Ember's blood ran cold.
She froze mid-step, her hand still gripping the door as it slammed shut behind her.
Ethan stood a few feet away in the living room, he was holding a bag of groceries.
The warmth she usually felt at the sight of him… didn't come.
Not this time.
A feeling of guilt ran down her spine and her heart tightened at the sight of his anxious face.
"Who hooked up with who?" Ethan repeated, his voice calm, too calm for the chaos.
Ember's throat tightened.
Her phone slipped slightly in her hand, Bella still on the line, silent now.
"I.. I have to call you back," Ember said quickly, her voice unsteady.
She ended the call before Bella could respond.
Silence filled the room.
Ethan didn't move.
"Ember."
The way he said her name made her chest tighten.
"I asked you a question."
She swallowed hard, forcing herself to step further into the room, to act normal, to be normal.
"It's nothing," she said. "I was just talking to Bella. We were joking."
Ethan let out a quiet breath.
Then he smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.
"You're a terrible liar," he said softly.
Her pulse spiked.
"I'm not lying." She forced a laugh.
"Then say it again," he replied. "And look at me this time."
"It was nothing," she said again, looking at him.
"We were talking about Bella. You know how playful she can be with men."
Ethan held her gaze for a long moment.
Then nodded slowly.
"Okay."
He walked toward her, closing the distance between them. Normally, she would relax into his presence, his familiarity, but now her body was tense.
"Long day?" he asked, reaching up to brush a strand of hair behind her ear.
The gesture was gentle but Ember's breath caught.
"I'm just tired," she said quietly.
Ethan's hand lingered for a second longer than usual.
Then he dropped it.
"I came early," he said, lifting the bag of groceries "Thought I'd surprise you."
Her eyes flicked around the apartment.
"How did you get in?"
"I still have the key you gave me," he replied.
"You don't seem very happy to see me."
He dropped the bag on the sofa "Em.. is everything okay? Is Bella alright?"
"If by alright you mean, is she pregnant then you're wrong." She joked, and he laughed with her.
"But I am fine, I was just startled to see you here already."
He kissed her head "That's the whole point of a surprise"
Ember moved past him, setting her bag down, trying to create space between them.
"I just need a minute," she said moving towards the restroom
Ethan watched her disappear towards the room, then said from the sitting room, "You said something else," he added suddenly.
Her back stiffened.
"What?" She turned back to him
"Before you came in," he said. "About not being able to get over him."
Her heart dropped.
"Oh that, Bella claims she can't get over the mysterious man. Can you imagine?" She laughed and entered the restroom.
"You know…" Ethan said coming towards the room "Had it been you, I would've said the situation is already affecting you babe."
"Why would you think something like that? I can't hurt you that way Ethan." She swallowed hard.
"I know but you haven't been yourself for sometime now. I really do hope you're okay. I'm getting worried about you."
The words echoed faintly through the bathroom door, Ember stared at her reflection for a second longer.
A depressing fart left her as she looked down at the bathroom sink, sighing as she knew she was going out to his bombarding questions.
She pressed the flush button and inhaled slowly before unlocking the door.
When she stepped out, Ethan was leaning against the wall just outside, arms crossed, waiting for her.
"There you are." He said softly.
Ember forced a small smile. "I'm fine, Ethan. Really."
He didn't move but raised a brow, "You keep saying that," he replied, "but it doesn't feel true anymore. You are distracted."
She walked past him, heading back into the living room, but she could feel his eyes on her the entire way and it made her uneasy.
"I just need sleep," she added, setting a glass of water on the table. "That's all."
Ethan followed her slowly.
"Don't tell me we are going to spend our evening talking about this. What about dinner? Let's cook together."
"Okay. But we need to talk about this later. And promise you won't shut me out." He said moving to her.
She nodded.
Two hours later, they were done with dinner. They sat down to watch a movie when Ember's phone chimed. She picked it up while Ethan searched for the TV remote.
It was a message from Iris, but what caught her attention was an older text from Bella.
Are you okay? I hope he didn't find out.
She quickly deleted the text before typing
I'll call you tomorrow.
That was all she could say at the moment. Bella was a pompous person who liked to hear details. She would've eventually called back if Ember hadn't replied to her message.
**************
Ember was awoken by the blaring sound of her alarm which left her in a frenzy. Ethan hadn't stayed the night. She dragged herself to the other side of the bed before turning it off.
The night had been restless, fragments of dreams she couldn't hold onto, emotions she couldn't name, and a lingering sense that something was shifting beneath the surface of her life.
By the time she stepped into the office, she had already decided one thing; she would forget the chaos of yesterday and act normal.
"Finally!"
The voice came before she even reached her desk.
It was Sofia.
"You look like you fought your pillow and lost," Sofia added, grinning as she spun slightly in her chair.
Ember managed a tired smile. "Feels about right."
Sofia leaned forward conspiratorially. "Good. Then I have the perfect distraction for you."
Ember dropped her bag onto the desk, already bracing herself. "That doesn't sound reassuring."
"Oh, it is," Sofia said. "Our annual gala."
Ember paused.
"What?"
Sofia blinked. "Don't tell me you forgot."
"No I didn't, but I thought it was in two months time… this is October. Honestly I've never been to one"
Sofia gasped dramatically. "That's even worse."
Ember sank into her chair. "Okay, enlighten me."
Sofia didn't need more encouragement.
"It's the event of the year," she said. "Investors, executives, media personalities, everyone who matters will be there."
Ember felt a faint unease stir.
"And?"
"And," Sofia continued, lowering her voice, "this year it's bigger. Way bigger."
"How?"
Sofia's eyes sparkled.
"Because it's not just the company celebrating," she said. "It's also the official announcement of Iris' engagement."
She pulls her seat closer to Ember.
"Rumours are they moved it up because Iris wants to marry Edward quicker than expected. I think she might be pregnant." She gasped.
"Or maybe she's scared you might steal her man before he fully commits to her."
That was Antoinette, another colleague. She just happened to pass by in the midst of the conversation.
Ember's fingers stilled on her desk. The words hit harder than expected. She knew once Edward and Iris were bound together, she would become his Luna forever.
"Oh," she said quietly.
Sofia tilted her head, noticing the shift. "You okay?"
"Yeah," Ember said quickly. "Just… didn't realize it was happening so soon."
"Apparently, it's been planned for months," Antoinette said. "They're going all out this year. I have to be the best dressed female I swear."
Sofia blinked at her.
"Okay fine! Second best dressed. After Iris of course." She frowned.
"You're coming, right?" Sofia asked.
Ember hesitated.
Sofia wasn't done. "And get this. Everyone in our department is expected to attend."
Ember blinked. "Expected?"
"Mandatory," Sofia corrected cheerfully.
"I don't think I have a choice," she said finally.
Sofia grinned. "That's the spirit."