The Road Back to You

Violet stirred as the first light of dawn seeped through the hotel curtains. The warmth of the blanket wrapped around her felt unfamiliar, cozy but different. She blinked groggily, taking in her surroundings. The hotel room. The soft sheets. The faint scent of cologne lingering in the air.

And then she saw him.

Ethan was sitting on the couch, his elbow propped on the armrest, fingers resting against his lips. His eyes were slightly hooded, betraying the fact that he hadn't slept at all. But what made her breath hitch was the way he was looking at her. Not with his usual guarded intensity, but with something softer. Something unreadable.

"Morning," she murmured, her voice still thick with sleep.

"You're awake," Ethan straightened, as if caught doing something he shouldn't have been. 

"Did you sleep at all?" she stretched, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. 

"Didn't need to," he exhaled through his nose, a ghost of a smirk tugging at his lips. 

"That's not true," Violet sat up, frowning.

"You could've at least shared the bed, you know. It's big enough," she glanced at the couch and the folded blanket beside him. 

"You talk in your sleep," Ethan arched a brow. 

"I—what?" her eyes widened. 

"Something about… stealing all the paint colors in the world and making 'the perfect shade of chaos,'" a slow, infuriating smirk spread across his face. 

"Great. Now my subconscious is embarrassing me," Violet groaned, burying her face in her hands. 

Ethan chuckled... an actual, genuine chuckle that sent warmth spreading through her chest. It was rare, seeing him this unguarded.

"Well? If I was talking all night, you should've just woken me up," she peeked at him through her fingers. 

His smirk faded, and for a moment, he simply looked at her. Like he was weighing his words carefully. "You looked peaceful," he said finally. "Didn't want to wake you."

Something about the way he said it made her stomach flip.

"Well, next time, wake me up. Sleep deprivation isn't a good look on you, Mr. Sinclair," Violet cleared her throat and swung her legs over the bed. 

"Duly noted," Ethan shook his head, amused. 

Just then, a sharp knock on the door interrupted their moment.

"Sir, Miss Harrington," came the assistant's voice from the other side. "We need to leave for the airport in three hours."

"Get ready. I'll be back in a while," Ethan stood, stretching his arms before rolling his shoulders. 

She watched as he grabbed his suit jacket, his expression slipping back into its usual composed state. But just before he stepped out, he hesitated.

"Violet," he said, turning to look at her.

"Yeah?" she tilted her head. 

A flicker of something passed through his eyes, but he simply gave a small nod. "Nothing. Just… don't take too long."

And with that, he was gone.

Violet exhaled, flopping back onto the bed with a sigh. She had no idea what was happening between them. But whatever it was, it was definitely getting harder to ignore.

Ethan came back and crossed the room, pouring himself a drink from the minibar. Outside, the rain had started again, pattering softly against the window. Violet walked toward it, placing a hand against the cool glass, watching the city blur beneath the drizzle.

"It's beautiful," she murmured.

Ethan joined her, standing just behind her, his presence a steady warmth against her back.

"It is," he agreed, though his gaze wasn't on the city. It was on her.

Violet turned slightly, meeting his eyes. The room felt smaller suddenly, the air between them charged.

"You're staring," she said softly, a teasing lilt in her voice.

Ethan didn't look away. "You make it difficult not to."

Her breath caught. He wasn't teasing. He wasn't smirking. He was just… looking at her. Like she was something he didn't quite understand but couldn't look away from. The tension stretched between them, thick and electric.

"Say something," she whispered, her fingers curling slightly against the windowpane.

"I don't know how," Ethan exhaled, his jaw tightening as if he were fighting something. 

That admission sent a shiver through her. Because for all his confidence, all his control, this... whatever was happening between them... seemed to unnerve him. And yet, neither of them stepped away.

Violet swallowed, her heart hammering as she reached out, hesitantly placing a hand on his chest. She could feel the steady beat beneath her palm, the warmth of him radiating through his shirt. Ethan closed his eyes briefly, as if grounding himself. When he opened them again, there was no hesitation.

He moved closer, his fingers brushing against her wrist before trailing up her arm, slow and deliberate.

"Violet," he murmured, her name a warning and a plea all at once.

She leaned in, her body answering before her mind could catch up. "Ethan..."

His hand cupped her face, his thumb brushing over her cheek. His breath mingled with hers, and for a second, she thought... this is it.

But then he stopped.

His hand remained on her face, his touch gentle, his eyes dark with something unreadable. "You don't remember, do you?" his voice was quiet, almost strained.

"Remember what?" Violet frowned, her heart still racing. 

"That night… when you were drunk. You asked me things... things I couldn't say then. And I told you I'd tell you when you were sober," Ethan's jaw clenched. He exhaled sharply before shaking his head. 

Realization flickered through her mind. She had been too intoxicated to recall much, but there was something there, a hazy memory of his voice telling her he'd explain everything later.

"Then tell me now," her throat went dry. 

Ethan's gaze searched hers, as if debating whether he should. But then, just as quickly, he took a small step back, breaking the charged moment between them.

"Not here," he said, his voice quieter now. "Not like this."

Violet felt a pang of something she couldn't quite name. But she nodded. "Okay."

Ethan lingered for a second longer before turning away, running a hand through his hair. "Come on, I'm waiting in the lobby. We need to leave soon."

She watched him walk away, disappearing into his room.

And just like that, the moment was over. But something had shifted between them. And Violet knew, whatever Ethan was holding back, whatever he needed to tell her, was going to change everything.

The flight back to the city was mostly silent. They boarded the plane, and before long, they were back in familiar territory. As soon as they arrived at the office, Violet barely had time to settle before Jade, Liam, and Kathy cornered her.

"So... how was your first business trip with the boss?" Jade smirked, leaning against her desk.

"More importantly, how much did you embarrass yourself?" Liam crossed his arms. 

"Oh my God, you guys," Violet groaned. 

"Wait. You did embarrass yourself, didn't you? Spill!" Kathy gasped dramatically. 

"Fine. I got drunk. Ethan had to take care of me. And I may have said things I don't remember," Violet hesitated for a second before sighing. 

"You what?!" Jade burst into laughter.

"Wait, wait... what did you say?" Liam grinned. 

"I don't know!" Violet groaned, covering her face. "That's the worst part! But he said he'd tell me when I was sober."

"Oh my God. What if you confessed your undying love?" Kathy gasped. 

"I highly doubt that," Violet rolled her eyes. 

"But something happened, huh?" Jade leaned in, eyes twinkling. 

Violet didn't answer, and their teasing only intensified.

Later that day, Maddie approached Violet, a sly smile on her lips. "So, has Ethan told you yet?" she asked, tilting her head.

"Told me what?" Violet frowned. 

"That we're dating now."

The words hit like a punch to the gut.

"What?" Violet blinked, her throat suddenly dry. 

"He probably didn't want to make things awkward for you. But yeah, it's official. We're together," Maddie shrugged. 

Violet forced a smile, nodding stiffly as Maddie walked away. But inside, everything felt like it was crumbling. That night, as she worked late at the office, her emotions reached a breaking point.

Ethan was in his office when Violet stormed in, slamming the door shut behind her.

"Tell me it's not true," she demanded, her voice shaking.

"What?" Ethan looked up from his desk, his brows furrowing. 

"Maddie! She told me you two are dating. That you're together!" Violet's voice rose, frustration and hurt bleeding into every word. "Is that why you took care of me, made me feel things for you, and almost kissed me? Just to mess with me? To play some stupid game?"

"You think I'd do that?" Ethan's expression darkened. 

"I don't know what to think anymore!" Violet shouted, pushing against his chest in frustration. "Because you never say anything! You just look at me with that stupid, unreadable face and expect me to figure everything out!"

Ethan didn't move, his jaw clenching. His silence only fueled her anger more.

"Say something!" she pleaded, shoving him again. "Fight with me! Prove me wrong!"

"You don't get to do this to me, Ethan. Not after everything," tears welled in her eyes as she hit his chest one last time, her breath ragged. 

And then, suddenly, he moved.

With one swift motion, Ethan grabbed her wrists, yanking her toward him. Before she could process what was happening, his lips crashed against hers.

The air was knocked from her lungs as he kissed her. Fierce, desperate, as if he'd been holding back for far too long. His hands framed her face, his thumbs brushing away the stray tears on her cheeks.

Violet gasped against his mouth, her body pressed against his as his fingers tangled in her hair, pulling her impossibly closer. He kissed her like he was trying to tell her everything he never said, every emotion he had buried deep inside himself.

She melted into him, her hands gripping his shirt, holding on for dear life. This was nothing like she had imagined. It wasn't soft or hesitant; it was raw, intense, consuming. It was fire and frustration and longing all tangled together in one perfect, chaotic moment.

When they finally pulled apart, both breathless, Ethan rested his forehead against hers, his fingers still tangled in her hair.

"I don't want to fight with you," he whispered, his voice rough, his breathing uneven. "But I can't lose you either."

Violet blinked up at him, still trying to process what had just happened, what he had just said.

And just like that, everything between them changed.