Ethan stared at her calm sleeping face, it was beautiful to his view,but he also find it careless, why was she this careless,he scooped her up into his arm carting her over to the bed in the room, he gently took off her Shoes, he massaged her feet, noticing her body relax even more in her sleep.
As Ethan massaged Ana's feet, he couldn't help but feel a sense of tenderness wash over him. He'd always loved taking care of her, making sure she was comfortable and happy. But as he looked at her calm sleeping face, he couldn't shake off the feeling of concern that had been building up inside him.
Why was she being so careless? Didn't she know that she was his everything? Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly as he thought about all the what-ifs. What if she had gotten hurt? What if someone had taken advantage of her?
He gently pulled off her jacket, revealing her elegant dress underneath. Ethan's eyes lingered on her curves, his mind wandering to all the memories they'd shared together. He felt a surge of love and possessiveness, his heart beating faster at the thought of losing her.
As he continued to massage her feet, Ethan's thoughts turned to their conversation earlier. He'd been surprised by how much he'd enjoyed talking to her, how much they'd connected. But now, as he looked at her sleeping face, he realized that he'd been playing a role, pretending to be someone else.
Ethan's eyes locked onto Ana's face, his expression softening. He leaned in, his lips brushing against her forehead. "My Ana," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "What am I going to do with you?"
****. ****
Of course! Here's the continuation of the scene the next morning, picking up from where Ethan whispers over Ana:
---
The Next Morning
A pounding headache was the first thing Ana felt as her consciousness slowly dragged itself back from the fog of sleep. She groaned softly, lifting a hand to her temple as her eyes fluttered open. For a second, she had no idea where she was,until the soft sunlight filtering through elegant curtains reminded her.
Her body was sprawled on a large bed,definitely not hers.
She shot upright in panic, only for the world to spin violently. "Ugh," she muttered, pressing a hand to her forehead. Her eyes darted across the room, still trying to piece everything together. Her mind was foggy, her memories scrambled. What the hell happened last night?
Then she saw it a glass of water and two aspirin on the bedside table. A small note sat underneath the cup.
For your headache. – T
Ana didn't even hesitate. She grabbed the pills and downed them with the water in one gulp, her throat parched. A few moments passed, and the pain started to ease just enough for her to think.
The CEO... Tan.
She remembered the conversation, his deep voice, his piercing gaze, the way he'd looked at her like he could see through her.
She remembered laughing. The drinks. A soft hand catching her before she slumped over.
Oh God.
Her eyes widened. Did something happen?
Her cheeks flushed with heat. The mere thought of being in the same room let alone the same bed with a man who wasn't her husband made her stomach twist with guilt and dread. Even though her marriage to Ethan was just a contract, she still had boundaries. And this... this felt like betrayal.
Did he touch me? Did he see me like that?
She looked down and checked her clothes were intact, though her jacket was neatly folded on the armchair. Her shoes were off and placed beside the bed. Her pulse slowed. There was no mess, no signs of anything... wrong. But still, the panic lingered.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed loudly on the nightstand. She scrambled for it.
Rachel.
Ana answered immediately. "Hello?"
"Thank God you picked up!" Rachel's voice was frantic. "Jess brought investors early, the representatives are here. . They're here, Ana, and if you don't get back fast, we're going to lose them"
Ana sat up straighter, the adrenaline wiping out what was left of her drowsiness. "Try to stall them," she said sharply. "Whatever you do, don't let that meeting end without me there."
"I'm doing my best," Rachel hissed. "But they're getting impatient."
Ana hung up, already springing to her feet. She looked around the room desperately, searching for her things. Her bag was on the table. She snatched it open and dug through it but then she froze.
The contract she had brought last night an investment proposal wasn't there.
Her heart dropped. Don't tell me I lost it...
Her eyes scanned the room again. That's when she noticed the drawer slightly ajar. Cautiously, she stepped over and pulled it open.
There it was. But something was... off.
Her eyes locked onto the document inside. Her breath hitched. It wasn't the investment proposal she had come with.
It was a partnership contract.
Ana's hands trembled slightly as she pulled it out and flipped through the pages. The legal terms were solid. The ink was fresh. It had already been signed,by Tan himself. She gasped. Her name was printed neatly under the signature line, still unsigned.
Her eyes darted back to the top of the contract.
"This agreement confirms that FusionX will enter into an exclusive partnership with NEXA, sponsoring all projects directly managed and led by Ms. Anastasia Gilbert."
Ana blinked hard.
What the hell is this?
She hadn't drafted this. She hadn't proposed this. And yet here it was, official, signed, and clearly intended for her. Tan had signed it. Not as a casual gesture but with deliberate intent. Only one thing was missing: her signature.
Her pulse raced. Why would he do this? Why only my projects?
Something about it made her feel... targeted. Not in a threatening way, but in an intentional, personal way. As if Tan—no, the CEO had already decided she was the one he wanted to bet on.
She sat back down on the bed, heart thumping in her chest. It didn't feel real.
Everything from last night conversation, the strange connection, the way he looked at her it suddenly took on new meaning.
And yet, confusion swirled in her chest. She hadn't asked for this. She hadn't even known where she stood with him.
Now, she had a game-changing contract and no time to process what it meant.
Ana stood up abruptly, stuffed the contract into her bag, and slipped on her shoes. And immediately left.