Lucien Belmont sat at the head of the long, sleek conference table in Apex Corporation's boardroom. Around him, his top executives and department heads presented quarterly reports and future strategies, their voices a blend of excitement and apprehension. The room was filled with charts, graphs, and PowerPoint slides detailing the company's performance and projections.
But Lucien's mind was elsewhere.
Despite the array of data and strategic insights being discussed, he found himself unable to focus. His thoughts kept drifting back to the encounter with Ethan.Was it Ethan?, at Atlas Logistics. Lucien had always prided himself on his ability to compartmentalize, to keep his professional and personal interests separate. Yet, here he was, distracted by the memory of that earnest, desperate young man.
"Mr. Belmont?" A voice cut through his reverie.
Lucien blinked and turned his attention to the speaker, Jonathan, the head of marketing. "Yes, Jonathan. Continue."
Jonathan nodded, though his eyes flickered with uncertainty. "As I was saying, our market share has increased by five percent this quarter, thanks to the new campaign..."
Lucien tried to focus on the presentation, but his thoughts betrayed him again. He could still see the determination in Ethan's eyes as he took responsibility for the mistake. It was rare to encounter such integrity and courage. Lucien found it both intriguing and frustrating. He couldn't understand why he was so affected by this young man, why he couldn't simply dismiss him as another pawn in the corporate game.
As Jonathan continued, Lucien's gaze drifted to the window. The city skyline, usually a symbol of his empire's success, now seemed distant and irrelevant. He replayed the conversation in Mr. Harris's office over and over in his mind. Ethan's plea, his willingness to sacrifice for the sake of others, lingered with him in a way he hadn't expected.
"Mr. Belmont?" Another voice, this time softer, almost hesitant.
Lucien turned back to the table, realizing the entire room was watching him. "Do you have any feedback on the new product line proposal?"
Lucien cleared his throat, trying to mask his distraction. "Yes, of course. The proposal looks promising. However, I want more emphasis on the cost-benefit analysis. Ensure that we're not overextending ourselves. We'll discuss this in detail later."
The exchange did little to ease the tension in the room. His employees exchanged glances, clearly aware that something was off with their usually sharp and decisive leader.
Lucien took a deep breath, forcing himself to engage with the meeting. He asked pointed questions, gave directives, and made notes on his tablet. But throughout it all, the image of Ethan persisted. He saw the young man's resolve, his vulnerability, and his unexpected strength. It was maddening.
Finally, the meeting drew to a close. Lucien stood, signaling the end of the discussion. "Thank you, everyone. We'll reconvene next week to finalize these plans."
As his team began to gather their materials and leave the room, Lucien stood and walked to the window, gazing out at the bustling city below. He sighed and leaned against the glass, rubbing his temples. This was unlike him. He couldn't afford to be distracted, especially not by someone like Ethan Pierce. Yet, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to this young man, something that demanded his attention.
He returned to his desk, the decision already forming in his mind. He would see Ethan again, not just because of the business, but to understand why this seemingly ordinary boy had such an extraordinary effect on him. Lucien picked up his phone and dialed a familiar number.
"Mr. Harris," he said when the line connected. "This is Lucien Belmont. I need to discuss the recent issues with you"
"Yes sir,i already had that in mind,when should i come over?"
"I don't need you to come over,you have other things to do,will your employee be free?"
"Employee?" he asked curiously not knowing who Lucien was referring to.
"Ethan,Ethan Pierce, i like how bold he was,i would want to meet him again"he said as his voice went soft.
" Oh,i could arrange that,no worries,Ethan will be at your office tomorrow by all means " he said with a chuckle a little curious why the man preferred Ethan but he decided not to question him.
"And,do not let him know i personally requested for him" he continued with a warning tone.
Lucien ended the call, As he sat back in his chair. He had already gotten his assistant to find more about the pretty boy and he was going to use it for his advantage.
---
Ethan Pierce paced nervously outside Mr. Harris's office at Atlas Logistics. He had been called in unexpectedly, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something significant was about to happen. Finally, the door opened, and Mr. Harris beckoned him inside.
"Ethan, have a seat," Mr. Harris said, motioning to the chair opposite his desk.
Ethan complied, sitting down with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. "Is everything okay, Mr. Harris?"
Mr. Harris smiled, but there was a hint of something else in his eyes—curiosity, perhaps. "Everything is fine, Ethan. In fact, I have some rather interesting news. Lucien Belmont from Apex Corporation has asked for you specifically."
Ethan's eyes widened in surprise. "Mr. Belmont asked for me? Why?"
Mr. Harris shrugged. "I'm not entirely sure. He mentioned that he was impressed with your integrity and boldness. He has requested a meeting with you at Apex Corporation."
Ethan felt a mixture of pride and anxiety. "When am I supposed to go?"
"Tomorrow morning. 10 AM sharp," Mr. Harris replied. "And, Ethan, Mr. Belmont was very clear—he doesn't want you to know he personally requested you. So, let's keep that between us."
Ethan nodded, his mind racing. "I'll be there. Thank you for letting me know."
Mr. Harris leaned back in his chair, his curiosity evident. "Just be yourself, Ethan. That's what caught his attention in the first place."
---
As Ethan hustled back from work in the evening, he swung by a corner store, grabbing a bag of sweets for Anna. He knew she'd appreciate the sugary pick-me-up after a long day of lectures. With the bag in hand, he jogged over to Anna's dorm, spotting her lounging outside, scrolling through her phone.
"Anna!" Ethan called out, tossing the bag of sweets her way.
Anna looked up, catching the bag with a grin. "Hey, about time you showed up. I was starting to think you forgot about me."
Ethan laughed, plopping down next to her. "Forget about you? As if. I just had to make sure I got the good stuff."
Anna rolled her eyes, but there was a playful glint in them. "Well, you did good. Now, hand over the goods."
Ethan handed her the bag, watching as she eagerly dug in. "So, how's life treating you, sis?"
Anna shrugged. "Same old, same old. Professors piling on the work, roommates being annoying… you know, the usual."
Ethan nodded sympathetically. "Sounds rough. Need me to beat anyone up for you?"
Anna snorted. "As tempting as that sounds, I think I'll pass. But thanks for the offer."
They lapsed into comfortable silence for a moment, munching on sweets and enjoying each other's company.
"So, what's the latest gossip?" Ethan asked, breaking the silence.
Anna smirked. "Oh, you know, the usual drama. Jenny hooked up with Tom, again. And apparently, Sarah failed her math exam… for the third time."
Ethan shook his head, chuckling. "Sounds like a wild time. Makes me glad I'm not in college anymore."
Anna shot him a teasing look. "Yeah, living the adult life sounds so much better, doesn't it? All work and no play."
Ethan grinned. "Hey, at least I don't have to deal with annoying roommates anymore. My only annoyance is the boss."
Anna nudged him playfully. "Poor baby. Want me to come give your boss a piece of my mind?"
Ethan laughed. "Nah, I'll survive. Besides, I need you here to keep me sane."
Anna rolled her eyes. "As if you were ever sane to begin with."
They shared a laugh, enjoying the easy banter that came so naturally to them.
As the evening wore on, Anna checked her watch and sighed. "I hate to break up the party, but I've got an early class tomorrow. Can't afford to sleep through another lecture."
Ethan nodded, giving her a mock salute. "Roger that, Captain. Don't want to get on the wrong side of Professor Grumpy."
Anna snickered. "You know it. Thanks for stopping by, Ethan. It was… tolerable."
Ethan feigned offense. "Wow, thanks. You're a real charmer, you know that?"
Anna grinned, giving him a playful shove. "You know you love me, bro."
With a final laugh, Anna headed inside, leaving Ethan alone with his thoughts. As he made his way home, he couldn't help but feel grateful for the unique bond he shared with his sister. They may not always be polite, but they always had each other's backs.