The Devil in a Suit
Description
High school was a nightmare I've spent years trying to forget. Between Ethan Drake-the golden boy with a mean streak-and Clara Hastings, his equally insufferable sidekick, I was their favorite target. They thought they'd crushed me. Spoiler alert: they didn't.Fast forward a few years, and I've graduated college with a shiny degree, a mountain of debt, and a job interview that could change everything. The catch? The CEO is Ethan Drake. Yes, that Ethan Drake. He's older now, sharper, and still has that infuriating smirk that screams, I own the world-and maybe you, too.I told myself I could handle it. Then came the late nights, the impossible tasks, and, oh yeah, the surprise kiss that left me rethinking everything. Just as I'm figuring out how to navigate the tension between us, Clara storms back into the picture with news that's so ridiculous it could only happen in my life: her family's arranged for her to marry Ethan. If they don't, their fortunes-and apparently his company-are toast.They say revenge is a dish best served cold-but with Ethan Drake, it's served with a side of chaos, tension, and a whole lot of heat.
Chapter 1
Mar 28, 2025
I shouldn’t have stayed late. Zara’s voice echoed in my head: “Deadlines don’t matter if you’re dead.” She’d been joking, but the pit in my stomach told me her words might not have been far off.
I kept my head down, clutching my worn-out books like they were a shield. The lockers stretched endlessly on either side, their metallic sheen almost mocking my attempt to pass through unnoticed. My sneakers squeaked against the polished floor with every hurried step.
“Oi, Winters!”
The voice slithered through the air like a snake, sharp and cold. My heart stopped. Ethan Drake.
Don’t look. Don’t stop. Just keep walking.
I quickened my pace, gripping my books tighter. My heart pounded like a drum, every beat screaming at me to run.
“Winters!” His voice came again, sharper this time, and I heard the click of heels behind me. My stomach twisted.
“Oh, looks like someone’s trying to make a quick escape,” another voice chimed in, sing-song and laced with venom. Clara Hastings.
I barely had time to register the danger before a strong hand clamped around my arm, yanking me backward. My books tumbled to the floor, the dull thud echoing in the emptiness. Cold metal pressed against my back as Ethan pinned me to the lockers, his smirk cutting through me like a dagger.
“Well, well,” Ethan drawled, his gray eyes gleaming with mock amusement. “What’s the rush, Ugly Duckling? Got a hot date with your textbooks?”
Clara appeared beside him, leaning casually against the lockers. She tilted her head, her perfect ponytail swinging as she tapped her manicured nails against the metal. “Or maybe she’s just avoiding us,” she said, her lips curling into a cruel smile. “Can’t say I blame her. I mean, if I had her face, I’d be avoiding people too.”
My throat tightened, but I swallowed the lump forming there, willing my voice not to shake. “Leave me alone,” I said, forcing the words out even as my heart screamed at me to run.
Ethan’s smirk widened. His hand pressed just slightly harder on my shoulder, his grip firm but not painful—yet. “Leave you alone?” he repeated, his tone mockingly incredulous. “Come on, Winters. What would I do with my free time if I didn’t remind you of your place?”
My place. The words felt like a punch to my stomach. My cheeks flushed, but I wouldn't let him see me cry. Not today. Not ever. I raised my chin, struggling to keep my voice steady. "I don't have time for this," I said, each word a challenge.
Ethan tilted his head, pretending to consider it. "Oh, but you'll have all the time you need for me in the future," he said, his voice low and condescending. "You'll need it, since you'll be working under me someday. Cleaning my office, getting my coffee—maybe I'll even let you polish my shoes if you're lucky."
Clara’s laugh rang out, sharp and grating. “That’s generous of you, Ethan,” she said, smirking as she looked me up and down. “She’d have to work hard to even earn the privilege of scrubbing floors.”
The heat in my cheeks flared hotter. My fists clenched at my sides as I fought to keep the tears at bay. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction. “I’d rather starve,” I bit out, my voice trembling with barely suppressed fury.
Ethan leaned in closer, his cologne wafting over me. It was sharp and expensive, and it made my stomach churn. “Careful what you wish for, Ugly,” he murmured, his voice soft and taunting. “Starving’s a lot less glamorous than it sounds.”
My jaw tightened, my nails digging into my palms as Ethan finally stepped back, his grin still firmly in place. Clara nudged one of my fallen books with the toe of her designer shoe, sending it skittering farther down the hallway.
“You should really work on that attitude, Maeve,” she said, her voice syrupy sweet. “Smiling more might make you less… forgettable.”
Ethan chuckled, turning on his heel. “Come on, Clara,” he said over his shoulder, his tone dripping with satisfaction. “Let’s leave the Ugly Duckling to waddle home.”
The Devil in a Suit
10 Chapters
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