Groans escaped Lucien's lips as he slowly peeled back the covers, stretching lazily on the bed. Two people, a man and a woman, lay sprawled beside him, reminding him of last night.
It had really been a rough night—or rather, a hot night—a clear reminder of the threesome that had taken place on his king-sized bed.
With nothing on, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed, his feet finding the cool embrace of the plush carpet. Getting up from his sitting position, he walked towards the sofa, which was strewn with a pile of clothes. He sighed as he fished through for his trousers.
After tossing a few garments aside, he found his trousers and searched the pockets for his phone.
What he needed now was for this place to be cleaned as soon as possible, especially the human "garbage" that lay on his bed.
Unlocking the screen, he dialed his Personal Assistant's number. After a few rings, his assistant answered, greeting him with a good morning.
"I need you to get my hotel room cleaned immediately. I don't want to come back from my shower and find these people still here. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I understand, sir," came the polite response. The assistant had been expecting this call so early in the morning. After all, this wasn't the first time his boss had told him to get rid of his one-night stands; it was like a recurring nightmare he was all too familiar with.
Lucien threw his phone onto the sofa and, with a determined stride, crossed the expanse of the room towards the lavish en-suite bathroom, his piercing green eyes reflecting a sense of purpose.
As he entered the sanctuary of the bathroom, the pristine marble countertops and gleaming fixtures welcomed him with understated elegance.
Lucien's reflection in the mirror, framed by tousled dark hair, echoed his handsome features—a testament to his allure and charm.With a decisive flick of the wrist, he turned on the faucet, letting the cool water flow freely.
Cupping his hands, he splashed the refreshing liquid onto his face, washing away the remnants of sleep and invigorating his senses. Droplets glistened on his olive-toned skin, highlighting the contours of his ruggedly handsome face.With meticulous care,Lucien squeezed a dollop of toothpaste onto his brush, the minty freshness awakening his senses as he methodically brushed away any trace of the night's indulgence.
His reflection in the mirror gleamed with satisfaction as he reveled in the simple pleasure of self-care.After rinsing his mouth and patting his face dry with a plush towel, Lucien turned his attention to the indulgent luxury of the bathtub. With a satisfied sigh, he adjusted the temperature to perfection, the steam rising in wispy tendrils around him.
As he eased himself into the warm embrace of the water, a sense of tranquility washed over him, enveloping him as he relaxed closing his eyes.
---
Ethan tossed and turned in his bed, the weight of his financial struggles pressing heavily on his mind. Morning arrived too soon, the gray light of dawn slipping through the curtains and pulling him from restless sleep.
With a groan, he forced himself up, rubbing his eyes as he stumbled into the kitchen. The apartment felt colder, emptier than usual. He absently flicked on the coffee maker and watched it brew, the familiar aroma doing little to lift his spirits.
As he sipped his coffee, his phone buzzed with a text from his sister, Anna, who lived in the dorms of her high school.
"Good morning, Ethan! Just wanted to check in and say hi. Love you!"
A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He quickly typed back, "Morning, Anna. Love you too. Have a great day at school."
The simple exchange brightened his mood, reminding him of why he was doing all this. He finished his coffee and got ready for work, the routine movements grounding him. Shower, dress, grab his bag—everything felt mechanical, like he was going through the motions.
Stepping outside, he welcomed the crisp New York air. The city was alive with its usual hustle and bustle, a chaotic symphony that matched his internal turmoil. He walked briskly to the bus stop, the familiar route calming his nerves somewhat.
At Atlas Logistics, the day began like any other. Ethan greeted his coworkers with a tired smile, settling into his cubicle. His desk was cluttered with paperwork, the tasks piling up faster than he could manage.
"Morning, Ethan," said Carla, his colleague, stopping by his desk. "You look exhausted. Rough night?"
"Yeah, something like that," Ethan replied, trying to muster a more convincing smile.
"If you need any help, just let me know," Carla offered, her tone sincere.
"Thanks, Carla. I appreciate it," he said, grateful for her kindness.
Ethan sat down and began sorting through his emails. An urgent message from Mr. Harris, his boss, caught his eye. The subject line read: "Emergency Meeting – 10 AM."
Ethan's stomach churned. Emergency meetings rarely brought good news. As the clock ticked closer to ten, he felt a sense of dread creeping over him.
At 10 AM sharp, Ethan joined his colleagues in the conference room. Mr. Harris was already there, pacing nervously. His usually composed demeanor was noticeably shaken.
"Thank you all for coming on such short notice," Mr. Harris began, his voice tense. "We have a serious issue on our hands. Apex Corporation, one of our largest clients, has identified a major error in our latest shipment."
Ethan exchanged worried glances with Carla and Jack. A mistake with Apex could spell disaster for the company.
"What kind of error?" Jack asked, leaning forward.
Mr. Harris sighed deeply. "Several containers were mislabeled, causing significant delays in their distribution chain. Apex has already incurred substantial financial losses because of this, and they are not happy."
Ethan's heart sank. Mislabeled containers were a nightmare to rectify, and the potential fallout was enormous.
"How did this happen?" Carla asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
"We're still investigating," Mr. Harris replied. "But right now, our priority is to fix this mess and salvage our relationship with Apex. They've demanded a meeting today, and from what I understand, Lucien Belmont himself will be coming."
A collective gasp filled the room. Lucien Belmont was a powerful figure in the business world, known for his ruthless efficiency and unforgiving nature.
"What do we do, Mr. Harris?" Ethan asked, his mind racing.
Mr. Harris rubbed his temples. "I need everyone to be on their best behavior. We'll review the processes and ensure this never happens again. But first, we need to survive today's meeting."
The tension in the room was palpable. Everyone knew the stakes, and the fear of losing Apex as a client loomed over them like a dark cloud.
The meeting concluded, and the office buzzed with frantic activity as everyone prepared for Lucien Belmont's arrival. Ethan returned to his desk, his mind a whirlwind of anxiety and determination.
By noon, the atmosphere in the office was electric with nervous energy. Ethan tried to focus on his work, but the impending visit from Lucien made concentration nearly impossible. The clock seemed to tick slower, each minute dragging on.
Around 2 PM, Ethan's phone buzzed with a call from the hospital. His heart sank as he answered, already knowing what it was about.
"Mr. Pierce, this is Linda from Goodday Hospital," the familiar voice said. "I'm calling about your mother's treatment. We still haven't received a payment, and we're approaching the final deadline."
Ethan closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. "I understand, Linda. I'm doing everything I can to get the money together."
"Please, Mr. Pierce, we need to receive payment soon," Linda urged gently. "Her treatment is crucial."
"I know," Ethan said, his voice tight with emotion. "I'll find a way. Thank you for the reminder."
He ended the call and leaned back in his chair, the weight of his situation crashing down on him. His mother's medical bills, his sister's school fees, the overdue rent—it was all too much.
Suddenly, the office door swung open, and a tall, imposing figure strode in. The room fell silent as everyone turned to see who had entered. It was Lucien Belmont, CEO of Apex Corporation, and he did not look happy.
Ethan watched in stunned silence as Lucien approached Mr. Harris's office, flanked by two stern-looking assistants. Mr. Harris hurried out to meet him, his face pale and anxious.
"Mr. Belmont," Mr. Harris stammered, extending a hand. "What brings you to our office today?"
Lucien ignored the handshake, his gaze icy. "We need to talk. Now."
Mr. Harris nodded quickly, leading Lucien into his office. The door closed behind them, and murmurs rippled through the office. Ethan's heart raced, a sense of foreboding settling over him.
Minutes later, raised voices could be heard from Mr. Harris's office. Ethan exchanged worried glances with Carla and Jack. This was not good.
Suddenly, the door burst open again, and Lucien stormed out, his expression furious. Mr. Harris followed, looking desperate.
"Mr. Belmont, please, there's no need to escalate this. We can work something out," Mr. Harris pleaded.
Lucien turned, his gaze as cold as ice. "Your company's incompetence has cost us dearly. There will be consequences."
Ethan couldn't just stand by. He rushed over, placing himself between Lucien and Mr. Harris. "Please, Mr. Belmont, give us another chance. We can fix this. Just give us some time."
Lucien's eyes flicked to Ethan, and for a moment, something unreadable passed through his gaze. "And who might you be?" he asked, his tone slightly softer but still authoritative.
"Ethan Pierce," Ethan said, his voice steady despite his racing heart. "I'm an employee here. Please, Mr. Belmont, don't punish the entire company for one mistake. We can make it right."
Lucien studied him for a long moment, the intensity of his gaze making Ethan's heart pound. Finally, he nodded slowly. "Alright, Mr. Pierce. I'll give you time to rectify the issue. If it's not resolved by then, there will be repercussions."
Ethan let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "Thank you, Mr. Belmont. We won't let you down."
Lucien gave a curt nod and turned to leave, his assistants following. Mr. Harris sagged with relief, clapping Ethan on the shoulder.
"Thank you, Ethan. I don't know what we would have done without you."
Ethan forced a smile, his mind still reeling from the encounter. "Just doing what I can, Mr. Harris."
As the office slowly returned to normal, Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that his life had just taken a significant turn. Little did he know, this was only the beginning of his entanglement with Lucien Belmont.
The rest of the day passed in a blur, the weight of the new responsibility hanging heavily over Ethan. When he finally left the office, the cold evening air did little to clear his head. He walked home, his mind racing with thoughts of how to solve the problem and avoid Lucien's wrath.
When he reached his apartment, he collapsed onto the couch, exhausted. His phone buzzed with a message from Anna, and he quickly texted back, assuring her everything was fine.
As he lay in bed that night, Ethan couldn't help but think of Lucien's piercing gaze and the strange connection he had felt in that brief moment. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but for now, he had to rest and gather his strength.
Ethan drifted off to sleep, forgetting about all his worries.