"Its life is only five years. During that time, it won't bloom or bear fruit. But when it does, its flowers last only four short nights. Love when the flowers bloom… and leave when they fade."
Ava and Ethan stood together in the garden display, watching the rare Queen of the Night bloom under the soft lighting. The flower seemed too delicate, too fleeting, like love itself.
"It feels like we're really lucky to see it tonight," Ava whispered.
She hesitated, then glanced at Ethan's sharp profile. "Mr. Sterling, can I ask you something?" Her voice was soft, almost nervous. Whenever she looked directly into his eyes, she felt herself being pulled in too deep.
"You don't have to answer if you don't want to."
Ethan simply looked at her, silent and unreadable.
"Are Mason and Lana…?" Ava trailed off.
"Yes," Ethan said flatly. He let go of the blossom in his hand, letting the petals drift back into the cluster of flowers.
"Still," he added after a pause, "they don't compare to this."
Ava blinked. "Honestly, I think Mason seemed more suited for that girl from the other night. The way he looked at her—it was different. Tender. Like he didn't even realize how much he cared."
Ethan's expression hardened. "Do your job well, Ava. Don't waste energy on things that don't concern you." He shoved a file back into her hands without a shred of mercy.
As he walked ahead, Ava scrunched her nose and made a face at his back. When she lowered her eyes, he happened to glance back, catching her. An almost invisible smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Ava wanted to ask him something else: if he had ever loved anyone. If there was ever a girl he wanted to be happy, even at the cost of his own feelings. But she stayed quiet.
Instead, she fell in step behind him, stealing sideways glances. He really was good-looking, she admitted. When he wasn't speaking, the soft light in his eyes gave him an unexpectedly warm presence.
"Do I have flowers stuck on my face or something?" Ethan suddenly asked.
"You do!" The words flew out before she could stop herself.
Realizing what she'd just said, Ava slapped her hand over her mouth. Ethan was watching her with a teasing smile. Her cheeks turned scarlet.
God, why couldn't she keep her mouth shut? The harder she tried not to think about it, the hotter her face burned.
Ethan studied her with mild amusement. She really did blush so easily, and there was something disarmingly pure in her eyes.
He'd heard all the gossip that floated around the company—about how she might just be another woman chasing status, hoping to latch onto him. But standing here, he couldn't believe that. Not with someone like her.
Ava turned her back on him, flustered. "Mr. Sterling, can we just go already?" she huffed, her embarrassment twisting into mock annoyance.
Before Ethan could reply, a shout rang out nearby. "Watch out! Move!"
A man carrying equipment lost his balance, the heavy load sliding dangerously off his shoulder. Ava reacted instinctively, grabbing Ethan's arm and pulling him back.
The sudden force sent him stumbling into her. She reached for the nearest table to steady herself, but instead dragged half the clutter down with her.
Her back hit the floor hard, though she managed to brace with her arms and avoid smacking her head. Ethan caught some of the falling debris on his shoulder.
"Mr. Sterling! I'm so sorry, are you okay?" Ava scrambled upright, panic in her voice. The closeness of their faces hit her all at once his lashes, impossibly long, framed eyes that seemed much too intense at this distance.
She turned her face away quickly, refusing to meet his gaze. Ethan was braced over her, one hand on the ground, one knee bent, an intimate, accidental pose that looked far too much like something it wasn't.
Neither of them spoke about it.
He stood, brushing the dust from his suit. Then his eyes caught on something tangled in her hair. Without thinking, he reached out to remove it.
But Ava, flustered and red-faced, leaned away from his hand.