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“Am I interrupting something?” His jaw twitches and my pulse races.

Then he strides toward us.

Chapter 24

My pulse scatters inmy ears as I watch Ethan prowl toward us, a cool, disinterested expression on his face. But his eyes—an unsettling intensity radiates from them.

It’s a front—he’s hiding behind his frigid mask.The thought barges into my mind. I can’t shake the feeling it’s true.

Something is bothering him. But what?

Dayton rises, and the two men stare at each other. They couldn’t be more different—one easygoing and charming and the other the definition of leashed power, someone owning a boardroom with his mere presence.

The seconds stretch—I’m watching a showdown between two predators and whoever speaks first loses.

“I’m Dayton Holden and you’re Ethan Anderson.” The skirmish is over and Ethan clearly wins the round.

“Holden Investments, I presume.” Ethan scans Dayton, an assessing gleam in his eyes.

“Yes. My family’s firm.” Dayton clears his throat. “I’m surprised you’ve heard of us.”

“Knowing the landscape is child’s play. And knowing who associates with questionable people is just smart business.”

Questionable people?

Dayton stiffens. “I’d think you were smarter than to listen to rumors.”

“Rumors usually hold a grain of truth.”

The staring game resumes and I roll my eyes. They can talk in code and measure their dicks outside my room.

“Done with the intros? Dayton was my high school boyfriend and Ethan is a family…friend.” The word tastes funny on my tongue. I’m not sure I can qualify us as friends. “He’s visiting and we’re catching up on old times.”

“You’re in a medical trial, remember? No one can tell you what happened in the past. Shouldn’t you remember these things yourself?” Ethan’s words are sharp, his gaze still trained on Dayton.

“Trial? What trial?” Dayton furrows his brows. “Why?”

“I’m trying to get my memory back. It’s a long story,” I reply and strain a half-smile. Then I face Ethan. “Have you always been an asshole, or did I do something to piss you off?”

Ethan falters, his glare softening. He opens his mouth, then closes it, before finally murmuring, “Someone needs to take care of you.”

“I’m an adult, Ethan. I can damn well take care of myself!”

Snapping my fingers, I focus on my breathing—this temper of mine, I don’t know where it came from, but I have to control it better.

Guilt knots my chest. Ethan may be an overbearing block of ice, but he did nothing to me.

Ethan’s gaze snags on my fingers and I murmur, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled. I’m just stressed.”

I return my attention to my laptop again. “I’m finalizing course selections and need to apply for marketing internships if I have any hope of graduating in two years. Everything’s a mess.”

“Marketing internship? You can come work for us,” Dayton offers. “I can talk to my marketing director. We’d love to have you.”

“Really? You won’t mind?” Working for Dayton? Will it be strange since we dated before?

“It’s the least I can do. Maybe we can spend some time together and—”

“She’s working at Fleur.” A command,not even a question.