Mara and Ethan talked until dawn, completely lost in each other's world. It was effortless like they had known each other for a lifetime.
Every topic flowed into the next, and for the first time in a long while, Mara felt genuinely happy.
She tried hard to dodge Ethan's marriage proposal, and he noticed. But to her relief, he didn't push the subject again. At least, not for now.
Then, Ethan's phone buzzed. He answered it with a sigh.
"Steph, wait for me at the hotel. I'll be there soon." He hung up and turned to Mara, gently brushing a stray strand of hair from her face.
Mara smirked. "Your assistant?"
Ethan sighed. "Yes. Unfortunately, this means we have to leave." But his eyes said
something different, he didn't want it to end.
Mara hesitated. She could feel the shift in the air, the way he was looking at her. If she
stayed a second longer, she knew what would happen.
And she wasn't ready for her first kiss. Not yet.
"Okay then, let's see who gets down first!" she blurted, taking off before he could react.
Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, but slowly! Be careful."
They walked back to the hotel, their hands instinctively finding each other's. Neither of them wanted to let go.
When they reached Mara's room, she turned to him. "Well, this is my stop. I'll see you later."
Ethan was still holding onto her hand, reluctant to let her go. "Why don't you…"
Mara quickly cut him off, flashing a teasing smile. "I'm sleepy now. See you in the morning."
Before he could protest, she slipped inside and slowly closed the door.
Ethan lingered outside for a moment, staring at the door, his fingers brushing over the spot where her hand had just been.
He hadn't felt this way in a long time. Maybe ever.
"Boss, is that...?" Steph's voice trailed off in shock as he caught a glimpse of Mara disappearing behind the hotel room door.
Ethan shot him a sharp look. "This better be good." His tone was calm, but there was an edge to it, he wasn't pleased about being interrupted.
Steph swallowed, realizing he might have just ruined something very important. He quickly followed behind as Ethan strode toward the VVIP lounge, his posture tense, his mind clearly elsewhere.
This was unlike his boss. Ethan never lingered on any woman. He was decisive, cold, and always in control. Yet, here he was hesitant, distracted, and clearly affected by Mara.
Steph had seen a lot working for Ethan Anderson, but this? This was new. And it meant one thing whoever Mara was, she wasn't just some girl. She was about to change everything.
"Tell me," Ethan said as he stepped into his suit, unbuttoning his shirt and loosening his belt.
"Yes, Boss. The forensic report from the crime scene came back positive. He did it, sir," Steph reported.
"That's for the court to decide," Ethan replied, shrugging into his robe. "You can go now. Oh, wait, get me some flowers and chocolates. Or maybe some designer bags? A diamond bracelet? Earrings?" He paused, deep in thought. "I wonder what she'd like... She said she wasn't the flower type, but still, get her red roses."
Steph blinked. "Boss, it's four in the morning. The flower shops are closed." "Then get them in the morning," Ethan said as if it were obvious.
Steph chuckled. "How about sending her breakfast first? That's a good start." Watching his usually composed boss this flustered was surprisingly entertaining.
Ethan considered it, then nodded. "That's a great idea. But still, get the gifts. Better safe than sorry I want to spoil my little lawyer." A rare smile played on his lips at the thought of Mara.
Steph raised a brow. "Wait... she's a lawyer too?"
"Yes, she is," Ethan said, a hint of pride in his voice. The thought of them sharing the same profession made him smile.
"Would you like me to find out everything about her?" Steph asked. It seemed only logical knowing everything about the woman his usually cold boss was falling madly in love with felt like a safety measure. Even if Ethan refused, Steph had already made up his mind. He was going to investigate her anyway.
"Of course not," Ethan said without hesitation. "Anything I need to know, she's already told me." His smile lingered as he stepped into the shower.
Steph wasn't surprised. If anything, it just confirmed what he already suspected his boss had completely lost his senses over Mara.
Still, as he walked out, he discreetly contacted an investigator. It never hurt to be sure.
***
After her bath, Mara slipped into bed, ignoring her grumbling stomach. Exhaustion won over hunger, and she drifted off to sleep.
A knock at the door jolted her awake. Still half-asleep, she groaned. It was Sunday morning probably room service. She considered ignoring it, but the knocking persisted. With a sigh, she grabbed her morning coat, shuffled to the door, and opened it without checking who it was before heading straight back to bed.
"Wake up, sleepyhead," a familiar voice teased. "I didn't know what you'd like, so I brought a bit of everything."
The scent of food filled the room, fully waking Mara. She sat up in surprise. "Ethan? Sweet Jesus, I could eat an elephant!"
Ethan chuckled, setting the tray on her lap before sitting beside her. As she dug in, he couldn't help but watch her with admiration.
Even the way she ate was cute. Everything about her was attractive to him.
"Slow down," Ethan murmured, gently pushing a strand of hair from Mara's face. He noticed it kept falling in her way. Without a word, he walked behind her, slowly pulling off his tie.
Mara paused, watching him curiously. "What are you…"
Before she could finish, he gathered her hair and tied it into a loose ponytail with his tie.
"Better now?" he asked.
Mara flinched slightly as his fingers brushed against her skin accidentally or not, she wasn't sure.
"Thank you," she said, focusing back on her plate of salad.
Ethan sat beside her, watching her eat. "What are your plans for today?" His voice was casual, but in truth, he was impatient. He couldn't wait to show her around Salvador. It was the weekend, and she didn't start work for another week. He had already planned their day this was more of a statement than a question.
"I need to check on my apartment, see if I can move in earlier," Mara said between bites.
"There are a few adjustments to make since I'm not moving in with my friend anymore."
She hesitated for a moment, thinking of Maria. Pushing the thought away, she took another bite. She must be happy, Mara told herself.
"Don't worry about that leave it to Steph. He can handle it," Ethan said, taking Mara's hand. His eyes gleamed with excitement. "I have something special planned for us."
Mara raised a brow, trying to sound curious.
"Really now?" Hopefully, it's not straight to the altar, she thought.
"Yes, and I know you'll love it," Ethan said confidently. He had no doubt his surprise would blow her away.
Just then, a knock at the door interrupted them. Ethan opened it, revealing Steph standing there, arms full of huge shopping bags and a bouquet of flowers.
Mara's mouth fell open. "Did you rob a mall or something?"
Steph grinned as he stepped past Ethan. "For you, Miss. We meet again. I'm Steph," he said smoothly, taking a moment to admire her.
Mara adjusted her morning coat, ensuring nothing was out of place. "Yes, Steph. Nice to see you again. But... I think you're in the wrong room." She glanced at Ethan, confused.
Steph shook his head. "Oh no, these are for you, Miss. Mr…"
Before he could finish, Ethan swiftly interrupted, grabbing Steph by the collar and steering him toward the door.
"I'll see you soon, Miss Mara," Steph managed to say with a smirk before Ethan shoved him out and shut the door.
Mara turned back to the shopping bags, making no move to open them. Ethan watched her carefully, suddenly wondering if she even liked his gifts.
"Ethan, isn't this too much?" Mara asked, looking at the extravagant gifts. She narrowed her eyes playfully. "Are you some secret billionaire or a mafia boss? I mean, all this... it's really not necessary. You didn't have to."
Ethan shrugged. "Well, I didn't know what you'd like, so..."
Mara smiled, shaking her head. "Thank you. Everything was great." She stood up, gathering the tray from the bed and placing the flowers in a jug by the window. "I'll go freshen up and meet you outside."
Ethan frowned. "Wait, you mean I can't stay here and wait?" He was genuinely surprised. Women usually went to extreme lengths to keep him around some even tried drugging him just for the chance to be with him. And yet, here he was, being kicked out of a room just because she wanted to take a bath.
"No, sir, you cannot," Mara said, her tone firm but amused. She tucked the shopping bags away, then handed him the tray. Before Ethan could protest, she gently but firmly pushed him toward the door.
Ethan hesitated, clearly reluctant, but with one final nudge, Mara shut the door behind him