Chapter 5

I can't stop myself from smiling on our way to our condo. Lesh and Layla are staring at me like I'm being crazy. Well, maybe yes. I'm crazy for Ethan so much that even those little things from him make me happy.

"I will think that you are losing your mind already," Layla mumbled as we entered our condo. 

I sat on the soft couch and laid my head on there, still smiling like an idiot. Tomorrow is Sunday and it is our free day. But since I am Ethan Falcon's secretary, I need to go there and do my work. I should've complaining right now but since it was Ethan Falcon whom I will be working with, I can't find any reason for me to complain. 

I smirked at my two friends looking so problematic right now. 

I raised my two hands to calm them down. "Come on, girls! I know what I'm doing and Ethan informed me that I will have my payment for working at him on our free day so I will also benefit from it." I tried to make a point at them.

It is true, though. The Falcon Empire will pay me for the hours that I will work in their company during on our free day. It is actually beneficial for me since I will have my additional allowance for next few months. 

Lesh and Layla are still not convinced with what I said but to finish the topic, they just nodded their head. I smirked at them as I imagine myself being with Ethan Falcon again tomorrow!

That's why, I went to the company earlier than my call time! I am smiling at the guards and to all the employees that I see on my way. I feel like nothing can ruin my mood right now!

I shrieked as excitement fills my nerves when I finally reached my table. I tried to look for Ethan inside his office but like what I expected, he's still yet to be here. Minutes passed and some employees are starting to come in our floor. And like a routine, every one stands up when a man in blue dress shirt tucked in a dark blue pants walked inside our floor. My jaw dropped and I forgot to stand up. My eyes are focused at him, walking like a King with his jaw clenched, his eyes, just like always, dark and deep, and lips that are as soft as heaven. He's staring at me! He's... walking at my direction! Fuck! Ethan Falcon is walking on my table!

I feel like every thing has halted when he stopped in front of my table. I gulped and accidentally closed my eyes and smell his scent thoroughly. Damn, he smells so fucking good!

"Good morning, Pennelope. I want a coffee in my office right now. Just like the old times, no cream just pure black coffee. Bring my schedule too as you go inside with my coffee."

Just like that, my eyes widened to look at him. I wandered my eyes around and I wish the floor to just eat me right now! Fuck! They are watching us! Some are even smirking! When I looked at Ethan, his forehead is creased and lips in grin line!

Argh!

"Y-Yes, sir..." I whispered with my voice shuddering.

He sighed before leaving me for his office. Even though my cheeks are still flushed from the morning embarassment, I still went to the pantry for Ethan's coffee.

Why did I even thought Ethan was going for me? Of course he would! I am his secretary! And damn, my table is placed on his office that's why he walks on my direction!

I sighed heavily as I massaged my head when a dark and husky voice talks behind me.

My eyes widened and I faced him, only to see the man I'm thinking now in front of me!

I tried to smile a little. "Y-Your coffee is done, sir. I'm sorry if I take too much time." 

He raised an eyebrow. "Let's go in the conference room. I have a meeting until lunch there, right?"

I nodded my head at him, confirming what he just said. "Yes, sir. After that meeting, you'll have your lunch in your office then you have a one-hour appointment with Mr. Cabrera after lunch. Another meeting with the members of the board in conference room after your appointment with Mr. Cabrera."

The side of his lips rose a bit. "You memorize it?" he asked with a ghost of smile.

I proudly nodded at him. " Yes, sir!"

He smirked and got the coffee from my hand. I feel something inside me when I felt his hot and warm hand touched mine when he take the coffee. I know that for him, it was just nothing but for me... it feels heaven! He really has a great effect on me, huh?

"How many hours will the meeting last with the board members?"

"Two hours, sir." I smiled at him, showing him that I know every small detail of his schedule today. 

He smiled back. "Okay, then."

I smirked as I watched him leave the pantry. I shake my head and decided to follow him.

The conference room is a large room where most of the meetings are occuring. It has a long table in the middle with a total of 32 chairs and two four small tables with 6 chairs. There are also three big and two small couches in the corner. In front of it is the large monitor so that everyone can see what's being flashed in the meeting. 

Ethan is sitting on one of the head chairs so I seated beside him with my notes and pen in my hand. I greeted first all the investors inside including Ethan's father–the acting Chief Executive Officer of this company and President of the whole Falcon Empire. I observed that he's now on age, and that maybe the reason why Ethan is now starting to work on the field. 

The meeting starts when everyone has arrived. I noticed that Ethan is on focus in front where a man is standing, flashing his proposal for expanding their company. That man happens to be his cousin. 

"What do you think, son? Is it a good proposal?" Ethan's father, who's sitting in one of the head chairs, asked. 

I glanced at him as I ready myself again to write the important details.  

"The proposal is actually a good idea. However, we shouldn't be relying on Frenniere's new technologies too much that we are going to accept their newly released guns without those passing the test. This is a big project, Aidan. Although your proposal is nice, we cannot guarantee to lose billions for this without us knowing if there is a big possibility that we'll succeed."

My jaw dropped at Ethan while nodding my head, agreeing to what he just said, even though I had no idea about it. I wrote everything in the proposal earlier, and I added Ethan's thoughts about it.

The man whose name is Aidan smiled without humor; it seems like he's not laughing at Ethan right now.

"Do you really know what our business is, Ethan?" he asked insultingly.

Ethan clenched his jaw, and I saw him close his fist. I thought he would argue with his cousin, but he didn't; he just glared at Aidan while he was greeting his teeth.

Aidan laughed. "It seems like the heir of the whole Falcon Empire doesn't have any idea about it."

"I know everything, Aidan. In fact, what I said was true. Do you really think that your proposal will succeed once it is approved?" Ethan countered back, cutting Aidan off.

"No..."

"Then?"

Aidan looked pissed already, but he tried to smile. "I am not sure if my proposal will succeed, Ethan. And that's what business is all about. It is all about taking risk. Even though the smallest possibility in a project, we should still accept and embrace it. Ethan, put in your mind that our Empire is now the biggest Empire in the country not because we choose the projects that have higher possibility to generate inflows but rather because we accept and choose projects that are in line with our business and vision. We do not choose, Ethan... because if we will, then I'm sure as hell our Empire will fall down."

Ethan, though, looked calm now. He sighed and looked at me. I smiled a little, pushing him to fight for his opinion.

"I get your point, Aidan. However, if we accept the project with your proposal, and knowing that Frenniere's new technologies are yet to be tested and verified, the whole Empire will also fall down. I'm not telling you though that we shouldn't accept the project because, really, the project is nice. What I just want you to know is that we have to ensure that the guns they will deliver to us are tested and verified."

Ethan's father's manly laughter echoed around the whole conference room. Almost all of the investors are nodding their heads at Ethan, agreeing with him.

"Ethan is right, Aidan. Frenniere's new technologies are not yet safe to use," an old man mumbled.

Another woman nods her head at Ethan. "One more thing is that, are we really going to sacrifice our clients' safety for this uncertainty? I mean, I know that success in business is all about taking risks, but our clients' safety is at stake here. We shouldn't take it lightly just because we want to generate more inflows."

"They are right, Aidan. I also agree with Ethan."

The meeting ends with all the praise received by Ethan. While that Aidan man looked pissed at his cousin, even though he's smiling at other investors, the irritation and frustration are visible on his face.

"Good job, son. I trust you with this," Ethan's father said after the meeting.

The responsibility of this project is now on Ethan's shoulders. I'm happy for him. He deserves it. He's such an intelligent man, and I admire him even more for it.

"Thanks, dad."

His father tapped his shoulder. "I heard about you and Elyse. I'm sorry for that one. I know your love for her is genuine."

"Dad..." Ethan's face is now serious. The smile and happiness are now gone from his eyes. "I'll go now. I still have an appointment with Mr. Cabrera."

Then he leaves the conference room. I bowed at his father and bid my goodbyes before following Ethan into his office.

Throughout the day, he was silent. I noticed his dark aura. If earlier he'd been smirking and smiling like a real happy man, now he's not. It seems like he's feeling hell, and being happy is a sin.

I am now arranging all my things. All the meetings with Ethan have just ended, and my work is already done. I gathered everything and was about to walk to the elevator when the telephone on my table rang.

I sighed and answered it, thinking that maybe Ethan needs something.

"Come inside," he said, then hung up the call immediately. His voice was emotionless and too dark to even describe it.

I did what he told me. I entered his office, and I saw him massaging his head.

"Sir, do you need anything?"

He stared at me blankly, his jaw was clenched.

"Are you free tonight?"

I blink my eyes multiple times. Is he really asking me this?

Slowly, I nodded my head.

"Good, 'cause I'd like to let off some steam."

And I couldn't do anything but agree... because I also want it to.