81

CASSANDRA'S POV

Eleven days and I was back at work. The first seven flew by with the funeral and other things, but the last six were rough. Asa wanted me to take a few days for myself, and after a bit of back and forth, I agreed. He stayed at home with me at first, but two days ago he was needed back at his own office, followed by here at Rhodes.

Today was my first day back, and while all of my real work was already handed off to others, it felt good to be back in my office. I was able to get some basic things done — mostly related to the foundation — but that was fine because I liked that stuff. My mom handled it before, and it was all the charity work and stuff we did to give back to the community, so it didn't really feel like work.

Asa brought me lunch earlier, and it was now almost two pm. He had a few meetings lined up, and I decided to hang around and check over some of the property accounting paperwork that had been filed in today rather than head home alone.

Keeping myself occupied helped me keep my mind off of the questions that were still left unanswered. It also helped to not think about how the one person that I was actually related to was the one person that I felt like I couldn't trust. How could Zac work so well with Asa, but not want me to be with him? That too made no sense to me.

I'm hidden behind my dual screens on my desk, so when the door to my office opens, I can't see who it is, but assume it's Asa. I don't see who else would walk in without knocking, and certainly he's the only person who can get by my receptionist without a call in.

"Asa, seriously? I thought you have that meeting starting in a few minutes? I told you, I'm fine," I groan playfully, although I'm being honest. Him checking up on me was cute, but I could handle myself for a few hours.

The person clears their throat, and I jump up, sitting up straight as I realize that it's not definitely not Asa. My cheeks redden at the comment I made, and I finally lean to the side to peak over the edge of the computer screen.

I freeze when I see the blonde hair and blue eyes on the man staring at me. His hands are stuffed in his pockets, standing straight up. He's got dark slate dress pants, a light blue shirt, and a small smile planted on that face of his.

"Ethan," I choke out, standing up from my seat slowly. I smooth out the material of my navy dress, avoiding grazing my bump. I've made a habit of keeping my hands off while I'm at work, because we still have yet to tell anyone about the baby. We were planning on telling Asa's mom soon, because that's really the only person we really cared to tell. "What are you doing here?"

I hate that I feel so uncomfortable around him. But then again, why the hell is he here? I haven't seen him since that stupid wedding almost a year ago, and although I knew he had settled back in down, he knew he wasn't welcome anywhere near me.

"Ah, I just wanted to stop by and give you my condolences. I had a meeting earlier and thought of you. I couldn't just leave without stopping by to see how you were coping," his tone is perfectly in line, as if he had rehearsed the words before coming here. I wouldn't put that past Ethan. He was good at acting and playing mind games, especially with me.

"Thank you. I'm doing fine," I say curtly, as I give him a cautious but gentle fake-smile, not moving any closer to him nor inviting him further into my office. But that doesn't stop him from taking three long strides right up to me, his blue eyes gazing into my darker ones. I jerk my head to the side, breaking the eye contact. "I'm kind of busy, actually. So now isn't the best time."

I go to side step him, hoping to guide him straight out the door and out of my office. But just as I do, he moves forward, bumping me to the side so my lower back hits the edge of my desk. A tiny yelp escapes my lips from my body suddenly hitting the wood, and I rear my head back, frowning at I look up to him.

Ethan's hands land on either side of me, squaring me in against the desk as a smirk appears on his face, and I swallow nervously.

"Ethan," my voice comes out weak, although I tried to say it with force and command. "What are you doing?"

Ethan let's out a chuckle, shaking his head as I continue to pull back from him, leaning back against my desk as my own hands fly down to grasp the wood, stabilizing myself and trying to make space between us. He's body is right there, nearly touching mine, and saying that I feel uncomfortable is an understatement.

"It's incredible how nervous you still get around me. After all this time, you would think that you would have gotten over it, but nope. Same old Cassandra," Ethan looks down at me as he flashes his perfectly white teeth in a grin.

I'm sweating. Maybe not, but I feel like I'm sweating. It feels like it's a hundred and five degrees and ninety percent humidity, and I'm wearing a freaking parka and ugg boots. But he's right. Ethan does make me nervous — now even more so than he used to.

"Please, Ethan. This is ridiculous. Back up," I go to shove my hands against his chest to put space between us, but he grabs both of my wrists in one hand, narrowing his eyes at he pierces my soul with those blue eyes of his.

"I'm here to check up on you, beautiful. That's all. I want to make sure that you're doing alright. I don't want you to go down the same path you went down when your mom died," Ethan's voice is deeper this time, and I clench my jaw, holding back the chattering of my teeth that's ready to follow. "I'm here for you. You know that, right?"

Ethan's hand comes up and grabs onto a lock of my hair, and it takes everything I have not to flinch. I'm too scared to move because I'm terrified of him. I don't think he would hit me, but I'm trapped and uncomfortable, and Ethan always evokes the worst of my emotions.

"Come back to me, Cassie. I can get you through this, just like I did when your mom passed," Ethan coos softly into my ear, and this time, I do shudder.

Who does he think he is to say something like that to me? This is actually ridiculous. If he thinks that I would ever come back to him, regardless of if I'm with Asa or not, then he is completely out of his mind.

"Ethan. You need to go. Right now," I tell him, looking to the side so that my face is away from his. "Please just go before I have to call security and make you leave."

Stupid girl, you know that he gets worked up when you say things that go against what he wants. I really shouldn't have said that.

He jerks me forward with the grip of his hand that's holding onto my wrists, and I try to wiggle them free, but he only tightens his hold.

"Leave him, Cassandra. I know you think that him proposing to you means that he will stay, but you and I both know that they all leave you at some point. Even Zac is done with your bullshit. Might as well take control and leave him before he leaves you," Ethan growls at me. "Get rid of the goddamn ring, and the stupid baby while you're at it, and come back to me."

My heart sinks, and now I'm actually scared as shit. Ethan was never like this when we were together, or even after the fact. Emotionally abusive? Sure. But the way he's acting right now is frightening me, and his words are even worse.

Tears brim my eyes, and I blink a few times, pushing them away. I don't know what to say or do. What can I do? I can try and fight him off of me and call security, but what if that doesn't work and I put myself in an even worse position.

"Ethan," I whisper softly, twisting my wrists in his hold. "Please. You're hurting me."

I look up at him with my moist eyes, begging him to let go of me or at least back off in the slightest bit so I can breathe. The feeling of being trapped isn't helping me, but only worsening my anxiety and anxiousness now.

Ethan's eyes lock with my own and the tension on his face softens, likely because he likes hearing that I need something from him. He's like that. Enjoys it when others are weak. It makes him feel stronger. Ever since we were little kids, he's always been like that. A bully.

That's when I realize what he had said to me.

"Ethan, why would you...why would you know that?" I choke out, my face falling. How the hell would he know that I'm pregnant? There's two other people that know — Lauren and Asa — and I know for a fact that neither would have ever told anyone behind my back. So why the hell does Ethan know?

I close my eyes as I see the devilish smirk appear on his lips, my heart pounding in my chest as I come to realize that I'm the one who has just been played.

"Cam. It was Camara, right?" I jerk my hands from his grip, and this time he easily let's go of me, slamming his hands back down on the desk to trap me between it and his body.

"Damn, only took you a few years to catch on."

His words cut through me like a knife. What does that even mean? I don't understand, but I don't know if I even want to understand. But this is more than just a little secret that she's let out. Camara knows that Ethan would do anything to get under my skin, so why the hell would she think it's a good idea to tell him that I'm pregnant?

"What? Why would...what do you mean? Why the hell would she tell you, Ethan?" I raise my voice, a scowl now planted on my face. My hands tremble next to me, and I want nothing more than to smack the crap out of Ethan and wipe the shit eating grin right off his face.

• • a/n: hi.how's it going? :)