Coldhearted Boss

There’s no way to protest, no reason to. I’d look crazy if I did.

So I take that cup and rush back to the mess hall so I can add a splash of cream and not even an ounce of spit—which is really something I’m proud of—before I hurry back to the trailer.

He’s still not happy. His mouth opens to object, but Ethan beats him to the punch.

“If you’re that particular about your coffee, Grant, get up and get it yourself. You’re disrupting the meeting.”

Silence ensues as everyone turns to look at us.

Grant unfurls a smirk and holds up the cup in a silent cheers. “It’s fine. Continue.”

I hurry to my chair and try to make myself disappear, but it’s no use. Grant does everything possible to keep me involved. When everyone stands to tour the site, he insists I come along and stay by his side.

“I need you to take notes. You know how to do that right? Or does Ethan have you performing other duties?”

I hate that no one else hears him. I hate that I’m so close to making a scene.

Ethan is ahead of us, at the helm, talking with the clients. He’s running the show and though I want nothing more than to have a private word with him, it’s just not possible right now. He has a job to do, and so do I. I stay by Grant and keep my spine straight and my chin up. I fulfill my duties to the best of my ability and try hard to ignore the few tasteless comments he aims my way, insinuations about what I am to Ethan and what my role actually is here on site. He cloaks his accusations in euphemisms, but there’s no mistaking his malicious intent.

After lunch, I’m not sure I have the energy to continue. The clients are gone, but Ethan’s partners are still here. Apparently, they have more work to do before they head back to Austin. My stomach fills with dread. I have every intention of steering clear of the trailer, even if that means hiding out in the cabin.

I turn down the path and stop short when I spot Grant, Steven, and Brad walking toward me. Steven and Brad are wearing hard, angry expressions, but it’s Grant who captures my full attention as he leans over and spits blood into the grass.

Oh shit.

His mouth is puffed up like he’s just eaten something he’s allergic to. The lower half of his jaw is red and starting to bruise.

When he sees me, I expect the same treatment from this morning, but instead, his eyes widen in fear.

What the heck happened while I was at lunch!?

I stand stock-still, but they continue walking until we’re only separated by a few feet. Then Steven nudges Grant forward with a shove.

He shoots the older man a searing glare over his shoulder and then straightens his shirt before coming to stand in front of me. For a few tense seconds, our eyes lock and I can feel his disdain for me pluming off him. Then he speaks and his tone is sharply clipped. “I’d like to apologize for what I insinuated this morning. I realize I was wrong about you.”

My jaw drops.

His gaze flicks over my shoulder, out onto the path behind me, as he continues. It’s clear he’d rather be eating dirt than apologizing to me right now. “I thought I was being funny, but my partners have pointed out that I was wrong.”

“Say the rest,” Brad adds with an unyielding tone.

“From this day forward, I won’t talk to you—”

“Or,” Steven goads.

“Or so much as look at you if it’s not directly related to Lockwood Construction business.”

It’s obvious he’s repeating words that were drilled into him, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that Ethan was behind his swollen lip.

My stomach knots with tension. “It’s fine.”

“It’s really not,” Steven insists, eyeing me gently. “He could have gotten this company into a hell of a lot of trouble if you’d decided to press harassment charges.”

My gaze flicks back to Grant and I realize we’re even now. He won’t press charges against Ethan for a busted lip and I won’t report him to HR—or worse, the media.

Grant glances down at me and frowns. “For what it’s worth, this morning was more about getting under Ethan’s skin than yours. He and I have always had a tenuous relationship. I realize now I took it too far.”

I nod as Steven and Brad come up behind him, clapping him on the shoulder and pushing him forward brusquely. I step out of their way and watch as they disappear down the path.

When I make it to the cabin, I find Ethan sitting on the top stair, waiting for me.

He’s fuming.Chapter 30EthanBoots crunching along the gravel path tug me out of my angry reverie. I look up just in time to watch Taylor make her way to the bottom of the stairs and stop on a dime. She’s chewing her bottom lip. Her brown eyes are filled with guilt and she’s got one arm wrapped around her stomach, her hand clutching her other elbow.