Page 35 of Breaking All The Rules

“When she worked for you?”

“Yes.”

“Were you guys a couple?”

“No.”

My heart started to race when I realized where my questions were going and how much I was dreading the next answer.

“Were you just fucking her like you’re just fucking me?”

He blew out a heavy breath and looked at me without answering. I could feel the anxiety flowing, pulsing through me as I waited. I raised an eyebrow at him and tilted my head, needing an answer.

“I wouldn’t say it that way,” he said softly, guilt plastered across his face.

“That’s all I needed to know,” I replied hastily as I turned and walked away. I could hear his footsteps right behind me as he followed.

“Eva, stop,” he pleaded as I kept walking.

I went past the elevators and swung open the door to the stairs, feeling too angry to wait. I needed to get away from him and put some distance between us.

“Can we please talk about this?” He grabbed my arm to stop me. I swung around to face him, our bodies only inches apart.

“Is what she said about you trying to pay her to walk away true?” I asked, stopping briefly to let him answer. My ears flushed as my blood pressure skyrocketed.

“It’s not what it sounds like.”

I pulled in a deep breath and leaned against the wall behind me as I tried to gather my thoughts.

“You know, when I was with Jeremy, there were so many times that I would question something he had said or done. And every single time, he would respond withit’s not what it looks likeorit’s not what it sounds like.The problem was that I believed him. I second-guessed myself so often that I ended up forcing myself to believe what he was telling me. Even when I caught him fucking his secretary on his desk one night when he was supposed to be working late. Do you know what he said to me? It’s not what it looks like.”

I folded my arms over my chest as I tapped my foot angrily while I watched Ethan’s face as he listened.

“I’ve learned that when people say something isn’t what it seems—they’re usually lying. It isexactlywhat it seems. So I’m sorry if I don’t believe you when you say that whatever is going on with that woman isn’t what it sounds like. In fact, it’s none of my business. You’ve made it crystal clear that you’re not a relationship kind of guy, and now I see why.”

I shook my head as I turned and walked down the stairs, somewhat relieved and even more disappointed when he didn’t follow.

Nineteen

Ethan

I’d spent Tuesday morning in a closed-door meeting with Regina and Garrett as I gave them the update on Cora’s surprise visit. Garrett was looking into options for requesting a paternity test while I tried to do the math to see if there was any fucking way that I could be the father, to begin with. The more we talked about the situation, the more I wished that I would have just given in and paid her off when she first demanded it. Not that it would have earned me any bonus points with Eva. If anything, it would have been the final nail in the coffin of our non-existent relationship.

I figured it was also best to disclose my meeting yesterday at Hyde and Wilson before they somehow found out on their own. Regina was going to reach out to their Director of Human Resources to see if our legal team could set up a meeting with theirs to discuss a course of action. Granted, there was little that either side could talk about at this point, but it was good to know what resources we had if we needed them.

Regina excused herself to make a quick phone call, leaving Garrett and me alone in the boardroom.

“How’s Eva working out?” Garrett asked, trying to break the silence that had filled the room.

“Honestly, I don’t know. I haven’t had much time to sit down and work with her, and she was out of the office for a little while when she got sick. Regina and Kate have helped her get set upon a few things, but overall, she seems like she’s just teaching herself the ropes.”

“I’m sure things will level out soon,” he assured me as he held his pen between his two index fingers and looked at it. “Aside from the work stuff, how are things with Eva?”

I looked up at him, wondering how he knew anything had happened between us.

“Mom told me you were in love. I just assumed it was with her since your productivity has gone to shit since she started working here,” he replied with a laugh, noticing the confused look I had on my face when he asked.

“Of course she did.” I rolled my eyes and turned my attention back to my brother, who had a shit-eating grin on his face. “What’s so damn funny?” I asked, feeling my lips turning up into a smile.

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