Chapter 5 Five

The sudden knock on the door startled me, and I barely managed to rouse myself from slumber. It was still early on Sunday morning, and the last thing I wanted was to entertain visitors. "Hello," Ethan's deep voice called out from the other side of the door.

I hastily scrambled out of bed, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. Olivia, who had already woken up, was engrossed in her phone, her eyes scanning the screen with interest. I rushed to the bathroom to splash some water on my face, desperate to conceal the fact that I had just rolled out of bed.

"Hello, who's there?" I asked, feigning ignorance of Ethan's distinctive voice.

"It's Ethan," he replied, his tone cheerful.

"Hold on, I'm coming," I said, stalling for time as I made my way to the door. I took a deep breath, composed myself, and opened the door to find Ethan standing in the hallway, holding two overflowing grocery bags.

The bags were filled to the brim with an assortment of junk food and ready-to-eat meals, carefully arranged on disposable plates. It was clear that Ethan had gone to great lengths to prepare a thoughtful breakfast for Olivia and me.

"Good morning," I said to Ethan, forcing a smile as I accepted one of the grocery bags from him. He stepped inside, and I offered him a seat, trying to appear gracious despite my inner turmoil.

"Good morning, Ethan," Olivia chimed in, looking up from her phone to greet him.

"Good morning, Olivia," Ethan replied, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled.

"Are you just waking up?" Ethan asked, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

I felt a flush rise to my cheeks as I attempted to maintain the facade. "Just waking up? I've been awake for over an hour," I replied, trying to sound convincing.

Olivia shot me a knowing glance, her lips curling into a subtle smile. She was well aware that I had just rolled out of bed.

Ethan, seemingly oblivious to my deception, continued. "I'm sorry for coming this early; it's barely 8 am. I wanted to get you something for breakfast, so I had to come this early." His thoughtfulness left me feeling a little shy and overwhelmed.

As I gazed at Ethan, I couldn't help but feel a flutter in my chest. The fact that a billionaire was standing in my humble abode, bearing breakfast, was a surreal experience. At that moment, I couldn't deny the romantic feelings that were blossoming within me. Ethan's kind gesture and charming smile had captivated my heart.

"Ava is very lucky to have you," I said to Ethan, trying to sound casual despite the turmoil of emotions within me.

Ethan's response caught me off guard. "And so are you," he replied, his eyes locking onto mine. My heart skipped a beat as I felt a rush of excitement.

But then, Ethan's expression turned serious. "Can you please stop bringing up Ava anytime we're together? Let's just focus on us," he said, his voice low and gentle.

His words left me stunned, and I couldn't help but wonder what he meant by "us." Was Ethan hinting at something more, or was I simply reading too much into his words?

Olivia was engrossed in her phone, her fingers flying across the screen as she typed away. After a while, she received a call and excused herself, leaving Ethan and me alone in the room.

The sudden silence between us was palpable, and I could feel Ethan's gaze on me. He broke the silence, his voice low and husky. "Chloe, can we be closer than this?" he asked, his tone dripping with romance.

I felt a flutter in my chest, but I tried to maintain a neutral expression. "What do you mean by closer?" I asked, pretending not to understand the underlying implication of Ethan's question.

Ethan's eyes locked onto mine, and I could see the sincerity in his gaze. "I mean, just close friends," he replied, his voice measured.

But I knew better. I knew that Ethan wanted more than friendship from me. And, if I was honest with myself, I wouldn't mind being his girlfriend. But the fear of Ava's wrath held me back.

"We can be friends, but nothing closer than this," I replied, trying to sound firm despite the turmoil within me.

Deep down, however, I yearned for something more than friendship with Ethan. His charming smile, his kind gestures, and his captivating presence had all woven a spell around my heart.

Ethan's next question caught me off guard. "Can I ask you a favor as your friend?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

My heart skipped a beat as I wondered what favor someone as wealthy and influential as Ethan could possibly want from me. "Yes..." I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

Ethan's smile reassured me. "Relax," he said. "It's not something hard." His words were laced with amusement, but I couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to his request than met the eye.

"Okay, so what's the favor?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"Can I get you an apartment?" Ethan inquired, his expression sincere.

"We seem to be inconveniencing Olivia, and I don't want that," he added, his concern for Olivia's comfort evident.

"But she's not complaining," I pointed out, unsure why Ethan felt the need to intervene.

Ethan's response was insightful. "She doesn't have to complain before you'll know," he said, implying that Olivia's kindness and generosity might lead her to suffer in silence.

I was secretly thrilled to hear that Ethan wanted to get me an apartment. It was a tangible manifestation of his wealth and influence, and I felt a sense of pride and gratitude.

"If you insist on getting me an apartment, I couldn't possibly say no," I said, trying to sound nonchalant despite my inner excitement.

Ethan's determination was endearing. "Yes, I insist," he replied, a resolute glint in his eye. "And I'll get you a beautiful apartment before the week runs out."

I couldn't contain my enthusiasm. "Is it that quick?" I asked, my voice tinged with joy.

Ethan's smile was warm and reassuring. "Yes," he said. "I promise to do anything for you. I'm not stopping at getting you an apartment; I'm just starting with this. I want my friend to be happy."

His words left me speechless, overwhelmed by the depth of his kindness and generosity. I couldn't respond, my heart overflowing with gratitude and emotion.

Ethan departed after a brief visit, leaving me to savor the delicious food he had brought. I had already begun eating my portion before Olivia returned.

"Where did you go?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

"A friend of mine stopped by, so I stepped outside to meet him," Olivia replied. "I didn't want him to come in while Ethan was here."

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience," I apologized, feeling a pang of guilt.

Olivia dismissed my concern with a wave of her hand. "You aren't inconveniencing me," she said, carrying her portion of food to the table. She rummaged through the other bag, inspecting its contents.

Ethan was the first guy to have ever visited me in our apartment. I had always been cautious about allowing males into our space, partly out of consideration for Olivia and partly due to my own reservations. Furthermore, I felt deeply indebted to Olivia, who had generously covered our rent for the past two years without ever asking me to contribute.

"Olivia," I said, hesitating for a moment before broaching the subject. "Ethan wants to get me an apartment."

Olivia's response was surprisingly nonchalant. "It's fine," she said, her tone neutral.

I was taken aback by her reaction. "Aren't you happy for me?" I asked, seeking reassurance.

"Do you want me to stay? If you're not comfortable with me leaving, just let me know, and I'll tell Ethan I'm fine staying here," I said to Olivia, seeking clarification on her thoughts.

Olivia's response was unexpected. "I'm happy for you, and you shouldn't miss this opportunity," she said, her tone devoid of its usual warmth.

Something about her response felt off, but I couldn't quite put my finger on what was bothering me. It was as if a subtle shift had occurred in her demeanor, leaving me feeling perplexed.

"Can you please move a little? I want to sleep," Olivia said, her voice detached, as she discarded the disposable plate in the bin. She lay down behind me, her eyes fixed on her phone, her fingers scrolling through the screen.

I was taken aback by the sudden chill in her attitude. I knew better than to press her for answers, aware that Olivia had a short fuse and could get angry easily. Instead, I decided to give her some space, hoping that time would help her cool down.

I headed to the shower, then dressed up, preparing to leave for church. As I departed, I informed Olivia of my plans, leaving her to her silence.

To be honest, Olivia had never been this cold to me before. Even when we had disagreements, she would still show me affection and kindness, traits that were quintessentially Olivia. This new, reserved demeanor was unsettling, and I couldn't help but wonder what was troubling her.