Chapter 22

Ethan hadn't let up at all since he'd blackmailed me, but he'd also noticed that Dash and I hadn't been seen together again, so he hadn't released the pictures yet. On the other hand, he was still calling me every day, and if I didn't answer, he wasted no time reminding me what was at stake.

I'd had enough, though.

Of both of them.

After what had happened with Dash earlier, I was done with him too. Finished and done. In fact, the way I felt right now, I was done with men in general.

They were far more trouble than they were worth.

Brooding in my office, I was facing the window and glaring down at the streets below. At least Dash and I had managed to finalize the bar arrangements for the wedding after he'd left. It turned out we were more effective via email now than we were in person.

It was darn sad, really. Just two weeks ago, I'd thought we had something real but apparently not. Apparently, we couldn't even have a simple conversation anymore. Asshole. Hadn't even heard me out.

I was still mentally ranting about it when my phone rang. Twisting to grab it, I arched an eyebrow when I saw Ethan's name on the screen. Oh, you picked the wrong moment, buddy.

My office door was closed and it was the end of the day, so I doubted anyone was about to interrupt or overhear me. I picked up, gripping my phone so hard, I wondered if it might crack.

"Hello, sweetheart," he crooned over the line. "Are you ready to give in yet?"

Not even a quick, "how are you?" Nothing. And yet, you want me to believe you love me and that it will be better this time around. Bullshit. Bullshit. Bullshit.

I'd been planning on letting him have it as soon as his name had come up on my screen, but instead of just letting him have it, I lost it completely. "Go to hell, Ethan. I refuse to let you intimidate me anymore. If you want to release those pictures, then go ahead and do it, you piece of shit. I'll either sink or swim, but at least I'll be doing it on my own terms."

There was a brief pause. "You're going to regret this, Serenity. Are you sure you don't want to take it back?"

"Fuck off!" I said and hung up on him.

Way beyond caring about his threats, all I wanted was to be rid of him for good. I couldn't talk to him for one more day, and at least now, I wouldn't have to.

Almost as soon as I ended the call, Julie came in. She and I had made up the day after our little spat and I beamed at her, knowing she'd be proud of me for finally standing up for myself. "I did it. I told him to fuck off."

"Who? Ethan or Dash?"

"Ethan," I said, then sighed. "Dash basically told me to fuck off, though. I guess it's just one of those days."

"It's for the best," she said gently, coming over to give me a hug. "I'm sorry I couldn't be here for your meeting with Dash. I tried, but the guy from Manning Meats just wouldn't stop talking."

I chuckled even though it felt like my heart was breaking all over again. "That's okay. I'm actually pretty glad you weren't here for it, and besides, it's better that you met with a vendor we actually need rather than a client I can't wait to be rid of."

"I still wish I had been here for you," she said as she held me tight. "At least it's over now, right?"

"Right," I agreed as I let go of her. "All the men in my life just decided to go crazy at the same time, it seems. Dash even accused me of trying to get media attention by trying to turn the situation between me, him, and Ethan into a love triangle. He thinks I have a show or something coming up or that I'm simply trying to stay relevant."

"That's insane." She pulled a face at me. "Where the hell did he get that from?"

"God knows." I shrugged as I headed back to my desk to pack up my things. "All I know is that I'm ready to forget about both of them. Want to help me?"

"Are you suggesting a movie night with lots of junk food and cheap wine?"

I smiled. "It's like you can read my mind."

"I'll see you at your place in about an hour?"

"That sounds great." I slid my phone and keys into my purse and headed out. Julie and I both went our own separate ways to pick up our favorite junk food before we regrouped at my apartment.

Relieved that she was on her way, I did my shopping, looking forward to a night of relaxing and unwinding. I could really use it. It had been months since Julie and I had gotten around to something like this.

Especially this week though, it would be the perfect distraction. Outside of the insane men in my life, Diana's wedding was only one month away and I was extremely stressed about it. It was the first real high-profile wedding I had handled personally, and if it was a flop, I was toast.

If Ethan released those pictures and Diana's wedding was a fiasco, I wasn't just toast. I was burned-to-a-crisp, shatter-when-you-try-to-butter-it toast.

I let out a long breath before I filled my lungs with oxygen once more. Despite how I'd spoken to Ethan, I really was worried about what would happen if he released those pictures. I knew I couldn't stop it now and I also knew that I'd never really had the power to, but not knowing when the bomb was going to drop sucked.

By the time I walked into my apartment, I was even readier than I had been before to kick back, relax, and forget about absolutely everything. Julie arrived just after I had, blowing into the penthouse with bulging bags that she rushed to the kitchen.

She tossed me a grin over her shoulder. "Hot nachos with extra cheese. Come get it while it's hot."

I went over to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of white wine. "I've got the drinks covered. I've also got ice cream for when we're done eating, but before that, we've got cold cuts, crackers, and cheese to work our way through as well."

She sighed dreamily. "This is going to be the best night ever."

I was about to agree when my phone rang, and I frowned when I saw the number on the screen. "It's Worldly Production Studios. I'd better get this."

"Worldly? Wow. I wonder what they want."

I shrugged and answered, pressing the device against my ear. "This is Serenity."

"Serenity, hi," an overly familiar female voice said on the other end of the line. "This is Janet calling from Mr. Ward's office. Do you have a minute to discuss a new show we're looking at you for?"

I breathed out a quiet exhale. "I'm really focusing on my events-coordination business right now, but thank you for thinking of me."

"Mr. Ward said you'd say that." She chuckled. "At least just let me give you the elevator pitch. I'm not really at liberty to give a lot of details about it at the moment anyway, so it will be quick."

"Okay," I agreed reluctantly, dragging the word out a bit. "Let me have it."

"We're in the planning phase of a new reality show," she started excitedly. "If you agree to come onboard, you'd be living in a co-ed space, on the beach in Miami for filming. Doesn't that sound amazing?"

"It really does," I said sincerely. "Unfortunately, I really am currently focusing all my energy on my company. I'm sure the show is going to be brilliant, though. Good luck. I look forward to watching it."

"I hear you, but I'll make you a counteroffer," she said quickly. "How about you just think about it a little bit more and we'll call you back soon to see what you've decided? You'd get a ton of exposure from it and Worldly's reputation is excellent. Anyone who works with us goes on to do great things."

I wished I could argue, but I couldn't. They were one of the biggest production studios in the world and whatever they touched had been turning to gold for the last few years. "I'll think about it."

"Wonderful. I'll talk to you soon, Serenity. Really do consider it though, okay?"

"Yeah. Okay. Thanks, Janet." I hung up the phone, feeling a little dazed but not altogether opposed to considering the opportunity.

Julie gave me a look and grinned. "Well, I'm ordering some champagne through Doordash, then."

"There's nothing to celebrate yet," I said. "I only told her I'd think about it. I haven't said yes. What's the champagne for?"

She winked as she pulled her phone out of her back pocket. "Life is worth celebrating, my friend, but in this case, it's also worth celebrating that Worldly freaking Productions sought you out. I know you may not do it and I know it'll be damn hard to get away for filming right now, but shit. Worldly wants you and that's huge."

As I really let it sink in that she was right, a slow smile spread on my lips. These last few weeks, it had felt like everything had been going to hell in a handbasket, but if Worldly wanted me, it couldn't be as bad as I'd thought.

Besides, once Ethan released those pictures, I might not have any events to coordinate anyway. I'd hate if it came to that, but it was out of my hands. At least this was an amazing safety net to have. More than just a safety net, it also meant that I'd actually made my own mark in the world.

One that Ethan couldn't take away from me. Hopefully.

Julie pumped her fists into the air after tapping at her screen a few times. "Yay! We're celebrating, aren't we? You go, girl. I knew you'd find your groove again."

I grinned back at her, mentally closing my eyes and praying that this really was the start of another new chapter. Not necessarily because I would do the show—I still hadn't decided that I would—but that opportunities would keep coming to me from unexpected places simply because I'd worked hard for them and not because of who I'd been married to.

Saying a good prayer, I pulled out two wine glasses and two champagne flutes. "Oh, we're celebrating alright, but we're not only celebrating me. We're celebrating us and the fact that our friendship has withstood everything life has thrown at us so far."

"Hear, hear."

I said thanks to whoever was out there for a friend like her. Some parts of my life might not have been going so well, but I had a friend who was always there for me. She had my back, my ride or die—and for as long as that was true, I knew I'd always be able to get back up after I got knocked down.