Hot Coffee (The Hollens) novel Chapter 53

Ethan's POV

I was up early doing some extreme workouts in the gym when Halley came in.

"Good morning," she said as she stood, watching me with her doe eyes.

"What's up?" I asked, still running on the treadmill. I was determined to get in twenty miles.

"I have something you might be interested in seeing. I'll be at my chambers." She left and left me wondering what that was all about.

After I completed my twenty miles and refreshed, I went to check on Emma. She was still fast asleep, wrapped up in the sheets like a burrito. I closed the door quietly and went to find Halley.

"This came over GSDC this morning. They interviewed your former COO." She handed me her tablet. 

Linda was being interviewed by the host of the channel.

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Host: How long were two you having an affair?

Linda: Well, it wasn't really an affair, it's not like he was married.

Host: Wasn't he engaged to Sharon Constantine?

Linda: Yes he was, but we were together before she even came along. It started when I began working for his company. He offered me the position of COO. Of course I was well qualified, but he just wanted me closer to him.

Host: Aw, so a little office fever, huh?

Linda: *laughs* Please don't get me started on that. He was quite the lover.

Host: So what was the dispute between you and his current fiancee?

Linda: Oh, she was just doing what most typical fiancees do— mark their territory.

Host: So he was cheating on Sharon and Emma Cole with you?

Linda: Yes he was. And it blew up in Emma's face when she found my underwear in his jacket.

Host: Oh, juicy stuff. What underwear was it?

Linda: *Laughs* Red lace.

Audience and Host: Ooh.

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I couldn't watched anymore of that shit. I handed the tablet back to Halley. 

Linda was slandering my name. I admitted I touched her, but I never had sex with her. I was having enough of this crap thrown at me and had been quiet and private about my life for far too long. I was going to fight fire with fire.

I called my damage control manager so she could get me on the show ASAP.

__________________

"Good morning," Emma greeted, covering her mouth from a yawn.

"Hey, baby." I said as I got dressed.

"Where are you going?"

"GSDC studios."

"What? Why?"

"Because I've been quiet for far too long Emma, and everyone thinks they can throw shade at me and I won't react."

"Okay, but where's this coming from?"

"Linda Steele! She was on the show last week and I'm going to go clear some shit up."

Emma leaped out of the bed and rushed to the bathroom. "I'm coming with you!"

"Well, hurry up! I'll have the chef pack your breakfast; you can eat in the car. My damage control manager set this up and I have to be there in the next hour."

"Okay!"

Emma was eating in the car while I was focusing on the road. My jaws tightened with anger and frustration. My hold on the steering wheel tightened.

"We're here," I told her as we pulled into the building's parking lot.

Emma: Linda knows, definitely, that she's lying. I love my fiance and I would stand by him through anything because he loves me too."

Me: That's right. This is the woman I love; the woman I intend to marry; and, Leslie, guess what? She's having my babies. Twins!"

Host: Aw, congratulations to the both of you. That's tremendous news.

Audience: Congratulations!

Me: Thanks.

Host: Well, that's all the time we have today, folks. And you've heard it from the man himself, Ethan Hollen, and his beautiful fiancee, and mother of his unborn twins, Emma Cole."

Audience: *Loud applause*

Emma and I walked off stage. 

"Thank you so much for coming and congratulations on the babies," the show organizer said to us as we shook her hand.

"Thank you for having us," Emma said and we made our way to the car. "Are you alright?" I asked, opening her door.

"Yes. Babe, do you smell something?" she asked as she sat, looking around the car as she threw her purse on the floor.

I leaned my head into the car. There was a scent, like gasoline.

"Emma, get away from the car!" I shouted, but, by instinct, I had already grabbed her wrist, pulling her from the car and running away from it, pulling her with me.

Less than twenty seconds later the entire car went up in flames with a loud explosion. The floor shook from the blast. Car alarms from the cars parked close to mine went off. Glass shattered. Emma began to cry in my arms as I held her tightly near the furthest elevator lobby of the parking lot.

"Shh, baby it's okay. We're okay!" I told her 

People from the show began to run toward.

"What happened?" Leslie asked.

"We smelled gasoline and the car exploded just as we got out and ran over here," I summarized.

"Oh my goodness. Call 911!" she instructed to anyone who had a cellphone in their hands. 

Emma's was in the car, along with her purse, and mine had broken in my bag when the force slammed us against the glass of the elevator lobby.