Banging Reaper (Pounding Hearts 1)

Almost.

Today’s my first day of work with Ethan. I’m to be his administrative assistant and after hashing out the details last night through texts, I’m expected to be at his office by 9 am sharp. I hate being late so I arrive a few minutes early. Ethan’s office is located on the upper floor of a small business complex on the nicer side of the city. It’s a long bus ride to get here, but the pay is so good I’m hoping in a couple of months I’ll be able to save up for my own car.

Ethan is nowhere to be seen when I walk in. There’s an empty desk and two chairs just inside the door. The office itself is rather bland, done in beige and ugly brown. Behind the desk is another door with a golden placard that reads Ethan Bennett. That must be Ethan’s actual office which means the empty desk is mine. Knowing I’m a few minutes early, I sit down on the little swivel chair behind the desk and settle in.

Ethan doesn’t show up for two hours.

“Avery,” Ethan smiles as he breezes into the office. He’s wearing a grey suit and looks every inch a respectable businessman.

I stand from my chair but can’t quite smile at him because I’m irritated. Ethan walks up to me and pulls me into a hug without asking.

“I’m sorry I’m late,” he apologizes and leans back, giving me a sheepish smile. “Forgive me?”

I sigh at him then nod my head, letting go of the irritation. It won’t matter in the future if he’s late. It only sucks today because I had nothing to do.

Ethan takes a step back but his hands linger on my shoulders longer than necessary. “I’ve missed you,” he says and his baby blue eyes search my face for any sign that I missed him too.

I hesitate and resist the urge to bite my lip before telling him, “I missed you, too.” It’s not a complete lie, I’m telling the truth a little. It’s only that I miss the old Ethan, my old best friend I could count on. Not this new Ethan that’s standing in front of me and looking so hopeful.

“Good,” he grins, flashing me his winning smile. He jerks his head towards his office door and asks me, “Ready to get started?”

I nod my head and follow him into his office after he unlocks the door.

Ethan flips on the light and spreads his arms. “Make yourself comfortable.”

I look around Ethan’s office, not knowing what to think of it. Instead of a professional environment with things like plants and stuff related to his father’s business, it seems Ethan has turned the space into a place to hang out.

There’s a large black leather couch positioned in front of a flat screen mounted to the wall. There’s a desk, yes, but it’s covered in bottles that were never returned to the wet bar. In one corner is a punching bag hanging from the ceiling, and on the wall near the punching bad are framed news articles of him and his MMA exploits. In the opposite corner is a weight lifting machine.

Now that I get a good whiff of the room, it definitely smells like a gym in here.

“Um,” I say, a

little amused and confused as I walk forward. “This is where you work?”

Ethan laughs and nods his head. “Yeah, it’s great isn’t it?” He walks over to his desk and points towards the couch. “That pulls out into a bed if you feel like taking a nap.”

My eyes widen and I shake my head. I don’t care how tired I am, I am never ever taking a nap in here.

Ethan smirks at my reaction and picks a bottle up off his desk. “Want a drink?”

“Is that a trick question?” I ask him while walking up to the desk.

“Relax, Ave, I’m not trying to trick you so I can fire you.” He twists the cap off the bottle and lifts it to his lips. After gulping down a few swallows he pulls the bottle away with a hiss and smile. “See.”

I nod at him but don’t accept the bottle. I’m in no mood to drink. Now that I’m actually here, about to work for Ethan, I know I’ve made a mistake. This is such a bad idea. What the fuck am I doing?

Ethan doesn’t work. You can tell just from the look of this place. He pretends and for whatever reason, he wants me to pretend with him.

My eyes wander over the desk. It’s covered in half empty liquor bottles, brochures, and one framed photo.

“Is that us?” I ask pointing at the photo.

Ethan nods at me, his smile growing wider.

I pick up the dark frame. “I remember this. This was my graduation.” I look down at the photo. I look so happy. I just graduated so I’m wearing my blue cap and gown. I had my entire life ahead of me, the world was full of wonderful possibilities. If I worked hard enough, I knew I could change my destiny. Ethan is hugging me, we’re both beaming. We both look so young though it was only two and a half years ago.

“Your grandmother snapped the picture,” Ethan says softly.