Chapter Twenty-two

In the heart of the city, in the once-familiar office that now belonged to Brooke, she paced frantically, her phone pressed to her ear, her mind racing.

"Bella, Mae's back."

There was a pause, followed by a sharp intake of breath on the other end.

"What do you mean she's back?!"

Brooke exhaled shakily, trying to steady her nerves. "I don't know how, but she found out everything. She's the new CEO now, and she owns more shares than any of us."

A sharp, angry voice snapped from the phone. "How could you let that happen?!"

"I covered my tracks, I swear! I have no idea how she uncovered all of it!"

"Did she find out you were the one who did it?" came the cold question.

"No. Not yet." Brooke's voice faltered, her fear palpable.

"Well, did she find out anything else?"

"No. If she did, she would've gone straight to the board," Brooke replied, though doubt crept into her mind as she heard the faintest sound of a knock at the door. Her heart skipped a beat.

"Hold on a second," Brooke whispered into the phone, before calling out. "Come in."

The door creaked open, and there she was—Mae. The woman who haunted Brooke's every thought.

"Did you miss me?" Mae's half-smile was so chilling, Brooke froze, unable to speak for a long moment.

"M-Mae?" Brooke stammered.

"Sorry it took me so long to come say hi," Mae said, walking into the room with deliberate slowness, her every step sending a shiver through Brooke's spine.

Brooke's hand tightened around the phone in her grasp, her pulse thundering in her ears.

"Brooke, what's going on?" Bella's voice crackled through the phone, sounding distant and confused.

"Stay back," Brooke hissed, her voice thin with panic, but she couldn't move—her feet felt like they were glued to the floor.

"I'm not going to hurt you... not yet," Mae said, her voice smooth and dangerous, before she snatched Brooke's phone from her hand and set it on speaker. "Hey, bestie, it's been a while."

The blood drained from Brooke's face. "Mae, what are you doing with Brooke's phone?"

"Is this how you greet your best friend, Bella?" Mae purred, her gaze fixed on Brooke with a quiet intensity.

"We're not best friends, Mae," Bella shot back.

"Oh, are you still mad at me for kicking you out of my life?" Mae teased, raising an eyebrow.

"I never wanted to be in your life. You did me a huge favor by cutting me off," Bella retorted, her voice cold.

"You say that, but here you are, trying so hard to ruin my family," Mae's voice dripped with sarcasm.

"I want to ruin you, not them," Bella replied fiercely.

Mae's smile grew colder. "No matter what you do, Bella, you'll never be able to ruin me."

"Want to bet?"

"You don't have anything that's priceless left to offer."

"I have your husband."

"Oh, you mean Ethan? Bella, you're just the mistress, while I'm his wife, and honestly— that's all that matters."

"You're okay with Ethan cheating on you?"

"Don't think for a moment that you took Ethan away from me. Honestly, I gave him to you. I want you to know what you can never have, no matter what you do."

"You're just acting tough," Bella scoffed.

"Have fun while you can, Bella. Once I decide I want him back, he won't be coming back to you."

"He is not going back to you, I'll make sure of that."

"Are you challenging me?"

"Yes."

"I hope you won't regret it later."

"You're the one who's going to regret it."

"Challenge accepted, best friend."

"Keep my family out of this game, or next time, one of your family members will pay the price," Mae said, her voice cold as she ended the call and flashed a chilling smirk at Brooke.

"Mae, I'm really sorry," Brooke stammered.

"Brooke, didn't you learn anything about me from high school?" Mae's tone was sharp as she picked up a glass from the center table and slammed it to the floor, sending shards skittering across the room.

"Stop!" Brooke shrieked as Mae bent down, picking up a jagged piece of glass.

"How dare you?" Mae hissed, pressing the tip against Brooke's neck, lifting her chin with a smirk. "What did I tell you the last time you tried to hurt my family?"

"Mae, I'm really sorry," Brooke whimpered.

"Now you're going to stay and keep working for my family. I'm going to ruin you, and I won't stop until you're begging for an end. And even then, you won't get it," Mae said, releasing the glass with a casual flick of her wrist, a sharp piece cutting into her palm.

"Mae, you're bleeding," Brooke blurted, eyes wide with concern.

"That should be the least of your worries right now. I hope you can put on quite a show," Mae said, casually discarding Brooke's phone, stomping it under her heel with a satisfying crunch. "If you don't behave, you'll end up just like this phone," she added with a sinister smirk.

"I'll behave," Brooke promised, desperation threading through her voice.

"I love how easily you understand me. I'll take my leave now. See you tomorrow," Mae said, her voice dripping with malice as she strolled out, leaving Brooke hunched on the floor, shaking with fear.

Brooke's legs buckled as Mae exited the room. Alone, Brooke collapsed to the floor, her hands shaking violently. The terror settled deep within her, a familiar feeling, one she had long hoped to forget. She had stepped on the snake's tail again, and now, she would pay the price. Mae was relentless—no mercy for those who crossed her. It felt like high school all over again.

"It's going to be okay, Brooke. It's going to be okay," she whispered to herself, though even she didn't believe the words as she rocked herself on the floor, trying to calm her panic.

The next day, Mae returned to RX Hotels, and her presence was nothing short of a spectacle. The staff and guests alike greeted her like a long-lost celebrity, and a welcome-back party was thrown in her honor.

That Friday, at 5 p.m., Mae sat with Mark at their usual spot by the glass case in Val's Desserts. A slice of chocolate cake sat in front of her, only half-eaten. Mark's red velvet cake was untouched, as they talked through mouthfuls of cake.

"Mark, if I keep hanging out with you, you'll be the death of me," Mae teased, shaking her head.

Mark chuckled. "Don't worry, I'll help you burn off all that cake."

Mae rolled her eyes. "I don't want to get fat. If I get fat, I'll become ugly."

"Well, that's already a lost cause," Mark shot back, smirking.

Mae raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable. "Are you calling me ugly?"

"Not at all. You're beautiful, Mae," Mark said sincerely.

"Stop flattering me," Mae replied, though a small smile tugged at her lips.

"I heard you're back to work?" Mark asked, picking up his fork.

Mae nodded, her expression turning thoughtful. "Yeah, my family needed me back. Plus... I missed it."

Mark raised an eyebrow. "Missed what? The office? The staff?"

Mae's lips twisted into a smirk. "No, I missed the way people would tremble when I walked into a room."

Mark blinked. "Really?"

"It was like a superpower," she replied with a wistful sigh.

"You're crazy," Mark muttered, shaking his head.

Mae shrugged nonchalantly. "Maybe. But it feels good to remind people who's in charge."

"And Ethan?" Mark prodded, his voice laced with curiosity.

Mae's smile faltered for a second, but she quickly recovered. "He's okay with it. Even though he won't admit it, he likes seeing that side of me again."

"You both have your own version of crazy, don't you?"

"I guess so," Mae said, a small, rueful smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

"But is everything okay between you two?" Mark pressed, concern edging his voice.

Mae sighed, her mood shifting. "I don't know anymore, Mark. I think... I think we're drifting apart."

"Are you two having problems?"

Mae bit her lip, her eyes distant. "Am I crazy for saying I love him?"

Mark blinked in surprise. "No, not at all. He's your husband."

"I'm not so sure about that," Mae whispered. "It's like we're just two people coexisting in the same space. But I want more, I need more."

Mark leaned in, his voice serious. "Then you need to tell him."

"I don't think it's that simple."

---

The following week marked Mae's fifth month at RX, a milestone that shimmered with both promise and apprehension. Bella, trying to keep her composure, confided in Shaun about Brooke's slip-up, and schemes twisted in the air as they plotted to separate Ethan and Mae before they combined their shares. Bella's underhanded plan involved drugging Ethan—a deceptive scheme that thrummed dangerously close to chaos.

A week later,

At RX hotels in the reception

Ethan walks through the revolving door and Becca immediately rushes to meet him.

"Mr. Ethan! Have you seen Mae?" she fluttered over, her irritation clear. 

"Isn't she here yet?" he asked, scanning the lobby.

"No, she's going to miss the meeting. I've tried calling, but no answer."

"Tell Mr. Wilson that something's come up. I'll look for Mae," Ethan said, urgency propelling him forward.

Meanwhile, Mae lay unconscious in her apartment, the air thick with a weighty silence as Ethan burst through the door, heart pounding in his chest.

"Mae! Are you okay? What happened?" His voice broke through the stillness as he cradled her in his arms, panic seizing him when he felt the pulse beneath her skin. She was alive, but slipping away, and he quickly scooped her up, carrying her to safety.

---

Thirty minutes later, he strode into the board room, arms crossed as if trying to shield himself from the collective gaze.

"Mae had a nasty fall and won't be able to make it," he announced while the room buzzed with murmurs.

"Mae fell? What did she…?" Caleb started, his concern palpable.

"She took a tumble down the stairs," Ethan replied, hoping to quell rising tension.

"How is she?" Caleb pressed.

"The doctor says she'll be fine," Ethan reassured, though inside he was a tempest of worry.

"Let's focus on the meeting, and then we can check on her later," Alex suggested, deftly steering the conversation back to business.

After the meeting concluded, Caleb, Ethan, and Alex made a beeline for the hospital to see Mae. Mae has a hard time hiding the fact that she is pregnant from them especially when her father asked the doctor about her condition. Lucky for her Ethan was able to save the day by telling the doctor they wanted to give their parents the good news themselves.

Later, as Mae recuperated in the hospital, Ethan made himself comfortable at her side, extending a refuge from the chaos outside.

The following day Mae gets discharged from the hospital and Ethan takes her home.

At Ethan's apartment

Mae and Ethan walk into the living room and Mae sits on the couch.

"Do you want something to eat?" he asked gently.

"I'm fine. You can leave," she replied, shrugging off the concern in a tone far sharper than intended.

"Mae, I'm not doing this with you today," he responded, his patience beginning to wear thin.

"Ethan, please just go. Your presence makes me sick," she admitted, words tumbling out before she could take them back.

"Someone needs to be here. You can't stay alone," he replied, stubbornness igniting in him.

"I've managed just fine," she countered, bitterly.

"Sure, you did splendidly yesterday," he retorted, the heat between them rising.

"Ethan—"

"Do you even grasp what might have occurred if I hadn't found you yesterday?"

"I would have lost the baby, and everyone would have been happy. It would have been for the best because we're both better off without one another," she snapped.

"Is this truly how you feel?"

"I do not need you saving me every time like I'm some damsel in distress. I can take care of myself and the babies. I don't need your pity," she shot back.

Yet beneath her bravado, vulnerability flickered in her eyes.

"Anything else you'd like to add?" he pressed.

"Ethan, please just leave. If you do, it'll make things easier for me," she said, her fortitude wavering.

"How does that make things easier for you?" he pressed, frustrated.

"It makes it easier to forget you! I don't want you showing up. You being here just makes it so damn hard to forget you," she faltered, tears pooling in her eyes.

"Why would you want to forget me?" he countered, a flicker of hurt weaving through his voice.

"Because I'm starting to fall in love with you!" she exclaimed, breath catching as the truth hung raw and exposed in the air.

Shock coursed through Ethan, a flood of disbelief washing over him as he swallowed hard, eyes wide.

"I'm so sorry, Ethan. I didn't mean to fall in love with you. I just can't control my heart," she said, nervousness threading through her words.

"You're in love with me?" he asked, his voice trembling.

"Yes, I'm so sorry," she admitted, stepping closer to him.

"When did this happen?" he asked, backing away slightly as he swallowed hard, the tension palpable.

"I don't know. Just… recently."

"What about our rules?" His voice remained calm, though turmoil roared within him.

"I don't need you to love me back. I just need your help to forget you."

"Do you genuinely wish to forget me that much?"

"Why love someone who can't love you back?"

"And who said I don't love you?" he challenged, stepping closer, heart racing.

"You cannot possibly love me, Ethan. You can barely stand me. You feel nothing but hatred for me," she insisted, but Ethan grasped her hand, his expression serious.

"Does this feel like hatred?" he asked, placing her hand on his chest. Mae could hear his heartbeat, fast and erratic, heightening her awareness of their proximity.

"Ethan, I—" she stammered, her gaze darting away before he firmly turned her face towards him.

"I don't love Bella, and I never will because I love someone else," he confessed, leaning closer until their lips finally met.

In that moment, everything shifted. The air around them thickened, the world and all its noise fading away as their lips brushed, tentative at first, explosive in its passion as they fell into each other's orbit.

The kiss enveloped them—intense, filled with unspoken feelings and unyielding longing. Mae's head spun; she'd never expected this moment, never thought that the walls around her heart could come crumbling down so quickly.

Resignation washed over Ethan as he struggled against the nagging doubts in his mind. He found himself unable to separate his feelings for Mae from their complicated past as they kissed passionately, lost to the world around them.

When they finally pulled apart, the air remained charged with unspoken words and unacknowledged feelings. "Would you like me to get you anything?" Ethan murmured, shattering the silence.

"Not hungry," Mae whispered, head spinning as she stared at the floor.

"I'll be in the room if you need me," he said softly, leaving her alone with thoughts that spun wildly past the ever-expanding uncertainty.

Once he was gone, Mae's heart raced, her mind buzzing with the kiss and the implications swirling around it. What had she done? Did she just put everything at risk with one reckless moment under the weight of emotions?

As she slumped back onto the couch, she let out a sigh, trying to process the whirlwind it had stirred inside of her. "Maybe listening to Mark was a bad idea," she murmured, panic threading through her—nervous and excited, her heart echoed back to the world ahead, one tangled with love, obsession, and threats yet to come.