Chapter 5 ETHAN

"Are you okay?". Zara asked quietly.

Leila nodded and smiled. "Why won't I be? I'll get to see him more apart from home, which I barely even see him. It's like he purposely comes home late and leave early the next day. Maybe he doesn't want to run into me". She chuckled amusedly.

Zara smiled at her friend's words. Although she seemed calm and carefree about it, Zara could sense the hurt and nervousness behind it.

"You know, I can always talk to Sa-"

Leila shook her head. "That's not needed. I'll be fine, he's my husband not a monster. Thanks Zara."

***

Leila got to work as soon as Zara left. With limited time for the project, she wondered whether the timeframe was set by the client or part of the assignment. The email she received indicated that she would be designing their client meeting room and the employee cafeteria.

Leila exhaled nervously. "Two areas in less than two weeks. It's almost impossible."

This was the first time she was feeling this pressurized. It was much worse because her internship depended on her husband, who wasn't her fan right now.

Leila headed to Sasha's office. She wanted to be sure if it wasn't a mistake that she was given two area. From what she had overheard, the other interns were given just one area to work on, including Zara.

She knocked the door of her boss's office. When she heard a faint 'come in', she entered.

"Mrs Cruise, to what do I owe the visit?". Sasha asked amusedly.

Leila cleared her throat to dispel the tension growing within her at the unwavering stare of Sasha.

"Ma'am, I was given two areas to work on in Atlas Arms Industries. Other interns got just one area for their project. I was thinking if it was a mistake from your end."

Sasha chuckled amusedly. "The email was scrutinized multiple times before it got sent, so there was no error whatsoever"

"Then why...". Her voice tailed away into silence as she was confused at her reply.

"I had a meeting with their representatives, and they told me it was two areas they wanted to redesign. Originally, interns don't design for Atlas Arms, they're our elite client. We use our best interior designing team. Imagine my shock when one of them told me they wanted you to design it for them."

"Why?". Leila asked, stunned.

Sasha shrugged. "She gave a vague answer. Look, Leila, although I am against an intern designing for the Atlas, I feel a little relieved that they chose you. I'm not trying to motivate you, or give you a pep talk, but you're one of the best interns LuxeHaven Interiors has ever had, and it's not an exaggeration. I got you the best architect; he was really hard to get in touch with. You know how high in demand and busy he is. Fortunately, he'll be in Illinois for a couple of weeks."

Leila experienced a whirlwind of emotions when. Her heart tightened with pressure as she struggled to swallow the lump in her throat.

Sasha took few steps towards Leila when she noticed her expression and placed her hand on her arm. "Will you be able to do it? I can try to convince them for me to take over and you'd just be an assistant"

Leila contemplated her idea. She'd do anything for her to go along with Sasha's plan. But this was her cross, and she had to carry it. If she wanted to be an employee in her dream company, she had to go out of her comfort zone and face her fears. And working for her husband's company directly with no superior is one of them.

Leila shook her head. "No, it's fine, Miss Sasha. Thank you". She affirmed with another smile on her face.

"Alright." She turned and went back to seat on her chair.

"I have one request". Leila moved closer to her desk.

"That's understandable. What is it?"

"Can my presentation be extended? The deadline is barely two weeks, and I have to work on two areas. Will it be okay if it was extended to a month at least?". Leila inquired.

Sasha leaned on her chair, deep in her thoughts. "I see where you're coming from. I'll see what I can do about it, but don't have too much faith. You know we have to do the client's bidding at the end of the day"

Leila nodded. "I understand. Thank you, ma'am". Leila attempted to head out when Sasha spoke.

"My door is always opened for anything you don't understand. Just because you're the only designer, doesn't mean you have to do it alone. Don't be afraid to ask questions from me, and if you're not comfortable, ask Chelsea."

Leila's heart melted at her words, but instantly cringed when she mentioned her supervisor's name.

Leila nodded. "I'll keep that in mind. Thank you."

Leila left her office feeling a little relieved after the conversation. She entered the break room, made a chamomile tea and settled on a chair. She dialed the number of Jordan White to make an appointment.

"Hello?". She heard a deep voice from the other end.

"Good afternoon, sir. I'm calling from LuxeHaven Interiors. My name is Leila Kart, I mean Leila Cru-"

Jordan intercepted with a chuckle at the slip up. "Yeah, I know who you re and what you're calling for. Is it okay if I call you back to schedule a meeting? I'm busy right now"

"Of course, sir. I'll be expecting your call". She hung up.

Finishing her tea, she cleaned it and put to its designated place. Leila went to her cubicle and got started on a rough sketch and planning phase of the design.

***

Sandra stared at the sky. Just then, a subtle rumble of thunder resonated in the dark sky. The breeze was picking up, as the windy smell filled Sandra's nose. Sandra raised the phone to her eye level and saw that the time read 9:50 at night.

When she felt the breeze got stronger, she pulled her cardigan tighter around her body and tried Leila's number for the fifth time, but it kept disconnecting.

"It's about to rain. Get inside". Ethan commanded from behind.

Sandra glanced at the dark sky for a little while before listening to Ethan.

"Leila is not back yet". Sandra informed Ethan as they headed to his spacious study.

Ethan settled into the chair and powered on his computer, flipping through documents while he waited for it to boot up.

"Ethan!". Sandra exclaimed.

Ethan sighed heavily and raised his head to Sandra. "She's not a kid anymore. Besides, isn't she with a bodyguard?"

Sandra shook her head. "No, She said she didn't want to draw attention to herself at her workplace. I tried to convince her"

Ethan refocused his eyes on the document. "Then she knows what she's doing. I'm sure she can take care of herself."

"She's your wife, Ethan. Don't you even care at all?". Sandra moved closer to him.

"Do you really want an answer to that?". Ethan shifted his impassive grey eyes to his mother's shocked expression.

"Even if you don't see her as your partner, she's already part of this household, and you should fulfil your duties as a husband". Sandra tried to convince him, but when she noticed the unaffected look on her son's face, she scoffed. "Forget it. I'll go look for her myself"

She turned and was about to leave when an unexpected loud thunder boomed, causing her to yelp in shock. Then, heavy rain hitting the ground reverberated inside as it got stronger by the second.

"Do you still want to go?". Ethan asked sarcastically.

Sandra threw him an angry glare, then walked out.

Ethan groaned and stood up from his seat. He caught up with his mom, and grabbed her arm.

"I'll send someone". Ethan offered.

Sandra removed her arm. "I'll go myself"

"Why are you being so stubborn?"

Sandra didn't listen, she continued to move to the door of the garage.

"Jesus, can you fucking stop?". Ethan voiced in frustration.

Sandra opened the door of the garage and took a car key from the key rack hung on the wall of the garage.

Ethan snatched the key from her. "You should have just adopted her as your fucking daughter instead of forcing her on me."

Sandra watched him press open the doors of the garage, entered the car and drove off into the rain.

"I would have done so, but I needed to protect you and grant Leila's wish too". She muttered.

***

Leila stood under an umbrella as she coughed at the smoke emerging from the engine of her car. "Do you really have to do this now, Cara?". Leila addressed her car.

She pulled her phone out of her jumpsuit only to see it was dead.

"Do you need help?"

Leila turned back to see a strange man who had emerged from his car, the rain striking his body.

Leila wanted to decline, but the rain got heavier, and she really wanted to get home. She was hungry, cold and tired and he was the only one that stopped.

"Yes, if you don't mind."

The unknown man walked over to her and stood under the umbrella, taking Leila by surprised at the sudden invasion. She shifted away from his body, letting herself get drenched by the rain while he remained under the umbrella.

"What are you doing?". Noticing her action, the man pulled Leila by the waist and squeezed her butt. "I can't let a lady be chivalrous". The man smirked seductively.

Leila's heart skipped painfully at the assault. She ripped his hand from her butt and slapped the man before she could think.

His eyes glinted in anger. He was about to raise his hand and slap her when a menacing voice stop him.

"If you so much as touch a hair on her body, you'll beg for death"