Chapter 3 Ethan

• “You are late!” turning to the woman who clasps her hands around my arm.
• “Fashionably,won't you agree?” Sarah kisses me but I turn sideways her lips landing on my jaw instead.
• She raises her hands to my face and caresses my jaw as an excuse to touch me, knowing her lipstick never stains.
• “I told you we were needed early, I hate tardiness and you know it,” seething through my teeth, I wear back my smile as reporters take pictures, patting her hands in mine.
• Anything to be done with this day and event.
• It was a collaboration between both our families, using our new engagement announcement as an excuse to hold another extravagant party to show off. In a clear statement of the possible merging of two companies in this business world, like we are monopolies.
• Moving into the hall, decorated from top to bottom, music plays softly as people from all business orientations converse with each other. This place is full of celebrities, thanks to Sarah.
• Her family owns the largest entertainment business in the industry.
• “And the beautiful couple arrives,” my father says when we are within speakable range.
• Curtly nodding at my Father, kissing my mother's cheeks and shaking Sarah's father as they were in a conversation while waiting for us.
• “Why did you need me here I have pressing matters at the company to resolve mom,” I whisper to my mom, keeping a straight face as Sarah takes on the conversation between our dads.
• “You know your father wants you here,” Mom says as her hand drapes my shoulders, patting me on my back.
• “We already had an engagement party, was this necessary?”
• “Stop being whiny about it, do it for your Father, okay, he's been worried for the company."
• We walk, mom is taking me to where fewer ears are.
• “Smile Ethan, people would think we forced you into this.”
• Mom takes a champagne glass from a waiter.
• “Didn’t you?”I stop, turning to face her.
• “It was all you wanted mom,” my face straight, jaw tightening.
• “Don’t talk to me in that tone Ethan, it could save the company and Sarah is a…..” pausing, she brings the glass to her nose,
• “..wonderful girl,” she says downing the champagne.
• “Even you don’t think that mom,” staring her down.
• “Well, your father was on the verge of a heart attack when the company took that hit, so I did what I could.”
• I looked at her, all 5 ft 3 of her and exhaled. _so in love with the man_.
• “Fancy seeing you here brother…..oh this whole party was a little show for you, wasn’t it?” Phillip walks to us with a grim smile on his face.
• “Mother” he addresses mom like always, respectful to the point of being disrespectful but daring not to disrespect her either, I see it through.
• “Phillip darling, when did you get here” Going for a hug, she pats his back.
• “Haven’t been here long but I did see Ethan come in, thought I’d greet the soon-to-be-married brother since I missed the engagement party,” he says turning to me.
• “Congratulations little brother” he hugs me patting my back forcefully.
• “Good to see my boys together, where is Josh?” mom asks looking at her golden wristwatch and sighing.
• She picks out her phone from her purse and dials his number but it doesn’t go through.
• “He said he was coming in from Europe today, have none of you heard from your brother” she puts her phone back in her purse, then stares at both of us.
• “We’ll call him and make sure to know his whereabouts, right” looking at Phillip by my side and mom facing him too.
• “Yes," he nods at her.
• “Don’t worry” I assure her before she starts lecturing us both here.
• “He's your little brother, I know you all have your lives but you should still look out for each other” her voice low but a bit edgy.
• “Leave it to both of you, I want us to have dinner tomorrow, it's been a while since he travelled, we should celebrate the success of his new film, don’t you think?” mom kisses both our cheeks and leaves to go find our father as usual.
• Watching her retreating body wondering how she loves him so much and expects me to marry just anyone.
• “Playing couple is not going to save the company that’s..” Philips's voice turns serious, dropping the charade as mom is no longer here.
• “It is none of your business and as so you have forgotten, you are the president and you will stick to your business, I will handle the rest” I cut him.
• “That position is not yours and you know it,” he sneers at me as I turn to walkway.
• “Tell that to Father,” signalling a waiter to where my brother stood.
• “Don’t forget to smile, we are at a party after all, it would not be nice for a camera to catch us glaring now,” I say to him with a smile and I walk away.
• I hadn’t even gotten far and my father called me “Yes sir.”
• “You were supposed to greet the representatives of the business that came here to celebrate with you,” he says stomping his walking stick slightly.
• “If I remember quite well, Father, I didn’t want to be here, they seem to be enjoying the environment we have provided them,” I gesture to the guest looking around.
• “You would not disrespect these people by leaving now,” arcing his brows in question.
• “Unlike them Father I have other matters to deal with, the company isn’t completely out of the heat, and yet here we are, celebrating, that’s a façade” I meet his stare.
• “I put you in that position for a reason, you are unyielding, but you have to learn, the people only see what we allow them to see” he comes closer looking up at me, he pulls me into an embrace and then whispers.
• “Because the insides are breaking, only a fool shouts out for his enemy to see.”
• “You forget, we can only hide it for so long before it begins to show on the outside, the engagement might have done a few sealings but someone has to plaster the whole thing back in place,” I tell him.
• Pulling out of the embrace, I check my Black Rolex watch and clear my throat.
• “Now if you will excuse me, that person is me, you put me in this position remember” Patting his back, his lips in a grim line, I take my leave.
• “Ethan!“
• I hear Sarah calls out for me but I don’t even answer her, I walk into the car as John drives us away.
• “Did you have a little fun sir,” John asks.
• “The company John,” I say to him loosening my tie.