A QUIET DECISION 🙂

879 Words

HIS POSSESSION Chapter Nine: A QUIET DECISION Wednesday evening arrived beneath a sky painted with shades of violet and gold. By now, Adrian no longer questioned where his evenings ended. The decision had quietly made itself. Le Château. It had become as familiar to him as his own office. As predictable as sunrise. And, strangely… He didn’t mind. The hostess greeted him with the warmth reserved for regular guests. “Welcome back, Mr. De Luca.” “Good evening.” “Table nine is ready.” “Thank you.” There was no ceremony anymore. No surprise. Only familiarity. As Adrian walked toward his table, he noticed Ethan speaking with Chef Marcel near the kitchen. The chef laughed heartily at something Ethan had said before shaking his head and returning to work. Ethan turned. Their eyes met. A genuine smile appeared on Ethan’s face. “Good evening, Mr. De Luca.” “Good evening.” “I’ll be with you in just a moment.” “I’ll be here.” When Ethan arrived at the table, he set a glass of water down before Adrian asked. “I remembered.” Adrian looked at the glass. “You did.” “You always ask for still water before ordering.” “I suppose I do.” Ethan grinned. “I figured I’d save us both a step.” It was such a small gesture. So ordinary. Yet Adrian found himself unexpectedly pleased. Being remembered… Felt different. Dinner passed comfortably. Their conversations remained brief, woven naturally between Ethan’s responsibilities. “Chef says you’re becoming difficult.” Adrian looked up. “Difficult?” “You never order from the menu anymore.” “And whose fault is that?” Ethan laughed. “I created a monster.” “A predictable one.” “I’ll take that as a compliment.” “You should.” For a moment, they shared a quiet smile before Ethan excused himself to attend another table. Neither of them noticed Noah watching from across the dining room. “You’re smiling.” Ethan looked confused. “What?” “When you talk to table nine.” “I smile at everyone.” “Not like that.” Ethan frowned. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Noah chuckled. “If you say so.” Later that evening, Adrian watched Ethan help close out several tables. An elderly gentleman insisted on leaving a handwritten note with the bill. Ethan unfolded it after the guests departed. “Thank you for treating my wife so kindly tonight. She hasn’t smiled this much since leaving the hospital.” Ethan stood quietly for a moment. Then he folded the note with care and slipped it into his apron pocket. Not for attention. Not to show anyone. Simply because it meant something. Adrian looked away. Some people collected expensive watches. Others collected rare paintings. Ethan… Collected moments. As dessert arrived, Adrian spoke. “You enjoy your work.” “I do.” “Why?” Ethan thought for a moment. “Because people remember how they’re treated.” He smiled thoughtfully. “They might forget what they ordered.” “They’ll forget the music.” “They’ll probably even forget my face.” “But they’ll remember how someone made them feel.” Adrian considered those words carefully. “You believe that.” “I do.” “And has anyone ever made you feel unforgettable?” The question slipped out before Adrian could stop it. Ethan blinked in surprise. He looked down for a moment before answering honestly. “I don’t know.” Then he smiled. “Maybe one day.” Something tightened in Adrian’s chest. He wasn’t sure why. Outside the restaurant, the evening air had grown cooler. Luca was waiting beside the sedan. As Adrian approached, he spoke without looking away from the restaurant. “Luca.” “Yes, Boss?” “I want you to do something.” “Of course.” Adrian remained silent for several moments. He knew exactly what he was about to ask. And he knew that, once spoken… There would be no pretending this was simple curiosity anymore. “When you have time…” He paused. “…Find out a little about Ethan Brooks.” Luca looked at him carefully. “How much would you like to know?” Adrian thought about the question. Everything. The answer formed instantly. Instead, he said, “Only the basics.” Luca nodded. “I understand.” “And Luca…” “Yes?” “No one is to approach him.” “Of course.” “No one is to interfere with his life.” “I’ll make sure of it.” Adrian finally looked toward him. “I simply…” He searched for the right words. “…want to know who he is.” Luca inclined his head. “As you wish.” The car pulled away from Le Château. Adrian watched the restaurant disappear into the distance. For days, he had told himself that knowing Ethan’s first name… Then his surname… Had been enough. Tonight, he admitted something different. He wanted to know the man behind the smile. It was a small decision. A quiet one. But some decisions… Changed everything. End of Chapter Nine

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