Chapter 5 Episode 5

Anna POV

I drew up to the Fain House and my eyes got wide. This home was huge. Way larger than I anticipated it would be. But then again, if someone is prepared to pay you $700 every two weeks simply to date their kid, you have to have quite an amount of money. Walking up to the door, I was almost immediately hailed by Dane.

"You must be Anna. I'm Dane. It's fantastic to meet you." The guy remarked, welcoming me at the entrance.

"It's great to meet you too." I grinned broadly. He took me inside and into the backyard. This was not simply an average barbecue. I was anticipating maybe 10 people at the most. Nope. This gathering probably had fifty participants or more. It was extremely frightening.

"Okay, I'm going to go and locate Ethan. Whatever narrative I come up with, just go along with it. He won't think anything of it. Just go along with everything." He repeated. I nodded my head in agreement as I watched him walk away and seek for his kid. I was suddenly alone among a vast throng of individuals who had no clue who I was. A handful of individuals glanced my way, but they went back to sipping on their drinks and leaving me alone.

"Diner girl." I heard a voice say, approaching me.

I turned around and suddenly came face to face with the client from previously. My face quickly plummeted. "What are you doing here?" I inquired, shocked that he was here.

He chuckled, "I should be asking you the same thing."

"Dane Invited me," I answered, hoping to escape from humiliation. I never imagined I would have to confront this man, particularly after I shouted at him for doing something good.

"How do you know my dad?" He inquired suspiciously.

I don't know why I didn't put two and two together. He looked similar to his father. The two of them each have the same brilliant green eyes.

"Hold on...what's your name?" I inquired with disbelief obvious in my voice.

Please don't be Ethan. Please have another son. Please don't be Ethan.

"Ethan." He responded with a grin.

Fuck.

This is the man I am meant to be dating. This is going to go poorly. I already have a horrible start. Goodbye $700. I fucking blew it.

"So how do you know my dad?" He asks again, evidently intrigued.

"Ethan! There you are! I was searching for you." I heard a voice say. I glanced around and observed Dane Approaching towards us. He was walking extremely swiftly. Probably because he didn't want me to say something that would blow things for both of us. Well, too late for that.

"Oh, yeah," Ethan remarked, uneasily moving in his father's presence.

"I see you have met Anna." He grinned broadly.

"So diner girl has a name." He replied, cocking his brow. I didn't know what the heck to do in this case. I honestly didn't.

"Do you two...know each other?" Dane asked.

"Well, not officially. I saw her in the restaurant she works at earlier today. She shouted at me for giving her a tip." He remarked with an entertaining grin.

"I didn't yell at you!" I shouted, protecting myself.

"Oh, yes you did." He laughed.

"You know what, whatever." I pouted away from the two. Sure, the money would assist me. Big time. But nothing is worth standing and being humiliated in front of two individuals who don't even know me.

I strolled through the crush of people and ultimately opted to stop at their garden. It was wonderful. The flowers were vibrant and I even observed a hummingbird flying over some of the blossoms. It was like a scene out of a movie. This area was private and peaceful. Almost like the hidden garden.

"Anna! What the heck was it all about?" I heard Dane shout from a mile away. I turned and saw him heading closer to me with an angry look on his face.

"I'm sorry, Dane. I'm not going to be humiliated in front of the two of you. Maybe this was simply a lousy idea."

"Well, I'm not paying you to run away the second Ethan tries to speak to you. I'm not sure what this mindset is either, but it has to stop if you want things to succeed. For some reason, even after all of this, he is still interested in you. He wanted to come over here to check on you, but I insisted I go because he doesn't even know what's happening right now." He explained. He didn't sound furious, but I don't know him enough to tell either.

"He did?" I inquired in a surprised tone. Why the hell would he want to come over here to check on me? I've been nothing but a bitch to him.

"Yes. Now I need to know whether you are on board or not."

"I'm on board," I responded swiftly. I was on board, I just had a difficult start. I need the money. I need this to function. "Good. I have a good feeling about this, Anna. Just help him get back on his feet, and I'll help you get back on yours. I'm going to tell him to come over here. Okay?" He asked. I nodded in agreement and watched as he walked away.

I needed to get my stuff together. Dane is going to assist me. He's going to make sure I have money. I will have more money than I ever have before. I need this to function. I had to get out of the house. I have to be a good protector to Phoebe. How can I achieve it without money? I want her out of my dad's home. I want to escape from his place. He wants both of us out, whether he acknowledges it or not. We have to get out. This is the only way.

This is the only way, Anna. Make it work. Be everything he wants you to be.

My thoughts halted the minute I saw Ethan heading towards me. He appeared apprehensive, and his hands were jammed into his pockets as he approached me.

"Hey..." He murmured uncomfortably.

"Hey," I said softly. I released my breath. I didn't realise I was holding the whole time he was going towards me.

"I'm uhh...I'm extremely sorry about that. I didn't intend to insult you. Not earlier today or five minutes ago. I just...can we start over?" He laughed uncomfortably.

I let out a sigh of relief, knowing that a second opportunity was available.

"Please." I reciprocated his chuckle and awkwardly pulled a piece of my hair out of my face. "Ethan. Ethan Fain." He grinned. He extended his hand to mine, and I shook it softly.

"Anna Hobbs." I grinned back. He threw out another uneasy chuckle before shifting the topic.

"I see you discovered my mom's garden. Beautiful out here, isn't it?" He asks.

"It is." As I mentioned, this garden was much like the Secret Garden. It was wonderful. I wish I had something like this at home.

"She likes it out here. It is arguably her favourite area in the whole home. All of her leisure time is spent out here, making sure everything is hydrated and alive. Gardening is her interest." He explained it to me.

I wondered about what his mother must look like. With the way he appears, she must be stunning. I can envision her having the same brilliant green eyes as he has.

"It's just like the Secret Garden." I grinned.

"The Secret Garden, huh? Minus the plague, right?" He laughed. It had been ages since I had watched the movie or read the book. I nearly didn't recall what he was talking about.

"Yes. Minus the plague." I laughed. We sat in a comfortable stillness for a second before he spoke again.

"Are you hungry?"

"I ate before I came here." I lied. In all honesty, I'm too anxious to eat.

"You knew we were having a BBQ and you ate beforehand? My dad is like...a maestro when it comes to grilling." Ethan grinned.

"Oh really?" I laughed in reply.

"Oh, sure. The Fain family is recognized for hosting the finest picnics with the tastiest cuisine. It would be a pity if you didn't try it." He grinned triumphantly.

His grin was one I could gaze at for days. His grin mirrored his eyes. Both were cheerful and pleasant.

"I guess it wouldn't hurt to have a little snack."

"Let's go get something then, shall we?" He inquired, rising and ready to lead the way.

"We shall." I grinned in reply.

After having a horrible start, things were finishing out quite beautifully.

Ethan Fain is going to make me a very wealthy girl. He has to. I don't care what I have to do to make him believe it. I have to do whatever it takes. My new paycheck relies on it.