Ethan's POV:
It is the fourth day since Eileen gave me the draft of the novel. I had just finished it last night. I am not a slow reader but the lack of free time had made it impossible to spend more than a hour or two each day. And I have been extremely busy. With all the meetings, catching up with anything that I could have missed regarding the London branch and I also have been looking for a studio with a gallery space. It has been years since I opened my photo studio in New York. And I have spent years extending my dad's business and this time as I planned my trip to London I kept thinking about the idea of opening a second studio. I have always wanted to before also but I have been so busy that I didn't even have time to think about it much.
"Boss, we are here." Voice of the driver pulled me out of my thoughts. I looked out and saw that we indeed here.
I turned back to the driver. "I will call when I am ready to leave and you can just call me sir. It has been three years now and you still call me boss. It makes me feel like a gang leader."
The driver chuckled. "My apologies sir. I will try my best to not call you Boss."
I gave a "That's good" nod and stepped out of the car. I felt a sudden rush of nervousness spread through me. Maybe its because I have to convince my aunt to publish her novel. Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I walked inside. The lobby was empty except the receptionists at the counter. I greeted them when I walked passed by the counter on my way to the elevator.
I stood in front of her office door preparing myself. This is so nerve-wracking and I don't even know why I am so nervous. I gave a gentle knock on her door. When I didnt get any response I was about to knock again when the door opened. It was Richard, Aunt's Secretary.
"You can go in." He opened the door wider to let me in. I thanked him before he left.
"Hello Aunt." I greeted her. She smiled brightly when she saw me. She came and gave me a warm hug. She gives the warmest hugs beside Mom.
"What are you doing here?" She was happy.
"I came to talk to you about something. It's very important." I became serious.
"Okay. Let's sit." She led us to the sofa at the end of the room to get comfortable.
"Okay tell me. What is it that you wanted to talk about?" She asked as soon as she sat down.
I took a deep breath before putting the blue cover draft on the tea table, "This."
She stared at the draft for a long time before she said anything.
"How do you have that?" She asked still staring at the draft.
"Your marketing head gave it to me. Before you get mad at her just hear me out." I knew my aunt well. She doesn't react until she hears the whole story.
"Let me hear it." I could see that she was trying to not show she was mad.
"I was very surprised when she gave me this thick draft saying it is your novel. She asked me to read it and talk to you. She wanted me to convince you to publish. And I am here to do that."
"What?" She looked at me surprised.
"Don't be so surprised Aunt. You know you are a great writer and now even I know. Your novel is so wonderful. I truly loved it. You have got to publish this. You owe it to your novel and you owe it to yourself." I meant every word.
"But I am just not ready. Actually that's not it either. Honestly, I am nervous and scared about the reactions I will get. What if they don't like it?" She opened herself. Aunt Rachel has always been sensitive and a introvert. She may not show it often but she also get nervous and insecure about certain things. You may not believe it since she build a whole company from scratch to what it is now.
"Growing up, I have always been the closest to you. You were the one who suggested I open my studio when I wanted to make photography my career and when I was scared to take the first step, you were the one who said to me that unless I don't take that step forward how will I know what is waiting for me. When dad became ill and suddenly I had to take over the company and become the new Chairman, I was extremely scared. I didn't know how I would manage my studio and the company, you are the one who said to me that balancing may seem hard, but unless I dont give it a try I never know it may even be easy. But it wasnt. It was extremely easy. But I went through it, thanks to you. You have always been my inspiration. Today I want to say what you said to me. Unless you don't take that step forward; how will you know what's waiting for you."
For a few seconds, she didn't say anything.
"You are right. You are absolutely right. I wouldn't know until I take that step. Okay, I will do it. I want to see what is waiting for me." She sighed. It wasn't a sad sigh. It was a nervous sigh.
"You won't be disappointed. I believe that this will be a great success." I had no doubt about it.
"But you are going to make my book cover. I want the image on my book cover to be your work.
" She suddenly said taking me by surprise.
Do the cover? Where do I find the time for that?
"Okay?" She asked again.
"Yeah. I will be honored." I agreed. I don't know how I am going to make time for it but I will do this.
Saying bye for now, I left her office. I wanted to go and give Eileen the news myself but I have the feeling that by the time I reach her office Aunt would have called her and given her the news. Either ways I wanted to see her so that's what I did.
When I entered her office, I saw that she was on a call. Maybe it's Aunt. But it has been almost ten minutes since I left her office. Its a big company, It takes time to go from the owner's office to any other department. I waited at the doorway till she was done with her call. Taking the chance I just looked at her. The way her expression change to shock due to whatever the caller must have said to her. She looked so beautiful and so cute. I wanted to smile, but I didn't want her to see.
She slowly put down her phone. She was still sitting with the same expression and that made me worried.
"Hey." I tried getting her attention.
Startled she looked up and the second her eyes met mine, she smiled widely. My heart fluttered seeing her smile like that at me. It has been a long time since I saw her smile like that.
"You did it." She said it so silently that I barely caught it.
"You actually did it! I could hug you right now out of happiness." This time she said it louder. From her voice I could feel just how happy she was.
I laughed at her words.
"Thank you! Thank you so much." She was trying hard to not squeal and jump.
"You don't have to thank me. I am happy to be a part of a new beginning in my Aunt's life." Being able to help convince her for something so important makes me truly happy.
"As a thank you; I want to take you to lunch. My treat. If you have time that is."
"Your treat? I don't feel so co--
"Let me guess, you don't like others paying for your food."
Surprised I agreed.
"Then how about this; I pay for the food you take and you pay for the food I take, okay?" She suggested.
"No wonder why you are the marketing head." That idea didn't even cross my mind.
"Hehe. Thank you. Let's get going shall we?" She took her bag and blazer from the coat hanger.
"Yeah lets." With that we left.
When the two of us walked out of her office together, everyone stared.
Eileen chose the restaurant. It was a Mexican place.
When we arrived, I saw that the place was packed. All the seats were occupied. The receptionist suggested we wait for a table to get empty.
"Are you okay with waiting?" Eileen asked me.
"Yeah I don't mind. But we can also go to another restaurant." I was less worried about me but more about her.
"Yeah I know. But Mexican is your favorite that's why I brought us here. Mexican is still your favorite right?" She looked at me nervously.
"How did you know that?" I asked in shock.
"You told me one day in the cafe." She said shyly. I saw pink color come onto her cheeks.
I couldn't help but be extremely touch and just smile over how cute she looked at this very moment.
"Yes, Mexican is still my favorite," I assured her.
She looked at me with a beautiful smile.
Our moment was interrupted when the waiter came and told us that a table is empty and we can take a seat. Even though our moment was interrupted I was glad that we didnt have to wait too long.
As we sat, the waiter gave us the menu. Usually when i come to a Mexican restaurant, I give my order immediately without checking the menu. Because I know what I want to eat. But today it isn't just me, so I didn't do what I usually do. I already knew what I wanted to eat so I waited for Eileen to decide. She must have noticed I wasn't going through the menu like her.
"Did you already decide?" She asked.
"Yeah. I always know what to eat when I come to a Mexican restaurant." That's just how much I love Mexican food.
"Oh I see. Can you help me then? I don't know what is what?" She whispered the last part.
"Why are you whispering?" I asked.
"I don't want anyone to hear that I don't know anything about Mexican food." She looked embarrassed.
"It's okay that you don't know. I am here. Let me help." It touched my heart that she chose a Mexican restaurant because of me when she doesn't even know anything about the specific cuisine.
Slowly I explained to her the dishes. She was having a hard time deciding what to take.
"How about I chose a dish for you?" I suggested.
"That would be great. This is tiring." She said relieved.
"Okay then. I will call the waiter. You choose a drink by then." Seeing that the restaurant was still packed, I knew it was going to be a bit hard to get the attention of a waiter.
After trying for a few minutes finally I was able to grab the attention of one busy waiter.
"We are ready to order," I told him as soon as he stopped at our table.
We gave our orders. Saying a thank you, the waiter quickly left.
"This must be a famous place, seeing that it's hectic in here." I looked around the place.
"Yeah it must be. It's my first time here. But the employees in my department comes here every two days, so I hear about this place a lot."
"Ah I see. And it seems like it's your first time trying Mexican Food." I made small talk.
"Yeah. I always wanted to give it a try since someone I know just talks and talks about Mexican food as if there is no other cuisine better than it." She looked at me with a teasing smile.
Is she talking about me?
"Yes. I am talking about you. Whenever a topic about food came up, you would go on and on about Mexican food. So I was always curious but never actually tried." She remembers.
"How come?" I asked out of curiosity.
"I have my reason." She didn't want to tell.
"Alright." I got the feeling she didn't want to say more.
"How long have you been in London?" I realized I haven't asked her that yet.
"It has been five to six years. I have been living here for a while now. How about you? Do you come to London often?" She turned the question to me.
"Yeah. Quite often. I have to come to London every three months to check on how the business is going and all."
"Ah I see. I was actually surprised to know that you are a CEO."
"Why does that surprise you?" I wondered.
"Because back then you always had a camera with you, so I always thought you were a photographer or something." Even without knowing she was right.
"You thought right. I was a photographer and I still am. The only difference is that now I manage a huge empire." I miss going around places taking pictures of everything and anything.
"Do you have your studio?" She asked.
"Yeah actually I do. In New York. I am also opening one here too. With a gallery that is." I let her into a bit of my plans.
"That creates a lot of questions in my mind. And I am sure you know what those questions are."
"You mean like one being how I am going to manage it?" I guessed.
She nodded as a yes.
I told her about what I had planned. She listened to it with interest. We fell into a flowing conversation. The food came and we enjoyed it.
I got to know quite a bit about her during the meal and I told her quite a bit about myself. We have sat at the same table having a meal before. But six years ago when we did something similar to this, this much information was never shared.
I am going to cherish this moment this meal for a long time.