Ethan’s POV
I rubbed my temple, running a hand through my hair.
My lips folded, and my teeth gritted together.
“This is not looking good,” Andre closed down the laptop furiously. He leaned against the chair to stare fully at me. “I’m not sure you want to see the comments on the bulletin.”
“Thanks but no,” I sighed.
How everything happened is still a mystery.
We’ve released our new product with the newest design, yesterday, and the Lorraine’s released theirs yesterday too.
“I don’t understand,” I finally mumbled, leveling my gaze on Andre. “Why do they think we plagiarize their products?”
“We were 3hours late,” said Andre
“Then… How come!” I breathed out, balling my hand into a fist.
I did not know how mad I was when Grandpa mentioned this, but speaking about it now, I realised how much my blood is boiling.
For fuck sake! Even though I don’t like being here, I’d still do anything to be kept here.
My mom worked her ass off, she’d do anything for this company. Damn! She won’t let anything tarnish its image.
And now me? What have I done? Huh?
“You’re nothing like your mom!” Grandpa’s voice ringed in my ear. His angry gaze, and his sad expression as he said those words. “Except flirting with your brother’s fiancee…”
My hand collided with the table, causing some files to fly down the floor.
Damn it! Damn. Everyone. And not my grandpa reminding me of how unpleasant it’s to have Dawn betrothed to that asshole.
“The same thing,” Andre said. “The content, concept, design. Damn! Nothing is different between their design and ours… The same.”
I plopped down on the chair closest to Andre and leaned my head back. My eyes slightly closed, lips permed, and my fingers frustratedly drummed on my lap.
Alright! This is fucking so new to me. I’ve always been careful, careful in managing anything that relates to me. And this setback is something new. I have no idea how to deal with it.
“Do you want to have some ice?”
I shook my head.
“Warm water then?”
“No,” I hissed.
“Coffee?”
I shot Andre a frown and raised his hand above his head with a sly smile playing on his lips.
“Not my fault,” he shrugged. “It’s not like taking nothing is going to solve this mystery.”
I rolled my eyes.
Good for him. He’s not the one who’s being framed for plagiarism, and he’s not the one who was told to chase away the one he loves.
Ugh! What a joke grandpa was. He doesn’t wanna see Dawn in the company, not anywhere close to me? Want her out of my life?
Hugh! I’d rather swallow a blade than let her go!
“And this is not a coincidence, could it be?” I raised my brows. “For fuck sake, Andre, we worked it up together.”
I ran my hand through my hair, frustratedly.
Whatever is going on, I have no idea.
This project is supposed to be big, after all, it’s one of my mother’s secret designs.
She wanted to make the clothes, but she was unable to.
But how come? How did it all happen like this?
“It could have been better if ours was a little different,” Andre sighed. “Or if theirs was a little different. IItall looks like a thief stole the whole idea.”
A thief? Stole?
I sat upright, straightening my tensed shoulders for thoughts that had just run down my already thought-filled mind.
“What if…” I creased my brows. “The fault is not with us?”
“What do you mean?” Andre said with a raised brows
I mean, it could not have been a coincidence. And the fault is not fucking with us.
I supervised everything… Alright, the only mistake I made was releasing the product without proper protocol.
“I mean, someone could have sold us off.”
“No way,” Andre chuckled. “No one could have done that.”
“Is there any explanation you can give other than this then?” I glared at him.
Andre squinted his eyes, his lips slightly permed together as though he was doing some thinking.
Hey! There’s nothing more to think about this, is there?
No way on Earth could it have been our fault.
“Fine,” he mumbled. “Let’s say I agree with you. Have any idea how we’re going to deal with this?”
****
I made my way into the office after the meeting with my teams.
No one has given off a bad aura, making it difficult to suspect anyone.
Perhaps, the culprit is pretty good at hiding his feelings and masking his emotions.
But then, it won’t take that much before I catch up with him.
I pulled on my tie, unbuttoning my shirt as I dumped my ass on the chair.
I can’t deny that I’m still pretty mad, and scared.
What if… just what if Grandpa tried something funny with Dawn.
And speaking about Dawn…
A low cuss slipped out of my mouth as I danced my eyes around the room.
I stood up, panicky.
The fear of what Grandpa could have done to the kitten made my blood boil.
As hard as I could remember, I left her there in the room, and she told me nothing about her going out to do something.
“Hey, Ethan…”
On hearing the familiar voice, a frown replaced the anger that’s just eased out of my face as I whirled around to face Dawn.
Dawn entered fully, shutting the door closed behind her.
“You’re back?” She gave me a nervous smile.
“And I’m eager to know where you’re coming from.”
Now I sounded like a possessive boyfriend.
Oh yeah! I am possessive, and I am fucking proud of it.
Dawn went out when all she told me was I’ll meet her here when I am back.
“Is that jealous I am sensing?” Her lips broke into a cocky grin, and her eyes glinted mockingly. “Oh no, our little Ethan is jealous.”
“Says who?” I huffed, looking anywhere but at her.
How on Earth do I sound jealous? Ugh! Earth to her and her thought
“I am not.” I groaned.
Not taking a last glance at her, I dumped my ass on the chair and fixed my eyes on the table.
“And you can’t look at me.” She mumbled.
“Of course I can,” I chuckled awkwardly
Who says I can’t?
I swallowed past the lump in my throat, trying to look at her, but damn, she was right… I found it difficult to level my gaze with her.
Dawn edged closer to me, with every step she took, her intoxicating smell lingered in my nose, and I breathed it in.
“Just admit it,” she lifted my chin, her lips plastered in a wide smile. “That you’re jealous.”
Fine! I am! She should not be out there without telling me.
No! Knowing of course, that Nicole is fucking here in this company.
Quite suddenly, I pulled her down to my lap, earning a low gasp from her.
My arms snaked around her waist.
“You…” I breathed out. “Where have you been?”
“Just somewhere.” She shrugged.
I don’t like that answer, but I sensed she was not ready to speak of it.
Gulping down my question, I pulled her closer to me, almost leaving no space between us as my nail dug deeper into her waist.
“Promise me,” I bit her earlobe, licking and flicking it with my tongue.
Dawn recoiled back. A light moan escaped her lips.
“What…?” She said almost breathlessly.
“That you won’t leave me, Dawn…” I pulled away to look into her honey brown eyes. “No matter what happens, Dawn.”
“Ethan…” She mouthed.
Something passed through her eyes, but just as it came, it disappeared, making me think I’d imagined it.
Over the time I’d spent together with her, I realized how much she meant to me.
No! I can’t afford to lose her. Even if disobeying Grandpa, I’d do anything to keep her with me, right by my side.
Dawn sighed. She cupped my cheeks and leaned in such that our lips were only inches apart.
“Do you want to hear something?” She smiled.
“What?”
“That I’ll love only you till eternity.”