Ethan woke up early, the first light of dawn just starting to peek through the curtains. His soft features—a mop of unruly brown hair, gentle hazel eyes, and a dusting of freckles across his nose—gave him a boyish charm that often made him seem younger than his years. He quickly got dressed, opting for a crisp shirt and tailored pants, hoping to make a good impression in today's meeting.
As he stepped outside, the morning air was cool and fresh. He walked briskly towards the bus stop, his thoughts drifting to the upcoming meeting with Lucien. Lucien, his stern and exacting boss at the partner firm, had a reputation for being tough and intimidating. The mere thought of their interaction made Ethan shudder slightly. He quickened his pace, eager to get the commute over with.
The bus arrived right on time, and Ethan climbed aboard, greeting the driver with a nod before finding a seat near the back. He watched the city slowly come to life through the window, mentally preparing himself for the day ahead.
After a short ride, the bus reached Ethan's stop. He stepped off and made his way to his office building, a modern glass structure that gleamed in the morning sun. As he entered the lobby, he was greeted by the familiar faces of his colleagues.
"Morning, Ethan!" called out Jennifer, the receptionist, with a bright smile.
"Morning, Jennifer," Ethan replied warmly. "How's it going?"
"Not bad, just the usual hustle and bustle," she said, waving him along.
Ethan continued down the hallway, exchanging greetings with a few more colleagues. He finally reached his desk, set his bag down, and powered up his computer. The clock read 8:30 AM, giving him just over an hour and some minutes to prepare for the meeting at Lucien's company.
Mark, his desk neighbor, leaned over. "Hey, Ethan. Big meeting today, huh?"
"Yeah, with Lucien at their office. Should be interesting," Ethan replied, trying to sound more confident than he felt.
"Good luck, man. You'll do great," Mark said encouragingly.
"Thanks, I'll need it," Ethan said, flashing a brief smile.
Ethan spent the next hour reviewing his notes, making sure he was thoroughly prepared. He double-checked the presentation slides, organized his documents, and practiced his key talking points. At 9:45 AM, he grabbed his bag, took a deep breath, and headed out to catch a taxi.
The ride to Lucien's office was relatively short but felt longer as Ethan's mind raced through all the possible scenarios. He tried to calm his nerves by going over his preparation once more. The taxi eventually pulled up to a sleek, towering building, and Ethan paid the driver before stepping out.
Lucien's office was on the 20th floor, and as Ethan rode the elevator up, he adjusted his tie and took a few deep breaths. The elevator dinged, and he stepped out into a polished, bustling office space.
"Good morning. How can I help you?" the receptionist asked.
"Morning. I'm Ethan Pierce. I have a 10 o'clock meeting with Mr. Lucien," Ethan replied.
"Ah, yes. Mr. Lucien is expecting you. Please have a seat; he'll be with you shortly," she said, motioning to a seating area.
Ethan sat down, his heart pounding slightly. After a few minutes, a tall man with a stern expression approached.
"Ethan Pierce?" the man asked.
"Yes, that's me," Ethan said, standing up.
"I'm Robert. Mr. Lucien's assistant. Follow me, please," Robert said curtly.
Ethan followed Robert down a long hallway to a large conference room. Lucien was already there, reviewing some documents. He looked up as they entered.
"Mr. Pierce, welcome," Lucien said, his tone neutral but his gaze sharp.
Robert left immediately closing the door behind him.
"Thank you, Mr. Lucien. It's a pleasure to be here," Ethan said, trying to sound composed.
"Please, take a seat. Let's get started," Lucien said, gesturing to a chair.
Ethan sat down, pulling out his notes and materials. He glanced at Lucien, who was watching him intently.
"I understand you have a solution to the problem your company has caused us," Lucien asked with a raised brow.
"Not actually, it's just something I've tried to come up with. I don't really know if it's going to work."
Lucien let out a little chuckle, getting up from his sitting position. "Coffee?"
Ethan hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, please."
Lucien walked over to a sleek coffee maker on the side table, his movements smooth and deliberate. He poured two cups of coffee, the rich aroma filling the room, and handed one to Ethan before sitting back down.
Ethan took a sip, savoring the warmth and the rich taste. "Thank you."
Lucien leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving Ethan. "So, Ethan, tell me about yourself."
Ethan blinked, slightly taken aback. "About myself? I thought we were here to discuss the problem caused"
Lucien waved a hand dismissively. "We'll get to that. I find it helpful to know the people I'm working with. What do you do for fun?"
Ethan shifted uncomfortably in his seat, not sure how to answer. "Well, I enjoy reading and spending time with my sister. She's in school, and I try to visit her as often as I can."
Lucien nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. "That's sweet. You seem very responsible for someone your age."
Ethan shrugged. "I've had to be. It's just the two of us and my mom since my father passed away."
Lucien's expression softened slightly. "I see. And what about work? How did you end up at Atlas Logistics?"
Ethan took another sip of his coffee, trying to read Lucien's intentions. "I started there right after college. It was a good opportunity, and I've been trying to work my way up since then."
Lucien tilted his head, studying Ethan. "And has it been what you expected?"
Ethan gave a small, humorless laugh. "Not exactly. It's been challenging, especially recently."
Lucien's eyes gleamed with interest. "Because of the incident with my company?"
Ethan nodded. "Yes. It's been... stressful, to say the least."
Lucien leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "I can imagine. But you're not the one who caused it, right?"
Ethan shook his head. "No, but I'm part of the team that has to fix it."
Lucien nodded slowly, seeming to process this information. "Tell me more about your sister. What's her name?"
Ethan's expression softened. "Her name is Anna. She's a in a her third year, very smart, and determined. She's studying to be an optometrist"
Lucien's gaze remained fixed on Ethan. "You must be very proud of her."
"I am," Ethan said, a hint of a smile touching his lips. "She's been through a lot, but she keeps pushing forward."
"And you support her financially?"
Ethan nodded. "Yes. It's tough, but she deserves the best chance at a good future."
Lucien's eyes flickered with something unreadable. "That's quite a burden for someone so young."
Ethan shrugged, trying to brush off the weight of his responsibilities. "It is what it is. I just want her to have the opportunities I didn't."
Lucien leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled in front of him. "And what about you, Ethan? What do you want for yourself?"
Ethan hesitated, not used to thinking about his own desires. "I don't know. I guess I just want to do my job well and make sure Anna and my mom is taken care of."
Lucien's gaze was intense, almost predatory. "You deserve more than just getting by, Ethan."
Ethan felt a chill run down his spine at the way Lucien said his name. He took another sip of his coffee, trying to steady his nerves. "I appreciate that, Mr. Belmont."
"Lucien," he corrected smoothly. "Call me Lucien."
Ethan nodded. "Okay... Lucien."
Lucien smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "We'll see how things go tomorrow. In the meantime, I'd like to get to know you better. You intrigue me, Ethan Pierce."
Ethan wasn't sure how to respond to that, so he just nodded, feeling the weight of Lucien's scrutiny. This meeting was turning out to be far more personal than he had anticipated, and he couldn't shake the feeling that Lucien had plans that extended well beyond their professional dealings.
After what felt like eternity, Lucien brought up the mistakes that Ethan and his company had caused, skimming through Ethan's proposal on how it could be rectified.
Lucien's eyes scanned the pages quickly before he placed the file back on the table. "I don't think this will help. Why don't you sleep on it, Ethan?" he said, his voice smooth and authoritative. Ethan gulped nervously as Lucien continued, "I'll give you a week to come up with something better. If you don't, know that you and your company are in big trouble." He smirked, leaning back in his chair, completely at ease.
"I'll do my possible best, Mr. Belmont," Ethan replied with a panicked nod.
Lucien's smirk widened, his gaze locking onto Ethan. "If you say so," he said, glancing at his watch. "Oh, I have a meeting in 15 minutes. I think it's time for you to leave, Mr. Pierce."
Ethan stood up quickly, almost knocking his chair over in his haste. "Thank you for your time, Mr. Belmont," he stammered, gathering his notes.
"Lucien," he corrected. "Call me Lucien."
"Right, Lucien. I'll work on this immediately," Ethan said, trying to keep his composure as he headed towards the door.
"Good. I look forward to seeing what you come up with," Lucien said, his eyes following Ethan as he moved.
Ethan gave a tight nod and exited the office, feeling Lucien's gaze burning into his back until the door clicked shut behind him. He walked briskly down the hallway, his mind racing. The conversation had been far more intense than he had anticipated, and the pressure to deliver a viable solution in such a short time was overwhelming.
He barely noticed his surroundings as he made his way to the elevator. His thoughts were consumed with the implications of Lucien's ultimatum. If he couldn't come up with a solution, it wouldn't just be his job on the line—it would be his entire company. And the way Lucien had looked at him, with that unnerving intensity, made him feel like there was more at stake than just professional consequences.
As the elevator doors closed, Ethan leaned against the wall, taking a deep breath. He had to pull himself together and think clearly. There had to be a way to fix this, to come up with a plan that would satisfy Lucien and save his job. He just needed to focus.
When the elevator reached the ground floor, Ethan stepped out and headed towards the exit. He needed some fresh air, something to clear his head. Once outside, he took a moment to breathe deeply, the cool air helping to steady his nerves.
He pulled out his phone and dialed his sister Anna's number. She picked up after a few rings.
"Hey, Ethan," Anna greeted cheerfully. "What's up?"
"Hey, Anna," Ethan said, trying to sound upbeat. "Just wanted to check in on you. How's everything going?"
"Everything's good," Anna replied. "Just busy with school stuff. You sound stressed. Are you okay?"
Ethan hesitated, not wanting to burden her with his problems. "Yeah, just a tough day at work. But I'll manage. I was thinking of visiting you later today. How about I bring some sweets from that bakery you like?"
Anna's voice brightened. "That sounds awesome! My friends will be so jealous. They all think you're the best big brother ever."
Ethan chuckled despite himself. "Well, I aim to please. I'll be there in a couple of hours. See you soon, Anna."
"Can't wait! Love you, Ethan."
"Love you too," Ethan replied before hanging up.
Ethan pocketed his phone and started walking towards the nearby bakery. The call with Anna had lifted his spirits a bit, but the weight of his meeting with Lucien still hung over him. As he entered the bakery, the smell of freshly baked goods greeted him, providing a brief respite from his worries.
"Hey, Ethan!" the bakery owner, Mrs. Thompson, greeted him warmly. "The usual?"
"Yes, please," Ethan replied with a smile. "And can you add a box of those chocolate chip cookies?"
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