THE UNRAVELING
1099 Words
CHAPTER 12
AT THE COMPANY
The elevator doors slid open, Ava stepped in first and Ethan joined almost when the elevator was about to close.
He stood beside her, close enough for the scent of his cologne to seduce her but she had her eyes fixed on the elevator floor.
The elevator jolted midway and the light flickered. Ava gasped.
He turned towards her slowly. “Hey, look at me,” he said calmly. He still remembered she was scared of the dark.
“I've got you.” He murmured, his voice was low and assuring.
She lifted her eyes reluctantly and without hesitation he leaned in. His lips found hers, this time it was slow and deliberate.
Her breath hitched. “Mhmm…” she moaned in his mouth.
He claimed her lips with an inexplainable hunger. His tongue explored her mouth with intentional strokes while her fingers curled into his suit.
She wanted it, she needed every bit of it.
Her heart pounded in her chest and somewhere in her mind she knew it was dangerous; but she no longer cared about that.
He however stepped back.
It ended quicker than she expected, they both stared at each other, their hearts beating in unison.
Their eyes were filled with want and longing none could give at the moment.
“I'm not apologizing for that.”
“What?”
“Don't stare at me that way.” He teased her. “You'll make me do it again.”
She looked away immediately; she didn't want her eyes to lock with him again.
The elevator jolted back to life, the light brightening everywhere. Ava and Ethan stepped into light again as the tension melted between them.
They both went into their various offices.
Ava closed the door to her office and leaned against it, her fingers caressing her lips, she wished it would happen again.
MOMENTS LATER
When Ava was deeply invested in her work, a knock came on the glass door of her office.
“Come in,” She said, without looking up from her laptop screen.
Lucas Hale stepped in.
Ava froze.
His eyes trailing slowly from her head to her chiffon blouse.
“Morning, you look really stunning.” He said with a smirk.
She snapped. “What do you want?”
She didn't need any long talks with Lucas and she wasn't going to entertain it.
“I got you flowers.” He pulled his hand from behind his back, revealing a bunch of red roses he got for her.
She was stunned.
“I do not need it.” She said bluntly.
He blinked several times. He looked genuinely hurt.
Lucas kept the flowers down on her desk. “Then throw it out yourself, if you don't need it.”
“Fine, watch me.” She picked the flowers and tossed it in the trash can. She didn't hesitate for a second.
Something in Lucas' eyes shifted. He knew deep down that he already lost her but he still wanted to try.
“I'll keep trying to win your heart Ava.” He said with floods of emotion washing through him and slowly backed out of the office.
“Good luck with that.” She hissed. She had long lost interest in him.
Ava continued with her work, dismissing the encounter.
Just then her phone rang.
The caller ID: Dr Hashford, her father's operating doctor.
“Hello, Dr. Hashford.” She answered immediately.
“Miss Sinclair,” the doctor's voice came through. “Your father's surgery was a success, he's asking for you now.”
She heaved a sigh of relief.
Ethan came into her office as she was about to leave.
“Going somewhere?” He inquired as he fully stepped into the office.
“My father…he’s conscious now…the surgery was a success.” She cried.
His expression shifted. It changed into relief.
“Then we should go see him.”
He didn't hesitate, at that moment she was his priority.
And the thought of that made her heart bloom with warmth.
AT THE HOSPITAL
The smell of the hospital's antiseptic filled both their nostrils as she pushed the door to her father's ward open.
“Dad…”
He opened his eyes slowly, he looked tired.
“Ava,” he called her slowly.
“I'm right here, dad.” She rushed towards her father.
Tears welled up her eyes, she hadn't held her dad for a long time.
After many weeks of worry and making reckless decisions, she was finally with her father.
While Ethan stood there calm and reserved, watching father and daughter. Immediately, her father's gaze dropped on him.
“And who is this?” Her father asked weakly.
“This is Mr. Ethan Hale. My boss.”
The old man paused and he scratched his head like he was trying to remember something.
“Hale?” He repeated. “As in, the business tycoon in the whole of New York.” He paused.
“The Hale family?” He asked again, he wanted to make sure he wasn't mistaken.
Ethan wasn't surprised, almost everybody living in New York knew the Hale family, most especially ‘Ethan Hale.’
Ava blinked. “Yes, his family,” she confirmed.
Her father's eyes widened, his expression changed.
His eyes grew distant like he went back in time.
“I once worked for the Hale family.” He murmured.
A heavy silence followed; it was suffocating.
Ethan stiffened. This was the reason her father stressed on the ‘Hale family.’
“I was younger then.” He continued. “I worked as a driver. Events from that time are blurry in my head but I remember your family.”
“That house…” He cut his words.
Ethan turned away, fiercely, fighting the painful memories of his childhood.
What was her father trying to hint at? Ava thought.
The screaming child; the news. It all came back haunting him.
When Ava noticed his mood shifted, she stood and walked towards him.
“Ethan.” She called his name with no sign of profession attached to it.
He looked at her. “I'm sorry about that, are you okay?”
He didn't say anything.
She knew it hurt him. She figured something might be wrong but she just couldn't place her fingers on it.
“You don't have to talk about it now, but I'm here if you need me.” She added.
She saw the pain in his eyes. It was so raw and vulnerable.
His eyes held stories untold and needed someone willingly to listen.
- Writer
