Erin found her parents at their home, having a late breakfast.
“Erin!” Her mother’s face lit up in delight. Harold Gosling looked up from his copy of the Wall Street Journal and smiled as Erin walked up to give him a kiss. “How lovely you could join us darling, it’s been a while.”
Erin dropped a kiss on her mother’s cheeks then slid into an empty seat, accepting the glass of juice Victoria passed over.
“Hey Mum,” she stole a piece of toast from her dad’s plate. “I missed you guys, so I decided to come over.”
Harold snorted and closed the journal, picking up his coffee mug, his eyes glinting with humor. “Of course, of course. And this visit has nothing to do with needing a favour? Impressive.”
“Harold!” Her mother scolded, while Erin just grinned and bit into her toast. “How can you say such a thing to your daughter? Be nice.”
Harold merely raised an eyebrow at his wife, before turning to Erin. The two shared a conspiratorial look, well accustomed to each other’s banter.
“You look loads better, Dad,” Erin’s eyes took in the healthy sheen of his skin, and his leaner but toned look. “Jeez, have you been working out?”
Harold beamed proudly, happy that she’d noticed. “Yep, an hour and a half on the bike, followed by sit-ups, push-ups and then golf of course. My game is off the charts I tell you and I’ve never felt healthier.”
“Wow! That’s amazing.”
The routine made her feel slightly guilty for her almost non-existent quest for fitness. Sure she visited a gym a couple of times, but mainly because Kim insisted on dragging her along, since she tended to avoid those places like the plague.
She shot a surreptitious look at her legs beneath the pencil skirt and winced, suddenly self-conscious as she wondered what went through Ethan’s mind when he saw her naked. Did he compare her to those svelte, skinny models he’d dated before he got with her?
The thought caused an unexpected swell of jealousy as her mind flashed pictured him wrapped around some skinny blonde doing the dirty deed. She shook her head to clear the image, and bit into her toast in defiance. The models could go hang, Ethan was hers now.
“Erin!” Her mother’s voice brought her back to the present and Erin looked up to find both parents watching her with identical puzzled expressions.
“Sorry, I was…er…thinking maybe I should start working out more,” she mumbled, pasting a bright smile on her face. “You were saying?”
Victoria studied her daughter for a minute, while Erin tried not to squirm. For god’s sake she was grown woman now. Her mother’s ‘all knowing’ gaze shouldn’t want to make her blurt our every darn secret she had.
“I asked if you wanted more toast.” Victoria said, breaking the look and Erin breathed a sigh of relief.
“No, I’m good. I already ate.” She’d had a bowl of cereal at Ethan’s place while waiting for Heather. Which brought her back to the real reason for this visit. She leaned forward.
“Umm, dad? About those shares; are we really going to buy them back at that rate?”
Harold shot his daughter a puzzled look then sighed.
“Ah, so I’m not the only one who feels I’m ripping someone off for my own damn shares. Between you and I? I think that boy’s lost his damn mind and I told him so when he approached me with the offer. I don’t mind buying them back at the original rate he got them and his lawyer seemed to think so too.”
Her father pursed his lips and shook his head in bewilderment. “I was surprised to say the least, but your Uncle urged me to take the deal.”
“Dad, that deal could ruin his company.” Erin said, careful to keep her tone neutral. “I read the papers this morning and it doesn’t look good for him – or us – for that matter if we go ahead with this.”
“I don’t see why that’s such an issue,” her mother said, lips tightened in disapproval. “The man practically stole those shares and in the most underhanded way possible. We shouldn’t be worried if he destroys himself.”
Erin closed her eyes and prayed for patience.
“Mum, it doesn’t work like that. And Ethan taking those shares didn’t really hurt the business. Matter of fact, he actually managed to save the kitchens and acquisitions departments a lot of money by coming up with a cost-effective menu reshuffling. Though I opposed it at the time, but it’s been doing remarkably well. And Ethan’s a good man Mum, he was just misguided and angry but he’s changed now.”
Silence followed that speech as both parents cast her speculative looks. Erin groaned inwardly, burying her head in her hands as she realized how she had sounded. Great way to break the news that she was now sleeping with her family’s former arch nemesis, just fucking great.
“So,” Victoria leaned forward, resting her forearms on the table. “Do you want to tell us what this is really about? And don’t even think of denying anything Erin Amanda Gosling, I know you too well and I have seen those filthy gossip pages and haven’t forgotten that scene at the hospital.”
Erin groaned aloud this time. “Mum, seriously? A man’s business is in jeopardy and you want to talk about my love life?”
Harold looked from one woman to the other, his expression bewildered. “What scene at the hospital? And what gossip pages?”
Erin slid down her chair a little as her mother proceeded to fill him in. This was not the way she had intended to break the news…and now from her father’s darkening expression, this were just about to go – in Marcus’ own words – apeshit.
Harold looked at his daughter. “Is that why he’s suddenly so adamant on returning those shares? Because you – heaven forbid, slept with him?”
Well, technically the sleeping part had come before, but there was no way she was admitting to anything. Then Erin heard her mother gasp in horror and she clamped a hand over her mouth as she realized she’d spoken out loud.
“Ah shit! Look mum, dad, there’s no need to freak out, please. All this was a misunderstanding, and no, he didn’t return it because he’d slept with me. He did it out of a misguided, but incredibly sweet notion of making amends. It’s a long story but please, can we go back to the matter at hand?”
Harold folded his arms across his chest, looking belligerent. “There is more to this than you’re letting on, young lady and I want the full story now.” He reached for his phone and dialled a number. “Fraser, get me Mr. Lachlan on the line now.”
“Dad, no!” Erin jumped to her feet, eyes wide in horror as she frantically crossed the table but froze at a look from her father. “There’s no need to involve him in this. He’s already having to deal with the fallout from his announcement, for god’s sake.”
Her father ignored her, speaking into the phone. “I don’t care if he’s with the devil, tell him to get his ass to a phone or I will cancel the deal.” He ended the call and looked at his daughter. “Sit down, and start from the beginning.”
“Jesus, dad! You can’t order us about. I’m twenty-seven, for crying out loud. It’s my decision who I chose to sleep with.”
“Not when it affects the family, it doesn’t.” Harold cut in firmly. “I have stayed out of your affairs before now, but this is crossing the line and if that bastard has any sense, he’ll be picking up a phone this minute.”
As if on cue, his phone rang and Erin felt the color drain from her face. Her father put the call on speakerphone.
“Good morning, Harold,” Ethan’s voice sounded calm, but puzzled. Erin caught a slight hint of exhaustion and felt guilty. “I understand you want to speak to me?”
“Mr. Lachlan,” Her father went right to the point. “My wife and I have just heard some disturbing news regarding your underhanded dealings with my daughter, and I demand an explanation. Since my daughter is not being forthcoming with one, I would strongly suggest you start talking.”
The line was silent for a few minutes, and Erin cringed, imagining what was going through his mind right now.
“Is she there?” he finally asked, his voice had acquired a hard edge to it and Erin knew she was royally fucked.
“I’m here.” Erin sighed, resigned to the fact that by the time this interrogation was over, he would want nothing to do with her.
****
Un-fucking-believable.
Ethan listened in disbelief as Harold Gosling spoke, the man’s animosity evident in each uttered syllable.
What the hell was Erin up to? First, with the phone call where she’d practically accused him of doing bodily harm to Nicky, her distrust plainly evident and now this? What the hell was she playing at?
“Is she there?” He asked in a hard tone, hating the fact that things were spiralling out of control and he had no clue what was going on.
Her voice came over the line.
“I’m here.” Erin responded, her tone heavy with some unidentifiable emotion. “Ethan, I’m…”
“What the fuck is going on?” He cut in, hearing a shocked gasp at the other end and he recalled her mother was listening in as well, but right now, he didn’t give a damn. “I’m in the middle of a shit load of chaos right now, and the last thing I need is you screwing…”
“How dare you speak to my daughter in that foul language?” Another female voice cut in, brimming with indignation. “I don’t care for your tone Mr. Lachlan, and I believe my husband asked you a question, not that I require any explanations as to your crude behaviour, it’s so obvious you’re nothing but a worthless scumbag out to take advantage of my daughter…she can do so much better than a nobody from god knows where –”
“Mum!” Erin cut in, but the damage had already been done.
Ethan felt himself grow cold, a deep bitter cold at those words that completely obliterated any remnant of warmth left inside. Victoria Gosling’s words cut deep and hard, but rather than pain, all Ethan felt was cold, hard fury.
His free hand gripped the edge of his desk so hard the knuckles turned white and he was dimly aware of raised voices at the other end of the line, and Erin’s voice above all the others, saying something in a pleading tone, but for the second time that day, Ethan hung up on her.
He managed a bitter laugh that didn’t pierce his chilled, dead heart. This was the second time a member of the Gosling family had called him an advantageous opportunist…with varying descriptions of course and he didn’t know which hurt worse – her mother’s words or the fact that Erin had sat there and allowed it.
He’d poured out his whole damn heart to her, had risked his damn company just to prove the authenticity of his feelings and she’d let him believe it was reciprocated…and all this while it had been a lie. She said she loved him and like the gullible fool he was, Ethan had fallen hook, line and sinker.
Damn, she was good. Almost as good as Nicky, who would always take the bitch crown.
He needed a drink. Striding towards the small bar in the corner, Ethan pulled out the bottle of brandy he normally reserved for big clients and poured himself a stiff drink, and another and another.
Marcus found him an hour later, nursing his sixth glass, slumped on his chair.
“Christ man! What the hell?” his friend strode forward and snatched the glass from his hands, earning him a growl and a string of curses. Behind him, Laura gasped, eyes widening in shock as she took in her boss’ drunken state.
“You have the press waiting in the conference room for close to an hour and you’re here, getting drunk?” Marcus fairly yelled at him in frustration, setting down the glass on the desk. He took a good look at Ethan and felt like tearing out his hair. “What the fuck man? What the fuck is this? Have you lost your mind?”
Ethan merely shrugged and attempted to rise, staggering as the effects of alcohol hit him hard. He cursed again, gripping his desk for support as the room spun crazily. “I’m going home!” He announced to no one in particular, steadying himself enough to make his way to the door.
Marcus grabbed him just before he planted his face on the carpet, his mouth tight with disapproval. “I’m surprised at you, ET, what brought this on? I know you’ve been stressed out all morning but you’ve handled shit better than this man. And what do you think Erin’s going to make of this juvenile behaviour?”
“Fuck off, Fairy god-mother.” Ethan slurred, shrugging off his friend’s hold. “And Erin fucking Gosling can fuck off as well, matter of fact, why don’t you go stick your head up her ass and find out what she thinks huh?”
He chuckled bitterly. “No, wait I can tell you what she thinks- that I’m a worthless, no good bastard, that’s what she thinks.”
Marcus’ brows rose in a mixture of surprise and understanding. “So this is about her, huh?”
“I’m leaving Marc, and I swear I’ll deck you if you try to stop me.” Ethan growled, reaching for his car keys. Laura, who had watched the scene in frozen shock, sprang into action and snatched the keys from the small side table before he could reach.
“You’re fired!” Ethan pointed a finger at her, eyes narrowed in anger. “Get your things and get out of my office, you understand?”
“Yes Sir,” Laura replied, clearing humouring him for now. She caught the look Marcus threw in her direction and nodded, understanding the unspoken request. Grabbing Ethan’s coat, cell phone and briefcase, she opened the door and hurried out.
“Come on Bro, let’s get you home.” Marcus said, placing a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “And if you’re still up for it, we could share a drink or two.
*****
“I’m leaving!” Erin announced in a stiff voice, too angry at her parents to risk staying a moment longer. “And you both better pray Ethan’s still willing to even talk to me after this… ridiculous stunt, or I swear, I’ll never forgive you.”
Without waiting for their reaction, she stormed out, heading quickly for her car as she fumed at her parents high handed behaviour. They had no right to interfere in her private life, and what they’d just done was unforgivable. Her heart constricted as she tried to imagine how Ethan must be feeling right now, and she felt apprehensive. He was furious, she knew that much, furious at her and if she knew him at all, he’d probably put two and two together to make five and that did not bode well for their budding relationship.
She entered her car and sighed, feeling a jolt of exhaustion and pain. The day had started off so well too. She mused, recalling the time they’d spent together, wishing she hadn’t persuaded him to go in to work after all. Maybe if they’d spent the day together like Ethan had originally wanted, none of this would have happened.
Needing some courage, she picked her phone and dialled Kim’s number. Her friend answered on the first ring.
“So, I’m guessing things went spectacularly well,” Her friend drawled, mischief lighting up her voice. “I didn’t hear from you last night and all morning…. you sly bitch. Was it good? Amazing? Mind- blowingly super deli-awesomely spectacular sex?”
Despite her agitation, Erin couldn’t help a smug smile from crossing her face. “The third option and more.”
Kim’s excited squeal caused her to wince. “I knew it! I knew it! You lucky bugger. I want details, and the r-rated version, if you please. Are you still at his place? Can we like meet somewhere so you can tell me about it?”
“Kim,” Erin shut her eyes, all her apprehensions returning in full force. “I think I’ve ruined everything…”
*******
“So he actually said the words, ‘I love you Erin’. He really said that?” Kim leaned her elbows on the table and regarded her friend in disbelief.
Toying with the paper napkin on her table, Erin nodded, swallowing down the lump in her throat as she stole yet another glance at the tall building across the street, wondering what Ethan was doing right this moment. Kim had agreed to meet her in a small café close to Holbourn Enterprises, Erin needing female reassurance before she dared try to talk to Ethan.
She quickly ran through everything that had happened. As she recounted her first phone conversation with Ethan, Kim groaned aloud.
“Erin, for god’s sakes! Please tell me you didn’t!”
Erin buried her head in her hands, feeling like the biggest fool ever. “I know I wasn’t thinking straight and I’m a horrible person and I’ll do anything to take it back. Kim, he sounded angry afterwards and what my mum said just sealed the coffin on our relationship. Now, I don’t know what he’s thinking or where I’m going to start apologizing. I won’t blame Ethan if he decides to throw me out of his office, but I just know that if I wait till he gets back, it may be too late.”
“It’s not too late.” Kim reached over and took her hands, offering a consoling smile. “Look, I’ll even come with you, but I’m sure there’s no need to worry. He loves you Erin and he’s gone and made this huge sacrifice just to prove it. I’m sure he’ll be willing to listen and forgive.”
“God, I hope so.” Erin prayed, a little relieved at Kim’s certainty.