Page 24

My pulse scatters in my 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.

“What?” His high-handedness has me seething.

Why did I feel guilty about my outburst again?

“ Excuse me?”

“You need an internship. Work at Fleur. Marketing, right? Rex won’t mind.”

“I didn’t recall asking or applying.” I narrow my eyes at the infuriating man, who’s staring at me like he wants to cut apart my brain to examine its contents.

“And I don’t want pity offers from you, my brothers, or from Dayton. I want to do this myself. Unlike some people, I don’t want to use my last name to get somewhere!”

Ethan’s eyes flare and a muscle tics in his jaw.

Dayton clears his throat.

Crap. I just insinuated they both didn’t earn their places in life.

“Look, I didn’t mean—”

“We’re top five of the Fortune 500, Alexis.” The pulse throbs in Ethan’s temple now, and a flush crawls up his neck.

But his voice is calm.

Unruffled. Everything I’m not feeling.

“Let’s be rational here. You aren’t family and haven’t been…romantically entangled with us before.” His throat ripples as he swallows.

He glances away. “So you won’t get any favoritism from us. If it makes you feel better, I’ll have HR review your resume and if you pass, you can go through our regular interview process.”

His words make sense.

Even the teenage me has heard of Fleur Entertainment before.

Their hotels, nightclubs, and restaurants are world famous.

I remember trying to sneak into some of their venues with Summer back then, only to be turned away by the bouncers who saw through our fake IDs.

Working at Fleur will open doors for me.

They consistently show up on lists of top employers to work for.

Their hiring process is stringent and they only take the best and the brightest.

If I can get in on my merit, maybe I can make it on my own.

Maybe Alexis Vaughn really will be fine at twenty-nine years old.

You’re far from reaching the end.

So, I don’t think you need to rewrite anything, because you can create the ending you want .

Polaris’s words echo in my ears.

I can write my own damn ending.

Yes. I’ll write my ending.

Determined, I sit up taller and face Dayton.

If I work with him, he’ll take care of me.

I’ll never know if I can stand on my own two feet.

“Thanks for the offer. I’ll keep it in mind. But I need to do this on my own.”

His cheek twitches.

“Of course. Whatever you need. Here’s my cell.” He hands me a business card.

“Keep in touch. And it’s good seeing you. I’m glad you’re awake.” He leans in and brushes his lips on my cheek before turning around, leaving me with the cold financial king who looks like he wants to kill every living thing in the vicinity.

After the door shuts, I mutter, “Ethan Anderson, you may be Liam’s best friend and maybe you think you’re being an older brother by ‘taking care of me,’ but make no mistake, you are not my brother and I don’t need your high-handed attitude.”

His eyes flash and lips twitch.

Is the damn bastard struggling not to laugh?

I ignore the small thrill pulsing inside me and point to the door.

“Why are you even here? You can go too. I have tons of work to do.”

I swivel my chair to face my laptop again before stopping.

Ugh, I have to answer that damn man.

“And just give me the email of your HR. I don’t want you to pass my resume along. I’ll submit it myself. And no interference from you.”

His low chuckles reach my ears, followed by a warmth trailing up my spine and the scent of leather and amber wafting to my nose.

Goosebumps pebble on my arms and I dig my nails into my lap, struggling not to drag in a deeper inhale.

“Yes, your highness,” he murmurs.

His breath ghosts over my neck and heat shoots straight to my core.

My muscles seize, my body attuned to his slow, tortuous movements behind me as he sets a bag on the desk.

Dammit, do I have a thing for assholes now ?

“Charles asked me to give this to you. New journals—the same brand your grandmother used.” He pauses behind me, his soft breaths puffing against my neck, and for a moment, time stands still.

“I’ve missed this,” he whispers, his hand grazing my shoulder, and sparks spread across my skin like wildfire.

“What?” Missed what?

Touching me? Arguing with me?

His fingers trail lightly to my neck, settling on my rapidly beating pulse.

My breath hitches and my eyes flutter shut—a heavy sense of déjà vu and awareness floats over me.

This is so familiar.

“Ethan, what do you mean?”

He freezes behind me and clears his throat.

“Nothing. Ignore me.”

Then, the heat of his body is gone.

When I open my eyes, I see a familiar amber drink inside a straw cup bearing Estelle’s logo—honey lavender iced tea.

I rub the sore spot on my chest.

“And you’re welcome, Nova .”

My breath catches and I turn around, but he’s already disappeared.

He called me that when I woke up.

I didn’t imagine it. Nova.