Retribution Chapter 1

When the tabloids broke the news of Ethan Cross’s engagement, he was lying on my lap, reviewing a merger file.

I thought it was just another piece of celebrity gossip.

I teased him. "Very funny. They’re saying you’re getting married next month."

Ethan casually flipped to the next page of the contract.

"Yeah. Make sure you’re free to play piano at the reception."

I froze, completely stunned. Ethan traced a hand over my face, a touch of mockery in his eyes.

"It took a lot of work to get her to say yes. Be a good girl, okay? Don't make a scene."

* * *

My mind went completely blank. I stared at him, not knowing how to react.

Ethan let out a soft scoff and set the merger file down on the coffee table.

"Don't look at me like a deer in headlights. It's not like we're never going to see each other again."

He paused, tilting his head. "Or did you actually think I was going to marry you?"

I fought back tears, pushing against his shoulders to sit up.

"These five years... what was I to you?"

Ethan refined his brow, sitting up and gripping my chin.

"An assistant. You are the most capable assistant I’ve ever had."

I wasn't satisfied. I asked again, my voice trembling.

"Just an assistant?"

Ethan’s expression darkened slightly. He wound a lock of my hair around his finger.

"Sarah, do you know what I like most about you? You’re compliant. Smart. Rational. Sane."

He applied pressure to my chin. "Right now, you’re acting in a way that is very annoying."

My heart felt like it was being stuck by a thousand needles. A dense, stinging pain surged through my body.

He leaned in and kissed away the tear at the corner of my eye, his hand moving down.

My body’s instinctual reaction made me shudder slightly against my will.

He let out a sharp laugh, the sound filled with ridicule.

"Don't act so aggrieved. After all, you enjoy this too, don't you?"

I pushed him away with all my might and frantically grabbed my clothes, pulling them on over my head.

He sat back, resting his chin on one hand, watching me amusedly.

"By the way, you know my fiancée. She’s timid. Don't go near her, don't scare her."

I froze mid-motion. A horrifying premonition seized my brain.

"Who is it?"

"The Sterling Group heiress. Harper Sterling."

It was like a lightning bolt struck me. My brain felt like it exploded, pressure throbbing violently at my temples, mixed with a piercing pain.

"Why her? You know... she..."

"That was all a misunderstanding." Ethan reached out, pulled me back toward him, and got down on one knee to slide my high heels back onto my feet.

"Harper already explained everything to me. If you are disrespectful to her because of things that happened in high school, don't blame me for being ruthless."

He squeezed my ankle hard, looking up at me. It was an open threat.

The pain made it almost impossible to sit still. I forced a sliver of a voice out of my throat.

"Understood."