THE ONE MISTAKE I'D MAKE AGAIN

Episode 1 Ethan Cole had learned early in life that money could buy almost everything.  A beautiful apartment overlooking Manhattan.  A car that turned heads before he even stepped out of it.  Designer clothes.  Private parties.  A seat at tables where ordinary people could spend their entire lives trying to get invited.  But there was one thing money had never bought him.  Peace.  "You're late."  Ethan didn't look up from his phone.  "I'm aware."  His manager sighed from across the studio.  "You've been aware for the last twenty minutes."  Ethan finally lifted his eyes.  The photographer was waiting.  The stylist was waiting.  Three assistants were running around him.  And yet, somehow, Ethan remained completely unbothered.  He stood in front of the enormous white backdrop, dressed in a dark tailored jacket, his expression calm and unreadable.  "Let's get this over with," he said.  The camera flashed.  Again.  And again.  Ethan changed poses almost effortlessly.  It was what he did.  Modeling had started as something his family considered a temporary hobby. His father owned several successful businesses and had expected Ethan to eventually join the family empire.  Instead, Ethan had chosen the fashion industry.  He liked the control.  In front of a camera, nobody asked him what he was feeling.  Nobody cared about his problems.  They only wanted the right photograph.  "Perfect!" the photographer called.  Another flash.  "That's the one."  Ethan stepped away from the backdrop.  His phone vibrated.  Dad.  He stared at the name for several seconds before answering.  "Hello."  "Where are you?"  "Working."  "You mean modeling."  "That's what I said."  There was a pause.  "You can't keep avoiding the family business forever, Ethan."  Ethan rubbed his forehead.  "I have a meeting tonight. I'll see you then."  "You'd better."  The call ended.  Ethan slipped his phone into his pocket.  He hated conversations like that.  Not because his father was wrong.  Because he was right.  Ethan knew exactly what was waiting for him.  The family company.  The responsibilities.  The expectations.  The life that had already been planned for him.  He just wasn't sure he wanted it.   ---  Across the city, Sienna Blake was having a very different kind of problem.  "You're going to be late!"  Sienna grabbed her bag from the chair.  "I know!"  She rushed out of her apartment with a half-eaten piece of toast in her hand.  University had taught her many things.  How to survive on very little sleep.  How to stretch twenty dollars across an entire week.  How to study while working.  And, most importantly, how to pretend everything was fine when it wasn't.  Sienna wasn't from a wealthy family.  Every semester was a calculation.  Tuition.  Rent.  Books.  Food.  Transportation.  Still, somehow, she always found a way to help someone else.  Her roommate had needed money for textbooks last month.  Sienna had given her some.  A classmate couldn't afford lunch.  Sienna had shared hers.  Her professor often joked that Sienna was incapable of saying no.  He wasn't entirely wrong.  That afternoon, after her final lecture, Sienna noticed a small crowd gathered near the university entrance.  A charity organization had set up a temporary booth.  They were collecting donations for students who were struggling financially.  Sienna stopped.  She looked at the money in her wallet.  It wasn't much.  She hesitated.  Then she placed a few bills into the donation box.  "Thank you," the volunteer said.  Sienna smiled.  "You're welcome."  She turned to leave.  That's when she heard a familiar voice behind her.  "Excuse me."  She turned.  A young man was holding a wallet.  "Is this yours?"  Sienna looked down.  Her wallet was gone.  She immediately checked her bag.  Nothing.  "Oh my God."  The man handed it to her.  "You dropped it near the booth."  "Thank you."  She opened it quickly.  Everything was still there.  Except one thing.  A photograph.  Sienna's smile disappeared.  The photograph was gone.  She looked around.  "Did you see a picture?"  The man shook his head.  "No. Sorry."  Sienna sighed.  It wasn't worth much.  But it was the only photograph she had of someone she had lost years ago.  She thanked him again and walked away.  She didn't notice the black car parked across the street.  She didn't notice the man sitting inside it.  And she certainly didn't notice that he was watching her.  Ethan Cole had been on his way to a family dinner when he saw her.  At first, he couldn't explain why she caught his attention.  She wasn't dressed like the women he usually met.  She wasn't trying to be noticed.  She wasn't taking pictures.  She wasn't looking around to see who was watching.  She had simply stopped to give away money she probably needed herself.  Ethan watched her disappear into the university building.  "Who was that?" he asked his driver.  The driver glanced at him through the mirror.  "I don't know, sir."  Ethan looked back at the building.  For some strange reason, he found himself smiling.  It was the first genuine smile he'd had all day.  Then his phone rang.  His manager.  "Ethan, there's been a change to tomorrow's campaign."  "What change?"  "The university is partnering with the fashion company."  Ethan frowned.  "What university?"  There was a brief pause.  Then his manager gave him the name.  Sienna Blake's university.  Ethan looked through the car window again.  The smile disappeared.  For the first time in years, something about tomorrow interested him.  And he had absolutely no idea why.  To be continued...