Chapter 40

Following Ethan's instructions, Mel left work earlier than usual, her heart beating with excitement at the prospect of spending the day away from the city with him. She couldn't quite put her finger on why the idea appealed to her so much. Lately, her heart seemed to have a will of its own, leading her in directions she never expected.

Once she got home, Mel wasted no time in getting ready for their trip. She packed a bag with the essentials and made sure to dress in comfortable yet stylish clothes.

The time clocked 2:00pm and Mel was already packed and waiting for Ethan to pick her up.

Mel seized her bag and darted out of the door as soon as she heard the sound of a car outside. She saw Ethan's black sedan parked in front of her building, and she couldn't help but feel a little giddy with excitement. As she got into the car, she exchanged greetings with Ethan, who greeted her with a warm smile. Mr. Kim, Ethan's trusted driver, was already in the driver's seat, ready to take them on their journey.

They needed to start their journey on time so they could get to the venue early. The plan had originally been to take a flight, but the weather had other plans. Instead, they would be driving to their destination. As they pulled out of the driveway and onto the road, Mel inquired about the duration of the trip to which Ethan replied, "It's a 10-hour drive from here." Mel was taken aback and asked, "10 hours from here?" Her eyes widened with surprise. Initially, Mel assumed that the Kilton hotel Ethan referred to was a nearby one she was familiar with, but it appeared to be a different one.

As they drove through the streets, Mel settled back into her seat, taking in the view outside as they drove out of the city. The scenery changed from tall buildings and busy streets to open fields and forests and then they passed tall buildings again. This repeated quite a number of times. The sun was shining brightly, and a gentle breeze blew through the windows.

After a few hours on the road, Mr. Kim pulled over at a gas station to refuel and stretch their legs. Ethan got out of the car and walked over to Mel's side, opening the door for her. She stepped out, feeling a little stiff from the long journey. She looked around, taking in the sight of the gas station and the surrounding area. It was a small town, with a few shops and restaurants scattered around. Mel couldn't help but feel a little nervous. They were still hours away from their destination,

As they resumed their journey Mel settled back into her seat, taking in the view outside "Are you okay?" he asked with concern.

Mel nodded, "Yes, I'm fine. It's just a long drive."

Ethan smiled and handed Mel a bottle of water as he stared into her eyes, she looked quite tired.

"Thanks," she said taking a sip of the water.

"Mel" Ethan called softly placing his gaze right on her.

Mel turned to face Ethan as he called her name. She saw the concern etched on his face and felt her heart rate quicken in response.

"Do you remember the contract you signed some months back when you started working here?" Ethan asked, his voice gentle.

Mel nodded slowly, confusion evident on her face. "Okay.....is there a problem with it?" She asked nervously.

"Well, yes. I think the contract might be putting too much pressure on you and causing you to overwork yourself. I don't want that for you," Ethan continued, his eyes locked onto hers.

Mel was taken aback by the unexpected show of concern from Ethan. She felt a wave of surprise wash over her as she realized that he actually cared about her well-being than she had thought. Despite this, she tried to maintain her tough exterior and responded, "I appreciate that you're concerned about me, but I made that promise to you and I intend to keep it. I want to prove myself worthy of this job." She answered trying to keep her voice firm but she couldn't help feeling a sense of gratitude towards Ethan for his concern.

Ethan's reassuring yet fierce tone didn't falter as he restated his words to Mel. "That's the thing, Mel. You don't have to prove anything to me. You're already doing a great job as a team leader, and I believe in you. You don't have to try so hard anymore. I'm withdrawing the contract agreement, it is no longer valid."

Mel's jaw dropped in shock, her mind struggling to process Ethan's unexpected statement. "Wait, what? You're withdrawing the contract?" she asked, still trying to grasp the situation.

Ethan nodded, a small smile playing on his lips."Yes, really. I want you to focus on doing your job to the best of your abilities without any added pressure. And I want you to take care of yourself first and foremost."

Mel's face softened as she absorbed Ethan's words. She felt a sense of relief wash over her, knowing that she no longer had to live up to the strict requirements of the contract. her shoulders relaxed as she felt a surge of happiness rush through her. Ethan seemed to have so much faith in her and this went a long way in making her heart gladden.

"Thank you, Ethan. I really appreciate your support," she said, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

Ethan smiled warmly at her, his hand moving to rest on her shoulder. As his skin made contact with hers, he felt a jolt of electricity shoot through him. He couldn't deny the attraction he felt towards Mel, and he could see the same surprise and attraction mirrored in her gaze.

***

Lisa's Apartment

After spending some time scrolling through her phone, Lisa dropped it and headed to the shower for a refreshing bath. Once she was done, she put on a green gown with a dark shade. It had been a while since she last visited Ethan at LIM, and she decided that now was the time to do so.

Lisa grabbed her car key from the table by the door and made sure to lock up her apartment before strolling out into the evening shade. As she walked towards her car, she had the nagging feeling that she had forgotten something important. She stopped in her tracks, turned back, and went back inside her apartment. There, she picked up a red Ross lipstick and applied it fully on her lips before heading back out.

She got into her car and with the gear turned on, she started driving towards LIM, feeling a sense of excitement as she did. The last time she had asked Ethan to lunch, he had declined, citing his busy schedule. However, this time, she hoped that he would accept her invitation. As she drove, she couldn't help but smile to herself, picturing a scenario where they would sit across from each other, chatting and laughing over delicious food.

After a few minutes, she arrived at her destination and pulled up in front of LIM. Before getting out of the car, she reached into her petite bag and pulled out a compact mirror. Checking her reflection, she felt satisfied with her appearance. She had put on a green dress that complemented her skin tone and made her feel confident. Her hair was styled in loose curls, and a touch of makeup highlighted her features.

Feeling content with her appearance, she stepped out of the car and made her way towards the entrance of the company. With each step, she walked with an air of confidence and elegance, knowing that she was presenting her best self to Ethan. As she approached the entrance, she couldn't help but feel a tinge of nervousness creeping in. However, she pushed those feelings aside and focused on her goal: to have lunch with Ethan and hopefully deepen their connection.

Lisa walked down the hallway towards Ethan's office, her heart racing with anticipation. As she approached his door, she was about to knock when Assistant Charles stepped out of the adjacent room.

"Good afternoon, Miss," Charles said with a smile. "I'm sorry to say that President Ethan is out of town. He left this afternoon for the Business dinner event."

Lisa's heart sank at the information. She couldn't believe she had forgotten about the event, the most important one of the year. "What? When?" she asked in disbelief.

"He left this Afternoon," Charles repeated, noticing Lisa's uneasy expression. "Is everything alright, Miss?" he inquired, concerned.

Lisa's mind was racing. "What's today's date?" she asked.

"It's the 16th of August," Charles replied.

Lisa's hand went to her bag, and she drew out her phone. She quickly scrolled through her calendar and found the event.

"Oh, no," she muttered to herself. "How could I have forgotten?"

Charles looked at her quizzically. "Is everything alright, Lisa?"

Lisa shook her head, still in shock. "I forgot about the event. I can't believe I let this happen. What am I going to do?" She asked rhetorically as she began to head out.

As she walked away, her mind was in turmoil. How could she forget the most important event of the year? And more importantly, how was she going to fix it?