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
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
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
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
LA, AirportStanding not far, after alighting is Aviana Cole, her mother, Joana Cole and her brother, Hayden Cole. Finally, they were here. In LA, the most popular city in California. Surrounded by vast mountain ranges, valleys, forests, beautiful beaches along the pacific ocean and nearby desert. She could not believe her eyes. She stood on the same spot as if rooted to the ground. Her eyes moved from the elegantly dressed people moving to and from the airport, to the beautiful tall buildings. These were enough for her to understand that those who lived in the city were extremely rich. She fell in love with the city at first sight. No longer holding her joy, she shouted happily,"Wow, this is so amazing! I've never seen a scenery like this before. Hey, look at that building. It's really awesome!" said Aviana excitedly, pointing to the direction of a tall building her eyes came across.The mother and the brother stood there stupefied by the little woman's
Aviana paced the room nervously. In her Twenty-three years of living, she had never been this scared. Her heart rate increased. She was breathing so heavily it seemed she might hyperventilate. It had been three hours since Hayden was taken to the operating room. Whatever was happening inside the room, she didn't know. Nobody knew except for the doctor.In her hands, she held a string of beads. It was a kind of rosary that catholics used when making prayers. This was the only item she had of her father and she cherished it so much. Her father gave it to her years ago when he was still alive. She believed that, if she made a prayer with it, her brother would be okay. Actually, she had never believed in it, at first. She never believed that praying with the rosary, could make prayers come true.When her father gave it to her, he told her that it would protect her always, and that whatever she needed, she should pray with it and her desire would be granted. She never saw t
"Um, he's fine. He's out of danger for now, but..." he hesitated. Whatever information he wanted to disclose to her was very critical. He knew, people react to critical information differently. Some would cry it out, others would take it calmly and others would remain quiet. They would not cry, they would not talk or say anything. This party was the most affected. They could result to committing suicide.Apart from being a doctor, he was also a psychologist and he knew so much about psychology, and studying people's minds to know their reactions. He needed to calm her, first, before he could disclose to her whatever was going on with her brother."First, you need to stay calm. Breath in and then out," he said as he gestured to her, while he inhaled and exhaled too."Okay, I'm calm," she said as she followed his lead and breathed in and out to steady her breath. "What's going on with Hayden! Please doctor, just tell me! Tell me he's going to be fine!" she pleaded
"Sir, welcome back. Dinner is ready. Should I serve you now, or you'll freshen up, first?" Auntie Garcia asked. She had been in the kitchen when she heard him walk in. The woman's appearance was motherly, and she wore a white dress that was below her knees. The dress looked like the sort that maids often wore.She had a smile line across her lips. Although, she was middle-aged, when she smiled, all the signs of age disappeared, leaving only a pleasant woman who was clearly very cheerful. Over the years, she had been taking care of Ethan. Even though she had children of her own, she never spent much time with them. She spent much of her time raising Ethan since he was born upto this moment.He was like a son to her. After his mother's death, Garcia took the place of his mother."Thank you, Garcia. I'll freshen up first and then have dinner later," he responded, before he turned around to head upstairs."Um, sir," she called out."Yes, anything else
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