CHAPTER 6: UNEXPECTED CLOSENESS
576 Words
The next morning, Cruz Enterprises felt different again.
Not because anything had changed in the structure of the company—but because Ethan Cruz had made a decision that no one questioned.
“Lia Santos will accompany me on the business trip.”
The announcement spread through the executive floor in less than ten minutes.
Whispers followed immediately.
“Her again?”
“She’s just an assistant…”
“Why her?”
But none of it reached Lia directly.
She only found out when Ethan walked past her desk and dropped a thin folder in front of her.
“Pack for two days,” he said.
Lia blinked. “Sir?”
He didn’t stop walking.
“Tokyo branch meeting. You’re coming with me.”
That was all.
No explanation.
No discussion.
Just fact.
Lia sat frozen for a moment.
A business trip.
With him.
Her heart tightened slightly—but she quickly pushed the thought away.
“This is work,” she reminded herself quietly. “Nothing else.”
But something about the way he didn’t look at her when he said it…
felt heavier than it should have.
The flight was long.
Too long.
Ethan sat by the window, reviewing documents the entire time. His expression didn’t change once, not even when turbulence lightly shook the plane.
Lia sat beside him, careful not to disturb his space.
She told herself to focus on her own work.
But it was hard.
Because being this close to him felt different.
Not intimidating in the same way as the office.
More… personal.
At one point, the plane dipped slightly.
Lia instinctively grabbed the armrest.
Ethan noticed.
Without looking at her, he said, “Relax.
It’s just turbulence.”
“I know,” she replied quickly. “I’m fine.”
A pause.
Then, unexpectedly—
“You’re not used to flying.”
It wasn’t a question.
Lia hesitated. “Not really… no.”
Ethan didn’t respond immediately.
Then, without looking away from his document, he said, “Then sleep.”
Lia blinked. “What?”
“You’re distracting yourself.”
That wasn’t true.
But she didn’t argue.
Instead, she leaned back slowly, unsure if she actually could sleep.
Minutes passed.
Then—
her eyes closed.
Lia didn’t realize she had fallen asleep until she woke up slowly, warmth on her shoulder.
She froze.
Something heavy was resting on her.
She turned slightly.
Ethan’s suit jacket.
Draped over her shoulders.
She looked beside her.
Ethan was still awake, still reading.
But his jacket was clearly placed on her.
Lia blinked.
“Sir… this is yours.”
He didn’t look at her.
“It’s cold in the cabin.”
That was all.
Simple explanation.
No emotion.
But she didn’t move the jacket.
For some reason… it felt comforting.
The plane continued smoothly through the clouds.
And for the first time since working under him, Lia noticed something different.
Ethan wasn’t as distant as he pretended to be.
He was just… controlled.
Carefully controlled.
As if every small gesture had to stay hidden.
Later, when she turned slightly, she caught him looking out the window.
Not at documents.
Not at work.
Just outside.
Quiet.
Still.
Human.
And for a brief moment—
their distance didn’t feel as large as before.
But Ethan quickly adjusted his expression when he noticed her movement.
The wall returned.
Just like that.
But something had already passed through it.
And neither of them said it out loud.
- Writer
