Chapter 107 Instinct
The day had been nothing short of delightful. Lena couldn't stop smiling to herself as she replayed the afternoon in her mind. Penny had kept her laughing for hours, their stories tumbling one after the other as though time hadn't passed at all. It had been far too long since they last sat together like that, talking about everything and nothing, and this visit had been long overdue. The warmth of their laughter still clung to her, filling her quiet ride back home with a comforting glow.
Settled at the back seat, Lena leaned lightly against the window, her smile refusing to fade. Every so often, she chuckled softly to herself, remembering something silly Penny had said. The drive was smooth, almost dreamy, and before long the grand outline of the Sinclair mansion came into view, rising against the evening light.
Her small convoy rolled through the gates and stopped at the front steps. She stepped out gracefully, her good mood following her inside like a trail of sunlight. Even the polished halls of the mansion felt a little warmer as she made her way in.
She headed for the stairs, thinking of a warm bath and perhaps curling up with a book before dinner. But as she reached the landing at the top, she slowed. Ethan was there. For a moment, she wasn't sure if he had been waiting for her or if their meeting was just a coincidence. He stood with an easy air, as if pretending to have only just wandered by, but something about the way his eyes lingered suggested otherwise.
Ethan's eyes swept over her, and a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"You look beautiful," he said softly.
Lena felt her cheeks warm as she smiled back, answering with a hint of shyness. He didn't look away, his gaze steady, almost as though he were quietly studying her.
"Did you enjoy your time with your friend?" he asked.
"Yes, I did," Lena replied, her smile widening. Then, with a playful lift of her brow, she added, "But you're home early. It's barely past six."
Ethan's smile deepened. "I thought I should spend more time with my family."
Before she could say anything else, he continued, his tone casual but laced with intent. "Tomorrow evening there's a fundraiser. I'd like you to come with me."
Lena looked hesitant. She leaned against the wall, her arms folding lightly across her chest.
"I don't like those kinds of gatherings," she admitted quietly. "People always have something negative to say."
Ethan chuckled softly and stepped closer, the sound low and unbothered. His hand rested gently on her shoulder, steady and reassuring.
"Let them talk all they want," he said in a calm voice, his eyes fixed on hers. "At the end of the day, it's only my thoughts of you that matter."
Lena's lips parted slightly, caught between surprise and something warmer she couldn't quite name.
Ever since that kiss, something between them had shifted. Ethan's edges seemed softer now, his warmth slipping through in ways Lena couldn't ignore. And somehow, every word he spoke carried a weight that made her heart race just a little faster.
Lena looked away, pushing herself off the wall to stand a little straighter. Her chest tightened under the weight of his gaze, and though she wasn't fully convinced, she found herself giving in.
"Okay," she said softly, more out of the need to escape his eyes than any real desire to go.
Ethan's lips curved into a triumphant smile. "Thank you," he murmured, his voice warm with satisfaction.
But Lena was already eager to retreat, her body half-turned toward her room.
"I'll text you the details," he added casually, as though the matter were already settled.
"Alright," she replied, her tone reluctant, before slipping away toward the safety of her room.
As Lena slipped out to her room, Ethan finally exhaled, the tension in his chest loosening for the first time in what felt like hours. He remained standing there, frozen for a moment, wondering what had come over him. No matter how hard he tried, he could no longer keep his usual cold distance from her. Every instinct told him to step back, but he found himself drawn to her, again and again, against his own will.
He ran a hand through his hair, frustration threading through the movement. I need to get a hold of myself, he thought, gritting his teeth. This was exactly why he hated letting his emotions in, they made him act in ways that weren't him, that went against everything he had trained himself to be.
As Ethan stood by the window, lost in thought over his tangled feelings, a maid passed by carrying a tray of fruit. She offered a polite greeting and continued toward Lena's room.
Ethan replied absentmindedly, about to turn back to his own thoughts, when something made him stop. He pivoted, fixing his gaze on the maid. "Hey... you, stop there."
The maid froze, her tray steady, and he called again, "Come here."
She walked over slowly, her head bowed slightly, careful to maintain proper decorum. Ethan bent a little, narrowing his eyes as he studied her face. Then, with sudden curiosity, he asked, "Who are you?"
"My name is Lucy," she replied softly.
He studied her for a moment longer, the question forming naturally on his lips: "And why... were you employed here?"
Lucy looked up at him, her eyes widening slightly. She hesitated, glancing away for a brief moment before finding her voice. "I... I, um... I was... uh..." Her words stumbled out in a rush, betraying her nervousness.
Ethan raised an eyebrow, waiting patiently. "Who employed you?" he asked.
She swallowed, steadied herself, and finally said, "The head of security sir."
The maid fidgeted nervously under his gaze, her hands twisting the edge of her tray. Ethan's eyes softened just enough to make her pause. "Follow me," he said, his tone calm but firm.
She nodded, keeping her head slightly bowed, and trailed behind him as he walked through the house, descending the grand staircase. They moved quickly and silently, until they reached the security quarters.
As they approached, the moment Ethan stepped inside, every officer and staff member snapped to attention, eyes wide with shock. Whispers ran through the room, this had never happened before. Ethan's presence here was unprecedented, and they all knew, without a doubt, that serious trouble was coming.
Michael, the head of security, looked up from his desk, his expression a mixture of surprise and apprehension. Ethan's gaze landed on him, steady and unreadable.
The room fell completely silent as Ethan's gaze swept over everyone. No one dared move or speak, the usual hum of the security quarters replaced by a tense stillness. Even Michael's confident posture wavered slightly under the weight of Ethan's stare.
Ethan's eyes flicked toward the maid, and she instinctively shrank back, unsure of what would come next.
A slow, deliberate pause stretched between them, filled only by the quiet shuffle of papers and the faint hum of equipment. Then, without a word, Ethan took a step closer, and the room seemed to hold its breath.