Turtle Whisperer

“What do you mean you hired a law student as your aide?” Jack frowned.

“She stepped in and pulled out a law that my own lawyer knew nothing about. And she didn’t even have to! In fact she endangered her own job by doing it.” Ethan reasoned, “I need someone on my side who wants to be good for me out of their own goodwill.”

“Why don’t I join you on Saturday? And I will also talk to her and see if she is trustworthy… You still trust the old lawyer?” Jake asked and Ethan shrugged explaining that he didn’t really trust him but since he knew so many company secrets, he didn’t want to fully lose him.

Jake was Ethan’s long time friend. He had known him ever since Ethan had started working at the company. Jake was the financial advisor and the only one that Ethan trusted blindly.

He looked younger than his age, his sandy brown hair laid in tousled curls and he was rarely found in a suit like everyone else but wore neat shirts instead.

“Amanda is really doing a number on you, huh?” Jake looked at his friend with pity. He had seemed to age 10 years since he had started this divorce process.

“She did…” Jake sighed, leaning in his chair and staring out the window of his office on the 40^th floor. It was the largest office in the building and he was the most successful man in his field and yet he was so plagued.

“Have you spoken to Hunter?” Jake was tentative in his question as he knew this was a sore spot for him.

“I haven’t… I don’t think I ever will.” Ethan replied, thinking about his brother. Even his wife cheating hadn’t hurt him as much as the betrayal by his own brother. His own elder brother who had gotten everything that he had ever wanted now couldn’t even keep his hands off of Ethan’s wife…

“You know you’re going to see him in meetings. He is one of the shareholders.” Jake pointed out but Ethan remained silent. He knew this but hadn’t thought about it and neither did he want to talk about it.

The barrage of meetings and presentations that lay ahead of Ethan, flowed by like water over his barely present conscience. He didn’t care for any of it.

It was all he could do to not crawl out of his skin and run away when he had to actively talk to anyone. As soon as he could, he dialed a familiar number. One that held excitement for him. The only good part of his week.

He had been given this number carelessly but little did she know, he would rely on this number more than anyone ever did.

Ethan dialled the number and pressed the phone to his ear, “Hello?” he breathed out, sitting in the confines of his car.

“Hello? Ethan?” he heard Ruby’s voice on the other side of the call.

“I need to see you.” Was all he said and she agreed to meet him.

Within the hour, Ruby was sitting on a park bench She wasn’t dressed like she usually was. She had a pair off distressed jeans and a loose shirt along with her usual mask on. It was late and very few people roamed the part.

Seeing her all covered up like this was interesting for Ethan who rather liked it. It was far more relaxed.

“Is everything okay? You sounded stressed?” She asked as she stood to greet him.

“I want a hug…” he said, barely believing the vulnerability of his own words. His eyes held a boyish sincerity that she had never seen in him before.

Ruby held out her arms and instead of hugging her, he leaned into her embrace and sunk into her. The warmth of her body and the subtle vanilla embedded in her skin; the gentle rise and fall of her chest with each breath. He couldn’t get enough.

Ruby frowned as she wrapped her arms around him and gently ran her fingers through his hair. It was perhaps wiser not to say anything but the silence was so intimate that it suffocated her. She had been a prostitute for a while now. And all those nights she had spent with men, her brain had never registered even one of them as actual people. And yet Ethan was doing it… he made her feel something just by hugging her, even fully clothed. Why did he have this power? Had she given it to him?

Gulping her fears down Ruby went against her own rules and kissed the side of his head comfortingly.

“Thank you.” Ethan whispered; his face snuggled into the crook of her neck.

“Sure...” She mumbled back, her throat now dry.

“I wanted something different today.” He said, leaving the hug, against his own wishes.

“Sure.”

“Let’s take a walk.” He offered his arm and she took it with a charming smile.

The night moon had washed the park in its silvery moonlight and they were soon left alone. Ruby realised that she was becoming his escape from his world and a light-hearted conversation would be perfect for him.

“So Mr. Ethan. What do you do when you aren’t out there conquering the world?” Ruby teased, nudging him with her shoulder.

Ethan laughed, his expression softening, “I’ll have you know I am a master at relaxation.” He said, pretending to stretch his arms out and taking a dramatic deep breath, “I’ve even watched an entire episode of a TV show.”

“Oh wow, stop everything. A whole Episode?!” Ruby chuckled, rolling her eyes, “What was it? The economic times or something?”

“Not even close! It was… well, okay, it was planet earth,” He admitted sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck, “ I got invested in the baby turtles.”

Ruby burst out laughing, imagining him glued to the screen, wide-eyed over baby turtles, “ I can just picture it now, The CEO of  Lockwood industries, Ethan Lockwood, on the edge of his seat, emotionally invested in turtle survival. The drama of it all!”

He shook his head with a smile, “hey, those turtles go through a lot. I respect their hustle,” He said, grinning, “Besides, I am not totally boring you know. I can be full of surprises.”

“Oh really?” Her eyes sparkled mischievously, “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

With that Ethan stopped suddenly, looking at her with a gleam in his eyes, “Fine. The last one to the bench is a rotten egg!” he exclaimed and before she could react he bolted across the grass towards a bench in the distance.

Ruby’s jaw dropped, “Hey! No fair!” She shouted, laughing as she sprinted after him.

She caught up just as he reached the bench where both of them sat, laughing and panting.

“See? Not so boring am I?”

Ruby leaned on him,“ Fine, Mr. Turtle whisperer, you win this round.” She conceded, grinning, ‘but next time, I’m picking the challenge.”

As they sat, catching their breath, Ethan turned to her, “So, favorite snack?” Ruby asked.

“Only those who aren’t rotten eggs get to know that.” He chuckled earning a soft smack on his shoulder.

“Come on. Spicy or sweet? Or is it something rich like Caviar?”

“It's actually a perfect symphony of peanut butter and chocolate, wrapped up in a cup. The perfect balance of-“

“Do you mean.. Reeses!?” She exclaimed with wide eyes, “The great CEO likes Reeses?”

“Hey! What’s not to like!” he tried to keep a straight face and slowly failed, letting a smile creep in, “What’s yours?”

“Isn’t in obvious? Flaming Cheetos!” She reached down to scoop an orange leaf, twirling it in her hand.

“Makes sense, it's like you. Fiery.” He agreed.

“You’re an enigma Ethan…” Ruby looked at him, her eyes catching the stray twinkle of the moon, “I thought you were all serious and here you are…”

“Full of surprises.” He winked.

Full of surprises.” She nodded and leaned back. This sweet silent moment was broken when he reached down and grabbed a handful of leaves, tossing them at her.

“Oh you are dead!” She yelled, scooping a handful herself and running behind him while laughing.