Chapter 2 Price of Peace

"where was he last night?" Amanda asked with a raised brow.

"I am not at liberty to discuss Master Ethan or his dealings." Arthur replied as decently as he could even though he did not want to deal with the mean and spiteful woman who was once the wife of Ethan Lockwood. Now, she was just his cheating ex who was staying in the house till alimony and property dividing was decided by the lawyer.

Whipped in the love that Amanda once had for him, Ethan hadn't even thought of a prenup. Boy, did he regret it now.

Even as he walked through his front door, he dreaded coming face to face with her.

"what's for breakfast?" he asked Arthur, his loyal butler who had been with him ever since he was a little boy.

"French toast sir, your favorite." He smiled.

"I don't like it." Amanda spoke up.

"Then it's a blessing I did not have enough made for you." Arthur glared as he walked away.

"Where were you?" She confronted Ethan who was on the way to his room.

"not your business." He replied, trying to get away from her.

"I am not legally divorced yet, so yes, it is my business." She scoffed, following him to his room.

"Well, maybe I was cheating on you with your brother. Oh wait, that was what you did." He offered her a strained smile before returning to a stony expression.

"Oh come on, as if you have never made a mistake!" She exclaimed, "We can still work this out!"

"So you're willing to leave Hunter?" Ethan crossed his arms and leaned on the doors of his closet.

"Maybe we can compromise?" She asked and he scoffed, immediately turning away from her.

"Get out of my room Amanda." He ordered, his voice low and deep. He meant every word and she knew he would use this experience against her in the divorce proceedings if she pushed him.

"Fine." Amanda walked out of his room and he felt at peace again.

He half wished he could still be in the arms of Ruby who had cuddled him through the night. He let her sleep there when he woke and left a wad of money near her. He did not want to be there when she woke up. Something about it was far more vulnerable than he was willing to be.

Ethan did not have time to think of her however, he had work to get to. That was what he told himself. However, all he could think was of Ruby.

Ruby or Minnie, which was her real name, on the other hand was not thinking of him at all. In fact all she could think of was how to make him come back to her. He was a vulnerable rich man who needed a girl for comfort and she was a girl who needed money. She had hit the jackpot!

As a struggling law student, she needed the money more than anything and a single night with him was more than enough to make sure she paid half her semester fees.

"Stand in the same place and wait for him to come to you." Her roommate, Ellie advised.

"And what if he doesn't show up. What if this was just a one-night thing?" Minnie looked at the remaining money in her hand, "Oh man. I wish he shows up."

"That's all that you can do." Ellie shrugged, "but damn, thousands of dollars just for cuddling? Are you sure he didn't drug you and take advantage of you?"

"He didn't. " Minnie smiled at the recollection of the night, "he was perfect. A perfect gentleman...he didn't even try to look at me with lust. But when he hugged me..."

"he groped you...?"

"no, he-"

"He made lewd comments?"

"No! God, let me finish. He melted into me. Like he had never been hugged before and had been craving it."

"Poor guy..." Ellie mumbled, "Drain him of his money."

Minnie laughed out loud, "You're so rotten."

"Come on, now let's take the rest of his money and go eat a nice dinner! Fine dining is just a step away." Ellie bounced on the bed in excitement.

"Absolutely not. I need groceries. I'll cook." Minnie got up and walked out, bidding goodbye to her roommate.

She may not want to admit it to Ellie but she enjoyed the night as well. The past few years had gone by in a blur of tears, stress and begging people for handouts. Where a few years ago she had a loving family who had put her in college, now she had a drunk mom and an estranged sister who did not even know if she was alive or dead. Her college was expensive and she had sold everything she had had. It was a blessing that Ellie was well off and generous. She had covered the rent many times but Minnie knew she couldn't take advantage of that. She had slept hungry so many nights that sleeping with a full stomach had become uncomfortable.

When she hugged Ethan and they sank into each other's arms, he wasn't the only one feeling peace for the first time in a long time.

The soft smell of woody amber from his cologne, the smooth skin on his chest, the way his strong arms encompassed her and the way he breathed. Soft and slow. At peace with just her in his arms. It was the best sleep that she had had.

Shaking her head, she put the thought of him out of her head. She had classes to go to... paid ones. The thought alone made her happy.