"I see, your taste in women is recommended great. Don't you think?"
She forced a smile as she tilted her head sideways, but internally it was a different case.
"Not!"
"Your taste in men is quite horrible!"
He responded with a side glance at her.
"Excuse me?"
Not only was that out of nowhere, but it hit her hard.
"What man allows his woman to ride with another man?"
Tiana smiled as she tucked her hair behind her ear.
"Well, that's because I don't have one!"
A pause as his gaze was still stuck out the window.
Then he glanced at her.
"I see."
Not only was he observing her, he was studying her as well.
But then a sudden question struck him from her.
"And you, boss, are you single or married?"
"Got him!"
Tiana thought as she saw him glance at her.
"If I'm not, are you going to stop boring me?"
"How did he know?"
Tiana thought, despite her supposed discreet way of advancing.
"Well, if you are taken then of course I'll back down. But if you're not, backing up isn't an option."
She responded, looking at him seductively.
"Alright, that's enough for today."
"Really? Is that a yes?"
She teased, smiling.
"Take it as you will,"
Cold but calm.
"But this is as far as I could take you, so get out!"
Looking at the location—
It was the restaurant from last night.
"This jerk really dropped me off here?"
"Alright, thank you."
She opened the door, then looked back at him.
"And by the way, I take it as you're single. Stop me if you're taken then."
With that, she shut the door.
"Smooth, Tiana, smooth,"
She thought proudly, only to be ruined by the sudden speeding of Ethan's car away from her.
"Alright, I didn't mean 'stop me' by almost killing me!"
Her thoughts screamed, looking at the car dashing off.
Meanwhile, Ethan, looking out the window, softly smirked. Then the banter between them replayed in his mind as he seemed focused on her face that struck him every time he saw her, side-glanced at her, observed her, or studied her.
"Her acting is so bad, it's entertaining to watch."
He softly let out a brief sigh of amazement.
*****************************
Late at night, Ethan sat on a private family yacht, detached, scrolling on his phone.
"Brother, did you hear Grandpa and Daddy's joke?"
Linda slumped beside him, glancing at his phone.
"what it is?"
He turned his phone downward, looking at her.
"Never mind, it'll fly over your head anyway."
She pouted, disappointed she couldn't see what he was watching.
"Nice try,"
he said coldly, looking down at the water.
"If you knew that, why bother in the first place?"
"He's impossible,"
Linda thought.
"Anyway, when are we going to have a sister-in-law? Mother, and grandma are pretty worried, you know,"
she said, scrolling on her phone.
"Don't worry about it. Just focus on your career."
"Ahh, whatever. You're impossible anyway,"
she muttered.
"Isn't that the upcoming model? She's pretty. What do you think, brother?"
Linda teased as she scrolled through Hannah's modeling pictures.
"Average."
"Uhhh?!"
Linda immediately stood up, looking at Ethan in disbelief. He just spoke regarding woman?
"You didn't, brother!"
"Alright, enough. Back with them, now."
"Yes, sir."
His gaze alone was enough to get her up, despite his calm demeanor.
Just then, he saw another email, but a funny feeling told him it was from Tiana. Opening it up—sure enough, it was her.
A faint smirk tugged at his lips as he read her email asking him to reconsider the work he had rejected.
"Not convinced. My decision is final,"
he responded, sipping his wine.
"Pretty please, sir? Or do you just enjoy my company that much?"
Tiana smiled as she hit send.
"Bullseye! I'll flirt with him till he accepts it,"
her thoughts screamed as she rolled on her bed.
A few minutes later, the silence was deafening. She went to the bathroom, then exited—same thing.
"Alright."
She stomped off toward her laptop, just to be hit with: "This is a professional email. I won't warn you again."
"This jerk!"
She raged dramatically.
"Pulling this boss move, uhh…"
"Give me a chance, and I won't bother you!"
Tiana: "Alright sir, I'll only let you off once you reconsider my sketch."
With that, she stomped off to bed.
Just then, another phone notification buzzed.
"Are you free this weekend? I'd like to talk with you."
Tiana frowned, looking at Lux's message.
"I'm sure a 'no' won't back you down, right?"
She replied.
Lux: "Look at you, getting the hang of me!"
"In your wild dreams,"
She spat back.
"No can do, 'cause I have a date!…"
She texted.
"Now F off my DMs!"
She thought angrily.
"Uhhh, what's good in him other than that look of his?"
She thought, tossing her phone aside.
"Blocked!"
She muttered, blocking him.
"Doing what I should have done since!"
"Tomorrow, I have to deal with his older version—but cold-hearted and detached boss."
She muttered, closing her eyes.
"And as for Lux… wait till I become your uncle's woman."
A mischievous smirk played on her lips.
"Then the most famous designer will be at it!"