Hot Coffee (The Hollens) novel Chapter 48

Ethan's POV

I was at the office but I couldn't focus on the task at hand at the moment. My mind kept going back to what happened earlier, the way she got me to lay with her and show up late. I kept wondering if I'd see her when I got home, if she'd be there waiting for me on the bed, or if she'd be gone without a trace.

She said she would be leaving.

I raked my fingers through my hair, heaved a frustrated sigh and went back to paperwork.

Ten minutes in, my office door opened and the sound of heels hitting the tiles was heard. I glanced up and noticed Linda standing close to my desk with a smirk on her face, and she started bouncing her nails on the surface of my desk. 

I closed the folder. "Can I help you?" I asked in annoyance.

Although she was the COO, I didn't appreciate her just walking into my office and looking seductive. It was unprofessional. I had already explained to her that what happened between us was a mistake and was alcohol influenced and would never happen again, but it seemed like she wasn't getting it through her thick skull and hair extensions.

I could fire her at anytime, but I didn't want to raise a red flag, and a woman like her could ruin your image and reputation with lies, so I decided to keep her around and forgive and forget what happened with her. But, here she was, just showing up at my office unannounced.

"I want you." She leaned over my desk, her butt sticking out, her cleavage popping through her half unbuttoned, tight shirt.

Linda had never been like this. She was loyal, trustworthy, and professional in every way. I trusted her more than anyone in the building.

"Linda, get out of my office. I already told you what happened between us was a mistake."

"A mistake? A mistake! Like, really, Ethan? So I'm a bloody mistake?" She was furious.

"Look! I was under the influence and I was under a great deal of stress in my personal life. We made out. I didn't even penetrate you; but, here you are, acting like you own this dick or have rights to me. I'm giving you exactly thirty seconds to button up your shirt, get off my desk, and get out of my office. I'm a taken man."

"Oh, to that little black girl or the gold digger? You really know how to pick them, Ethan. You could have had all of this but you'd rather have black trash."

"Don't you ever open your mouth and talk about my fiancee like that to my face. Are you crazy? Matter of fact, take next week off because you're suspended!"

"Are you for real?"

"Linda, get the fuck out of my office!"

She turned on her heels and, literally, ran out of my office, slamming the door behind her.

The nerve of that damn woman! Insulting my Emma to my face and trying to seduce me with her tits. She had to be crazy.

Linda made my morning more complicated and frustrated than it had already started. I looked up at my wall clock: 11:00 am. I  finished signing off on the paperwork and informed my assistant that I would be gone for the rest of the day so she should take messages if anyone important called for me.

Saturdays weren't like normal work days. I used Saturdays to catch up on things that were behind, especially my signature on paperwork, payrolls and propositions, to advance the company's work load. Only my immediate team, which consisted of my assistant, my COO, CFO, and general managers had access to the office on weekends.

The company had fifty departments and occupied ten floors of the building. I was strict but friendly side; I didn't see a reason for acting like a beast towards the people helping me earn money unless they got on my dark side, like last year when a deadline wasn't met by one department and no one wanted to take the blame for the screw ups. The entire department was fired, including the managers, and replaced. I was fair but I wasn't generous with my deadlines. When I gave a task, I expected it to be done efficiently and on time.

I was now in my car heading home with only one person on my mind. When the guards saw my car approaching, they immediately opened the gate. I had an automatic voice recognition gate, like my Nana's, but when Emma was attacked, by my own mother, I had it changed and hired more security and more household employees, including a new chef.

I took the elevator, though I usually took the stairs; I was eager to see if Emma was around or if she had left. I opened the bedroom door and saw her talking on the phone. She was wearing a very sexy tight vest with a short shorts with part of her booty hanging out. She looked delicious. I was lost in my thoughts for a moment, but when she said the name "Roger" into the phone my mood changed instantly. That bastard couldn't just leave her alone?

I moved over to the bed, where she was sitting and I sat down besides her, listening in on the conversation.

"So when are you coming back?" I heard him ask. 

I had heard enough from this asshole.

I took the phone out of Emma's hand and yelled through the phone for Roger to mind his own business then hung up. I threw the phone aside. Emma eyes were wide and she looked scared.

Great, Linda at work, and Roger at home!

I had had it. I really needed a vacation. I lie back on the bed and heaved a sigh. I was happy she was home.

"Hey," she said softly to me, pushing her tiny fingers into my hair and rubbing my forehead. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," I answered shortly and pulled her onto me with a strong hug. 

She planted small kisses on my lips, which made me smile every time. She was so delicate and beautiful, like a flower. I was happy she was finally back.

"How was your morning?"

"It was alright. I went for a walk but the sky looked like it would rain so I didn't stay out long. I spoke with Halley, Chef made me a yummy breakfast, and I watched television."

I smiled because she was smiling. She seemed happy and that was the way I wanted her to always be. Happy.

I got up and changed into my exercising t-shirt and pants.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"The gym."

"How long will you be gone?"

"Um, one hour, maybe two. Why?"

"I'll miss you."

"Well, you wanna come along?"

"Yes!" she answered cheerfully and sprung from the bed like a tiger. 

She moved towards her closet like lightening. She changed into a less tight t-shirt and loose shorts. 

I shook my head and laughed silently to myself. 

She jumped over to me like a child getting candy. "I'm ready."

I took her hand and led her to the mansion's gym. She was amazed.

"I didn't know there was a gym here. I thought you were heading out," she said, sitting on the floor.

"I didn't give you a full tour of the mansion. There are rooms here you haven't even been in yet."

I set down my towel and water bottle and instructed her to come to a punching bag. I wanted to teach her how to punch, just in case she had to defend herself.

"Okay, put these on." I handed her a pair a boxing gloves. I didn't want her to hurt herself in any way. 

She put them on and I positioned her in front of me, my crotch area on her booty. I couldn't help myself; she looked sexy, like a warrior princess.

"Make your hand into a fist, like this. Make sure your thumb isn't on the inside of your palms or you could break it when punching."

She made a perfect fist.

"Okay, now I want you to shoot a straight punch into the center of the bag. Very carefully. Don't use too much power."

She punched the bag and threw a smile at me. It was a light punch but she hit it in the middle like I instructed.

"Very good. Now, I want you to do it again. This time, a little more energy."

She punched and punched again. Each punch with a stronger impact on the bag than the one before. I was rather impressed when she swayed the seventy pound bag around a bit.

"Okay, that's enough punching for today. I want you to relax now and watch your man do his thing." 

She took off the gloves and sat down on a floor mat. She seemed deep in thought and angry about something.

"Baby, are you okay?" I asked, dropping to her level.

"I was imagining the bag was Sharon's face. I swear my fist will meet her face if I ever see her again!

I didn't know how to respond to that. I didn't want her to be angry over the past anymore, and, also, I'd failed to protect. I should be blamed for what happened too. But, at the same time, I didn't want to talk her out of it because it might seem like I was trying to defend Sharon, which was the last thing I'd ever do.

______________________________

Somewhere in Italy

Sharon's POV

Finally, the new identities were ready. I had cut my hair and dyed it jet black and applied bronzer to my skin to make it appear darker. Ethan's Mother made basic changes to her makeup application. She said she was never cutting or dying her hair. She just looked the same.

"You have to do something to your appearance. You can't just waltz back into America looking almost the same. We're wanted!" I yelled at her, regretting it shortly after when she gave me a hard look.

"I've had it with you. I wouldn't of been in this mess if it wasn't for you. I wouldn't have been in some God forsaken shack in the middle of the woods! I want my life back. I want to visit my hotels around the world and just be who I've always been."

"You think I want this too? I didn't ask you to attack Emma! That was your idea. You were the one who insisted on killing her and dumping her off at a swamp. I went along because she screwed up my life! My life! And she's going to pay for it!"

"Sharon, why don't we just let it go? She's with Ethan now and he loves her. He will not come back to you, regardless of us hurting Emma or even killing that poor girl. It's over between the two of you!"

"No! It's not over between us!"

With anger and rage in my soul, and all over my body, the gun went off. 

There was a loud bang in my ears and I saw blood oozing out of her stomach. 

She fell onto the floor, gasping for air and calling to me. "Sharon. What did you do?" she asked. 

And those were her last words.

Her eyes remained opened and she grew pale. I, however, had no remorse. Though I didn't mean to do it, I pictured her as the little black bitch on the floor in front of me instead. That was exactly what I was going to do to her. Shoot her with Ethan's very own gun.