Chapter 372: You’re Not My Boss. Get Out.
People are creatures of habit. When it comes to passwords, most stick to the same favorite numbers across everything. Ellis never expected Easton to remember hers.
“Cut the crap. You either did it on purpose or you did it intentionally.” She forced herself not to lose it, calmly setting her bag down instead of smashing it across Easton’s smug face. “Have some shame, will you?”
She didn’t live alone. Maya lived here too. What if Easton had scared Maya? Forget scary—he was flat-out humiliating.
Easton could tell exactly what she meant. He slowly stood up and glanced around.
“I rang the doorbell first. No one answered. Then I called Maya to see if she was home.” He paused. “When she said she wasn’t and didn’t know when she’d be back, I guessed your password. It worked, so I came in.”
A whole day of work, and she came home only to deal with her ex-husband’s nonsense again. Ellis was beyond done.
She shot him a few death glares. “Oh, so I’m supposed to be impressed by your manners now? Maya not being here isn’t a damn excuse to break into my place. Get out, or I’m calling the cops.”
“I’ve been sitting here the whole time. I didn’t touch anything.” Easton picked up the folder resting on the bench. “I just wanted to give you some advice.”
The second she saw the folder, Ellis had a full-body PTSD reaction. Every time she’d received documents from Easton—whether directly or through his little minions—since the divorce, not a single one had ever been in her favor. The man might as well have printed, “I’m here to ruin your life and steal your soul,” right on the damn cover.
She narrowed her eyes. “You bastard. What the hell are you playing at now?”
Easton flinched slightly. Not at the curse, but at the phrase itself. She used to be the one hearing that from him—whenever he’d accused her of being dramatic or making things up. And now, here she was, saying it back to him. Like a boomerang flung right into his smug little face.
It stung more than he’d care to admit. Trying to ignore the uncomfortable twist in his chest, Easton muttered, “I’m not playing anything.”
“Yeah right!” Ellis shot him a look of pure disdain. “Psycho.”
Easton? Not playing games! He was the damn game. She had half a mind to deck him right there.
“Just take five minutes. Read the folder before you start yelling,” Easton said, shoving it into her hands before sitting back down.
“The hell is this?” Ellis wiped the folder down like it was covered in germs before cracking it open. She wasn’t expecting anything good. In fact, she was ready for another one of his traps.
But the more she read, the more confused she got. This wasn’t a trap. It was a professionally written career plan, laid out based on her resume and work history. Clearly done by someone experienced. It even included a breakdown of why working at the Fox Group wasn’t the best long-term move for her.
The more she read, the harder she wanted to laugh. By the time she got to the end, she handed the folder right back to Easton with a sneer.
“You don’t see how ridiculous you are?” she scoffed. “I finally landed a job I’m proud of, and you show up like it’s beneath me?”
Her working at the Fox Group had nothing to do with him. Who the hell did he think he was? She hadn’t forgotten how he’d sabotaged her job at Tate Group, pressuring Lois until she was forced to fire her. And now what? She found another job, and somehow that bothers him too?
This man was a monster. Did he want her broke and starving in a ditch? Would that finally make him happy?
“You’ve got it wrong,” Easton set the folder back on the bench. “I’m just giving you a suggestion.”
“Suggest my ass. Who asked you? Who the hell do you think you are?” Ellis fought the urge to throw something. “You don’t run my life anymore. You don’t get to decide where I work. If you’re so into sticking your nose in everyone’s business, why don’t you go fix the whole damn world?”
But when his eyes met hers—furious, unwavering—Easton froze. He couldn’t say it. Couldn’t admit the real reason. Couldn’t bring himself to say it was jealousy. That he was spiraling, hating every second of knowing she worked closely with another man. She used to shower him with affection. Now the tables had turned, and he couldn’t even bring himself to say the words he used to scoff at.
He opened his mouth, then closed it again, his expression shifting.
Ellis narrowed her eyes. “What? Spit it out or shut up.” She pointed at the door again. “I don’t have time for this. Get out.”
“Working for someone else doesn’t have the same future as running your own thing,” Easton blurted. “I recently invested in a few companies. If there’s one you like, I’ll put the shares under my name and let you manage it. All the profits go to you. If it fails, I take the hit.”