Hot Coffee (The Hollens)
Chapter 49 (Snakes)

Emma's POV

Ethan had to attend his company's formal dinner and, as his fiancee, I had to accompany him. I had moved back into his mansion, putting the past behind us and falling in love all over again. I quit the receptionist job and was making plans on starting my own business venture. Ethan said he'd support in every way. I was relying on him for that.

We dressed together, he wore a sharp black Armani and I wore a long black lace dress from Torick's. We looked absolutely adorable together. As we descended the stairs the household staff cheered and clapped for us as if we were royalty. Well, we kinda were, my arm wrenched in his.

He opened the door for me to his black Bentley. I sat down comfortably as he got into the driver's seat and started the car.

"You look so damn beautiful tonight," he said and planted a kiss on my lips.

"And you look so handsome right now."

He gave a smirk and drove out of the garage.

We arrived at an elegant restaurant. I must hand it to Ethan, he loved elegant places and things. The place was amazing, both exterior and interior, and tonight was specially arranged for only us and his higher ups- his CFO, COO, general managers and assistant managers.

I was somewhat happy, yet uncomfortable. I wanted to bond with his people but, at the same time, I wasn't like them.

What if they're rude to me?

How would I react to rude and shady comments? I didn't want to embarrass Ethan at all.

"Are you okay?" he asked, shaking me from my crazy thoughts.

"Yes, I'm fine."

"You look nervous. Baby, there's nothing to be nervous about. Remember who's the boss here," he teased and took my arm in his and led me to a huge table where some smiling faces were already waiting. They stood up as we got to the table.

"Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Hollen," a familiar looking woman greeted.

I remembered her from when I went for the interview; she was the secretary and his personal assistant.

"Good evening," I replied with a huge smile.

Ethan nodded his head and suggested for them to sit. He sat at the head table and I sat down besides him, on his right. There was one more unoccupied seat on his left. I wondered who would be sitting there. That person must have a very high position in his company.

Dinner was served and everyone began eating. The conversation being held was regarding how to launch another company. I was relaxed when we took turns giving our opinions and ideas. Laughter was shared and the atmosphere between everyone was very friendly and welcoming. Until...

"I see you all have started without me," a voice belonging to a very seductive looking woman said.

She wore a very tight red dress, enough cleavage for me and her, red lipstick, and her hair was styled in a high bun. She looked powerful but sort of slutty with that dress. It was also too short.

She sat down on Ethan's left.

I locked my eyes with hers and she smirked.

"Don't you know it's seven?" someone asked her, without intimidation.

"I was stuck in traffic," she replied, taking a small mirror from her purse and reapplying her lipstick.

"Smudge it on the way here, Linda?" the personal assistant asked.

Oh, so this is Linda.

I recalled her face, also. I was with her in the elevator when I went for the interview. Linda Steele, COO of Hollen Tower. She really did hold a great position. She could basically run the company by herself if Ethan had to travel or just couldn't come in.

"I'll tell you where and what I smudged it on," Linda snapped back rudely.

Ethan cleared his throat and everyone grew silent.

It was amazing how they feared and were friendly with him at the same time.

"Boss, you were telling me last week that there was a proposition in," a guy began, but Linda cut him off.

"Any proposition the company has comes through me, Daniel, not you. That's above your pay grade. That's why Ethan'd got me," she said rudely, making me look at her with awe.

She'd just said Ethan's name without title. Everyone else was calling him "boss" or "Mr. Hollen". She was making me suspicious.

"Why are you even speaking?" another guy asked her.

"Shut up, Herbert. Why are you even here?" she snapped and began eating.

I looked at Ethan thinking he'd better control her. She was speaking too vily to her coworkers.

He was eating as if he hadn't heard the rude remarks she was making to the others.

"Oh, hello. I believe your name is Emma. The fiancee," she said, dragging out the last word as if it was the worse thing.

"Mrs. Hollen," Daniel corrected.

"Danny-boy, she's not married to Ethan as of yet. Therefore, she's not entitled to his surname."

I was reaching my breaking point but managed to throw a fake smile at her. I wasn't about to let her shake me.

Ethan was glaring at her now. She flashed him a wink and continued eating.

There is definitely something wrong here.

"Is there something I should know here?" I spoke up, folding my arms over my chest and looking at Ethan.

He gazed up at me. "Umm, no," he answered.

"Well, how exactly did you know what I want to clarify?"

"What?" Linda asked, looking puzzled by my question.

"What? Don't you hear clearly? You're the COO, part of your job should be attentive listening. Besides, I wasn't speaking to you," I said, trying my best to remain calm, but I had had it with her. "Emma, calm down," Ethan said, leaning in to take my hands in his, but I pushed them away.

"I am calm."

"Oh this one is feisty. Like I said, you know how to pick them, Ethan," she said with a laugh.

My blood boiled. I directed my question to her since she wanted to be the center of attention. "When exactly did you tell him that?"

She remained silent when she saw the look on my face.

"Okay, everyone, just stop it! Can we have a peaceful dinner without any conflicts?" the personal assistant asked, holding up her hands.

I sipped on my glass of water and continued eating.

"Ethan, remember when we were in Paris and we went to dinner at that restaurant? I believe this is the same food they just served us. Remember that, and then we went to-?"

He cut her off. "Linda, why did I even invite you here?"

"Why wouldn't you?" I asked. He opened his mouth to begin but I immediately shut him off. "You two think I don't see what's going on here? She's here calling you by your first name and being rude to everyone like she has more power than you."

"Emma, that's not what-"

"Shut up, Ethan. Was it hers?" I asked him.

He should know damn well what I was asking about.

He pulled me on my feet and moved us to a far end of the restaurant, away from everyone.

"Emma, I need you to forget about Linda's crazy remarks and focus on me and the others."

"I asked you a question at the table and I demand an answer."

"The answer to what?"

"Was the red lace underwear hers?"

"Emma, are you really asking me that here, and in front of the others?"

"Answer my question!"

"Emma, nothing happened between us like what you're thinking."

"So it was hers. Oh my..." I held my chest. I felt like if my heart was dropping to the floor.

"Okay, Emma. I'll tell you the truth because you're my fiancee and I shouldn't be hiding anything from you. Here's the truth. After the miscarriage, I was a wreck, okay. I looked at it as your fault so I pushed you away. Then, one day at work, my best friend, Martin, came over and we went to lunch then headed back to my office. I told him about my problems and we started drinking. We drank an entire bottle of Hennessy and, obviously, I got drunk. Linda came into my office and, I think, I began to dance with her. Martin left us alone. I kissed Linda and we made out on my desk, but I didn't have sex with her. She must have taken off her panties and stuck them in my jacket when I wasn't looking."

"What kind of babbling bullshit is this?"

"Emma, that's the truth. We didn't have sex."

"That still doesn't make it okay. You had your mouth on another woman and y'all made out in your office. Of course she's going to think there's something still going because you still have her around. Why is she even here after that happened?"

"Because I didn't want to raise any red flags."

"Red flags, my ass. Sometimes I wonder if you really are ready for a family, or if you're in this to feed some kind of ego."

"Baby, look at all the obstacles we overcame and I'm still here with you. I could have married Sharon, regardless of how much money she tried to steal from me. But here I am with you, Emma. I love you." "Did it only happen once or she did she come on to you again?"

He raked his fingers through his shiny hair. "No. She tried to come onto me in my office last Saturday but I refused her. She bashed your name and I suspended her for a week. I came directly home to you afterwards."

The truth of it was in his eyes. I read those things like my favorite books, and they told me he was telling the truth because they were sparkling. If he were lying to my face they would appear cold and dark.

I hugged him, rubbing his back. I wasn't about to let him go again for that whore at the table. I looked over in her direction; she was looking back at us with such hate.

I giggled to myself. What you're trying to do won't work Linda, he's mine. Mine! Do you see this? I flashed my engagement ring finger at her. She gave a scoff and turned back to the table.

"This woman is going to be problems. I want her gone," I told him.

"Yeah, but what if she goes to the press and spreads rumors and—"

I didn't let him finish. "Baby, it's me and you against the world. I don't care about any rumors and neither should you. She's bad for your company and she'll always try to have her way with you, just look at the way she talks to the others. I want her gone."

He kissed my forehead before we walked back to the table.

"Linda, you're fired," he said, causing her to choke on her chicken.

"You can't fire me!" she yelled, after flushing her throat with water.

"He just did. And if you ever try to come between us, you'll have me to deal with and, believe me, you won't want that!" I snapped.

She stood and hightailed it out of the restaurant.

Sharon's POV

I was rather surprised that Emma wasn't a soft fragile little thing anymore. The way she made that woman turn on her heels, it was priceless. I watched the whole thing go down- live entertainment. I would enjoy getting rid of her even more this time around.000000