“How come you haven’t found a job yet, considering Littlefield shut down a few months ago?”
He looked down and began twiddling his thumbs. I could sense something was up and he became very nervous.
“It’s okay, Ethan. You can tell me anything.”
He looked up at me and took in a deep breath. “I had a short-term job after I left Littlefield, but it didn’t work out.”
“I don’t see that on your resume. Did you get fired?”
“No. I quit. I didn’t put it on my resume because it was a bad experience and the woman I worked for said that she would ruin me, and she’d make it difficult for me to get another job.”
Arching my brow, I became intrigued. Leaning forward, I placed my hands on my desk. “Interesting. What happened? And I swear I won’t hold it against you.”
Uneasiness settled in as he began to tell me.
“I took a job as the personal assistant to Kitty Chambers.”
“Kitty Chambers, as in daughter of Gerald Chambers, CEO of Chamber Enterprises?”
“Yes. Now do you understand why I didn’t want to mention this?”
“Please, go on. I can’t stand that woman.”
Instantly, he perked up. “Things started off pretty good and then she began to have me come to her home to do some work from there. After a while, she became very interested in me, if you know what I mean, and she asked me to do personal things for her.”
“Such as?” I was desperate to know the juicy details.
“She wanted me to give her—oral sex.”
I chuckled as I leaned back in my chair. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to laugh, but I’m not surprised.”
“In case you can’t tell, I’m not into the female gender and I am in a very happy relationship with my boyfriend of two years. I told her this and she said she didn’t care. All she wanted was oral sex, nothing else, and she wanted it at least three times a week. She even went so far as to schedule it. When I turned her down, she became irate and started making me do very menial tasks, which she called my punishment. The woman is a freak, Mr. Black.”
I sat there and nodded my head. The rumors I’d heard about her were now confirmed and I was taking great pleasure in it.
“I’m sorry she did that to you, and you have nothing to be ashamed of. You did the right thing by quitting.”
“She told me that it will be a cold day in Hell before I get another job in the corporate world.”
“Ethan, my man. I like you, and if you’re interested, I would like you to come work for me and Black Enterprises. Your resume is impeccable, and I can tell just by sitting and talking to you that you would be a great asset to me and this company. Can you start now? I really need my mom to go back to doing what she does best, and that’s painting and being a mom.”
His face lit up and a wide grin appeared across his face. “Thank you so much, Mr. Black. I would love to work for you, and yes, I can start now.”
“Awesome. But one thing. Call me Collin.”
He stood up from his chair as I extended my hand to him.
“Thank you, Collin. Thank you again. You have no idea how much this means to me.”
“You’re welcome, and you have no idea how much this means to me.”
Walking over to the door, I opened it and looked at my mom.
“Sorry, Mom, but your time’s up here. You’re free to leave. I’ve hired Ethan and he’s agreed to start right now.”
“That’s wonderful, Collin. I knew he’d be perfect here.” She smiled.
She got up from the desk and gave Ethan a light hug. Just a few moments of conversation and they’d already bonded.
“Congratulations, Ethan. If my son gives you any trouble, you call me. Here’s my number.”
“Mom. Stop it,” I spoke as I narrowed my eyes at her.
She laughed as she placed her hand on my face and then headed to my dad’s office.
“Come with me, and I’ll introduce you to my sister.”
He followed me down the hall and I lightly tapped on Julia’s door.
“Come in.”
I proudly walked in and placed my hand on Ethan’s shoulder. “Julia, I would like you to meet my new assistant, Ethan. Ethan, this is my sister, Julia Jensen,” I spoke with a wide smile.
Julia got up from her desk and shook Ethan’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Ethan. I hope you enjoy working here.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Jensen. I know I will.”
“Please call me Julia. We aren’t very formal around here.”
“Ethan, why don’t you go back to your desk and get acquainted with the space. I’ll be there in a minute and introduce you to Laurinda, who will show you around.”
He walked out of the office and Julia grabbed hold of my arm. “Oh my God, he reminds me of Mason.”
“I know. Get this; he was a personal assistant to Kitty Chambers for a short while until she scheduled oral sex three times a week.”
“Shut up!” She laughed.
“I’m dead serious. So now we know the truth about Kinky Kitty.”
“I’m happy you finally found your dream assistant.”
“Me too.” I kissed her forehead. “I’ll talk to you later.”
Chapter 12
Connor
As I leaned back in my office chair and stared at the pictures of my wife, children, and grandchild that graced my desk, I smiled at what a lucky man I was to have such a great life. That was until my cell phone rang and I took a call from my mother.
“Good morning, Mom,” I cheerfully answered.
“Connor.” Her voice was shaky.
I sat up in my chair. “Mom, what’s wrong?”
“It’s...it’s… it’s your father. He passed away this morning.”
“What?” My heart started to ache, and my mouth went dry. “Where are you?”
“I’m at the house.”
“I’m on my way.” Click.
I dialed Ellery.
“Hi, babe.”
My lips could barely form the words. “Ellery, my father just passed away.”
“WHAT?! Oh my God, Connor.”
“I’m on my way to get you. We need to go to my mom. She’s at the house.”
“I’ll be ready. I’m so sorry. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
I shut down my computer and sprang up from my chair. Walking out of the office, I headed to Collin’s.
“Laurinda, call Julia and tell her to get to Collin’s office immediately. Also call Ralph and tell him I’m coming down.”
“Sure thing, Connor,” she said with concern.
My eyes were stinging from the tears that filled them. The minute I walked into Collin’s office, he knew something was wrong.
“Dad, what is it?”
Julia came in right after me and shut the door. “What’s going on, Dad?” she asked in a panic.
“Your grandfather passed away this morning.”
“Oh no, Daddy.” Julia wrapped her arms around me. Collin walked over and did the same and the three of us were locked in an embrace.