Chapter 2

I have high hopes that today is going to be a good day, and do you know why? I’ll tell you why.

Ethan Reed. I didn’t think I would see him this early in the day but the heavens are on my side. I'm on my way to the recording studio to meet with the only member of RAZE who is actually nice to me, Alexander. We aren't what you would call friends, but he’s one of the few people who recognize my skills as a producer.

He promised to give me a quick lesson today. He’s producing a track for one of the rookie groups in the company and he agreed when I asked if I could come and observe.

“Sure, come by anytime on Sunday.” He'd told me. “Working on the weekend gets a bit lonely, I could use the company, and your input.”

Shocked, I reply stuttering. “I-input? Mine?”

He looked confused at my answer as he replied, “Yes, yours. Who else am I talking to here?” He gestured around the room as if to emphasize his point.

I looked around as well and definitely, I was the only other person there. “Right. Me. Well, okay, thank you. I’ll see you on Sunday then.” 

“Great, see you then.” Despite pinching myself hard enough to leave a nasty mark, I still couldn't believe that I get to have a lesson with Alexander. If it weren't embarrassing to do so, I would have squealed all the way down the emergency exit ground floor from the ninth. 

As I make my way to the recording studio to meet with Alexander, I happen to pass by the dance practice rooms. It's still early-- maybe a little bit past seven in the morning, making me hate Alexander just a bit for wanting to meet up early on a Sunday, so it came as a surprise when I hear voices coming from one of the rooms.

“I’m sorry, Ethan” I hear a woman’s voice seep through the door that was left ajar. Having heard Ethan's name, I immediately tiptoe around a decorative table by the wall to lean closer to the door, careful about not being seen in the mirrors. then I hear the next words, “It’s just not working out between us. You don’t spend any time with me, and you don’t do anything I tell you to.”

Call me a stalker, but I’m pretty sure that’s Rina talking. Rina Sasaki, Ethan’s super gorgeous and super famous girlfriend. Being half Asian gives her that beautiful, tiny, face that is a big hit in her modeling career. Designers love her, and so does the public. I mean who wouldn't? If you look at her, she's perfect.

I peer closer to the door to see the people inside. This is Ethan we’re talking about. I lean in and see Ethan in workout clothes as if he was just about to start practicing. He has his hands— or his fists, rather—in the pockets of his gray sweatpants, causing the stretchable fabric to highlight his glorious thighs. He's leaning against a table behind him. He looks completely chill despite his girlfriend screaming at him. Magnificent, that's what he looks like. Someone akin to the beauty of a Greek God. The overall laid-back look is enough for me to lift a hand up to my chin to check if I had any drool dripping down.

Focus, Keira! I tell myself. Dirt like this doesn’t come every day. 

I focus on his face. He looks bored, but there was a hint of doubt in his eyes. I’m not saying I know Ethan; my expertise only comes from the countless times I’ve caught myself staring at him. Again, I know, very stalkerish of me but I can't help it. He's gorgeous. I move a bit to my left to see across from him. It’s Rina, clad in a designer outfit and accessories even down to her nails. Which is understandable given she’s a model and all that. But those nails can claw your eyes out if you’re not careful with what you say to Rina.

When Ethan speaks again, his voice is lower than usual, “I’m not your fucking dog.” He says, finally lifting his eyes to meet Rina’s. His voice sounds exhausted like this wasn’t the first time he’s said this but his tone was firm.

Rina looks shocked like it was the first time she heard Ethan swear. Her face slightly turned red with anger. But I couldn’t really tell through all the makeup. And I swear, I'm not trying to be mean here, it's just the truth. 

           

For sure she expected Ethan to get on his knees and beg for forgiveness, but that wasn’t happening.

           

“Y-yeah? Then I’m not staying here and putting up with this.” She replies, one perfectly sculpted eyebrow rising in a challenge.

           

“Fine,” Ethan replies.

           

Shock paints her face, mouth gaping for a moment but collects herself and replies with, “We’ll talk about this later.” 

           

She takes a step back, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor. Oh no!  She was about to walk out the door. The same door I’m poking my nose in!

           

My palms turn cold and sweaty instantly. I back away from the door, unknowingly hitting my knee on a table leg. Instinctively, I turn back to look inside, hoping that the embarrassment of being caught eavesdropping would be quick but Rina won’t allow that, I’m sure of it. She hates me.

           

“Wait.” Ethan’s voice brings me back to reality. He has his hand wrapped around her wrist; panic surges to the very ends of me, my fear doubling. I need to escape. Quickly but quietly, I scoot farther and farther away from the door keeping most of my back on the wall behind me.

           

About four steps later I feel something cold and metal, it turns out to be one of the lockers the dancers use during practice. It is significantly large. And then an idea hits me. Quickly, I try not to trip on my feet as I open the locker door.

           

Yep, could easily fit two people in here. I thought as I climb in, pulling the locker door closed but keeping a little bit of space so it wasn’t totally dark.

           

I couldn’t hear their conversation anymore, but this is better than facing mortification in front of Rina.

           

I pray silently that they both leave soon, or Rina at least. I wait for the music to turn on, that would mean Ethan has started practicing. I wait and I wait but nothing’s happening. I’m pretty sure, they were gone but I didn’t want to risk it by leaving my hiding place too early.

           

Suddenly, the locker door opens, and the light shines on Ethan’s beautiful face.

           

“Nosy, aren’t we?” Ethan teases a smirk on his lips.

           

Eyes downcast, I step out, completely mortified. “I thought you didn’t notice, I’m really sorry.” I busy myself with brushing off non-existent dust from my black skinny jeans and pulling at the cuffs of my jacket.

           

I mumbled to myself, trying to explain why I'm here in a tiny voice. “I was just passing by I swear I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.” I pause for half a second before continuing on my rambling, but I’m cut short when suddenly Ethan pushes me back into the locker. The sound of my back meeting the metal frame ringing through the hall. There was probably no one else on the entire floor. It was Sunday after all.

           

Ethan leans in. His one arm braced on the locker door trapping me effectively. He’s heavy, I notice. I realize that as I pluck the courage to look up at him that he’s leaning his weight on me.

           

He looks tired. Eyes closed as he leans his forehead on the cold metal locker, he's almost squishing me in the process. God, he smells so good. But this isn't the time to be creepy, even if this man right here was the subject of all my fantasies. I need to get back to reality.

           

“Hey, Ethan? Are you okay?"

           

But Ethan is silent.

           

Of course, he’s not okay you dimwit! He just fought with his girlfriend. I mentally slap myself for my own idiocy.

           

And just like how fast Ethan took me by surprise, the weight is gone. Ethan fixes himself up and when I finally look up at him, a smile was plastered on his face. A tiny one, but a smile nonetheless.

           

He places his hands back in his pockets. “So, Keira, what are you doing here on a Sunday morning?” He asks, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

           

It takes me a solid minute to collect myself, I can't embarrass myself more than I already have. I clear my throat saying, “I-m working today.” Stuttering over your words, Keira? Right, really attractive. I roll my eyes at myself mentally for being so uncool in front of Ethan.

           

A look of confusion crosses his face. Ethan cocks his head to one side, eyes widening a bit. “Really? It’s Sunday. Most employees would be enjoying their time off, you know?”

           

“Yeah, I was just about to get my stuff from the staff’s lockers” jerking a thumb towards the locker room, trying to veer my eyes away from his.

           

“Really?” he repeats, clearly interested, “What are you working on?”

           

Blushing a bit to find that Ethan looks genuinely interested, I say, “Um, someone hired me to write them a song.” I paused to look at him, but that was a mistake. His eyes bored into mine, it makes me feel like I'm on fire. Confidence slowly rose in me as I eased into the conversation, I continue. “Alexander does me a solid and he agreed to let me observe his process today. I’m thinking, watching him work would give me some sort of idea or inspiration.”

           

“Aiden turned you down, didn’t he?” Ethan says unable to hide the joy on his face.

           

“Why doesn’t he like me?” I whine. I couldn’t help but pout. I have been asking Aiden for weeks now, offering help in return for some lessons but he always turned me down. 

           

Ethan laughs at this. “Your eyebrows scrunch together when you pout.” He adds. “It’s cute.”

           

I can't help but smile back, Ethan’s smile is contagious. I mentally note how his eyes turn into crescents when he smiles fully. I wish he always smiled like that. It could melt someone's worries away by looking at it. I couldn’t believe that I actually made Ethan Reed laugh. Someone who’s quiet and reserved in real life. I actually made him laugh.

           

And oh, what a laugh it is. It has me thinking, I don’t care if I have to intentionally fall down the stairs to get to him to laugh, I would do it in a heartbeat to hear that laughter again.

           

Ethan’s answer comes after his laughter dies down. “He’s just like that, give it a little more time, he’ll warm up to you. Eventually.”

           

I glance at the watch on my wrist. Shit—I’ve stalled here for twenty-five minutes already! I hated to leave but I had to. I couldn’t keep Alexander waiting any longer.

“Uh, so this has been awesome, but I really need to go.” I shift my weight back and forth, getting worried about wasting this once-in-a-lifetime chance to see Alexander work. “This song isn’t going to write itself, and Alexander’s waiting for me, sorry.” I turn around to take my leave but Ethan’s melodic voice stops me.

           

“Can I come?” 

           

I turn back slowly, the crease between my eyebrows is back, “Are you sure? Weren’t you going to practice?” Referring to his clothes but I don’t miss this chance to rake my eyes up and down his body, careful not to make it too obvious, but when my eyes come back to his face it tells me that I was obvious. Too obvious from the smirk playing on his lips.

           

“I’m in the mood for something else now” he replies, hand going straight to sweep his hair from his face.

           

Fuck.