was always in the New York City big business race. Nonetheless, I always managed to stay ahead and on top of the game. I was that damn good. But for a business like mine to flourish and live on from generation to generation, I would have to expand internationally and gain other shareholders and partners. And I was informed that the deal we were hoping to land for months, which would help us to gain more shareholders globally, had been revoked. I could only get it on one condition, and that was if I had a child or was on the verge of becoming a father. 

I was a silver-spoon kid with a lot handed to me, but in business my grandmother assisted a lot to help me build my own empire, especially financially, and she always was great with advice. I looked up to her more than anyone else. She had given me a trust—several, in fact— but the last one, the one I needed to grow my business, came with a catch. I had to be a father, be on the verge of becoming a father, or getting married, to show that I could be responsible and maintain a stable lifestyle.

I thought I could get that with Sharon, but she was a back stabbing, money hungry bitch who was only interested in fashion and herself. She once made me happy and, especially when she thought she was pregnant, I thought so too, but that was short lived. Now, she was history and I'd moved on with Emma.

Emma was a delightful person, and I was happy to have her around. But that was short lived too when our baby died. I was heartbroken and distraught, and I felt like it was a total set back for my business. The request and paperwork had already been disapproved by the board members because the finances of the business weren't deemed stable enough. We could do it, but it'd be very risky. The funds of the trust would alleviate a lot of that. But I couldn't touch it until I could prove that I could "demonstrate a stable lifestyle". 

I was under pressure now because other businesses could get ahead of me now. I became a wreck.

At lunch, Martin came in to see me. He had flown in from Canada and he wanted us to grab a bite together. He was my best friend so I vented my frustration to him.

"Dude, you're in way over your head. You should relax some more and look at other options here."

"What other options?" I asked, arching my eyebrows.

"Well, how about you move on with your life. Maybe your new little fiancee can't have kids."

I rubbed my temples in frustration, the thought of Emma unable to bare kids made me sick to my heart.

When we finished with lunch we headed back to the office where Martin kept me distracted me for the rest of the evening. He had a bottle of Hennessy and we drank it completely while laughing and talking about the good old days.

The music was playing from my computer as Linda walked in. My eyes were blurry but I knew it was her, nobody could smell the way she did. She always managed to have the best fragrances.

"What are you idiots doing?" she asked, placing her hands on her hips in the center of the room. 

Martin and I giggled like kids. 

She shook her head. 

My computer began to play John Legend's All of Me.

I got up and took Linda in for a sway. "Come on, dance with me," I said and twirled her around. 

She wasn't much of a dancer so she just held onto my chest and leaned on me for support.

"Time to get out of here," Martin said and headed out of the room.

I ignored his immediate departure and held Linda in my arms, her perfume hitting hard in my nostrils. I inhaled her sweet scent. We rocked together like a couple at the ball until she pulled away from me. I pulled her back into my arms and we made our way to my desk. I laced her with kisses and she gave in immediately, spreading on the desk and removing her shirt. She wore a plain black bra and her cleavage was screaming to be licked.

I couldn't contain myself. The sight in front of me was delicious and the alcohol wasn't helping me think straight. I devoured her breast in my mouth as she moaned and ran her fingers to unbutton my shirt. My hands traveled to her thighs and I raised her skirt above her stomach exposing her red lace panties; the sight was even more beautiful.

She pulled me into her and kissed me hungrily. She unbuckled my belt, unzipped my pants and made her way to my manhood, which was already standing at attention.

My hands reacted quickly and I stopped her and pulled away. "Linda, no. We shouldn't be doing this." My head was pounding.

"This feels so right. I want you, Ethan," she said and pulled me to her again.

I stopped her. "Get dressed and get out," I said, realizing the damage I could cause for myself and the company.

She frowned but I ignored her and gathered myself and went to the faucet to wash my face.

When I got back to the desk Linda was already gone. I drank a bottle of water and called Luis because I knew damn well I was too drunk to drive. 

I stayed in my office and blasted the air conditioner. I drank more and more water to wash away the scent of booze on my breath. I looked up at the clock. It was 9:00 p.m when Luis arrived to take me home.

Of course she would be up waiting for me. I had been shutting her out since the passing of the baby and I couldn't tell her why. I only took it out on her, which I shouldn't have done but did anyway.

"Babe, we need to talk," she said as I entered. 

I heaved a heavy sigh and sat at the end of the bed with my back to her. I removed my shoes, they were aching my feet and the pain seemed to be traveling all over my body. I loosened my tie and took of my jacket, finally.

"What is it Emma?"

"You hired a new maid?"

Wasn't it obvious? I was certain she had already seen her.

"Yes." My head was pounding still.

"She'll be making your coffee now?"

"Yes." I was getting annoyed.

"I'm the only one who makes your coffee in this house." 

That did it for me. I wasn't in the mood to argue with her, but she wasn't on my good side. "Emma, I'm not in a mood for this, okay? I had a shitty day at the office already and I don't wanna argue with you now. Just leave it as it is."

"As it is? What is this to you, Ethan? What have I ever done to you to deserve such a shut out like what you're doing?"

"Look, I hired a maid to make things easier for us. I don't want to talk about this anymore."

I got up and headed to the shower. I really needed a shower to clear my head and assist with my excruciating headache. I didn't usually drink an entire bottle of alcohol and the effects were really getting me.

When I came out of the shower she was there.

"What's this?" she pointed.

I gazed down to the floor to the sight of Linda's red lace panties. What the fuck was that doing here? In my head I groaned. Linda, that bitch.

"We're not having sex, Emma, so pick up your underwear." I knew damn well they weren't hers but I couldn't let her know that I almost cheated on her with my COO.

I made my way over to the closest to get into my sleeping clothes. A pillow nudged me at the back of my head.

"These aren't mine asshole!" she screamed. "Who are you sleeping with?"

"That's not your business. Besides, I'm not in a mood for this, so don't push me."

"Ethan, you're cheating on me and you have the audacity to bring her underwear home! What the fuck have I ever done to deserve this?"

"What I do, that's my damn business, not yours. Maybe if you'd have been minding your own business then we wouldn't be in this situation!" My logical voice knew I was being irrational but the liquor was unleashing my demons.

"Are you high? How can you put this on me when it's you fucking around and fucking up this relationship? If you can't do this anymore then just tell me that! Don't go out cheating on me while I'm here like a fool!"

"Emma, I'm tired. I want to sleep, so shut up." I was exhausted and the headache was getting worse from her yelling.

"You're not sleeping unless I have answers. Who are you cheating on me with?"

"No one!" It was true. I stopped it before it happened.

"So why was that thing in your jacket? You're lying to me now?" she looked at the panties on the floor, not daring to pick it up, and neither did I. 

I would grill Linda for this. She knew exactly what she was trying to do.

I rubbed my temple and gave her one of my smirks, which made her glared at me even more angry. I got into bed, thinking she would calm down and come in after but I heard the door open and close as she left me in bed alone. 

Shitty afternoon and shittier night.

The next morning I was on the phone with Martin. He called to see me during the course of the day for business advice and ideas, but I wasn't in the office and wasn't sure I planned to be. I had a pounding headache that just wouldn't go away; I had already taken two damn Advil.

I ended the call as soon as Emma walked in. There was something important we had to talk about. I said good morning to her but she ignored me and went into the bathroom, soon I heard the sound of water. I went to check on her but she blew up on me in the shower and threw my ring after me, again. She packed some clothes into a suitcase and I assumed she was going to move in the guest room again but her response hit me like a run away train.

"No, you son of a bitch. I'm moving out of your mansion! I'm moving out your life, out of this city, and, hopefully, out of this damn country!"

She placed her suitcase onto the floor and began to pack another. I was determined to stop her but she was angry; I couldn't stop her when she was like that. She was moving like lightening, packing and cursing at me and my name and telling me how she regretted meeting me. I only watched her as I sat on the bed; the image of Sharon came flashing back; the day I made her pack and leave.

I shook my head. "Emma, you don't have to leave. When I said I wanted space, I didn't mean this. I meant taking things slow and maybe starting over." I didn't want her to leave. I wanted her to stay and help me get over my guilt and my shame.

"I can't do this. We're too different, Ethan. I can't do this!" She wiped tears from her eyes and continued packing.

"Emma, where are you going to go?"

"I don't know, but I'll be fine on my own. Always was and always will be."

The words pierced through me like arrows. "You're giving up on me?" I asked, sadly. 

She had finished packing and had three suitcases ready to go.

"Because you did it first," she said and walked out the door, slamming it behind her.

I slowly walked behind her as she walked down the stairs. 

Halley and Hannah help her carried her suitcases to a cab that was already waiting on the pavement.

Stop her, Ethan! Don't let her get away from you; she's not like the others. Go get her. Apologize for being such a dick!  My inner self was saying to me but I was standing still beside the main door entrance.

Her eyes looked back at me as the cab drove away.