Chapter 19: ***

Avery Rose

The next few days pass in a blur. All I do is wake up and scroll through social media. The world is still buzzing about Ethan’s wedding. I changed my Instagram account to private and I have been getting follow requests. I decided not to get much attention to myself so nobody knows who I am after the year is up.

I head downstairs to have breakfast alone as usual. The last time I saw Ethan was the lunch with his uncle. Some nights I hear his footsteps in the middle of the night when he comes back from work. Some nights he doesn’t come back at all.

“Good morning Mrs Styles.” Helen greets me even though I have told her to call me Avery so many times.

“Morning Helen. How was your night?" I ask.

“Splendid.” I see the huge breakfast on the table and I wonder why the excess.

“Helen, I know I eat a lot but this is way overboard.” I joke.

She laughs, “Mr Styles will be joining you for breakfast.”

“He will?!” I exclaim. I look down at the oversized pajamas I didn’t bother to change out of. It has been my routine with Helen so I never bothered to look presentable. My hair is rolled up like shitty dough.

Helen looks so amused at my crash out and I consider running back upstairs. “I don’t look insane, do I?”

Helen shakes her head and I look at her suspiciously. “Good morning Mr Styles.” She looks behind me and nods politely. My face falls when I realize Ethan has been behind me all along.

“Traitor.” I mouth to Helen who just smiles and leaves the room.

Ethan walks to the seat opposite mine and takes a sip of his coffee. “Good morning.” I squeak and he nods.

“Morning.”

I focus on my breakfast. This is the first time we have been sitting together for breakfast since we got married. Apart from our business arrangement, we have absolutely nothing to talk about. So I just focus on eating and running back to the confines of my room.

“Do you have any plans this afternoon?” He suddenly asks.

“No..?” I reply before checking my phone in case Romo adds anything to my calendar. I double-check and it’s free. “I don’t,” I say with more confidence. Ethan nods his head.

“I’ll be going on a business trip this afternoon.”

“Good to know..”

“Pack your things. You’re coming with me.”

What?

“Me?” I ask dumbfounded.

“Pack light.” He says before standing and straightening his suit.

“Okay,” I reply. After spending the past few days cooped up in my room, maybe tagging along is the fresh air I need. I try to fight the smile creeping up my face.

He’s probably taking me with him to perform some Mrs Styles duties but at least I get to travel around. Plus it helps that I’m getting over my fear of heights. All I need to do is sleep off.

I’m practically skipping to the airplane. Romeo shakes his head at me while carrying the small bag I packed. I enter the plane and see Ethan already seated.

I wave at him before sitting beside him. I grab the nearest document and start scanning through it. It’s basically our routine now. He doesn't say anything while he continues reading a document.

The pilot comes in and informs us to buckle up and we will soon take off. I force a yawn and keep reading the document. Instead of feeling sleepy, I start understanding the document. Something catches my eye.

“Um.. Ethan?” He hums in reply. “This document shows that you share revenue to all thirty branches of your company but the last time I researched your company, you had 28 branches since two closed two years ago.” He frowns and takes the document from me before scanning it himself.

“How did I miss this?” He mutters. “Romeo!”

“S.sir?” Romeo answers.

“Why are two closed companies getting money from the company’s funds?” He asks.

“I am not sure. The document was sent by the finance department.”

“And you didn’t go through it?”

“I was going to but..”

“Find out who is in charge and what account the money has been going into.” He orders and Romeo nods his head quickly.

I continue reading the document feeling a bit useful. I pick a pencil from the small desk and begin to circle several loopholes in the document from the finance department.

“Someone is getting fired soon.” I hear Ethan mumble and I realize he’s looking at the loopholes I am highlighting.

“Sir..?” Romeo’s voice comes out in a frightened whisper and I look at Ethan too.

“Not you.” He says and the poor guy lets out an audible breath of relief. “Not yet.”

I smile while reading the document. I turn to look out the window and I admire the clouds. They look like soft pillows and- clouds?!! When did we take off? I grip my seat and shut my eyes.

Deep breaths

Deep breaths

I feel a hand on mine and I pry my eyes open only to see Ethan’s hand on mine.

“Breathe in.”

I do as he says.

“Now out.” I exhale. I repeat the process a number of times before calming down. I look back out the window and see the clear sky. It’s not all that bad.

“Thanks,” I whisper and he nods. My eyes go to our hands. More like mine hidden in his. He quickly takes his hand off and I almost miss the warmth before calling myself back.

“How did you spot the error immediately?” Romeo asks while going through the document himself.

I smile, “Up until a month ago, I used to work in a similar company. Secretary to the CEO so I had to triple check a lot of stuff.” I can never imagine a day will come when I will genuinely miss working tooth and nail, day and night, every single day.

“You miss working?” Romeo asks me in playful disgust. “If I find a rich businesswoman ready to foot my bills, I’m out of this part of the world.”

“I know another line of work that can bring you closer to your dream.” Ethan suddenly says and it takes a minute for the joke to click.

“I’m not selling my body.” Romeo shrieks and I burst out in laughter. Ethan smirks as he continues to read the document in his hands.

Maybe life isn’t so bad after all. I go back to reading another document as warmth fills my body. I know I shouldn’t get used to this with my luck but for now, I just want to enjoy the moment.