Aviana woken up by the smell of freshly baked cupcakes, without even opening her eyes, her head rose automatically from her bed, while her nose sniffed along the direction in which the smell was coming from. A moment later, she stopped at the entrance of the kitchen. Her nose was buried in a soft and warm substance. Still groggy, Aviana moved up and immediately started munching on the substance after realizing that it was actually the vanilla chocolate-flavored cupcakes she loved since childhood.
"Hey, drool face! Why don't you wake up first and then you can continue eating? I pinky swear I won't disturb your nose's impression in the cupcake!" Hearing those words and the chuckle that came along with the words, Aviana suddenly opened her eyes to see Hayden standing in front of her who was holding the cupcakes she were messily eating to her face. He was wearing a chef's apron, small in size, and which had stains of flour on it, and his black hair was an organized mess. His fair face, with some stains of flour, had a wide smile on it, as it emphasized his dimpled cheeks. 'Gosh! I have such a cute brother!' she exclaimed inwardly.
"Hayden! Get me more of them! I had a nightmare that I was really starving!" As she said these words, Aviana snatched the tray full of cupcakes and started to greedily gobble them down, one by one, like a squirrel which had obtained an arcon. Seeing this sight, Hayden laughed as he joked,
"Come on Sis, eat slow! The cupcakes are too many, enough to feed you for three days. Besides, mum made them especially for you." As he pushed out these words, Hayden ran into the kitchen chuckling. Aviana understood immediately. Her mother never baked the cupcakes for no good reason. She always had some hidden agenda every time she baked them. The last time she baked them she actually asked her to clean her bedroom for her as compensation for the cupcakes she baked for her. She could do nothing but do her the favor, because she had already eaten the cupcakes. It was some kind of a trick her mother invented with the intention of tricking them into doing a favor for her. It was a good one though, as it worked with magic. Who on earth would reject such cupcakes baked by her mother? That day, Hayden laughed at her, saying she was gollible. Now it happened again. And she fell for the trick the third time. With the realization, Aviana sighed. The deed had already been done. She couldn't cry over spilt milk.
With the realization, she continued to eat the cupcakes, her eyes sparkling with joy as she relished the soft, warm cupcakes enjoying the flavor that hit her with a bang. Stuffing the cupcakes into her mouth, she was finally done eating them. Now it was finally time to see what her mother had in store for her. 'It couldn't be that bad,' she thought. With a helpless sigh, she walked into the kitchen. Joanna busied herself, cleaning up the mess in the kitchen. Hayden was by her side still chuckling.
"Mum, what do you want me to do for you this time?" She went straight to the point. "And please, don't ask me to clean up your room again! The last time I did it, I got a runny nose, because of the dust from your dusty room," she pleaded, her eyes like those of an adorable cute little kid.
"What favor! What are you talking about! I didn't bake the cupcakes with any agenda this time," said Joanna as she continued to clean up the kitchen. However, Aviana didn't give in to her naked lie. She was her mother, so she knew her too well. With a sigh, Aviana said,
"Really mum! I know you too well! You know you can't lie to me! You don't even know to tell a lie! Mum, just tell me what it is that you want me to do and let's get it done and over with. I have an important matter to attend to."
Joanna sighed. Aviana knew her too well, she couldn't lie to her. Besides, Aviana was an expert in telling lies. She could tell when someone is lying or not. Dropping everything she were doing, she walked over to Aviana,"Come with me, I need to have a talk with you." Aviana followed her mother's gesture and walked into the sitting room and sat on the sofa, as Joanna sat on the sofa just opposite her.
"What is it, mum?" she asked, trying to start up the conversation.
"When are you actually going to see that man? The one who gave us this villa. It's been days since we moved in here and you haven't mentioned a word about going to see him and find out the truth of the matter. Why he gave us the villa? I'm really not comfortable living here when everything is not yet clear to me," said Joanna. Aviana chuckled. It felt funny.
"Mother, you should have directly come to me and I would have given you the answer you so much want. And I'm not saying that you shouldn't have baked the cupcakes, don't get me wrong," said Aviana as she made clear her point. "Well.....if you must know, I'm actually going there after this, so don't worry yourself. I'm also not comfortable living here, so I'll go see him today. Are you satisfied now?" she asked, glancing at her mother who seemed to have relaxed after hearing her daughter's assurance.
G&K Company.
Aviana got out of the cab that had driven her here and walked into the building. She couldn't help but exclaim in surprise when she got in. The inside of the building was big and spacious, it could accommodate the whole country. She was already lost in her world of fantasy when she heard a female voice call out to her. It was Jenny, the receptionist. "Hey, young lady, how may I help you?" asked Jenny, as she sized up the woman who stood in front of her, like some kind of disgusting thing. Of course, this didn't escape Aviana's eyes, but choosing to pretend like nothing happened, she responded politely,
"I'm here to see your boss, Ethan Urkel." She handed over to her the card given to her by Ethan's PA. 'This is actually the ceo' s business card,'she thought, but how did it get to her hands?' Glancing at her over and over again, Jenny didn't get the answer she wanted. The woman was good looking though, but she seemed classless. She had no class at all. As Aviana stood there,with her head bowed, like some kid who was being reprimanded, wondering when the sizing up and down would end, Devin walked to them. He had actually recognized her from a far. Knowing fully well how the receptionist could be disrespectful sometimes, he strode over to them.
"Ma'am, are you here to see the boss?" asked Devin. Aviana nodded. "This way, please," he led her to the office. Jenny was left dumbfounded, with no idea of what had just happened.
Meanwhile, inside the ceo's office, Ethan as usual sat on the office chair, his head bowed on the documents that were on the table. "Come in," said Ethan as soon as he heard the knock on the door. Aviana walked in. She slowed her pace as soon as she walked in. The man was more handsome than she had last seen him, at the hospital. He was even more handsome as he worked. Sighing, she sat down. Ethan didn't even give her a glance. Before she came here, she read a lot about him on the internet. How cold he was to everyone. So she didn't give it much thought when he didn't give her a glance. "umm.... Good morning Sir," she said as she tried to start up a conversation. As soon as he heard the voice, his hand that had been holding the pen, writing, suddenly trembled
Of course, Aviana didn't notice. It was her. She was here, in his office. He couldn't have forgotten her beautiful voice. He wished to see her again and now his wish had come true. She was sitting just opposite him, a few inches away from him. Raising his head, he glanced at her and sighed inwardly. In his eyes, she looked more beautiful than he had last seen her. Her seductive full-lips, her sexy brown eyes, and..... And her brown hair that had been tied into a clean pony tail. She was absolutely beautiful. Clearing his voice, he responded, "Goodmorning."
Jenny, the receptionist, sat on the armchair, twisting her head quizzically, thinking of what next to do. Suddenly, as if she recalled something, she jerked forward, picking her phone and made a call. As soon as the call went through, Jenny spoke immediately, "Hello ma'am, are you kind of busy? You see, there is something that you need to know. Could you please go somewhere private? I really don't want any other person to hear what I'm about to say. I could get into big trouble if it goes around." She had heard from the other side, people shouting. It seemed the woman was in a bar. When she heard the woman's footsteps and the noise fading off, Jenny relaxed. "Okay, I'm already outside, away from the others. Say what you have to say, Jenny and allow me get back to having fun with my friends." After a prolonged silence, Jenny finally spoke, "Ma'am, a certain woman went into boss Ethan's office just now! And with the way she is dressed, she doesn't have class at all! I
Beverly hills The area around the sofa was crammed with bottles, cans and more bottles of alcohol. Small green flasks of gin, large clear bottles of absolut vodka, broken maroon bottles of whisky, assorted cans of bitter beer, a few saffron colored bottles of white wine and empty-handed bottles of intoxicating red wine. They formed a small structure around the sofa. Jayden stepped inside the living room. The first thing that hit him was that overpowering scent of alcohol, and the scent had already clung into his nosestrils. Had she been drinking? Again? Jayden had feared that this would happen, but now, anger had replaced his fear. He was angry because his sister had succumbed to the powerful attraction of alcohol. Angry because she had completely become an alcoholic. Angry because she had ignored the fact that she wasn't an ordinary person, but an Anderson for that matter. Drinking wasn't allowed. And here she was, sitting on the floor, drinking herself to dea
Stanley ordered the servants to serve the dishes. The urkel's sat on the table and began to enjoy the meal. It was a sumptuous feast on the family day. The Urkel's cook had served as an executive chef at the Michelin three-star restaurant in Spain and was hired by Old Urkel when he returned home. On the table, Mr Urkel asked, glancing at Ethan, "Why didn't you bring Chloe with you?" Ethan remained quiet. Susan, who had been quiet spoke, at this time. "Ethan, I heard that you broke up with Chloe because of another woman, is it true?" As she pushed out these words, she glanced at Mr Urkel to see his reaction, an evil grin appearing across her face. She had brought up the question knowing fully well that Old Urkel, her husband, would immediately be angry. She did it intentionally. As soon as he heard what Susan said, he roared, his voice trembling due to anger, "Is it true?" Ethan still remained silent and continued to eat as if he hadn't heard the questio
Seeing the confusion in his eyes, she speaks up, "Actually, I cleaned up your room earlier when you weren't at home, and may have re-arranged everything," As she pushes out the last words, her voice starts trailing off, as she feels guilty about it. "I placed them on your desk," she continues as she points to the direction where she placed them. Jayden isn't angry at all, instead he responds by forming an 'O' shape with his lips.He heads to the door and before he closes it, he says to Chloe, "I won't be back this night! Be a good girl as always!" He blows her a kiss. With a wide smile across her face, she responds, "Okay, I will. Take care of yourself."After she is sure he has gone, she picks up her phone and dials Ann's number. "Can we meet up? Yes! Yes! Yes! I know! I will explain everything to you at the coffee shop, 59th street! Okay, see you there!" She takes this opportunity to meet up with Ann. Opportunities like this are hard to come by, and if they do, it's
7:00am Aviana wakes up to the alarm snoozing. Without even opening her eyes, she heads to the bathroom and bangs the door closed. A moment later, she walks out of the bathroom dressed only in a bathrobe while combing her hair and at the same time brushing her teeth. Today, she wore a cream-colored blouse over a similar pencil skirt which is brown and matches with her cream high-heeled shoes. She ties her hair into a sleek pony tail, although her hair isn't considerably less glossy than before because she hadn't had the time to do it up. Walking to the entrance of the dining room, a pleasant smell of freshly baked pancakes hits her nose. On the table, there were fried eggs, pancakes, hot cereal and some warm milk. Her mother had really weighed in on the choice of food here. These were the healthiest meals for breakfast,as the protein in eggs helped maintain and repair body tissues, also necessary for brain and nervous system to function effectively while milk, still a protein
"Please," said Devin as he bend slightly, his hand currently stretched out as he directed her in. Taking one last deep breath, Aviana walked forward confidently before entering the office of the highest-paid CEO in the world. As the door closed behind her, Aviana finally laid her eyes on Mr Ethan Urkel. Standing on the window, his back to her, Aviana sighed as she slowed her pace. With his striking icy-blue eyes which reminded her of the beautiful sight of sun rays brilliantly reflecting off of the surface of the sea, he turned and looked deep into her eyes. His fair face looked almost pale, but his athletic body which could be seen due to his perfectly fitting 3-piece suit signified that this was a man whose body was at the peak of human condition.His glossy black hair was combed back neatly, while his high cheekbones and sharp jaw gave his face a musculine look that would make anyone turn back to take a second glance. The straight, thin lips and the slightly sharp-pointed
Aviana was done for the day. At exactly 4:00pm, she walked out of the G&K building and stood on the pavement at the side of the road. She were waiting for her chauffeur. Rao took long to show up. Deciding not to wait anymore, with the thought that maybe he was busy attending to more important matters, Aviana, sighed deeply and walked away. She headed to the bus station to wait around for a bus. Something caught her eye. Aviana suddenly stopped when she felt someone watching her. A black car, small in size, with the number 2DT. J422 followed behind her. As soon as she stopped, the car stopped too. It was now obvious, she was being followed. But why? She had seen in movies, how the female leads were kidnapped and tortured. In the end, the masterminds behind the kidnapping would be discovered only to realize that they are people close to them. Aviana was still confused. She hadn't wronged anyone, had she? Anyway, there was no much time to think about that. Right now, she had to try
His heart rate increased as he read the words on the door. Something must have happened!She must be in danger! Thinking of this possibility, Ethan rushed out of the booth door. "Come on! Let's go! She's in danger!" he roared. Getting into the car, Devin started off the engine. "Drive faster!" he commanded, while they were still in the mid-way in search of Aviana. For the first time, in a long time, Devin saw his boss restless. The car reached to a standstill. They had reached the end of the road. Aviana was nowhere to be found. "Sir...we..."Before he could finish his statement, he was interrupted by Ethan's angry voice which seemed to have erupted. "Shut up! I don't care how you do it! Find her! Even if it means turning upside down the city, then do it! But find her!" Then, he strode towards the car. Ethan reached into his pocket, and brought out the rosary given to him by Aviana. He squeezed it in his hands, as he recalled that day when they first met... How s
Ethan walked into "The Intoxicated" Entertainment clubhouse, the familiar buzz of energy and laughter wash over him. He spotted Alex and James who were already seated at their usual position. “Hey, look who finally decided to show up!” Alex called out, a playful grin spreading across his face. His eyes twinkled with mischief as he leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. James, ever the composed one, merely raised an eyebrow but offered a smirk.Ethan shrugged nonchalantly, but inside, he could still feel the residual warmth of the passionate encounter he’d just had with Aviana. The slightly disheveled state of his hair and the faint trace of lipstick lingering on his collar were the only signs that might give him away, but he hoped they would go unnoticed. “Traffic,” Ethan replied coolly, sliding into his seat with an air of indifference. He could see the knowing glimmer in Alex’s eyes, the way he leaned in just a bit closer, eager for any hint of a story.“Right,” Alex said, chuckl
Aviana walked into the house, her blouse still partially buttoned, a telltale sign of the passionate encounter she’d just had with Ethan in the car. As she fumbled with the remaining buttons, trying to regain some semblance of normalcy, a small, curious voice called out from the living room.“Big sis!” Hayden appeared around the corner, his bright eyes wide with curiosity. He was clutching a toy car tightly in one hand and staring up at his sister with a mix of innocence and suspicion.Aviana, momentarily flustered, straightened up and tried to smooth her disheveled appearance. “Hey, Hayden,” she said, forcing a casual tone. “What’s up?”Hayden’s gaze remained fixed on her, his little brows knitting together as he took in the scene. “You’re home pretty late, Big sis. And why are you buttoning your blouse like that? Did you and Uncle Ethan have a... uh, fun time in the car?”Aviana’s cheeks turned a deeper shade of red. She froze mid-button, her mouth slightly open as she tried to proc
Aviana lay in Ethan's arms, their bodies intertwined in a comfortable silence that spoke volumes of their deep connection. The room was quiet, save for the soft rhythm of their breathing and the occasional contented sigh that escaped their lips.Ethan gently brushed a strand of hair away from Aviana's face, his touch tender and filled with affection. He couldn't help but marvel at how natural and right it felt to have her in his arms, to feel her warmth against him.Aviana shifted slightly, her head resting against his chest as she looked up at him with a soft smile. "You know," she murmured, her voice tinged with a hint of playfulness, "you have a way of making everything feel so... perfect."Ethan chuckled softly, his heart swelling with love for this woman who brought so much joy into his life. "I'm just glad you feel that way," he replied, his voice gentle. "You mean the world to me, Aviana."Aviana's smile widened, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on his chest as she gazed up at
Ethan looked up, his face flushed and his posture stiff as he tried to hold Aviana close. His usual aloof demeanor was completely absent, replaced by a flustered and panicked expression. “Faith! I—I didn’t expect—” he stammered, his words tumbling out in a jumbled mess.Faith couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight. Ethan, the ever-composed boss, was now visibly flustered, with his shirt slightly askew and a look of sheer bewilderment on his face. Aviana’s cries were still unabated, adding to the hilarity of the situation.“Uh, Sir,” Faith said, trying to suppress her laughter as she walked over to them. “It looks like you’re having a bit of a rough time here.”Ethan, still holding Aviana, glanced at Faith with a mix of frustration and embarrassment. “Faith, I... I don’t know what to do. She’s... she’s crying because I figured out something too quickly, and then I made it worse by saying I got help from Scarlet. I don’t know how to fix this!"Faith’s eyes twinkled with a mix of amuseme
Ethan stood outside Aviana's office door, his mind racing with thoughts of how to approach her. He took a deep breath to steady his nerves, then knocked gently."Come in," Aviana's voice called from inside. Ethan entered cautiously, finding Aviana seated at her desk, engrossed in reviewing some documents. She looked up as he entered, her expression neutral but her eyes betraying a hint of wariness."Avi, can we talk?" Ethan asked softly, stepping further into the room.Aviana leaned back in her chair, her expression cool and composed despite the underlying irritation. Ethan stood before her, unsure of how to break through her icy demeanor."What's there to talk about, Ethan?" Aviana began, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she tapped her pen on the desk. "I don't expect you to have figured out the reason I'm mad at you already. It might take you a day, a week, or a lifetime to figure it out. Who knows?"Ethan blinked, taken aback by her blunt honesty. "Avi, I—""Nope," Aviana cut in,
Scarlet grinned at Aviana's comment about Milo, nodding in agreement. "He definitely does. But speaking of being kept on your toes, how's my brother treating you these days, Avi?" Scarlet asked playfully, raising an eyebrow teasingly.Aviana's smile faltered immediately at the mention of Ethan, her mood shifting drastically. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself before responding. "Ethan?" she replied tersely, her voice edged with irritation. "He's... he's fine."Scarlet sensed the change in Aviana's tone, her playful expression fading as she picked up on the underlying tension. "Uh-oh, trouble in paradise?" she asked cautiously, eyebrows raised in mock concern. Aviana scoffed, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "Paradise? More like a roller coaster," she muttered, her hands gesturing animatedly. Scarlet sighed dramatically, leaning back in her chair as she looked at Aviana with exaggerated concern. "Okay, spill the tea, Avi. What happened between you and Ethan this
Twenty minutes later, Scarlet arrived at the office, her steps purposeful as she made her way to Ethan's office. She knocked lightly on the door before entering, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern."Brother," Scarlet greeted warmly, her voice tinged with a hint of apprehension. "You sounded pretty serious on the phone. What's going on?"Ethan rose from his chair to greet her, grateful for her presence. "Hey, Scarlet," he began, gesturing for her to take a seat opposite him. "Thanks for coming."Taking a deep breath, Ethan recounted the events of the morning's meeting with Aviana. He described Aviana's distant demeanor, his attempts to understand her mood, and the abrupt end to the meeting after confronting her.Scarlet listened attentively, her brow furrowing with concern as Ethan finished his explanation. "So, you think Avi's mad at you, but she won't tell you why?" she summarized, her voice soft with empathy."Yeah," Ethan replied, running a hand through his hair in frust
The boardroom was set for the meeting with the marketing team, and Aviana, with her usual efficiency, had everything organized meticulously. As they settled in, Aviana took her seat beside Ethan, her posture erect and her expression composed. However, her eyes betrayed a hint of icy reserve that Ethan couldn't ignore."Good morning, everyone," Ethan greeted cheerfully, attempting to lighten the atmosphere. Aviana responded with a polite nod but remained focused on the agenda in front of her.The marketing team leader began presenting the new campaign strategy, and Aviana listened intently, jotting down notes and occasionally exchanging professional remarks with the team. Each time Ethan tried to engage her with a comment or question, Aviana responded curtly and kept her interaction strictly business.Ethan, increasingly uncomfortable with Aviana's cold demeanor, shifted in his seat, trying to catch her eye. "What do you think about the demographics for the new ad placements?" Aviana
Aviana stood in Ethan's office, a stack of documents in hand, ready to brief him on the day's schedule. Despite their personal relationship, she maintained her professional demeanor, a testament to her dedication as his personal assistant."Good morning, Ethan," Aviana greeted, her voice carrying a blend of warmth and professionalism. "Here's the rundown for today. We have a meeting with the marketing team at 10 AM to discuss the new campaign strategy. Then, you have a lunch meeting with Mr. Johnson from Capital Investments at 12 PM."Ethan, leaning back in his chair, flashed a playful grin. "Sounds riveting, as always, Avi. Did you make sure they're serving my favorite dessert at lunch?"Aviana rolled her eyes playfully, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "I believe they're more interested in discussing investments than your sweet tooth, Ethan."He chuckled lightly, enjoying the banter. "You never know, Avi. Dessert is a serious business."Aviana continued with her briefing, detai