Chapter 126 Lost Edge
By the end of the day, Hugo had made up his mind. He wasn't going to tell Ethan his little secret, not today, at least. Ethan clearly had his own battles going on, and this just wasn't the right timing.
The rest of the day unfolded quietly, business as usual. The office lights dimmed one floor at a time, the building settling into that calm hum that came after a long day. Hugo shut his laptop, stretched, and was about to pack up when the sound of the door opening made him glance up.
Ethan stood there, sleeves rolled, expression unreadable.
"You're ready to leave?" he asked.
"Yeah," Hugo replied, grabbing his jacket. "Just wrapping up..."
Before he could finish, Ethan turned and walked out of the office.
"Wait, uhm.....?" Hugo scrambled after him, locking his door on the way. "Ethan! We could... I mean, we can talk some other time!"
Ethan didn't slow down. His stride was long and sure, and Hugo had to half-jog to keep up. By the time he caught his breath, they were already in the lobby.
"Where are we going?" Hugo asked as they stepped outside.forgetting their discussion earlier today.
Ethan didn't answer, just headed straight for the car waiting by the curb.
Within minutes, they were on the road, the city lights blurring past the tinted windows.
Ethan finally glanced over. "You said earlier you wanted to get a drink. Do you have anywhere in mind?"
It took Hugo a second to gather himself. He hadn't expected Ethan to actually take him up on that offer. "Uh... yeah," he said, clearing his throat. "There's a place I like not too far from here, quiet, good food, better whiskey."
Ethan gave a small nod, signaling the driver. The man seemed to already know the location and turned smoothly onto another street.
As the car glided through traffic, Hugo looked over at Ethan. His expression was calm, but there was something unsettled in his eyes.
The ride was unusually short. Hugo could've sworn it always took longer to get there, but maybe that was because neither of them said much this time. The silence in the car wasn't uncomfortable, just... heavy. Hugo sat back, lost in thought, while Ethan looked like his mind was miles away.
Before long, the car turned into the familiar compound and eased into a parking space. The driver stepped out to open their doors, and the two men walked into the restaurant, a quiet spot tucked away from the city noise.
As usual, the staff recognized Hugo immediately, and within minutes, a table was prepared for them near the back.
They sat opposite each other, the soft lighting casting shadows on the polished wooden table. Hugo kept his eyes down at first, adjusting his watch, then his cufflinks, then the napkin anything to avoid the steady weight of Ethan's gaze.
He suddenly regretted ever suggesting this outing.
Ethan leaned forward slightly, his tone calm but edged with amusement. "You look like a man about to confess to a crime," he said.
Ethan tilted his head, studying him. I wonder what the big thing is that you want to tell me? You've been nervous since we left the office."
Hugo froze for half a second, then smiled awkwardly. "Big thing? Who said it was big?"
Ethan smirked faintly. "You did, with your face."
Hugo groaned and rubbed his temple. "You really don't miss anything, do you?"
Ethan's gaze softened a little. "Not when it comes to my friend acting like he's about to faint."
Hugo took a quiet breath and reminded himself who he was sitting across from. This was Ethan, his friend for years, the man he'd built half his career beside. Yes, he might take it badly, but hiding it forever wasn't an option either. If he was going to say it, he needed to do it with confidence.
He straightened in his seat, letting his nerves settle. Then, without another thought, he lifted a hand and called over a waiter.
"Two glasses," Hugo said, his voice steady. "Your best red, the most expensive one you've got."
The waiter nodded quickly and left. Ethan's brow lifted slightly as he watched him.
"Expensive wine?" Ethan said, a hint of amusement playing at his lips. "You trying to impress me or drown your conscience?"
Hugo chuckled softly. "Maybe a bit of both."
Ethan smirked, leaning back against the chair, but didn't press. He could see Hugo's composure returning, that familiar confidence he always carried in meetings. It made Ethan smile to himself; whatever this was, at least Hugo was getting his footing back.
They talked lightly while waiting, about the latest board update, a ridiculous article about Sinclair Group's "cold but brilliant" CEO, and a few harmless office jokes.
When the waiter finally returned, he set down the elegant bottle with quiet precision and poured their glasses. The deep, rich color shimmered in the light.
Hugo lifted his glass, swirled it once, then took a slow sip. The taste burned slightly, or maybe that was just the nerves.
Ethan's eyes met him from across the table. "So," he said evenly, "what's this about, really?"
Hugo set his glass down gently. His heart gave a small, tight thud.
He realized the moment had come.
It was time to finally speak out.
Hugo sat forward, his fingers loosely interlaced on the table. He had spent days rehearsing this moment in his head, but now that it was here, he realized words didn't need to be perfect, they just needed to be honest.
He looked at Ethan, the man who had been both his boss and his closest friend for years, and drew a slow breath.
"I've been meaning to tell you something for a while now," he began calmly. "I didn't want to hide it from you, but I also didn't know how you'd take it."
Ethan's gaze stayed on him, steady and unreadable, giving nothing away.
"It's about Sophie," Hugo continued, his tone deliberate, steady. "I've liked her for a while now longer than I probably should've without saying anything. At first, I tried to ignore it, thinking it was just one of those passing things. But it wasn't. The more time I spent around her, the harder it became to pretend it didn't mean something."
He paused, his expression softening. "We've been seeing each other for a while now, quietly. And before I knew it, it turned into something real. Something I can't imagine walking away from."
He paused, his voice softening but never wavering. "I didn't tell you sooner because I wasn't sure how you'd take it. She's your sister, and I know how protective you are of her. The last thing I wanted was for you to think I was crossing a line. But my intentions toward her are pure. I've liked Sophie for a while now, and I care about her more than I've cared about anyone. If I ever get the chance, I plan to marry her."
Ethan said nothing, his fingers resting lightly against his glass. His expression was calm, but his eyes had sharpened slightly, not angry, just assessing.
Hugo went on, "Sophie means a lot to me. I've thought this through carefully, and I wouldn't be sitting here saying this if I wasn't certain.
The air between them went still.
Ethan didn't speak right away. He simply studied Hugo, his expression unreadable but his silence heavy, the kind that said he was processing, not judging.
Hugo didn't look away. For once, he didn't feel nervous or unsure. He'd said what he came to say and meant every word of it.