PAST AND PERFECT

He was there, sprawled across the sofa like he owned the air itself. Ava's past mistake and Ethan's dreaded nightmare.

The luminous lights from the chandelier shone on his face exposing his hazel eyes in its glory. Lucas shared the same physique as Ethan. 

She felt a lump build up in her throat but she still fought hard to keep a clear expression. 

“What's he doing here?” She thought.

Ethan stood beside her with a tightened fist; he didn't bother to hide his disgust.

“Lucas.” He finally spoke after a few seconds of silence. “What are you doing here?” 

Lucas smiled. It was slow and wicked.

“Is that a kind of welcome you give your brother?”

Lucas's eyes darted from Ethan to Ava. 

“Well,” he drawled. “I didn't expect my brother to bring you home.”

Ava froze. Her pulse beats increased.

“Lucas,” she whispered, almost inaudible.

Ethan frowned. “You two know each other?”

Lucas smirked. “Yes…she left quite the impression.”

“That was a long time ago.” Ava said.

“Well…whatever history you have, keep it out of the house.” Ethan swallowed.

“Well…it usually walks right in.”

Lucas said, his lips curving into one of his mischievous smiles.

She found it difficult to believe that Lucas, her ex-boyfriend, is a brother to her boss.

Ava's heart was already beating so loud and fast. 

When Lucas left Ethan called Helen to show Ava the guest room where she would be spending the night.

“You should get some rest, tomorrow is coming with a pile of work.” he said before retiring to his bedroom that night.

At midnight, Ethan jolted awake, breathing heavily and sweat running down his bare chest. 

The echoes of a child's scream still burned in his ears. He sat on the edge of the bed, his palms over his face. 

A soft voice called out to him “Ethan?”

Ava stood at the door, eyes widened in the slightly dark room. 

“I heard your screams, nightmare?” She asked quietly. 

He straightened immediately. “You should go to bed, Ava. It's nothing.”

But she could still hear the tremors in his voice.

She had never seen him vulnerable, for a moment he looked less like her stiff boss and more like a man carrying a burden of pressure.

By morning the Mansion was calm again, like the night hadn't happened.

The sun peeked into the giant window of the Hale's mansion. Ava was in the kitchen with a coffee mug in her hand facing the cabinet in search of something to make for breakfast.

“Didn't think I'd ever see you again.” Lucas's voice startled her from behind. “Especially not in this house.”

His voice was exceptionally low.

“You don't get to judge what I do with my life.” She stiffened. 

Lucas smiled, moving closer to her. “You are right. I lost that privilege when you broke up with me.” 

Ava’s fingers clenched around the mug. “You made absolutely sure of that.”

She stepped back until the fridge stopped her. Lucas held her, moving his face to hers.

“You still look so stunning with your morning hair Ava Sinclair.” He muttered, his eyes never leaving hers.

She could feel Lucas's breath on her pale neck as he raised her face towards his. 

For a split of seconds she wondered what would have happened if he kissed her .

“What do you think you're doing?!” Ava snarled, pushing Lucas off her. 

Ethan stood at the doorway, his expression was unreadable.

“Miss Sinclair, I don't remember inviting a conversation. We've got plenty of work to do.” Ethan said coldly.

Ava nodded and followed him out of the kitchen immediately. 

The air in Ethan's home office smelt like spicy chicken nuggets. A shelf filled with leather back books.

Ava sat behind the desk, typing and trying so hard to concentrate. 

Just then, her phone buzzed. The name that flashed on the screen made her heart beat ten times faster. Melissa. Her mom.

“What could be the problem?” She muttered. 

She answered immediately. “Mom…what's the matter?”

“Ava, They are talking about an immediate liver transplant.” She dropped the bombshell.

A phone nearly fell from her hand. “A transplant? Now?” 

“Yes, Ava. Your father can't wait any longer. I need you to come to the hospital now.” 

She got up immediately, her heart pounding so fast. 

Ethan raised his eyes at the sound of Ava's chair scratching the floor. 

“And where to, Miss Sinclair?” 

“My dad…he's at the hospital and it's serious.” There was a sense of urgency in her voice.

Ethan paused for a moment, his face dissolved into something more humane. 

He stood up putting his hand into his pocket. 

“Send the address to me, I'll drive you there.”

“S…Sir? I can manage sir.”

“You heard me, Miss Sinclair. I need to make sure you aren't lying to me.” 

There was no point in making a blind argument with Ethan Hale. 

When they arrived at the hospital, Ava's mother had been waiting outside the hospital building for her.

“Where's he?” Ava asked immediately. 

Her mother gestured. “I will take you there.”

Ava got in and got to see the state her father was in. Unconscious.

“We need to get a matching donor, Ava.” Melissa said in between tears.

“Mom… I'll figure something out.” 

“How much is it? I will handle it.” Ethan finally decided to speak. 

Ava turned sharply. “No! You don't need to…” 

He smiled. “But I'm not asking for your permission.” 

“Why would you do that for me?” 

“I never said it was free , Miss Sinclair.” 

“What do you want from me?”

Ethan smirked. “Move into the Hale's Mansion permanently. It would save us time and oh! I hate seeing capable employees get distracted.”

“What?!” You want me to move into Hale's Mansion permanently?” 

“Yes and if not, you could as well send in your resignation letter.” 

“Fine…I will accept it.” She was willing to do anything to save her father.

“Good. This is strictly for business.” Ethan added.

Her voice trembled. “Thank you Mr Ethan, for helping my father.”

He looked away. He told himself it was only a deal. But secretaries don't haunt your thoughts at night.

“Just make sure he recovers.” He said flatly.

The weekend was over, Ava was sitting in her office. The thoughts of what had happened during the weekend raced through her mind. 

She was so engrossed in her work when the door to her office swung open without a knock.

“Ava Sinclair!”

She lifted her head. Lucas stood there as confident as ever.

“What are you doing here?! What the fuck do you want from me?!” She barked.

“Don't tell me you're that excited to see me.” He teased her. “I'm here for business, anyways.”

“What business?”

“I need to see your boss”

Ava hesitated. “My boss, who's your brother as well?”

“Yes! That one.” He smacked his tongue. 

“And how come you're pretending not to know me?” 

“Now is not the time Ava…” Lucas wore a serious face.

“Then why come to me…?”

“You're his secretary.” He paused. “And don't shut me out because he would actually want to see me.”

“Fine! Come with me.” Ava was sarcastic with her response.

She knocked once on Ethan's door. “Sir, you've got a visitor.”

She didn't mention Lucas' name as instructed by him.

“Send the visitor in.” Ethan's voice echoed from inside.

Lucas walked past her with the confidence of someone that would start a fire and watch it burn for the joy of it.

She lingered outside the office, trying to make something out of the muffled voices she heard from inside. 

When she couldn't, she pushed the door slightly.

“An illegitimate heir, hiding behind a billion dollar company. How long do you think you can keep fooling them.” Lucas' voice echoed a thousand times. 

Ava didn't flinch, still so

mething inside her twisted inside to hear it from his own brother. 

She turned to leave, it wasn't supposed to concern her. Then, she thought those brothers could be piling up secrets than one could ever imagine.