Chapter 8: Dinner and Doubt

08

In the private dining room, I ordered a mountain of fries, a ribeye, and enough sides to feed a football team.

This place is pricey.

Usually, Aubrey and I only come here when we get paid.

Ethan ate very little, occasionally picking food for me.

I said nervously, “Mr. Carter, please eat, don’t worry about me.”

He paused, fork in mid-air: “It’s after work. Just call me by my name.”

I stayed silent, awkward.

In the past six months, we’d sometimes eat together.

But always in between—well, you know.

Sitting down for a proper meal like this was a first.

It felt so weird.

I buried myself in food to cover the awkwardness.

After dinner, it started raining outside.

Ethan jingled his car keys: “I’ll drive you home.”

I pulled out my phone and opened the Uber app: “I’ll just grab a ride.”

Damn, there were a hundred people ahead of me in line.

Ethan: “It’s raining and cabs are scarce. Let me take you.”

I got into Ethan’s Tesla.

I reached for the back seat out of habit.

He raised an eyebrow: “What, I’m your chauffeur now?”

How would I dare.

I circled to the front: “Let me drive.”

Ethan laughed.

“Just get in the passenger seat.”

On the way, I kept thinking.

Choosing to become bed buddies with Ethan was probably the boldest thing I’ve ever done.

I always liked to keep work and life separate.

Ethan only knew me as a person.

Other than that, he knew nothing.

So I was always relaxed around him.

But now he’s become my boss.

Can I still be that relaxed in front of him?

Will our relationship be found out by colleagues?

I hate uncertainty.

Before getting out of the car, I mustered my courage and looked at Ethan: “Mr. Carter, let’s end our relationship here.”

“No need to meet on weekends anymore.”

Ethan looked puzzled: “Why? Just because I became your boss?”

Of course I couldn’t say that.

After all, I still have to work under him.

“Just because I want to end it. This isn’t a long-term solution.”

His face darkened.

I unbuckled my seatbelt and quickly got out of the car.

Honestly, I felt a little empty too.

I told myself it was just the rain, but I knew better.

I shook my head, forcing myself not to think too much.

I must just be too greedy for his body.

The rain pounded against the sidewalk as I hurried inside my building, droplets streaking down the lobby’s glass doors. I told myself it was just the change in weather making my chest feel tight, not the way Ethan had stared at me as I left.