Until Forever Ink Fades

           Ethan chuckled light. "I did," Ethan replied, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled. "I'm a man of many talents, Ana. Cooking is just one of them." He poured her a cup of steaming hot coffee, his movements effortless and practiced.

Ana's eyes widened as she took in the spread before her. There were scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, sautéed mushrooms, and toasted bread. It all looked and smelled delicious. She couldn't remember the last time she'd had a homemade meal, let alone one that looked this good.

As she picked up her fork and took a tentative bite, Ana's eyes met Ethan's. He was watching her, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "So, what do you think?" he asked, his voice low and teasing.

Ana chewed slowly, savoring the flavors. It was good. Really good. She nodded, taking another bite. "It's delicious," she said, her voice sincere.

Ethan smiled, looking pleased with himself. "I'm glad you like it," he said. "I was hoping to impress you."

Ana raised an eyebrow, taking another bite of her breakfast. She wasn't sure what to make of Ethan's domestic skills. She hadn't pegged him as the cooking type. 

     Ethan sat down opposite to her,drinking only a glass of milk. 

        Just as Ana finished up her meal , her phone rang it was the driver, she thought he had already arrived. 

        Ana picked up the call, listening intently to the driver's apologetic tone. "I'm so sorry, ma'am," he said. "The car broke down last night, and I had to wait a whole day to get it fixed. I can book a cab for you, but it'll take about 40 minutes to arrive."

Ana's eyes widened in concern as she calculated the time. She would definitely be late for work if she waited for the cab. She hesitated. "Just get the car fixed I'll find my way to work." Ana said hanging up, she knew she really needed to go learn to drive at this point. 

     Ethan who had listened to the whole call silently sat up."I can drive you to work."

        Ana quickly shook her head, rejecting the offer. "I know , you have some other things to do, I would hail a taxi." 

        Ethan raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "You'd rather hail a taxi than let me drive you?" he asked, his voice tinged with amusement.

Ana nodded, feeling a flush rise to her cheeks. "Yes, I don't want to inconvenience you," she said, trying to sound convincing.

Ethan chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "You're not an inconvenience, Ana," he said, his voice low and smooth. "Besides, I'm already up and ready. It's no trouble at all."

Ana hesitated, unsure of what to say. She didn't want to impose on Ethan, but at the same time, she didn't want to be late for work either. Ethan seemed to sense her uncertainty, and he stood up, his movements decisive.

"Come on, I'll drive you to work," he said, his voice firm but gentle. "We can't have you being late on a Monday, can we?"

Ana smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Ethan. "Thank you," she said, standing up and smoothing out her dress.

Ethan nodded, his eyes meeting hers. "Let's go," he said, gesturing towards the door,after taking off the apron he wore.

         The drive to work was smooth, with Ethan navigating the roads with ease. Ana was surprised by how quickly they arrived at her company, it took less than thirty minutes. As she stepped out of the car, she turned to Ethan and said, "Thanks for the ride. I owe you one."

Ethan chuckled and smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "No need to thank me, Ana. Have a great day at work."

Ana nodded and quickly headed into the building, feeling grateful for Ethan's kindness. As she walked away, she could feel Ethan's eyes on her, but she didn't turn back to look.

Ethan watched Ana disappear into the building, a small smile still playing on his lips. He got back into his car and pulled away from the curb, feeling a sense of satisfaction. He had enjoyed Ana's company, and he was glad he could help her out.

As he drove away, Ethan couldn't help but think about Ana. She was a complex woman, with a tough exterior and a soft center. He was intrigued by her, and he found himself wanting to know more about her.

Ethan's thoughts were interrupted by his phone ringing. He answered it, listening to his assistant's voice on the other end. "Good morning, sir. You have a meeting with the marketing team at 10 am. Shall I brief you on the agenda?"

Ethan nodded, even though his assistant couldn't see him. "Yes, I'll be there soon."

He hung up the phone and focused on the road. 

     As Ana stepped into the company, the receptionist, Sarah, greeted her with a warm smile. "Good morning, Ms. Gilbert. Happy Monday! I've got your coffee ready."

Ana acknowledged Sarah's greeting with a nod, her eyes scanning the receptionist's attire. "Morning, Sarah. Your tie could use a bit of adjustment," she suggested, taking the coffee from Sarah's hand.

Sarah's smile faltered for a moment, revealing a hint of disappointment. She had spent a considerable amount of time perfecting her outfit, hoping to avoid Ana's notorious attention to detail. However, it seemed that Ana's nickname, "Devil's Wife," was well-deserved, as she had a keen eye for even the smallest mistakes.

Ana made her way to the elevator, aware of the receptionist's unspoken thoughts. As she stepped inside, she noticed President Michael and his lazy assistant, Mr Patrick,approaching the elevator. With swift reflexes, Ana used her coffee to hold the elevator door open, allowing the pair to enter.

The elevator doors slid shut, and Ana turned to face President Michael and Alex. "Good morning, President Michael. Mr Patrick" she said, her tone professional and courteous.

President Michael smiled warmly, while Mr Patrick merely grunted a greeting, his eyes fixed on his phone. The elevator continued its ascent. 

         "Ana I saw the man that dropped you off."