Ruined (Ethan Frost 1)

“I know that. ” Already my stomach is tight with dread at the idea of facing my boss. What am I going to tell her? I doubt she’ll believe the truth. Besides, the last thing I want to admit is that I freaked out and nearly fell down half a flight of stairs. I’d really prefer not to be labeled a basket case, or a klutz, during my first week.

“So I’ll talk to Maryanne, tell her I detained you. ” He opens the door, ushers me through—this time without his hand on my back. I miss it, even as I’m grateful that he’s taking my decision seriously. God, the man is turning me into a crazy person, one who can’t make up her mind from one second to the next.

“You don’t need to do that. ”

“It’s not a problem. ”

“I’m not a child. I can fight my own battles. ”

He turns to look at me then. “I am well aware you’re not a child. You are a bright young woman with an even brighter future. I don’t want to see you start out your time here with undue strikes against you. Not because I’m interested in you, not because I think you’re beautiful, but because, after looking at your personnel records yesterday, I have a feeling that you are going to be a real asset to Frost Industries in the future.

“Mentioning my role in making you late is something I would do for any employee of mine, Chloe. Not just you. Okay?”

I struggle to find my voice in the rush of pleasure that hits me at the truth—and the approval—I hear in his voice. “Okay. ”

“Good. ” He smiles easily as we pass the security guards. “Thanks, Jose. Thanks, Danny. ”

“Is Ms. Girard all right?” Jose asks solicitously.

“I’m fine,” I tell him, unwilling to be spoken about like I’m not here. I’ve spent too much of my life as a commodity, worked too hard to make myself more than that, to slip back into the role so easily. Another reason I should avoid Ethan Frost like the plague. It’s disturbing how easy it is for me to do what he wants me to do instead of what I think I should do.

Jose flushes a little guiltily. Nods at me. “I’m glad to hear that. Take care of yourself, Ms. Girard. ”

Immediately I feel churlish. But I get the sense that Ethan is amused as he pauses so that I can precede him out the front door. “You have Jose wrapped around your finger and it’s only the beginning of your second day. ”

“I think you’ve got him wrapped around your finger. He was completely normal when he checked me in to work this morning. And since the only thing that’s changed is you…”

We’re walking down the sidewalk at a fast clip now—but not too fast, as if Ethan is aware of just the right speed to go so as not to put undue pressure on my injured hip. Every few steps someone calls out a greeting or waves at him, and he returns each acknowledgment, nearly always calling the person by name. I don’t know how he does it. He’s the CEO of a large corporation, one that’s growing larger every day. And yet he knows all his employees’ names. Even hangs in the cafeteria and makes smoothies for them.

I think of the guy yesterday—not the trainee, but the one who came up and ordered a smoothie while I was there. He was friendly to Ethan, definitely seemed to know who he was. And yet didn’t find it odd at all that the CEO of Frost Industries was the one making him a smoothie.

I don’t understand. He’s a conundrum, a puzzle whose pieces don’t quite fit together, and the not knowing is going to drive me insane. I need to let it go, need to just put Ethan’s odd ways out of my head and go on with my life, but I’m afraid doing so is going to be much harder than it sounds. Especially when I want so desperately to figure him out.

“Why were you behind the juice bar counter yesterday, making that smoothie?” The words come out before I know I’m going to say them. “And why were you dressed like a surfer?”

“I am a surfer. ”

“I know. But you’re also a CEO and this is your workplace. Board shorts seem inappropriate. ”

He laughs. “You’ve obviously never seen the guys from R&D. Half the time I count myself lucky if they remember to wear clothes. ”

If the R&D guys look anything like what I imagine they do, that’s an image I can definitely do without. “You didn’t answer my question. ”

“You’re right, I didn’t. ” For a minute I’m convinced he isn’t going to, either. But then he shakes his head ruefully. “It’s embarrassing, to be honest. The Frost Foundation gives a lot of money to ocean-centric charities, and the PR people thought it’d be a good idea to have some pictures of me surfing. Swore it would help draw more attention, and raise more money. Yesterday was the photo shoot. ”

Of course. Ethan Frost the philanthropist is almost as famous as Ethan Frost the visionary. But since I can tell he really is embarrassed, I don’t comment on what he’s told me. Instead I ask, “And the smoothie making?”

“I’m very particular about my smoothies. ” He looks dead serious now, which I find hilarious. I actually have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing when he continues, “Rodrigo was doing it wrong. ”

“There’s really a wrong way to make a smoothie?”

His eyes gleam wickedly. “Chloe, sweetheart, there’s a wrong way to do just about everything. ”

I’m almost sorry I asked. Almost.

* * *

It only takes us six or seven minutes to go between Buildings One and Three. And yet by the time we’re getting off the elevator at my floor, I’m a nervous wreck. Partly because I don’t want to face my boss and partly because everyone keeps staring at us. Yes, they’re acknowledging Ethan, calling out greetings to him, but they’re staring at me, too. Enough so that I know Ethan escorting a new employee around the premises, especially one with a bright green intern’s badge, is an unusual sight.