Ethan's POV:
When I turned around to face the person who said my name, the person I came to face to face with was not someone I was expecting to see at all. The moment my eyes met hers, I forgot to breathe. Everything that I have kept buried deep inside came rushing up as if all the effort I made to keep it in was just nothing.
"Eileen..." Her name rolled out before I could stop myself. I haven't said her name in years.
"How do you know each other?" Our moment was interrupted by my aunt, who is also the CEO of millennial publishers.
For a couple of seconds neither me or Eileen said anything. I didn't know what to say.
"I don't mean to be rude, but please excuse me. I see Emily waving at me." And just like that she walked away again.
"Do you know her?" my aunt asked again when Eileen left.
"I use to. Not anymore." I answered shortly. I didn't want to talk about it.
"I see. Just enjoy the event okay? I know how you always avoid coming to events but since you are here, mingle around and enjoy. I have to go find my husband, who knows where he is." Aunt left laughing leaving me amused. Aunt Rachel and his husband have the weirdest but loving relationship I have ever seen.
When I was sure that my aunt is occupied, I turned around to find Eileen. It wasn't difficult. She was right there, the direction she had gone. She was talking to some women, that must be Emily. I took a sip from the drink I had in my hand as I just looked at her. She was still as beautiful as ever. The most beautiful woman I have ever laid my eyes on. I should hate her. I should not be able to be anywhere near her. But that's not what was happening. I wanted to go and hug her, keep her in my arms. I wanted to tell her how much I have missed her.
My thoughts were shaken when she turned and looked at me. Our eyes met one more time. She didn't look away for a moment but I did. I turned away. I can't think about any of this. At least not for now.
According to the request Aunt Rachel made, I did my best to mingle with everyone. I am a business man and attending events and mingling with peoples isn't something difficult for me. It's just that this is something related to books and the reason why I started hating books is in this very room which was making it difficult for me to enjoy the evening.
Fortunately, I met some familiar faces. I stuck to them and chatted about this and that. I was laughing and enjoying when our conversation was interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat. I turned to face the person.
"How can I help you?" I asked the women standing in front of me.
"Mrs. Evans is looking for you. She wants you to join her for dinner." The women let me know.
"Oh okay. Can you lead me to where she is?" I asked.
"Yeah. That's what I am here for." She said with a kind smile.
I turned back to the group and excused myself before exiting the group. I turned back and asked her to show me.
"This way please." Saying that she started walking. I followed her and through all the many peoples I found my aunt. Who I wasn't expecting to see there was Eileen? What is she doing here?
"Oh, there you are Ethan. Come join us." Saying that she sat down. The table was set unlike the rest of the tables.
"Let's all sit down. The food is coming. Leave two chairs next to each other. Emily and her husband will be joining too.
"Emily is the author, right?" I asked to be sure. I remember seeing a big board with that name written on it.
"Yes. That's right. Now let's sit." Aunt answered.
We all sat down leaving two seats together. The women who came to get me sat next to me and Eileen next to her.
By the time the waiters brought in the food, Emily and her husband joined.
"Ethan, let me introduce you to everyone and everyone to you," Aunt said grabbing the attention of everyone at the table.
"Everyone, this is Ethan Jones. My one and only nephew. And Ethan, this Emily Mathews and her Husband Jason Mathews." She started with the couple.
I stood up a little and shook hands with the husband "Nice to meet you." I said. "Nice to meet you too." He said back. I gave a smile to his wife and sat back down.
"And the woman sitting next to you is Nora Ahmed."
"It's good to know the name of the women who came to find me," I said jokingly making her laugh.
"And this is Eileen Stewart, the head of marketing. Nora is the PA of Eileen." She finally introduced the person I was curious about.
I was surprised to hear that she was the head of marketing, but then again I didn't know anything about her life to be surprised.
"Nice meeting you," I said to her with a nod. I didn't want to come out rude. But that all I said to her rest of the dinner.
I conversed with everyone but not her. But thankfully it was a silent but not awkward dinner.
After dinner we all went our separate ways. I went back to the same group of peoples I was chatting with before I was called for dinner.
Slowly, people started to leave. It was almost 11 pm when the whole venue cleared out and it was time for me to leave too. I don't live in the city, so I have to drive quite far to reach home. Before leaving, I said bye to my aunt. I wanted to see Eileen one more time but I couldn't see her. So I left.
The whole ride home, all I could do was think about Eileen.
Parking the car inside the garage, I went in. Even though London is not my home, I have a place where I can live comfortably during my stay. This big house is also the place where my family stays when they are in London for Family vacations. It was a good thing that I invested money in purchasing this house.
I went straight to my room to get freshen up and get changed before letting me wander all the many thoughts I was holding back.
After the shower and get changed, I went back downstairs to make myself a cup of coffee. A warm cup of coffee is the best companion on a cold night. The winter is getting closer, the weather has started to get extremely cold.
With the warm cup of coffee in hand, I went near the glass wall of the living room from where at day time the green of the forest makes me feel at peace and night the darkness reminds me of the loneliness and pain that has been in my heart for the past six years.
I still remember the day I had confessed to her and she had just walked away without a word. I was so confused that I didn't even know how to move until it was too late. I didn't know anything about her to go and find her. All those times when I had seen her in the café and talked to her, she didn't tell me anything about herself except her name and her birthday. Any other thing that I know about her is things I had noticed myself. Any time I had tried to ask her about something, she skillfully changes the subject. At some point, I stopped because I knew she didn't want to talk about herself.
Even without knowing anything about her, I fell in love with her. I fell in love with her so deeply that even after six years she is making my heart go crazy and that makes me mad.
I took a sip of coffee to calm myself.
Tonight, was a surprise. Seeing her made my heart flutter once again. London and in my aunt's, company wasn't even the last place I would have expected her to be. I had waited for days to see her again. The next day after my confession, I had even gone to the café hoping that she might come even though I had a feeling she wouldn't. Days went by and I still kept going. Days changed to weeks and weeks changed to month, still no sight of her. I couldn't keep on going back to the cafe and wait for hours because I had a company and its employees who depended on me. At that time, I had just started handling my father's business and I had my own business to handle. Even now it's two business, but six years is a long time to get a hang of things and learn how to balance time for both my businesses. Despite being extremely busy, I never stopped thinking about her. From time to time I went to the café and every time I opened the door of that place, hope of seeing her welcomed me. But every time the hope breaks as soon as I enter. Not seeing her had me imagining the worst. The thought that something terrible might have happened to her crossed my mind so many times. New York is a big city; it would be a miracle if you get to meet the same stranger for a second time. As much as I wanted to wait for her forever, I couldn't. I may come out as desperate but I wanted to ask her something and for that, she needed to be in front of me.
Truth to be told, these past years have been extremely lonely for me, but that was only in my personal life. I worked hard, kept myself distracted, and made my way through to success. I did my best so that I can grow both my companies. It was extremely hard, but I did it. I expanded both my companies. It had helped not to cry over my broken heart or even feel the amount of sadness I should be feeling. I was doing a pretty wonderful job burying the pain and feelings but seeing her tonight just brought back everything.
Frustrated I drank the whole cup regretting instantly.
After washing the cup, I went back to my room. I need to get some sleep. All the thinking has given me a headache like no other and I have meetings that I need to attend. I am not here to stay. Once my business I came to do is done, I will be leaving.
With thoughts still lingering on my mind, I forced myself to fall asleep. It wasn't easy but, in the end the sleep took over me.