Chapter 8 The Ex!

"We can go to the office together," Ethan said coldly during breakfast.

Michelle shot him a glance, but he didn't meet her gaze. He acted so distant; face grim and silent. He was like a kid ready to throw a pit at one touch or a rabid animal ready to snarl if someone tried to joke around.

Michelle shook her head. Just because she questioned him about the secret room last night, he became aloof from her, as if bringing up that room was taboo.

"I will take a cab," she replied dryly and sipped on her coffee.

She waited to see Ethan's reaction to her response, but all she got was a nod.

"We shouldn't go to office together since I want this relationship to be a secret in the office," she added.

He glanced over at her for a second and then sipped on his coffee.

"I'm not forgetting that."

"Cool." Michelle couldn't hide her smirk. It was only twenty-four hours since they got married, yet she already liked having a cold war with him. It made the morning less dramatic, and she looked forward to having a peaceful day ahead.

After breakfast, Ethan was the first to leave the house. Michelle's gaze followed his car driving away with satisfaction painted on her face. She liked that he didn't speak with him, and she hoped that her coldness would continue for as long as possible.

After less than an hour of commuting going to the office, Michelle was welcomed by the heavy stares of the employees she walked past. She inhaled sharply and ignored them, even though some had the audacity to talk about her behind her back.

"She's the daughter of the old man who made a commotion in the lobby the other day..."

"The one who was saved by the CEO? So lucky of her!"

"Well, her father is a mess, though."

Michelle fought the urge to confront the two ladies talking behind her in the elevator. The last thing she'd ever wanted to happen was to engage herself in an argument that would only make her even worse in the eyes of many.

In addition, her life has totally changed now. She married the CEO, and her every bad move could cause their secret to unfold.

***

She stormed into the comfort room after the project meeting she attended with her husband-boss. It took two hours before the meeting ended, and her stomach rumbled for some reason.

After doing her thing inside the toilet, she finally went out to wash her hands and touch up her makeup. She was applying a pink gloss on her lips when she noticed a very sophisticated woman wearing red business attire and black aviator shades who went out of one of the cubicles.

Michelle was stunned for a moment, thinking how gorgeous the woman was, compared to herself, who was very ordinary. A batch of female employees went out of the comfort room, and the two of them were left alone.

The woman glanced at her in the mirror, and it startled her. She continued what she was doing and put her lipstick and compact makeup into her bag. She was about to go when the woman spoke.

"You must be Michelle Finley." Her voice was so heavenly and soft that Michelle almost didn't hear what she said.

"Excuse me. Are you... talking to me?" she asked politely after turning to her.

"Yes." She spun around, removing her aviator shades.

Michelle was in awe. It was like she was seeing a goddess in front of her.

"Michelle Finley, is that right?"

Michelle nodded, though it confused her why the woman knew her name. She was certain they'd never met before, and she'd never seen such beauty in the company.

"That's correct," she answered, carefully.

"Well..." The woman folded her arms against her chest and looked at her from head to toe.

She cleared her throat, and spoke, "D-Do I know you?"

"No. But I do know you," the woman answered meaningfully, raising her eyebrow. "You are the woman Ethan married."

Michelle's eyes widened. Her body tensed up immediately and the cold feeling of getting caught engulfed her. She didn't expect anyone to find out about her relationship with the company's CEO. It was supposed to be a secret!

"H-How did you know about it?" she asked, her voice sounding worried.

"Ethan can never hide anything from me," said the woman, who then shot her a glare. "I know that you only married him for money. I can't help but feel disgusted by a woman like you. You're a gold digger!"

Michelle stepped back. A pang of pain went through her. Sure, the words of this woman affected her to the core, but she didn't know the real deal between her and Ethan. Thus, she had no right to speak ill of her.

"I-I apologize, but whatever the reason for my and Ethan's marriage, it is already a matter between the two of us. I don't even know you-"

"Oh, right!" The woman sarcastically laughed. "I haven't introduced myself. I apologize. My name is Ashley, and I am Ethan's ex-girlfriend."

Michelle gasped. Never in her entire life had she expected to meet Ethan's past lover, let alone have an argument with her inside the comfort room.

"And let me tell you this..." She walked towards Michelle and cornered her against the wall. "You think Ethan saved your ass by paying your father's debt, huh?"

Michelle frowned, and in the back of her mind, she was cursing already.

"What do you mean by that?" She couldn't stop herself from asking. "What exactly do you know?"

"Poor, Michelle. I bet you are thinking that Ethan is your knight in shining armor that saved you from paying your father's debt. But the truth is, he set it all up, sweetheart! That was just a scheme he made to get you!"

"No, that's not true," Michelle said through her gritted teeth, but the woman smirked at her. "You're lying!"

"Why would I lie? Tell me!"

She remained speechless and totally confused about what the woman was telling her. Why did it feel like this stranger knew something she herself didn't know? Her heart was thumping loud and fast inside her chest. She swallowed so hard while looking at her carefully.

"I don't really know what you are talking about," she said, taking a deep breath.

The woman grinned, and it was followed by a devilish laugh that made Michelle tremble both in worry and confusion.

"Listen carefully. Ethan knows that your father is addicted to gambling!" She exclaimed and grabbed Michelle's chin.

Michelle could only whimper. She tried to remove the woman's hand from her but she gripped her chin tightly.

"He contacted someone to entice your father to borrow a huge amount of money from a certain person in the casino, and when everything fell according to his plan, he offered you a deal. He would pay your father's debt, but in return, you have to marry him," the woman elaborated, her jaw clenching firmly. "Why do you think he did all that?"

"Please get away from me. It hurts-"

"That's because he wants to use you!" The woman screamed it in her face. "He wants you to become his object... his slave! And you fell for his fucking trap like a mouse starving for food!"

Michelle was on the verge of tearing up. Her chest tightened as she heard those things that the woman told her. She recalled the secret room with Ethan, which made her feel the shivers crawling down her spine.

Could it be that the woman was right?

Was he going to use her to fulfill his needs?

Was he going to force her to become his sex slave?

How dare he manipulate her?

Those thoughts made the tears form on the sides of her eyes. She continued to remove the woman's hand off of her chin and after several attempts; she was able to do so. With her knees shaking, she stepped back from her.

Her tears started falling as she looked at the woman angrily.

"You have no right to hurt me that way," she said, her voice trembling.

The woman shrugged casually, as if she hadn't done anything bad.

"I just wanted to make sure that I voiced my concern right and you'd hear it."

"What the hell?" Michelle whispered angrily, and still couldn't believe that this woman acted so crazy because of Ethan Steinfield.

"But bear in mind that I'm telling you the truth." Her face turned grim. "You're just one of those women who were easily tricked, and believe me... Ethan will fuck your life the way you never expected. And I assure you that you're not going to like it." She took two steps forward. "Let this be a warning to you. Escape while you can."