The morning sun filtered through the heavy curtains of Lila's hotel room, but she barely noticed as she paced the plush carpet, phone pressed to her ear. The tension from last night's call with her father hadn't faded, and his words echoed like a mantra in her mind: "Don't let your emotions get in the way."
"Everything is finalized," Lila said curtly, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her. "We'll begin the integration immediately. The Kelridge team has agreed to our timeline."
The voice on the other end, belonging to one of her senior board members, hummed in approval. "Good work, Lila. This merger will silence a lot of skeptics. But remember, the board is expecting perfection. Kelridge will be watching for any sign of weakness."
"I understand," she replied, her tone clipped.
The call ended, leaving her staring at the phone in her hand. The victory felt hollow, her father's and the board's approval tainted by their unrelenting demands.
A knock at her door broke her thoughts.
"Who is it?" she called, setting the phone on the desk.
"It's me," came Ethan's familiar voice.
Lila hesitated before walking to the door and opening it. Ethan stood in the hallway, his suit impeccably tailored but his expression slightly softer than usual.
"I was heading down for coffee," he said. "Thought you might want some before we meet with Kelridge's legal team."
She studied him for a moment, unsure whether to appreciate his thoughtfulness or resent his ability to read her so easily. "Thanks," she said finally. "Give me a minute."
As she gathered her bag and slipped on her blazer, Ethan waited patiently, his presence grounding in a way she hadn't expected.
---
The café downstairs was bustling, the aroma of fresh coffee and pastries weaving through the air. Ethan and Lila found a quiet corner table, their steaming cups between them.
"You seem distracted," Ethan said, breaking the silence.
Lila raised an eyebrow. "Is that your professional opinion, Mr. Blake?"
He smirked. "It's my human opinion. You don't have to tell me what's going on, but I can tell something's bothering you."
She sipped her coffee, her gaze focused on the view outside the window. "Nothing you need to worry about," she said, her tone carefully neutral.
"Maybe not," he said. "But that doesn't mean you should keep carrying it alone."
The sincerity in his voice caught her off guard, and for a moment, she considered opening up to him. But then her father's warning rang in her ears: "Don't let your emotions get in the way."
"I appreciate the concern," she said finally, "but I'm fine."
Ethan didn't push, but his expression told her he wasn't convinced.
---
The meeting with Kelridge's legal team was grueling, the air thick with formality and veiled challenges. Lila remained composed, her sharp intellect cutting through every obstacle they presented. Ethan sat beside her, offering support when needed but mostly observing her brilliance at work.
By the time the meeting ended, it was nearing evening, and the exhaustion was beginning to show on Lila's face.
"Dinner?" Ethan suggested as they exited the conference room.
"I have work to catch up on," she replied automatically.
Ethan tilted his head, his expression skeptical. "You've been going nonstop for days. One meal won't derail the company."
Lila hesitated, the tension in her shoulders warring with the part of her that longed for a moment of normalcy. Finally, she nodded. "Fine. But nothing fancy."
---
They found a quiet restaurant near the hotel, its warm lighting and rustic decor a stark contrast to the sterile boardrooms they were used to.
For the first time in what felt like forever, Lila allowed herself to relax, the weight of her responsibilities momentarily lifting as they talked about everything except work.
Ethan was easy company, his dry humor and thoughtful insights drawing out a side of Lila she rarely showed. She found herself laughing at his stories, her usual composure slipping just enough to reveal the warmth beneath.
But as the evening wore on, the conversation took a more serious turn.
"Can I ask you something?" Ethan said, his tone cautious.
Lila looked at him over the rim of her wine glass. "You just did."
He chuckled but pressed on. "Why do you let your father get to you the way he does?"
The question caught her off guard, and her expression hardened instinctively. "I don't know what you mean," she said coolly.
"Lila," he said gently, his gaze steady. "I've seen the way you tense up after his calls. It's like you're carrying the weight of his expectations on top of everything else."
Her grip on the glass tightened, but she didn't respond right away. Instead, she looked down at the table, her mind racing.
"He's the reason I'm here," she said finally, her voice quieter now. "Devereaux Enterprises wouldn't exist without him. Everything I've achieved is because of the foundation he built. I owe him everything."
Ethan frowned. "You've achieved what you have because you're brilliant and relentless, not because of him. But it sounds like he's still trying to control you."
Lila's eyes snapped up to meet his, her expression sharp. "It's not that simple," she said. "You wouldn't understand."
"Maybe not," he admitted. "But I know what it's like to feel like you have to prove yourself. And I know it's exhausting."
For a moment, they sat in silence, the hum of the restaurant around them fading into the background.
"I can't afford to fail," Lila said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "Not in his eyes, not in anyone's."
Ethan leaned forward, his gaze soft but unwavering. "You won't fail," he said. "But you don't have to do it alone, either."
Lila looked at him, her walls cracking just enough for him to see the vulnerability beneath. She wanted to believe him, to let herself trust someone for the first time in years.
But trust was dangerous. And she couldn't afford to lose control.
"Thank you," she said, her tone formal once more. "But I'll be fine."
Ethan nodded, though his expression betrayed his doubt. "Alright," he said. "But the offer stands."
---
Later that night, back in her hotel room, Lila sat by the window, staring out at the city lights.
Ethan's words lingered in her mind, clashing with her father's warnings. She felt torn between two worlds—the relentless pursuit of perfection her father demanded and the possibility of something more, something real, that Ethan.