"I need to leave for a few hours, so feel free to explore the mansion," Ethan said. "You can go inside any room except for the one with a red door," he added mysteriously.
"What's behind the red door?" I looked at him curiously. Dead bodies of his past lovers?
Ethan looked at my wide eyes for a moment, then chuckled. "I'm just fucking with you. There's no red door. Go anywhere you want," he said.
Idiot.
"Oh, and don't bother trying to run away. You won't go far. This house is pretty secluded with heavy security."
What am I, his prisoner?
"Whatever, just leave already," I said irritably.
"Um...I wasn't going anywhere," I mumbled."You weren't? So you are just a peeping tom?" Charles smirked."Hey! It wasn't like I purposely came here to look through your window. I was just exploring. I saw your light was on, so I got curious," I explained."I see. So this is all a big misunderstanding," Charles said. His tone sounded condescending. What was his problem?"Yes. That's correct. Now let me go. You're making me uncomfortable," I said and pushed him off.He grabbed my shoulders again. "Hold on. I'll let you go, but first, I want to see what the big deal is," his eyes were dark."What do you..." I croaked as he suddenly sl
I groaned as I woke up with a sore back and sore everything. Ethan wasn't gentle last night. I guess I made him angry. I took a shower and went to the dining hall for breakfast as I heard my stomach growl. I saw Charles waiting for me and my insides twisted into knots. His intense grey eyes bored into mine as he studied my every movement. "Hey, good morning," I let out a nervous chuckle. "Good morning Mr. Price. Sleep alright?" he raised his eyebrows. Sleep? Hah. No such thing happened. Ethan had been messing with me all night, making me come over and over again. Not that I'm complaining. "Yeah, I slept fine," I said quietly. "Great. Ethan will be back later today. He had asked me to show you around and take you to buy whatever you need. We can do it after you finish breakfast," Charles declared.
Ethan's POVI had to run out of town to meet my informant Harry, my only connection to New York. Anthony was still up after my tail, and I needed to keep Corey safe. I'd move out of the continent if I had to, as we were still too close."They still haven't figured out where you are, but I saw some of his men sniffing around your office. Does anyone knows about your whereabouts?" Harry scowled."No. I'm not stupid," I said distractedly."Good, let's keep it that way. Anthony doesn't like to lose. You've taken something that belonged to his son, and you betrayed his daughter. He won't rest until he finds you," Harry said grimly."Corey did not belong to Jacob, nor will he ever be. As for as his daughter is concerned, the whole thing was forced, and she must be relieved that I'm not there anymore," I said irritably. I spoke to him for few more minutes. He gave me one last warning then left.I was well aware of the risks, but I couldn't let Core
Okay, I know I've bragged about being awesome and how everyone wants me, but I was still shocked at Charles's confession."Err...I don't understand," I interjected."You can't have Corey. He is mine," Ethan barked."Actually, I'm an independent human being," I raised my hand to share my input, but they seem to be too busy glaring at each other to hear me. Jerks.Charles looked at me. The anger in his eyes disappeared momentarily, and his gaze turned gentle. "This is not the first time I've seen you, Corey. I didn't develop my attraction overnight. I've been secretly watching Ethan and my so called father since we were teenagers so I could find a way to destroy them." Charles sighed."But then I saw you, Corey. You were so pure back then, doing everything to make Ethan happy even though he treated you like trash. I watched him ridicule you for being different. He was a coward and still is," he said."Watch your mouth, asshole. You don't know
I came back to New York without looking back. I needed to be away from Ethan and all that craziness and start my life over just the way I wanted in the first place.I don't think Ethan lied to me when he said he loved me. But that doesn't mean his decisions about me were the right decisions. Everything he did was centered around what he wanted. He never once asked what I wanted."Don't do this."Ethan said as I placed my resignation letter on his desk."I need to work somewhere else. It'll be awkward to work under you after what we've been through," I. Protested."What if we go back to the beginning and stick with regular flirting?" he smirked.
Ethan's POVI saw Corey on my way in but didn't say anything. He looked awful. His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked slightly disheveled. Did he stay up all night drinking?I wanted to ask but held myself back. According to the contract, I had to keep personal conversation to a minimum. I hated this stupid contract. I want to rip it to shreds then burn it. But I promised him.I went into my office and called my secretary. "Send Mr. Price some fresh coffee at his desk," I instructed her. I thought about Charles. I couldn't believe he was the same Charlie I remembered from my childhood. I couldn't believe he was my brother. I had to make it right with him. It wasn't his fault that he had a shitty father like mine. I'd be hopelessly angry too if I was him.
I was curious to know why Charles was at the office. I thought after that day they'll never speak to each other again, but it seemed like they were on good terms almost.I didn't ask Ethan about it. I've been avoiding him as much as possible, but being this close to him wasn't easy, and my heart hammered against my chest every time I felt him close-by.I agreed to go out with Charles since I promised him I would. Maybe he was just the distraction I needed."Where are we going?" I asked as he was acting mysterious about it."Eh...about that...you'll probably hate me if I tell you," he let out a nervous chuckle.I didn't like where this was going. "Why?" I looked at him suspiciously. "
Ethan's POV"It wasn't your fault," Corey said and patted me on the back. I was still in shock as I watched the paramedics confirmed my father's death and took him away.I knew I didn't literally kill him, but I still felt guilty for saying being so harsh and driving my father to have a heart attack. Charles had been quiet, and stone faced the entire time they came and took his body away. I realized this might be hard on him as he was his father too. Charles never got his closure from him. He died before Charles had the chance to change his opinion about him. He never got to hear him say he was accepted just as he was."Are you okay?" I asked Charles. He looked at me with a grim expression."I didn't mean for him to die. I just wanted