Chapter 29

Ethan

"Send me the product details, Mr Berner," I spoke.

"Yes, sir." I heard from my side.

"Also, we don't have much time for the product launch. The product proposal launch has to be announced at Chris' party." He hesitated to speak but eventually did.

"But sir, Mr Hudson's party is on the day after tomorrow." He stammered.

"Yes?" I didn't get his point.

"But it would be too soon, sir. I don't think we could make it in time." He suggested and I stopped walking. He mirrored me.

"Mr Berner, we are only left with the final review. As far as I know, it doesn't take much time if we put in all our efforts. So, announce the product launch at Chris' party. It will be an advantage for us to discuss with investors in the party later." I continued and he nodded his head in understanding.

"Yes, sir." I gave him a final nod before walking away.

I entered the elevator, pressed my office floor, and waited for the doors to close.

The doors opened and I walked towards my office after nodding to the series of greetings I got from my employees.

When my eyes fell on Lauren, I stopped in my tracks.

She is sitting in her cubicle staring ahead, probably thinking something.

I haven't seen her since morning, I had important work so I left early from home. And last night she didn't talk much but just answered my questions monotonously.

Last night, I almost ripped my hair thinking if I did something wrong for her to act that way. but she just brushed it off saying she is having a headache.

She even left early to her room last night without watching any movie, which has been our routine recently.

It would be a lie if I said that didn't disappoint me.

I started watching movies just to spend a bit more time with her.

Bringing myself out of my thoughts and walking towards her, I cleared my throat.

When she turned her eyes towards me, I gave her one of my charming smiles.

She looked beautiful as ever, but today her usual exciting and mischievous glint in her eyes was missed. Instead, her eyes are speaking of uncertainty and confusion.

"You are here." She gave me a small smile and I sat in front of her.

"Well, speak." I began.

I want to know what is that, that keeps bugging her mind.

She just frowned at me and turned her face away.

"What?" she mirrored my expression.

"Do you have something to say?" I questioned.

She shrugged her shoulders and my eyes fell from her face to her pen where she tightened her hold on it.

"Anything?" I continued.

She stared at me blinking and thinking hard at the same time.

If the situation isn't this serious, I would have made fun of her. she looked hilarious for a moment with her blinking-eyes face looking so lost.

"I- I I- just-" she stuttered and I tried hard to understand what she was saying.

I took her hand on the desk in mine and wrapped my fingers around her soft hand.

Looking at my action, a soft but contended smile graced her lips.

"It's just I've met-" she was about to say something when my phone rang out of nowhere.

She stopped talking and I took my phone out to see Chris' name flashing on my mobile screen.

I declined the call deciding to talk later but she just frowned at my action.

"Take the call, Ethan." She said sternly.

"I'll call him back later. Now tell me." I answered her and she just leaned back sighing.

"Take the call now. It might be important. I'll tell you later." I was about to oppose but when I saw her stern face, I decided to give in.

I walked out and called back Chris and he answered quickly.

"Tell me," I spoke as soon as he answered.

"Are you sure about the product launch at the party?" he continued.

"Yes."

This project can be beneficial for both companies.

Any mistake will lead to a disastrous path for the next projects. So, we have to be careful.

Although it seems too soon for the launch, I think it would be a perfect time.

"It means a lot of work, Ethan." I was about to shrug him off but he spoke again.

"You do remember what tomorrow is. Right?" he asked me and I frowned for a moment.

When I realized what the date tomorrow is, I closed my eyes trying to sink the information in.

Tomorrow is the day my father died.

It's been almost twenty years since I lost my father but the wound still bled. The pain still existed.

I don't even want the pain to go away because it is the only thing that connects me with him in a twisted way.

My father was a good man.

He loved me and my mother- Mrs Kingston, I corrected myself.

He loved Eva too.

"Ethan?" hearing Chris' voice from the other side I took a deep breath.

"Yes," I replied.

"Don't worry. I'll manage." I continued.

He stayed silent for a moment before speaking again.

"Fine, then." He muttered.

"You'll have to visit the manufacturing department for the product's final testing now. It has to be done today."

"I got it." I ended the call.

I stood there for a moment letting my mind be flooded with thoughts and memories. After pulling myself together I walked back to Lauren.

"Are you okay?" she stood up and came to me when I entered.

"Yes, I am." I smiled at her but she still looked at me with suspicion.

"I have to go, Lauren. Can we talk at home?" I asked her and she looked relaxed and also anxious at the same time.

"Of course."

I nodded my head at her smiling face staring at her for a moment.

Wish I could read what thoughts runs behind that smiling face.

***

The entire day was tiring.

After talking to Lauren, I had to spend the rest of the day on the upcoming launch.

When I finally reached home, I concluded Lauren is in her room when I couldn't find her anywhere else.

Quickly taking a shower and dressed, I walked out to her room. When I opened her door after knocking, the sight in front of me brought a smile.

Lauren was sleeping peacefully on the bed with a book hugged to her chest. She looked carefree like she had nothing to worry about tomorrow.

I walked towards her and sat beside her on the bed staring at her.

Her soft snores are the only sound in the room. She looked so calm and peaceful.

Slowly taking my phone out to not disturb her sleep, I took a picture of her calm resting face.

I stared at my phone with her picture in it and smiled to myself cherishing the moment.

Bringing my hand to her face, I tucked the single strand of hair which is disturbing me from my perfect view of her face.

Taking the book slowly from her hands and placing it on the bedside table and covering her small frame with a blanket, I turned off the lights before walking out of her room.

What was she about to tell me in the morning? I remembered she was about to say something.

As I didn't have any appetite, I called it a day and went back to my room to get some rest.

***

Lauren's POV

Are Ethan and Eva any childhood sweethearts?

I don't think so.

But then I don't know much about Ethan's past life.

Or are they related?

Their smiles are somewhat familiar, I dare say.

Then why wouldn't I know if they are related?

Why would grandpa, my parents, or even Elena not talk about her to me?

Why would Ethan keep this from me?

I never thought of asking him about the little girl in the picture after the way he reacted.

I didn't even think I would ever face her.

But still, here I am.

And the little girl is Eva. I scoffed when I realized the situation I am in right now.

I should have just told him yesterday when he asked me.

Ethan is very mysterious. He holds many secrets. Many mysterious people I had to connect the dots because never tells me about them.

Why can't he just be simple?

Why can't he simply talk to me?

Should I just tell him?

But the way he got so mad at me last time when I saw their picture, is still fresh in my mind.

What if he gets mad again that I brought this up again?

I don't think I can take it now if he loses his words on me again.

What if I ask Eva?

But what am I going to ask?

Do you know Ethan?

Or why is your picture with Ethan?

Wouldn't that be creepy?

Wouldn't it be weird if I ask Eva but not Ethan?

Fed up with all the ridiculous assumptions, I scratched my forehead not to jump to conclusions.

"Arghh!" I groaned.

What should I do?

Maybe I'll just tell him.

But Ethan was looking gloomy since morning.

I tried talking to him but he just seemed a bit off.

We stayed at home as he skipped the office today.

It's almost noon, but he didn't come out of his study since morning. He didn't even have much for breakfast.

It worried me.

He was fine till yesterday, but I don't know what happened to him out of a sudden.

But I didn't like this. Him staying away from me. Him ignoring me.

The burden of knowing-Eva-and-not-telling-Ethan just worsened the situation even more.

I felt guilty for not telling him.

Maybe I'll just tell him.

What could go wrong?

Mustering up my courage, I decided to go and tell him.

Before making it past two steps, my phone blew up and Ryan's name flashed on it.

"Ryan." I spoke.

"Is he okay?" I frowned when I heard him.

I wanted to ask him how did he know Ethan is not okay, but I decided against it.

It would be foolish of me to ask them that question.

They have been in Ethan's life long before me. They were friends. Of course, they must have known something about it.

"No. He is not." I sighed not knowing how to answer him.

"Ah, He isn't," he repeated.

The silence was loud for a good minute between us.

"He loved his father too much." It was Chris.

Ryan and Chris met?

Wait-

"Father?" I asked and I heard nothing for a moment from them.

"His father died today," Ryan muttered weakly.

Oh.

I stayed silent sinking the information in.

His father died today?

I wonder how Ethan is holding up.

An urge to go and comfort him overwhelmed me.

He must have been so lost with all those emotions inside him.

"Usually, he never meets us today. He likes to be alone on this day. He just disappears for an hour or so and then returns." Ryan stated and I sighed.

"He doesn't even tell us much, Lauren. Getting himself to open up and talk took a good amount of time for us. Even we don't know what happened between him and Mrs Kingston to fall apart like that. He likes to keep everything to himself." It was Chris this time.

I frowned thinking hard.

Ethan doesn't really share much.

Not just with me.

Not even with them.

"But he will talk to you if you ask, Lauren. Get him to talk to you." Ryan spoke hopefully.

"He likes you a lot and cares about you. You are a special person to him, Lauren. He might not show it but trust me you are the only one he will open up to, ever" Ryan continued and my heart fluttered but also longed for Ethan.

I know that Ethan cares about me.

I wasn't completely sure of his feelings like I'm with mine.

I know for sure that l liked him.

To be completely fair, I know I love him.

But it has always been hard to reach out to him.

We are so different from each other, Like complete opposites.

We don't even share a common interest.

To understand each other, we have to go out of our own paths.

It was hard to read each other's thoughts.

But maybe it's love or longing or fear of losing the other, that always brought us back.

It was hard to read each other's thoughts,

But it wasn't that hard to read each other's feelings.

"Lauren?" Chris' voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Um. Yes." I replied.

"I'll call you back." I quickly spoke and ended the call.

I stayed at the same place biting my lip hard to pull together myself.

The thought of telling him about Eva was completely thrown out of the window.

Being there with him is the only thing that seemed important right now.

Taking a deep breath, I walked towards his study and knocked on his door before opening it.

I furrowed my eyebrows when I saw him taking his coat and getting up from his seat.

He disappears for an hour or so and then returns. I remembered Ryan's words.

He faced me and I noticed his eyes were just emotionless.

"Let's go." He spoke after staring at me for a good minute.

"Where?"

He didn't answer anything but walked out and I had no other option but to follow him.

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