Together Forever

I was looking through the papers that a new girl who joined recently has worked on when the door opens and Cathie walks in. Only she has the right to enter my office without any permission since we're friends and friends don't wait for permission. She's in all black today with the tight black skirt that reaches her knees and hair open with two pearl studs just polishing her appearance. As always, my eyes fall on hers and she greets me with her sweet smile.

I smile back and gesture to her to sit on the opposite chair of me.

"Hi!" She bids me, grinning.

Over the past months, I have managed to put her guards down a bit. Now I think she has believed that I am not just a moody cold-hearted boss who always goes ordering around. I can be a friend too if you can be one to me.

And I also got to know a lot about her. Her parents and her younger brother live in Alaska. Because of the retirement of her father, now all the responsibilities of her family are upon her shoulder from grocery shopping to her brother's education, everything has to be managed by her. Being the dutiful girl she is, she doesn't spare one single second for herself to provide money for her family. And how am I supposed to not respect this replica of dignity?

"Hey! So... how are you doing? I haven't gotten much time to talk to you in the last few days." I tell her.

"I'm doing good. And yeah, I noticed you were busy. The night you left with Mr. Liam, Ethan sir came looking for you I got to hear later."

I nod, "Yeah, he came."

She fidgets with her fingers looking down before saying, "Evie? If you don't mind, can I ask you something?" It seems like it took all her strength to utter those words.

"Yeah, sure. Just shoot." I reply, smiling.

She starts to speak hesitantly, "Uhm...are you and Ethan sir only business partners? Actually, you seem close I mean more than just official associates. I'm sorry for prying like this. I just couldn't help myself." She chuckles nervously.

Her words catch me off guard. We never act in public the way we're at home still how could she guess that?

I let out a giggle as I reply, "You know what Cathie? Now I got that why dad likes you this much and even my cold-hearted self fell for your charm. You're quite intelligent."

She keeps staring at me confusedly waiting for me to continue.

"And yes, you guessed right. We are more than just business partners." I give her a secretive smile and her face lightens up.

"Oh see then? I knew it." She chuckles with me. "By the way, you both look so cute together."

I lower my head to the papers at her compliment as I mutter thanks.

"Oh shit! I almost forgot about it." She blurts out suddenly, "You have a meeting today in Jones industries and Mr. Liam will join you."

My smile vanishes at the news. Liam and Ethan together? Well, another trouble.

"Oh ok. You manage the new workers here and I'm leaving now." I say, getting up from my chair.

She nods, "Okay."

******

I park my car in front of the Jones industries and hop off. It's 11 a.m right now and the weather is very appealing today. The mild sunshine is impaling New York City flaring a comfy warmth in the air that's blending with the soothing cool breeze and since it's spring, flowers of diverse colors and natures eliminating the beauty of this ultra-modern city with its spontaneous natural glory. Every time I come here, this flower garden surrounding the blue glass building always blesses my eyes.

I enter the building and head straight towards the elevator without giving any attention to the piercing eyes around me. Pressing the button of the certain floor, I check myself on the lift mirror. I straighten the black blazer I'm wearing over the grey short-sleeved top and the skinny blue jeans with zippers. My hair is pulled up into a bun with loose strands falling on both sides of my forehead. I'm not looking that professional but whatever.

The doors click open and I step out, walking in the direction of the meeting room.

But my bad luck, in the midway I meet Liam who is coming from another way.

He looks at me and I look away, increasing my pace. I'm not in a mood for any drama right now.

I am about to pass him when he stops me, calling my name.

"Evie, wait."

I curse under my breath and slowly turn around when he approaches me. After that night, I really can't stand him.

"You want to say something?" I ask in a stern voice.

"Yeah."

"I'm listening."

He looks down, his face is a bit shrunken like he is embarrassed for some reason.

He clears his throat and then opens his mouth, "Evie, I'm really so sorry for that night. I shouldn't have talked to you like that. I...I just lost control. I'm sorry. Can we just forget it and become friends again like we were?" He speaks and he seems like he's really guilty.

Well, if he really understands his mistake and apologizes, I don't have any problem forgiving him. After all, he's my friend.

I smile at him, "It's okay, Liam. I'm happy that you realized what was wrong and yes, we can be friends again." I touch his arm in a friendly manner.

"Thanks." He smiles back, "I'm heading to the meeting. You coming right?" He asks and I almost say yes when I see the elevator open and a grumpy face comes out who's also known as Ethan.

Liam's back is facing the elevator so he doesn't notice him. I immediately remove my hand from his and nod my head, averting my eyes from Ethan.

"Yeah, you go and I'm coming."

He nods and then walks past me. After he's in a distance, I turn around to see Ethan coming towards me, sulking.

I sigh in disappointment, making myself ready for another one of his temper tantrums.

After he's in front of me, the first thing he says is, "What were you doing with him? I saw you two on the CCTV."

His face is sullen as he stares at me for an answer.

"And you came running here?"

"That's not the case." He shrugs it off.

"We were just talking about a matter. Nothing else." I reply to which he narrows his eyes at me.

"I don't like him." He shouts and I can clearly imagine him stomping his feet on the ground.

There's a room on our right which door is open. I hurriedly take a peek inside just to make sure that no one's inside hearing our conversation.

"I know. But we work together. We have to meet often. Nothing to do." I shrug with a helpless smile.

"But I can't stand him anywhere near you. I just can't." He whines, his hair getting messy in the process.

Imagine the world-famous billionaire cold-hearted suited booted Ethan Jones whining like a kid.

I chuckle as I fix his hair, "Well, I heard you. Now stop whining and join the meeting. They're waiting for us." "But..."

"Shhhh..." I hold his hand and try to take him with me but just as I take a step forward, he pulls me back to his chest and the next moment, he enters the room beside us with me, glued to him. He closes the door immediately and before I can understand what's happening, he

presses me against the closed door

and captures my lips.

It takes me seconds to realize what's happening and when I get it, again my heart starts drum rolling in my chest. After that night, we didn't kiss again and even if we did, I will never get used to his kiss.

His hands come up to cup my

cheeks and the coldness of his hands doesn't help me at all as my face keeps burning. He holds my face firmly while his lips move rapidly on mine. I can't kiss since I never kissed anyone before so I just try to move my lips with him letting him take the lead, letting him have me the way he wants.

When he pulls back, I'm breathing hard. I put my hand on his chest to keep the balance of my body.

I look up to see him staring at me, eyes that are darkened and digging into my skin as if his eyes are kissing me now.

"Ethan, we're getting late," I tell him.

His breathing is heavy just like mine and his chest is rising and falling beneath my hand.

"But I'm not done yet." He says and the next moment he pulls me to him and connects our lips again pressing his hand behind my head.

He angles his head to get better access and for the movement of his hand in my hair, my bun gets loose and the next thing I know, my hair spreads over my back in a second.

He puts pressure on my lips as I clutch his shirt tighter. His fingers thread through my hair and he pulls me closer and closer to his body.

Finally, when he pulls back again, I am a full mess. My hair is messily spread over my back and some on my face, and my breathing is heavy. As I look at him, his condition is the same. His hair is upon his forehead and his lips are swollen with his shirt creased up thanks to my hands.

"Nah I'm still not done." He whines, looking at me with pleading eyes.

"But we have to go. Everyone's waiting for us."

He huffs before saying, "Just one more thing."

"What?" I ask.

He looks down at my lips before brushing his thumb upon them very slowly like he never saw something like that. His finger feels like a soft rose petal palping my skin enriching its glow.

And then he kisses my lips again and again and again.

Aren't we the perfect and responsible heirs of our companies? Our workers are in the meeting room waiting for us and here we're kissing in a dark room.

But the thing is that we're now out of

control. Nothing is in our hands. To

control water flow, we close the

floodgates but that's just a

temporary restraint that we use against natural phenomena for a short period of time. The period the water can't flow freely, it doesn't remain stopped. Moreover, it gains more strength with every second and when the floodgates are open, the water comes brimming over with its extreme power that has been procured in the time it was restrained.

And here we're just like this. We had kept our feelings to ourselves for a long time trying to stop them. But it happened the other way. They just got stronger as much as we tried to make them weak and now we're lost.

Lost in each other.000000☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐