“No, I’m sorry. Thanks for having me stay. I am a little … hard on my luck, right now. As for the bunny thing, I don’t condone cruelty to animals nor do I need anything from Ethan.” She flicked a fiery gaze at him, the only sign of emotion. “I’ll catch the bus.”
Ethan sighed. It was safe to say Holly had heard enough.
Chapter 15
Leaving Chloe’s house, Holly drew in a deep breath of fresh morning air. In a stranger’s eye, she was someone living on the streets who could be a risk to Ethan. It wouldn’t surprise Holly if Chloe accused her of being a gold digger. She was angrier at herself for letting her life come to this than at Chloe. She had every right to be protective of her brother.
Holly needed to stop relying on the kindness of strangers for a place to sleep and fend for herself at least for another month until she went back home. Sure, she’d landed a temporary job, and hopefully be paid soon so she’d be able to afford to stay somewhere. She knew once Jacinta was back, it was bye-bye Holly.
With her nerves calmed, guilt surfaced. She really shouldn’t have spoken to Chloe like that after she’d opened up her home for her to stay with no questions asked. Turning to go back in and apologise, she came face to face with Ethan.
They both spoke at once.
“Holly—”
“I’m sorry—”
Ethan gestured for Holly to speak. “I’m sorry I spoke to Chloe like that. It was rude. I need to apologise.”
“Chloe wanted to apologise to you for talking behind your back. I told her you might need some space.”
“She has nothing to be sorry for.”
“And neither do you.” Ethan placed his hands on her shoulders and a tingling sensation shot down her spine.
“She has every right to wonder what my story is and ask questions. And so do you.” Ethan and his family had been too generous for her not to explain her circumstances. It didn’t mean it would be easy to open up. She dropped her head to look at her feet.
He placed a finger under her chin and tilted it, so their eyes met. God she could stare into the green depths all day.
“You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to. If you do, I promise I won’t judge. Believe me, my life hasn’t always been the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.”
From the look on his face, she believed him.
“Come on, let’s get to work,” she said. “I’ll tell you all about it in the car.”
* * *
Ethan kept quiet and waited for Holly to gather her thoughts. Morning traffic was light and they’d be at the studio in no time so he took the long way.
Weak sunlight peeked through an overcast sky, casting the mix of old and new buildings into shadows. As they drove past Circular Quay, the white sales of the Opera House came into view, brightening a dreary looking day.
Finally, she said, “have you heard of Ainsworth Hotels?”
“I’ve stayed in a few of them around the world.”
“That’s my family’s business.”
“Oh, right,” he said, trying to cover his surprise. A family business was usually a restaurant, a farm or even a caravan park. Ainsworth Hotels was an empire. Why the hell was she looking at derelict hostels to spend the night?
“And you’re not part of the business,” he stated. Because if she was, she wouldn’t be living like a homeless person.
She shook her head and glanced out the passenger side window with her elbow propped on the doorframe, biting her fingernail. “I worked there for a few years. I left five months ago. The position’s still mine when I go back.”
“And that pissed them off?”
She gave a quick, sharp laugh. “My parents don’t get pissed off. That’s too common an emotion. Disappointed is the better word. I’d already embarrassed them by failing university two years in a row. How could I put such shame on the family? I’d failed because I had no interest in doing a business degree. I wanted to do a makeup course but they disregarded my idea. That was a hobby, not a career. So, they made up a position for me as a personal assistant to the Chief Financial Officer that didn’t require a degree and still presented as something important to the outside world.”
“If you wanted to be a makeup artist, what made you take the job?” Ethan’s grip tightened on the steering wheel.What was wrong with her parents? Why would they not let her follow her own career path?
