Hot Coffee (The Hollens)

Chapter 23 (Imagination For You)

Ethan's POV

I couldn't believe Sharon was here. I had crept out of Emma's room and tiptoed over to mine. I closed

the door softly and hopped in the shower. I heard the door open and closed and the sound of heels

hitting on the floor as I soaped my body.

"Baby, are you in here?"

"Yeah, I'm in the shower," I answered.

She entered the bathroom. "Where were you? I've been looking everywhere for you, Ethan."

"Just came from the beach. I didn't know you were coming," I answered, the water running over me.

"I'll wait in the bedroom. I need a favor from you."

When I got out of the shower she was sitting on my bed, bouncing her heels over the floor with her

long, crossed legs.

"Hi, sweetie." I gave her a quick kiss. "What's going on? You're supposed to be out of the country."

"I know, I know. I was but I had to fly back because I didn't have enough money for a clothing line I plan

to take over in the future."

"And how much you need?"

"Not much, just ten thousand."

I heaved a sigh but I was going to do anything to get rid of her at this moment. I only wanted to spend

time with Emma this weekend. So I wrote Sharon a check and she took it smiling.

"Thanks baby, I appreciate it," she said with a brighter smile.

"You're welcome."

"I'm hungry. What do you have to eat? I still have about half an hour to spare."

"Let me get dressed and we'll go downstairs."

"Okay."

I prepared a plate for the both of us and we sat down to eat. She started talking about Italy, the fashion

shows and the models, and the sights she had seen so far.

"Baby, I'm in love with the place. It's so perfect." She wouldn't stop talking.

I smiled and nodded to make it appear I was paying attention, but I really wasn't listening to what she

was saying. I couldn't stop thinking about Emma. Her body was so perfect, her skin so smooth and

soft. Her sweet lips on mine as I devoured her mouth, she tasted so delicious.

"Baby! Baby!"

I snapped out of my thoughts. Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

"What are you thinking about?"

"I'm just thinking about tomorrow. The auction."

"Oh, so sorry I won't make it. But I'm sort of happy that the maids are going along instead of just you."

At that moment, Emma and Halley appeared.

Sharon smirked.

"Sit," I invited them.

I saw when Emma narrowed her eyes at me.

They sat down after making themselves a plate. Sharon placed a kiss on my cheek, thanked me for the

money and walked out. I got up and went to see her off. I wanted to be sure she was gone. I stood

outside until her car was out of sight then went back to the kitchen. Everyone was so quiet. Halley

didn't say a word to me or Emma.

Emma insisted on clearing the kitchen table and doing the dishes. I went up to my room and waited

there for her.

After half an hour I heard her coming up the stairs about to walk by my bedroom, but I opened the door

and pulled her in to finish what we had started, but she rejected me. She wanted me to be a free man

before she lay with me and I was happy at that fact. She had respect for herself, she wasn't just some

easy girl who'd jump into bed with a guy because he was a billionaire. With Emma, my title, my money

and my power didn't matter. She wanted to be in love with someone and she expected that someone to

be in love with her also. I wanted to be that someone; I wanted her to be mine.

The fact that I was engaged to Sharon was a great obstacle in our way. Sharon was a nice woman, in

her own way, and successful, but something was just not connecting between us anymore. I wanted to

break it off long before Emma even came into the picture, but my mother... My mother was on my back

like a damn tick, and she liked Sharon. They were practically exactly alike and seemed to have a lot in

common, especially fashion.

"Don't you dare break her heart or I'll break your neck," she'd told me when she threw our engagement

party at one of her hotels.

But I would get my neck broken for Emma because she was becoming the woman I wanted to spend

the rest of my life with. I'd fallen for her even more. I wanted her to be mine; I needed her to be mine.

She lit a spark in me I didn't even knew existed. It wasn't just about her body. I wanted to spend the

rest of my life with her. I wanted to make her my wife. I was going crazy over her and I didn't know what

it was but something was drawing me to her.

When she left my room, I pondered what she'd said to me. She wouldn't have sex with me until I left

Sharon, and, knowing Sharon, she wouldn't let me go that easily, especially if she knew I was leaving

her for Emma-- my maid. Sharon would lose her shit, but I didn't care. It would be over when we saw

each other face-to-face again next weekend.

I heaved another sigh as I headed to my closet and picked out a suit for tomorrow night. The auction

was expected to be great. My parents would be there, and my grandmother. I hadn't seen my

grandmother in so long. I couldn't wait to throw her birthday party. I had promised her that since the

beginning of the year and I didn't break my promises.

As for my parents, I wished to just greet them when I see them tomorrow. We didn't get along well if we

spent more than an hour in the same room. I got emotional and angry, and they got technical and

harsh. My father always had excuses and mom always had something useless to talk about. We just

didn't mix well at all. I didn't hate my parents but my grandmother was my favorite family member. She

wanted to have a great-grandchild before she died.

I through back to when Sharon thought she was pregnant five months ago. She had missed her period

the previous month and became obsessed with the thought of being a mom. Although she took a

pregnancy test and it was negative, she believed it was too early to tell and the tests were all wrong.

She took ten tests. When her period finally came, she cried for five days.

I looked at my watch-- midnight. I couldn't sleep. I kept thinking of the girl in the room on my right. I laid

on my pillow and just stared blankly at the ceiling. My phone buzzed. I peeked at the text.

Hi baby. I miss you so much. I can't wait to come back home to you. Btw, I've got something to discuss

with you when I get back.

Sharon always had something to discuss with me. I was certain it was another plan for the wedding.

She was only making it more difficult to break the news to her that I just couldn't be with her anymore.

I continued to think about Emma, proposing to her with a ring so beautiful she'd cry. I'd have my dream

wedding with her, all my family and friends who'd become her family and her friends too. Her maid of

honor would be Halley, I knew that for certain. She would move up to my bedroom and not be a maid

anymore-- I'd hire new ones. Then she'd have my kids, our kids. I always wanted a boy and a girl. I'd

spoil them rotten. They'd grow up and take over my company while I rested at home with Emma, and

we'd sail around the world and learn new things and go to new places.

I smiled at my imagination; that was exactly what I wanted and that was exactly what I'd be aiming for.