Chapter 5

ETHAN’S POV

It’s been six years, six solid years since Irene messed my whole life up. I still find it hard to believe how drastically she changed just a few months after our wedding.

The marriage which I had pictured as a lifetime filled with love turned out to be the worst days of my life.

Irene had changed so drastically after our marriage. I still struggle with the question of why her personality has taken a new turn. Within a blink of an eye, Irene transformed from the sweet woman I had dated into a cold distant person. She became a stranger overnight.

But my most cherished moment was our first night together, each time I remembered the events that unfolded that night, it brought back memories, sweet memories.

A night I never wanted to end. I wished I never agreed to close my eyes with a blindfold and turn off the light completely as she suggested, I wished I had looked at her in the eyes and saw the expression on her face. I had the time of my life that night, I can’t lie!

What still amazes me is how Irene changed after our wedding. She became a total stranger who wrecked the living hell out of me and my finances. Even my parents gave up on me totally, within a twinkle of an eye, I almost lost everything.

The marriage I had pictured to last for a lifetime didn’t even survive a year.

These past few years have been the darkest part of my life. I was trying to heal, But right now, I am ready to move on and start life afresh.

Words can not describe how excited I was when I was informed by my dad to take his place in a business that was owned by him and his friend. I will be starting life afresh in a new place with new people.

I saw this tall slender woman with long brown hair on the same plane as me. Her light and flawless skin, and cute kissable lips caught my attention. I felt this strong urge to get close to her, and I did everything possible to sit close to her. Luckily for me, the woman sitting next to her was kind enough to swap seats with me.

I got close to her and noticed the uneasiness on her face when she saw me seated beside her. I was not surprised, my charming looks were enough to send a woman into utter confusion.

Yet I was foolish enough to mess everything up by trying to flirt with her.

I cursed myself under my breath, realizing I had acted like a pervert.

Although my hands had unintentionally landed on her soft thighs, it was my fault for scumbling into temptation.

I should have resisted the urge to touch her shiny silly skin with my fingers. I should have known better than to allow my body to act on its own.

The effect from the hot slap she landed on my right hand was still very much effective. It was the first time a lady ever slapped me, but a part of me found some sick pleasure in me.

Usually, women threw themselves at my mercy, graciously granting me my desires. But she- she is quite different. Right from the very moment I set my eyes on her, I wanted to know her better.

But I messed up big time, the only opportunity I had was to be close to her. She even changed her seat, purposely distancing herself from me without sparing a single glance in my direction.

I was aware of this because I had observed her throughout the entire flight.

I made a mental note to apologize immediately after we landed, but she disappeared into the crowd, depriving me of the opportunity to do so.

I sighed as I searched through for Mr Timothy, my dad's business associate whom I will be working with. He was supposed to pick me up from the airport.

“ Ethan?” I heard a strange voice behind me. Turning my back towards the direction the voice came from, was an elderly man, whom I guess is Mr Timothy.

“ Mr Timothy?” I asked and the old man nodded his head in affirmation.

“It’s nice to finally meet you!” He exclaimed and stretched his hand towards me for a handshake.

“ Same here sir.”

Mr Timothy was much more welcoming and friendly than I thought. I never expected the old man to be this nice, it’s a good one though.

“ Nice. This way please, my driver and daughter are at the parking lot. She boarded the same flight as you.” Mr Timothy said, and I followed swiftly behind him.

We walked towards a black Limousine. As we approached closer, I caught sight of something very surprising and could have sworn that my eyes were deceiving me. Maybe I am just overthinking, probably it’s just a coincidence. The same lady who had landed me a slap on the plane was standing with her back towards us close to the same vehicle We were approaching.

My heart nearly skipped a bit when Mr Timothy halted directly behind Her, gently tapping her back and calling her name out in a very cheerful voice.

“ Elsie sweetie, meet Ethan Gomez, my business associate.” Mr Timothy said, introducing us.

To be honest, I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me immediately. Who could have thought that the same lady I was attracted to and tried to flirt with was the child of Mr Timothy?

Gosh!! I fucked up big time!

However, Mr Tim continued with his introduction,

“ Ethan, meet my lovely daughter Elsie. You both will be working together to bring the company to greater heights,” he concluded, with a wide grin on his face.

I tried my best to summon courage and act all nice and cool but this young lady standing right in front of me will not have anybody it.

“ It's a pleasure to meet you, Elsie,” I said, extending my hand for a handshake but instead, I received the biggest disgrace of my life.

Elsie cast a disgusting stare at me and said coldly,

“ Next time when you happen to meet a lady for the first time, you don't try to flirt with her, instead, learn some respect. And there's no pleasure meeting Casanova.”

Having said that, Miss Proud and Arrogant made her way to the car, not uttering a word to anybody else.

Me Tim got a bit confused and asked me, “ what was that about?”

Of course, I couldn't bring myself to explain the details of what had transpired between the both of us earlier so I lied,

“ there was a little jerkking in the plane earlier and your daughter happened to be sitting next to me. The jerkking was serious and more evident on my side and it caused an usual action, making my hands to fall swiftly on your daughter. Of course, she did read a different meaning to my actions entirely.”

Mr. Tim had a sour expression on his face.

“ Elsie is not one who is quick to judge people’s actions without knowing their reason. However, I am very sorry for the misunderstanding, I’m sure you both will get along” he said and patted me gently on the back.

The drive home was swift and quite, while I sat with Mr Tim behind, Elsie choose to sit in front with the driver. While Tim and I endugled in conversations, she kept mute and didn’t utter a single word, if she happens to be talking to Tim and I dare interfer, she’d go mute instantly.

The drive from the airport to Mr Tim’s house was a forty five

Minutes drive and in no time, we arrived Mr Tim’s magnificent building.

A pretty matured lady was standing alongside a cute little girl. The little girl looked so adorable that I couldn’t get my eyes off her the moment I set my eyes on her.

“ welcome to my humble abode, Ethan.” Mr Tim said.

I smiled and chuckled,

“ Humble? No way! This is magnificent Mr Tim.” I said, rebuking his humility and appreciating the beautiful sight right in front of me.

“ By the way, you never told me you remarried and have such a adorable little girl.” I added, referring to the little girl who was now in the arms of the young lady standing beside her.

Truly, Mr Tim was once married but lost his wife few years after his marriage. I didn’t expect him to have such a little girl at this age.

Mr Timothy laughed a bit loud and said, “ That is Isabella, my granddaughter, Elsie’s child.”

“ Ohhh.” I said. No wonder she was quick to land me a slap earlier. I had no idea she was married plus, I didn’t see any band on her finger to signify that she was taken.

“ Come on Isabella, won’t you come and give mommy a hug. Or did you not miss me?” I heard Elsie calling out to her daughter.

The young girl jumped down from the arms of the lady who was carrying her and ran towards our direction.

Surprisingly, she did something that got me startled. Instead of going to her mom who just spoke to her few seconds ago,

This young girl ran to me and blurted the most beautiful words I have always longed to hear,

“ Daddy is home!!!……”