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“What are you doing here?” I ask in a low tone. Vivian has her back to us, so she can’t see him.
“Relax, I’m only here to see how you guys are settling in,” he says softly, his gaze lingering on me in a way that sets my heart racing.
I can feel my cheeks flush under his intense gaze, and I quickly avert my eyes, hoping he doesn’t notice the effect he has on me.
“Is this something you do for all your employees?” I ask, attempting to steer the conversation away from the undeniable tension between us.
He nods casually, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. “Of course. I like to make sure my team is comfortable, especially when we’re away on business.”
His response only serves to heighten my curiosity about his motives, but I push the thought aside, unwilling to dwell on it any longer.
Suddenly, his expression turns to tease, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. “So, are we still doing this ‘just friends’ thing?”
I feel a surge of irritation at his audacity, and I quickly rise to my feet, crossing my arms defensively. “Yes, we are,” I reply firmly, my voice tinged with frustration.
“I told you, what happened between us was a mistake, and it’s not going to happen again.”
He raises an eyebrow, unfazed by my rejection. “Is that so?” he says, taking a step closer to me. “Because from where I’m standing, it seems like you’re protesting a little too much.”
I can feel my temper flaring as he continues to push my buttons, and before I can stop myself, I reach out and push him gently towards the door. “We are settling in just fine, sir,” I drawl the “sir’’ for emphasis. “I’m sure you have other employees that you need to check on.”
To my relief, he relents, offering me a cocky grin as he heads for the door. “Suit yourself,” he says, his tone teasing.
With that, he disappears from the room, leaving me to wrestle with the conflicting emotions swirling inside me. As I collapse onto a nearby sofa, I can’t help but wonder how I’m going to survive the rest of this trip with him around.
Later that evening, after we’d unpacked, we all head down to the hotel’s restaurant to have dinner.
Vivian’s already on a roll, dishing out all the latest office gossip like she’s hosting a talk show.
“Did you hear about Mark from accounting?” she starts, her eyes practically sparkling with excitement. “Apparently, he’s been sneaking out for secret smoke breaks behind the building!”
I chuckle, shaking my head in disbelief. “No way! I always thought he was the quiet type. Not that I’m judging him for smoking, though.”
“I’m not talking about cigarettes!” Vivian replies with a mischievous grin, clearly reveling in the scandalous revelation.
“He’s doing marijuana?”
“No, silly, he’s doing one of the janitors on the third floor. You have to keep up, Jessy.”
“Oh…you don’t say.”
As the conversation flows, I can’t help but notice Ethan’s presence at the table. He’s sitting just a few seats away, his gaze occasionally flickering in my direction. Despite my best efforts to focus on the lively chatter around me, I can feel his eyes on me, like a magnetic pull that I can’t escape.
I try my best to keep him out of my mind for the rest of the night.
The next day, after a grueling day of training sessions that seemed to drag on forever, we all welcomed the chance to escape into the great outdoors.
The idea of hiking through the lush trails of L.A.’s scenic mountains iswas met with unanimous enthusiasm, and soon enough, we are all geared up and ready to hit the trails.
Ethan and I find ourselves falling behind the rest of the group, lost in our own little world as we meandered along the trail.
“So, how are you finding the hike so far?” Ethan asks, glancing over at me with a playful grin.
I chuckle, wiping the beads of sweat from my forehead. “Not exactly a walk in the park, but definitely worth it for the views.”
He nods in agreement, his gaze sweeping over the sprawling landscape stretched out before us. “Definitely. Sometimes, you just need to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and reconnect with nature.”
“Couldn’t agree more.”
