章)ETHAN CARTER
"Ethan! Babe! Ethan?"
I glanced back at Crystal who was holding a mini floral dress infront of her dresser.
"Huh?" I asked.
"You are not paying attention. Is this about the memes? I could ask dad to take them down if you want",she hinted and I adjusted my posture on the crimson lounge chair in her room.
"Its not about the memes, Crystal. Am okay, I just have a lot of things on my mind at the moment", I replied.
Perhaps the last thing I wanted was to ask her dad for help. Her dad, Julian Perez had helped me reach where I am today and I couldnt be more grateful.
Asking for his help with everything would be acting like a little kid who couldnt take care of himself.
The last thing I wanted was to be indebted to him. I had already made a large sacrifice by being with his daughter, I wasnt ready to make another.
"You always have a lot of things on your mind these days, Ethan",she frowned putting back the dress in her wardrobe.
I was a shitty boyfriend, I know. I wish Google had like an ebook manual on how to be a better boyfriend.
"I know. I know. Tell you what, why dont we have another date?"I asked taking her hand and pulling her to me.
She sat on my lap zeroing in on my face. Her hands went to both sides of my cheek.
"Ethan the last date was a smashing disaster",she chuckled.
"I know and that was my fault but this one, will be a surprise. The good kind of surprise with your favorite food, favorite wine, maybe well get a massage afterwards, have a romantic evening in a master suite"
"Romantic evening huh?" She cooed, giving me a light kiss.
"Yeah. You. Me. And a bed", I joked grabbing the back of her neck and kissing her.
Crystal Perez loved me. She was absolutely in love with me and when her dad, Julian Perez told me she loved me, I had no choice but to make her my girlfriend.
I owed her dad alot for my success, making his daughter happy seemed like the logical thing to do.
I told her I loved her so many times because I did love her. I loved her just like how I loved my mom or Jai or even my employees.
I wasnt in love with her precisely because such a word didnt exist in my head. I never even believed in love in the first place.
Though I had to admit that the sexual tension between me and Crystal was high. She was amazing in bed which made me positively sure that I would fall for her some day.
I did enjoy sex with her. She was caring, she was intelligent, had a great sense of humor. What was there not to love about her? Infact I was lucky to have her.
I was in the middle of teasing my tongue on her lips when my phone buzzed in my pants.
"Ignore it",Crystal said amidst kisses.
"Cant. It could be something important", I said pulling apart from her.
She huffed getting off of me.
I took a look at my phones screen seeing the name Nina pop up.
"Nina? Whats going on?"
"Sir am sorry to disturb you but she is overly persistent. Theres a woman who wants to see you, says she wont leave until she talks to you. Ive tried getting the security guards to get her out of the building but to no avail"
My secretary yapped. I didnt need to ask who she was. I knew it was her.
I knew Aliya Maria Fernanda Torres was in my building. After all I did pay for her mothers surgery.
I dont know what went on my mind when I did it but I knew I had to.
Losing someone wasnt easy. Sure she almost blinded me with the wasabi the other day, but she didnt deserve to lose her mother not while I could do something about it.
"What other way? You are going to work four other jobs to get the money? Ali, you cant keep doing this to yourself. You are already tired as it, you are not eating well, just let me take care of you for once"
I heard the guy with her yesterday ask her that. Four jobs? It was none of my concern but at that moment the need to help her was strong.
Had it been any other woman in her situation, I would have helped too because thats how my mother raised me. To help people when I had the chance too.
I had paid for the bills knowing full well she wasnt going to like it. Afterwards I left the hospital before she could see me and confront me for what I had done.
I received word this morning from the cardiologist that operated on Aliyas mother that she was doing fine and recuperating.
"Im on my way", I said waking up from the seat.
I turned to Crystal kissing her goodbye.
"Something came up at work but Ill make it up to you tonight. Wear the red dress..red makes you look sexy", I complimented.
Half an hour later, I was trudging towards the elevator that led to the top floor which carried my office.
The elevator ride was nothing but short and quick and within minutes I was walking down the hall that led to my office.
"Am sorry, Sir. I tried getting her out but shes a handful",Nina came running towards me, her black rimmed glasses sliding on her bulbous nose.
"Its okay, Nina", I assured her.
"Where is she?" I asked looking around.
"In your office, Sir",Nina muttered and I almost let out a chuckle.
She was in my office? No one entered my office without my permission and she was already inside getting herself cozy?
Just who did she think she was? I pushed back the double glazed doors, getting into the office.
For some reason, I felt nervous the instant she turned to me surprised, her emerald eyes locking with mine.
She had worn a simple knee length denim skirt with a white crop top and a brown jacket on top. Needless to say, her dressing was simple but she managed to look like one of those popstars Crystal talked about.
Her ginger hair was up in a ponytail as usual and she wore an angry expression on her face.
"You?", I spoked walking towards my desk and settling myself on my swivel leather chair.
"You have a lot of guts showing in my office after what you did to me last time. You almost blinded me!" I growled.
"If you can still see me it means the wasabi didnt do what I intended",she hissed and my eyes widened in surprise.
Did she actually want me to be blind? Is that what she intended?
"I think am starting to get your intentions, Ms Torres. You are obsessed with me. You are insanely obsessed with the fact that I am not and will not be interested in a girl like you. The coffee, the wasabi, the visit to my office? What do you want from me really?"
"Am not obsessed with you!" She slapped her hand on my desk harshly.
"Ethan Carter, self made billionaire, owner of the best architectural firms in California. Ive read about you, you know. You feel entitled, dont you?
That just because you have money, fancy houses, good looks that every woman you cross paths with wants you.
Spoiler alert, Ethan Carter not every woman is interested in you or your money!"
She shouted, her eyes fierce and firm.
"Then why are you here?"I asked simply frustrated.
She didnt know about me and as such she had no right to make assumptions about me.
"You know very well why am here. You paid my mothers bills and I want to return the money"
I crossed my hands placing them on the desk.
"Fine. I can take the money in cash, cheque, PayPal, Venmo. It entirely depends on you, Ms Torres", I smirked watching her go mute.
She didnt have the money did she? And yet like a self entitled spoilt brat she had come barking at me for actually helping her.
"I dont have the money but am sure I can pay you in another way perhaps",she hinted and I quirked my brows in surprise.
"Not with sex ofcourse!" She added harshly.
"I would suggest you work for me but I dont just hire anyone, Ms Torres. My employees are from top universities in the States you know", I said as a matter-of-factly.
"Ofcourse",she rolled her eyes,"either way I dont want to owe you a dime, Mr Carter. Ill work tooth and nail, get every job I can and pay you back as soon as possible"
She stood up from her seat getting her bag and walking towards the door.
A sudden thought came to my mind. Something that would benefit me and her.
Plus she had been so relentless in trying to pay me back, what better way than this?
"Unless-"I trailed off.
"Unless what?"she turned to look at me.
"You work for me. As my maid", I muttered audibly.
"Maid? You want me to work as your maid?"
"Why yes. Why not? You said it yourself, you didnt want to owe me anything so what better way than to work as my maid?"
"Right, because women of my ilk only deserve maid jobs?"
"I didnt say that", I clarified,"am doing you a favor believe me. You work for me, I cut what you owe me from your salary bit by bit every month. Simple"
She blinked, again and again and with one huff she reeled her gaze to me and said,
"Fine. If thats what itll take to repay you then so be it"
"Good. You can leave your number with my secretary. Ill contact you",and she left.
It was a bold move asking her to work as my maid but somehow I derived pleasure seeing her lose.
My maid. The crazy redhead would be my maid!