Ethan Moving to a new country was both exciting and terrifying. It was as if I had left everything I built behind. My business, my friends, my life. I know that I can't forget the fact that I have built connections all round but, still it doesn't feel the same. Now, I was here, trying to settle down in a place that felt unfamiliar to me. I watched Reina continue thriving in the fashion world that she was already in, but I was still struggling to find my footing. “Dad, can we go now?” Andrew’s voice broke through my thoughts. I turned to see him standing by the door, his backpack slung over one shoulder. His big brown eyes were full of anticipation for his new school, and I couldn’t help but smile at his eagerness. “Yeah, buddy, let’s go,” I replied, grabbing my keys from the table. “We have some schools to check out.” As we stepped outside, the sun was shining bright. The air felt fresh, and it was nice to see children playing in the park nearby. Andrew wal
ReinaI needed to scream at the top of my voice. I had a lot to tell Ethan and it was just proper I do that and stop hiding it from him. I could not stop smiling as I walked into the living room where Ethan was sitting. He was scrolling through his phone, probably checking emails or something important.But I had some big news to share, and I could hardly wait.“Hey, Ethan!” I called out, my voice filled with excitement.He looked up from his phone, a smile already forming on his lips. “Hey, baby. What is going on? What has made you so happy?” he asked. I took a deep breath, trying to contain my excitement. “I just landed a huge contract!”Ethan raised his eyebrows, clearly interested in the conversation now. “Really? That’s amazing, Reina! Tell me all about it.”“Well,” I started, sitting down beside him on the couch. “It’s with this really wealthy client. He is kind of a big deal here. He owns several businesses, and he wants me to design some good outfits for her for the ga
ReinaWhat was screaming at me was money! I could not let this pass me by. Sitting at my desk, I picked up my phone, scrolling mindlessly through my messages. It had been a long day, and as much as I loved talking to Ethan, I needed to hear from someone else.Someone who was not caught up in all the stress of moving and settling down. My thumb hovered over Bruce’s contact for a second before I finally gave in and tapped it.“Hey Bruce. Just wanted to let you know I’m safe here. Miss you. Hope you are good over there, buddy?” I typed out and hit send.Almost immediately, my phone buzzed. Bruce’s response was quick as always.“Hey! It’s good to hear from you. I miss you too. How is everything over there? You settled in alright, right?”I smiled, already feeling lighter. Bruce had that effect on me. I leaned back in my chair, thinking about how to respond.“Yeah, it’s been okay. It’s different, you know? But it’s kind of exciting too. Still feels weird to be in a new place though.”“
ReinaLeonard had texted me the night before. I think he wants us to meet again to finalize everything and sign the contract. That was what I was expecting. I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the purple blazer that I had thrown over my dress. It was simple yet stylish, perfect for the meeting I had with Leonard about his gala fashion deal. I was really excited about this job. It was a big deal and could open doors for me in this new country.As I finished getting ready, Ethan walked into the room, his face tight. I could tell he was not happy about something.“Are you going somewhere?” he asked in a rather sharp tone. I turned to face him, a little confused. He already knew I had a meeting today. “Yeah, I’m meeting Leonard for the fashion project. Remember? I told you about it.”He frowned, folding his arms across his chest. “I don’t want you to go.”That caught me off guard that I was stunned for some seconds. Did I just hear right? Or was I dreaming?“What do you mean
EthanI could not stay in the house after Reina came back. I was still feeling guilty about what happened between Reina and myself. I needed to clear my head. Grabbing my jacket, I walked out of the apartment without saying a word. The cool evening air hit my face as I stepped outside. It felt good and refreshing. But no matter how much I breathed in, the frustration I felt didn’t seem to go away.I could not believe how our argument had escalated so fast out of something little that I brought up. I hated fighting with her, but sometimes I didn’t know how else to express my worries. I was not trying to control her. I just didn’t want to see her get hurt or taken advantage of. Was that too much to ask?I wandered aimlessly for a while, my thoughts swirling inside of me. The city was still new to me, but it was not hard to find a bar. The neon sign above the door flickered as I walked in, the place dimly lit and buzzing with low conversations among people who were there. I was
ReinaThe day had finally come. I had been able to get the contracts from Leonard and I was glad that I was given the chance for this project. At first, I thought that this might not work because Leonard didn't message me for some time. But, here we are, starting the big project I had been contacted for. The gala fashion event. It was not just going to be huge, it was huge and honestly, I was both excited and nervous about it all. Was I going to do my best? This was my chance to prove myself in this new city, to show everyone that I could handle something this massive. Luckily for me, I met a few people who had seen my work and they trusted me and gave me a thumbs up. I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my outfit for the day. I went for something professional but stylish. As a fashion designer, I needed to look beautiful too, right? My dress was a black fitted dress. I added some little bits of my design but I made sure that it was not too flashy. I wanted to look rea
EthanI sat in the living room, staring at the huge television without really watching it. The sound was on, but I could not focus on what they were saying or acting. At first, I thought watching the television would take my mind off so many things but I was wrong. My mind was elsewhere. Mostly on Reina and that project she had started today. Part of me was happy for her, proud even, but another part… I could not shake this weird feeling in my gut.I knew that I was jealous about her interacting with a man when she just came over here. But, I doubt if I was overreacting I tried to remind myself that this was a big opportunity for her. She had worked hard, and I should be supporting her fully. But the conversation we had had about Leonard kept replaying in my head. I was not sure if I was just overthinking things or if there was something more to it.I picked up my phone and scrolled through my messages, wondering if she had texted me. Nothing yet. She must still be working, I
ReinaThe next morning, I walked into the studio with my red heels clicking softly on the polished floors. The sun was shining brightly through the tall windows, casting a golden light across the workspace just like it always did. Everything seemed normal. I smiled at the assistants running around, making last-minute preparations for the day. We had a very busy schedule today. A lot of things had to be done. Fittings, choice of fabric and finalizing the designs for the upcoming gala.“Good morning, everyone!” I called out and I waved at all of them as I passed by.“Morning, Reina!” a few of them responded. They sounded really exhausted even though they felt excited about the big day. I placed my bag down on my desk, settling into my chair, when one of the junior designers, Kat, hurried over. She looked flustered, her face slightly pale, and I immediately sensed something was wrong.“Reina, we have a problem,” she said and her voice was a little shaky.I frowned, standing right up