I didn’t see a wedding ring on his finger but that didn’t confirm anything. Lots of men didn’t wear them. I’d yet to be invited into his office so I’d not seen any pictures he might have of his family, or…Cora and their baby—
“So, how are you settling in? It is Elaina, right?”
My sad thoughts were interrupted by the boss who was leaning on the counter above my station with a coffee cup, flashing that handsome chiseled face at me with an extra dash of charm thrown in.
“Yes, Mr. Blackstone, I’m really enjoying this job a great deal.”
“Oh, it’s Ethan. We’re very informal here in the office.” He winked at me. “In fact, I don’t mind if you call me E.”
If I didn’t know better I’d think he was flirting with me. Jesus, he was runway-model handsome. Women must fall at his feet regularly.
I laughed nervously. “My brother calls me E as well, but he’s the only one.”
“That’s right. I knew that.” He gave his head a tap with the heel of his hand. “Morrison is your brother. Good man to have a pint with, or three,” he joked.
“Yeah, that’s my brother all right, always willing to be somebody’s drinking partner.”
“It’s never a good idea to drink alone,” he said softly.
I nodded and smiled, unsure of how to respond.
“Well, I just wanted to give you a personal welcome and say that I’ve heard nothing but good things about what you’re doing here for us. Keep up the good work, Elaina, and please, if you need anything don’t hesitate to ask, okay?”
He smiled warmly but held his stare for a little too long to be just a friendly welcome. Yeah, it was an invitation all right. All I would have to do is let him know I was available and Mr. Blackstone would probably give me a time and a place.
“Okay…yes sir.”
He tsk’d and cocked a brow at me. “Ethan, remember?”
“Ethan.” I smiled, waiting for him to go.
Thankfully my switchboard lit up at precisely that moment. “Blackstone Security International, how may I direct your call?” The line was dead with dial tone only. A second call lit up the board almost immediately, and again I picked up.
Ethan lifted his coffee mug in a farewell salute, as I dealt with switching calls through, our little chat officially ended.
He punched in the key code and headed back through to the main offices. But as the door opened, I could see Neil standing just behind it, his mobile up to his ear. Ethan stepped around him, continuing in the direction down to his office, while Neil just stood there stonefaced. He stared me down from inside the doorway until it closed between us, cutting off our view of each other.
“Blackstone Security International, how may I direct your call?” I got dial tone again and frowned at my switchboard. Something weird was happening with the phone lines.
I thought about my short conversation with Ethan.
The boss was an interesting man. Besides being off the charts handsome, he was also very well-mannered and socially adept. But there was an edge to Ethan Blackstone that didn’t quite fit. Something that didn’t feel very mannerly or even particularly social. I felt secure around him yes, but this was a man who could do some serious damage to a woman if she was fool enough to let him. Make no mistake about it. I had no intentions of being that woman so I wasn’t worried in the slightest, but some girl would…someday.
I pushed my way into his office and got right up on him.
“Don’t even think it.”
Ethan pulled back a little and cocked a brow. “Don’t think about what?”
“I’m not blind, you know,” I scoffed. “I saw you on camera, flirting, swinging your c**k around up front just now.”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “What in the mother f**k are you railing on about, mate? Did you hit your head or something?” He opened his desk drawer where he kept his cigarettes.
I leaned over him, hands planted on the desk. “Not gonna happen. Not with her,” I whispered right up against his face, my neck so tight it might snap.
“The new receptionist, you mean? Elaina?” He was eyeballing me by then.
“That’s right. She’s off limits, and you can tell that to your wandering c**k and balls, too.”
“Easy there, mate. I was just being polite.” He lit up one of those Djarum Blacks he liked so well, the spice of clove scenting the air between us. “Making her feel welcome as a new member of the team is all. I’d not had a proper chance to do that yet.”
He exhaled right in my face. Probably because I was still up on him, but it didn’t deter me one iota. “Forget it, E. I’m warning you.” I tilted my head and crossed arms over my chest to keep from doing something I would regret. “Leave off with Elaina. She’s not going to be another of your one-night bang buddies. If you’re in need, go find it somewhere else.”
Ethan looked me over good, his blue eyes chilly as he took another drag on his ciggie. “You know her. I suppose you must since Morrison is her brother. Am I right?”
I managed a nod.
“You want to talk about it?” he asked carefully.
“No, I don’t.” I shook my head.
“Right, well, no worries then. I was only giving a welcome and being nice. You know I don’t fraternize with employees on the job. I’d never do that to a subordinate.”
“Not during working hours at least,” I grumbled. I’d known E to tap an office girl or two, but to be fair, he’d only gone for the ones that worked away from the executive suite on one of the other floors.
Ethan snickered and leaned back in his chair, the cigarette hanging off his lip. “Are you all right, Neil?”
“No,” I said, dropping myself into a chair opposite his desk.
We sat there in silence for a bit, him smoking, me breathing it in second hand, the smell reminding me of Afghanistan, taking me back to other times and other places. Places where I’d been with Ethan, a long time ago when things were different. He was very quick, and I imagined he’d puzzle it all out in another moment or two.
“Elaina’s the girl, isn’t she? The one from years ago, that you…lost, right before that last tour.” He lit up another Djarum.
“Yes. It’s her.”
I put on my coat and peered out the window from the forty-fourth floor.