Fighting the Inevitable

Chapter 4: Masquerade

Copyright 2019 © Rosesareforever  

Fighting the Inevitable

Chapter 4

Masquerade

Running her fingers through her maroon locks, trying to tame the wild mess of curls, Rachelle took a final accessing look in the bathroom mirror. She looked exhausted, and it was not even midnight. According to her work schedule, she had to work until two a.m., the predicted end of the event. Most of the time, though, things ran late and she had to do overtime. It rarely happened that an event ended when it was supposed to.

Two days ago, Eleonore, her boss, had called her to inform her she would be helping out to serve food at the opening of a new club in the city. Rachelle had been surprised. It wasn't their usual venue. It happened very rarely that someone booked their event agency for a corporate event. They were specialized in weddings, baby showers, birthday parties,... not grand openings of new businesses.

The sole reason Eleonore probably accepted the offer was because their agency wasn't doing as well as it used to. Her boss might not be forthcoming about the financial health of the company, but it was obvious that they weren't being booked as much as they used to. Competition was tough. Only last year three new agencies had started, and they'd been gradually seizing clients from them.

As Rachelle left the bathroom, her eyes downcast, she was straightening her blouse when she suddenly bumped into a brick wall. Stumbling, she swung her arms in the air, trying to remain upright until a pair of hands landed on top of her shoulders and helped her regain her balance. Sighing in relief, she clasped a hand across her wildly beating heart and looked up.

Her breathing staggered. "You, again," she gasped, her tone accusatory.

The cocky bastard smirked. "Good evening, Rachelle."

Thinking the man would leave her alone if she ignored his texts, Rachelle had decided to keep Ethan at bay by making sure he wasn't able to contact her. Clearly, her plan had not worked. Fate just couldn't seem to keep them apart. "What are you even doing here?"Somehow he always appeared where she least expected him.

The man chuckled. "Me?" he asked. "I'm the owner, darling." What? Exactly how many companies did the man own?

Her eyes turned to slits. "You deliberately hired the event agency I work at, so I'd be here tonight?" she presumed, taking a wild guess. It would solve the mystery behind the agency being hired for a corporate event.

"That's very presumptuous of you," Ethan grinned.

She cocked an eyebrow in question. "Is it wrong?"

"No, I did hire the agency because I hoped it would bring you on my path again."

Oh my god. "That's very stalker-ish of you." Rachelle didn't know whether to feel flattered or scared shitless that he'd go that far in trying to get into contact with her.

Again, the man just chuckled, his eyes running up and down her body in appreciation. "I'd call it adamant."

"Why are you being so damn insistent?" She didn't get it. Why on earth she'd caught the eye of a rich, arrogant guy, she would never understand. The man could have anyone he wanted, yet he continued trying to persuade her.

Ethan leaned closer, making Rachelle take a step back, her back now pressed against the closed bathroom door. "Isn't that obvious?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, "I want to fuck you."

Caught off guard by his bluntness, Rachelle's jaw dropped and her eyes widened. He...she...he... What the hell?

Shaking his head, Ethan's grin widened. "You seem surprised."