Yeah, You Do

She scoffed, shaking her head. “Then what are you doing here? Looking for a second chance? Because if you are, you’re looking in the wrong place.”

“That’s not—”

“I’m a married woman, Ethan.” The words felt like venom on her tongue. “Whatever you think this is, whatever you think I need— it’s not you. Go find someone else to play hero to.”

Ethan stared at her, his jaw tightening as silence stretched between them. The warmth in his eyes flickered, dimming just slightly, but he didn’t move.

Cynthia exhaled sharply and grabbed the whiskey bottle again, twisting the cap open. “Go, Ethan. I don’t need you.”

For a long second, he just stood there. Then, with a slow nod, he stepped back, his expression unreadable. “Take care of yourself, Cynthia.”

And with that, he walked away.

She didn’t watch him go. Instead, she lifted the bottle to her lips and took a long, burning sip, pretending it didn’t hurt.

\--------------------

'ETHAN’S POV— From Two Weeks Ago'

Ethan’s office was bathed in the soft glow of his monitor, the numbers and data sheets displayed on the screen demanding his full attention. His fingers danced over the keyboard as he cross-checked client reports, his mind running calculations at an alarming speed. The air in the room was heavy with the scent of coffee, a half-empty cup sitting neglected on his desk.

Then, a sharp chime from his phone interrupted the silence.

His gaze flickered toward it— just a WhatsApp notification. Jayce.

Without bothering to read the message, he swiped the notification away and focused back on his work. He didn’t have time for side conversations. The deadlines were looming, and he needed to wrap up these reports before the end of the day.

Minutes passed, maybe more, before the loud, almost aggressive pounding on his office door made him flinch. A smirk curled on his lips before he even looked up. Only one person had the audacity to bang on his door like that.

"Come in," he called out, but the door had already swung open.

Jayce sauntered in with the ease of someone who considered rules optional. Without waiting for an invitation, he plopped into the chair across from Ethan’s desk and, in true Jayce fashion, kicked his feet up onto the polished wood surface.

"Didn’t you see my text?" he asked, his tone laced with mock offense.

Ethan barely glanced at him before returning to his screen. "I saw it. Didn’t read it. What’s so important that you’re barging in here like the world’s ending?"

Jayce feigned a gasp, clutching his chest dramatically. "Wow. The disrespect. Is that any way to talk to your best friend?"

"Fuck you," Ethan shot back, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "And get your filthy feet off my desk."

Jayce grinned but didn’t move immediately. Instead, he leaned back in the chair, lacing his fingers behind his head. "Has anyone ever told you that you’re a big-headed, arrogant motherfucker?"

Ethan arched a brow, playing along. "Arrogant? Maybe. A few times. But big-headed?" He placed both hands on his forehead, pretending to examine its size. "Are you sure? Looks perfectly proportionate to me."

"Nah, it’s big," Jayce quipped without missing a beat, and they both burst into laughter.

Ethan shook his head, amused. "Alright, asshole. What was in your message?"

Jayce’s smirk widened. "Oh, now you care?"

Ethan rolled his eyes. "Just get to the point."

Jayce stretched his arms before leaning forward, finally taking his feet off the desk. "Well, since you're so busy, I guess it’s nothing important. Unless, of course, it’s about Cynthia..."

At her name, Ethan’s fingers paused over his keyboard. His entire body tensed, betraying him before he could school his features into indifference.

Jayce caught it immediately, his grin growing. "Knew that’d get your attention."

Ethan exhaled, turning to face him fully. "What about her?" His voice was even, but the curiosity in his eyes gave him away.

Jayce cleared his throat, straightening up. "There’s an article about a business meeting. AX Spaceline’s top officials are meeting with some investors in Russia. It’s happening in fifteen days."

Ethan didn’t waste a second. He grabbed his phone, unlocking it swiftly, and scrolled through until he found the article. His eyes skimmed the words, absorbing every detail.

AX Spaceline. Russia. Fifteen days.

His mind raced ahead of him, forming connections, possibilities, scenarios. Even after he finished reading, his gaze lingered on the screen, his grip on the phone tightening slightly.

Jayce’s voice pulled him back. "So, what are you going to do?"

Ethan exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through his hair, "I don’t know." And before he could respond, Jayce leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk.

"Look, man. This might be the only chance you have to see her for a while. It's not like you could pop up at her matrimonial home, the estate in Manhattan, and ask to see her."

Ethan took a deep breath again, shaking his head, as he muttered and repeated, "I honestly don't know," his voice barely above a whisper.

Jayce studied him for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, you do."