“Same parents, but he’s so successful. I’m still figuring things out…”
I tuned her out. I stared at my phone, deleted
my draft, and finally, the day he left, I texted: “Have a safe flight.”
He didn’t reply.
I blocked him.
I didn’t know what that night meant. Teenage hormones, probably. I heard about him through Olivia: the girlfriends, the academic
achievements, his booming career… I stopped asking eventually. It wasn’t my business.
The next day, HR called. I could come back. Demoted, from creative to admin. Filing, printing, fetching coffee, cleaning… I ached all over. Ethan was ruthless. Now he wanted my
<
soul, not my money.
I learned the ropes, dodged requests to fetch
coffee for others, and my productivity soared. I
saw Ethan at the office a few times during late
nights, but I avoided him. I didn’t want to give
people the wrong idea, especially after hearing
he’d hired a new girl for my old position,
rumored to be his girlfriend.
Then my boss went on vacation, and I had to
get Ethan to sign some documents. I braced
myself and went to his office. I waited for two
hours.
“In a hurry?” he asked, without looking up. He’d
somehow caught me checking my phone.
Busted.
“No, take your time.” My stomach growled
loudly. Double busted.
226
<
9:05
He paused, finally looking up. “Didn’t eat?”
((
“Not yet.” I’d been too busy. “I’m not hungry.”
“Come on.” He closed the file, grabbing his
jacket.
“The documents…” My boss needed them signed tonight. Ethan was flying out tomorrow.
93
“I’ll get to them later. My assistant will get them
to you in the morning.”
“Okay.” I followed him downstairs.
In the elevator, I panicked, trying to figure out
how to avoid dinner with him. I had a boyfriend.
He had a girlfriend. This was inappropriate.
“Afraid of me?” he murmured.
“No.”
J
“Then why are you so far away?” He smirked.
I shuffled closer, feeling awkward.
“What do you want to eat?”
“I’m going home to eat.” This felt too intimate.
He put his hands in his pockets, tilting his head,
watching me from the corner of his eye. “Now
you’re keeping your distance?”
I was mortified. “No, I… have food at home.
Going out is a waste.” I laughed nervously.
“Oh?” He raised an eyebrow. “Are you inviting
me over?”
“No! It’s not… convenient,” I stammered.
“Is your boyfriend there?” he asked calmly.
<
I froze. “No.”
“Then what’s inconvenient?” he smiled.
I was speechless. Six years had changed him.
He was so… forward. I’d never imagined him
teasing me like this.
“Or…” His eyes twinkled. “Do you think I’m still
interested in you after all these years?”
“Don’t flatter yourself,” I said, a pang of
something hitting my chest. “All I have are
frozen dumplings. If you don’t mind.”
He paused, then sighed, opening the car door.
“Let’s go.”
I followed, my heart pounding.
I spent the drive wondering why he was
bothering with me. He’d said he wasn’t
く
interested. The thought stung less than I’d
expected. It was like wanting something I
couldn’t afford for years, finally accepting I’d
never have it.
He focused on driving. I stole glances at his profile. I remembered sneaking around his grandparents‘ yard after he left, too shy to ask about him. I’d wondered if, despite his gruff exterior, he’d liked me too. That night, when he’d whispered, “Is this bad for you?” his voice was so gentle. I’d said yes, and he’d cried harder. “Then let’s stop.”
“Are you even a man?” I’d asked, mortified.
“I am. But I want to be one… at the right time.”
That’s when I knew he didn’t like me. He didn’t
want to be my man.
But we’d still…
I was pathetic, which is why I never contacted
(C
S
<
“Seen enough?” His cool voice snapped me
back to reality.
We were parked. Ethan was watching me,
amused.
“We’re here?” I fumbled with my seatbelt. He
leaned in-
His face was inches from mine. I held my
breath, my heart racing. I thought he was going
to kiss me. Instead, he reached into the glove
compartment, pulled out a tissue, and handed it
to me. “Wipe your mouth.” He got out of the
car.
I sat there, humiliated, clutching the tissue.
When I finally composed myself and got out, he was waiting by the elevator.
“It smells,” he said, pointing inside.
Twrinklod my noso Some older dog in the
<
9:06
I wrinkled my nose. Some older dog in the building had accidents sometimes.
