Chapter 20: Chapter 20

I had fallen asleep the moment my head hit the pillow and Ethan held me close.

And now, I didn't want to open my eyes, even though I could hear him moving around before he climbs back into bed.

"Stop moving." I moan, burying my face deeper into the pillow.

"Open your eyes." He says softly and I tighten my eyes shut.

"No. Where are you? Come closer." I moan and blindly stretch out my hand until I feel his bare chest and pull myself closer to him, burying my face in his chest.

He chuckles and I feel the soft vibration deep in his chest.

"Just open your eyes. It's already morning." He says and I slowly blink open but instead of seeing his grey eyes, I stare into the lens of a camcorder.

"There she is." He says.

"Oh, my God, Ethan!" I protest and immediately cover my face with the sheets while he laughs.

"I don't think you want to record my morning face." I moan as he prys open the sheets to reveal my face.

"Stop whining." He says and I shove my palm to cover the lens of the camcorder.

"How did you even get a camcorder?" I ask as I give up and he continues to video me.

"I always had it, but I wasn't even searching for it. I wanted to give you something else before I found it. So I decided to record your reaction when you see it." He says and I suddenly look up at him.

"What is it?"

Still keeping the camera on me, he reaches for the edge of the bed, on the floor behind him and brings a black object.

I squint as I sit up, recognising the black leather and vines.

"No way." I laugh as I reach over and grab it.

My fingers run over the oddly familiar vines and black leather,

"It's your--"

"Drawing journal?" He says and I look up, remembering my words as I flush with embarrassment.

"Sorry." I mutter and he laughs as he hands me a small key.

"It kind of is a drawing journal." He says.

I observe the small key and the lock.

"How did you even get this kind of book?"

"I bought it as just a black leather book. Then I had the vines and locks made."

"Why? So it can look mystical?" I ask with a smirk.

"Nope. So I can find redheads that can pick a lock with hairpins." He says and I laugh as I slide the small key in and it clicks open.

"I'd never forget the first time I opened it." I say as I flip over the first two familiar pages, lingering on each one now that I had all the time.

"It's so beautiful, I was going to compliment it until you snapped at me." I say and look up just to realise he still has the camera on me.

"Stop that." I say but he doesn't react.

"Your morning face looks good on camera." He says and I divert my attention back to the book, trying to ignore his usual flattery.

"I still don't believe you drew all this." I say as I flip the next page to see an open mouth of a wild animal, probably a lion. Precise descriptive features of the incisors, tongue and all.

"No way." I say and shut the book, looking him straight in the eye...or camera.

"What?" He asks

"You couldn't have drawn this. Its not possible."

Completely impossible.

You cannot be this good looking, with a penthouse, a job, spectacularly romantic and exciting...and good at drawing.

You don't exist Ethan Griphen.

He shuts the camera now and looks straight at me.

"You don't believe I drew that?" He says, eyes challenging.

"I don't. Its too...."

Impossible.

Unfair.

Perfect.

Amazing.

"Fake." I conclude, dismissing my other thoughts.

"Fake?" He asks, closing in on me now.

"Mmm-hmm." I nod, taking the time to calm my breathing as his face hovers above mine.

"I'll prove it." He whispers then pulls away and digs his hand into the bedside drawer, taking a pen and grabbing his black book from me.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding when Ethan sits opposite me on the bed and begins to observe me.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm proving it. Hold still." He says and I can see his hand moving on the book when realization hits me.

"You're drawing me?" I ask in disbelief but he doesn't answer as he keeps looking from me to the book and back to me.

"Hold still." He says again, cocking his head to the side as he observes me and I can feel the heat creep up my neck and warm my face.

Why am I finding this flattering?

I'm in a top and shorts with a messy hair.

And he is drawing me still.

Drawing me.

In his book.

"Almost done." He mutters, his eyes focused on his book and I watch his hand move haphazardly over the page. He looks at me one more time and goes back to moving his hand for another minute.

He drops the pen now and hands over the book, holding my gaze.

I avert my eyes from his gaze and into the book in my hand.

No way.

I run my fingers over the amazingly drawn picture of myself. It was like a picture edit of me in pen drawing, but scratchy at the edges probably because of how fast he was.

He got everything.

The way my scrunchy hair was poking at the sides.

My half smile and intimidating arch of my left brow.

"Believe me now?" He says and I look up at him.

"Maybe." I tease and he yanks me down to my back with my ankles then he is above me in a second.

"I bet I can change that opinion." He says and dips his head slowly.

I curl my lips inside to stop myself from giving in. Ethan closes in, holding my gaze as if trying to prove that he was in control.

And help me God, he is.

I squeeze my eyes shut and wait for his attack when there is a knock on the door. I can feel Ethan freeze when the knock comes again.

"Lucky." He whispers and moves away as I open my eyes and follow him down the stairs.

"Weird, you guys hardly have visitors." I say when we get to the door. Trevor already has the door open and on the other side of the door is a tall brunette with a wide smile and bright, mischievous eyes.

Ethan suddenly freezes and Trevor turns to us with a pale face.

I frown, staring at the three of them in confusion. I turn to the brunette who has her eyes on Ethan and Ethan is staring right back at her with a paler face than Trevor's. Trevor is staring at me with a worried look and my mind is reeling.

Someone say something!

I'm about to ask the girl who she is looking for when Ethan suddenly speaks.

"Heather."

The word is barely a whisper and the name sounds familiar but I can't place my finger on it exactly.

Heather.

Heather.

Heather.......

Oh no.

I look up at her now, remembering Ethan's story. The loss of his parents, the plan to elope, the girl.

She walks in past Trevor and heads straight for Ethan as she wraps her hand around his neck.

"Hello Ethan. Miss me?" She says in the most sultry voice I have ever heard, her eyes never leaving his.

"What are you doing here?" He says as he slowly steps away from her hold and she doesn't resist.

"I cant believe you still stay here. I miss this place."

"What are you doing here?" He repeats.

"Well, I got a job at your company and they need your signature to confirm it." She says, still maintaining her smile.

I suddenly feel invisible, my wish coming true at the worst time as I watch the scene play in front of me, unable to react....unable to think.

Heather turns around now, looking at Trevor with her gaze sweeping right past me like I was an object.

Irrelevant.

"I missed you too, Trevor. But I would be working directly under Ethan so that's why I need his signature."

Trevor just nods and gives me a concerned look before turning and heading straight for his room.

As she turns back, her gaze stops at me.

"Can I get some water?" She says to me and I do a double take.

"What?" I ask and she blinks in confusion asks she turns to Ethan.

"Isn't she your live-in maid?" She asks and he frowns as he turns to me.

"Who is she?" Heather asks again as Ethan studies me and I can feel reality slapping me in the face.

Who am I?

Who exactly am I to Ethan?

Playing it out...why would I suggest that?

It had seemed so safe then to just casually let things play out, to see where we stand.

And now those same words are stabbing me in the back in a harsh betrayal.

Mocking me.

"I'm April." I say stupidly, like that was supposed to solve anything. Heather still looks confused.

"You got a live-in April?" She asks and I'm about to say I'm his friend just to avoid anymore awkward moment before Ethan walks over to me and slips his hand around my waist.

"Heather, this is April." He says and she blinks in realisation as she takes in my appearance and Ethan's intimate hold on me.

"Oh." Is all she says and she shrugs as she smiles again.

"Well, hi April. So Ethan, about that signature." She says, heading to the kitchen and straight for the fridge.

I turn to him but he still has his gaze on her, there is a slight frown on his face and he looks like he is in a trance.

I look away.

I don't want to interpret what that look would mean. It's probably means nothing.

Or it could be something.

This is a girl that he used to love.

Used to.

Is that safe or dangerous?

Ethan's POV

This is insane.

My mind is reeling in flashback after flashback as I watch Heather raid the fridge.

When I had spotted her at the door, it took me a moment to realise it was her.

Here.

Why?

Two years ago I would have given anything to see her back, even after the burial. To confront her.

To ask her is she still loved me.

But now? She looks like a shadow of washed up de-ja-vú sitting there in the kitchen and observing the contract.

She is up to something...I can tell.

And I know exactly what.

"I'm gonna go." April's voice draws me back and moves out of my hold on her as she heads for the stairs.

"Wait." I say, following her but she turns to quickly with a smile that I know all too well.

The one she wears whenever she feels she has to deal with something she doesn't want.

"I just came to spend the night anyway. Its fine, just handle your business and I'll see you later."

"No." I say defiantly, holding her hand as she turns and bringing her to face me.

"Stay in the room, don't go. I just have to see this whole signature thing, then I'll come back to you." I say in a voice that I hope is reassuring enough as she shrugs and nods.

Not very reassuring then.

I pull her close and kiss her on the forehead, not on the lips. She has to know that with her, it's more than lust.

"Ethan? Do I have to sign this by myself? Where are you?" Heathers voice rings from the kitchen and I let April go, not having a chance to see her face because she turns immediately and heads for the room.

April's POV

A kiss on the forhead.

Great.

I close his black book that I was staring at, observing the page he had drawn me and stare at my fingers, with stupidity eating at me.

His former love shows up and he kisses me on the forehead...which he normally does.

But why does it feel different to me?

Playing it out.

Its all my fault anyway. I never should have suggested that...or maybe not.

If we had started going out head-on, and she showed up now, it could have been worse right?

Atleast now I've saved myself more humiliation. I sigh and look at my phone. Ethan has been with her for nearly an hour now.

What are they talking about?

Could it be just the employment?

For this long?

Then again, what do I know? Idiot.

I should have taken internship when I had the chance but I couldn't risk the scholarship.

I get up, grabbing my phone and wallet, suddenly needing to get out of here.

The door suddenly opens and Ethan walks in, eyes on me.

"You're leaving?" He asks, looking at me and I grab my robe.

"Yes. You took longer than expected so I just decided to go." I say, putting on a struggle smile.

"April, it was a long contract. I had to observe every detail and business relationship between her and I before confirming it."

"Confirming it? You agreed to let her work for you?" I ask, trying and failing to keep my smile.

He sighs and walks over to me but I move back. He looks straight at me in shock.

"Look, if I don't confirm it, I'll be biased in making decisions for the company. Her resume was good--"

"Of course it was." I mutter.

This has got to be the most silent argument we have ever had.

"What exactly is wrong, April?" He asks trying again to reach me but I move back.

"What is she working as?" I ask, knowing this is stupid and I have no right to ask, because I'm just 'April' to him.

Not April the girlfriend.

Not April the friend.

Not April lover.

He is silent, looking down now. I don't repeat the question as I wait for him to answer me.

He looks up at me and I avoid his eyes. The spell that they usually cast on me.

Not today.

"She is going to be my secretary."

I breathe in slowly.

"Isn't that Katie?" I ask.

He shakes his head,

"Katie is the receptionist for the company."

"You said if you refused it, it would look like you were making biased decisions for the company. But you've been working without a secretary, why should this better the company?" I ask, not knowing why I'm letting this words blurt out so fast.

Ethan is looking at me with a look begging me to understand.

"April--"

"Goodbye Ethan."

I say and brush past him, ready to scream at him if he so much as stopped me.

I leave the apartment and head back to my dorm.

Playing it out.

That was the best idea ever