*Intentions*
Anita woke up feeling refreshed and in an unusually good mood. She turned her head and saw Jack gazing down at her, his eyes filled with emotions she didn't want to name. He smiled, a satisfied grin playing on his lips.
"Good morning, sleeping beauty," he said softly. "You know, I could do this for the rest of my life."
"Do what?" she asked, feigning innocence, even though she knew exactly what he meant.
"You know what I'm talking about," Jack replied, his voice dropping lower. "Ethan is too weak for you. I'm the only one who can handle you, satisfy you."
Anita's smile faded. She fixed her gaze on him, her eyes steely. "You know this can't work between us. We've talked about this before. This is the last time we will talk about this.
Jack leaned back, raising his hands in surrender. "Suit yourself. But just know, I won't always be here waiting. We have something real, something exciting. Why are you so bent on that Ethan guy? You're pushing me to do something drastic-to kill him and anyone who stands in our way."
Her eyes flared with anger. "You will do no such thing. I want Ethan, and you won't stop me."
Jack's jaw tightened. "But you don't even love him."
She hesitated, her voice cold when she finally spoke. "I know. But he can give me a stable life, a life you can't offer me. My parents like him for me. You're asking me to run away with you, but that's not what I want."
Anita stood up and walked into the bathroom, leaving Jack stewing in his frustration.
By the time she emerged from the shower, her composure was back in place. The scent of freshly cooked breakfast filled the air. Jack had already prepared the meal, and she joined him at the table, their earlier argument hanging unspoken between them. They ate in silence, the clinking of cutlery the only sound.
As she prepared to leave, Anita turned to Jack. "I'll be traveling for a while. My family wants me to oversee the new hospital project abroad and make sure everything is in order."
Jack's eyes darkened. "And what do you want me to do while you're gone?"
"I want you to keep an eye on the private investigator and on Ethan for me. Make sure he doesn't get too close to any other woman."
He smirked bitterly. "And if he does?"
"Make sure it doesn't happen." She grabbed her bag, her voice firm. "We'll keep in touch."
Without waiting for a response, she walked leaving out.