Chapter 35 - Madeline

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Tell me about Ethan Hall?

If you asked me 3 days ago, I would say he is the most sweet and gentleman guy I've ever known.

If you asked me now, I would say he is a jerk!

I inhale deeply. Calm down Mads! Calm down!

"If you keep frowning, in a few months Helen will look younger than you," Jack says behind me.

I glare at him (in my imagination, of course, because I still want to stay alive. Even though I say he is a nice guy. But with his tall and big body, I'm just a piece of jelly). "Tell me again why are you flying with me today? Do I look like I need a babysitter?"

He shrugs. "The boss worried about you."

"I thought I didn't exist in his world anymore," I murmur.

By the way, did I mention to you I'm sitting on the plane with Jack right now flying back to LA? Yes, Ethan Hall puts me in his jet once the doctor clears me out.

This morning I tried to chat with him as usual, but he answered me curtly. I am clueless. What is wrong with him? What did I do? Is it because of Ben's accident? Ugh, my head is hurt when I try to figure out Ethan Hall.

I check at my phone. "Jack, I want to sleep in the room. Is that okay?"

"Go ahead. Don't forget to drink your pain killer."

I nod and go to the room. I stare at the bed. The last time I was here with Ethan, my heart was so full. But now, I'm here alone. I check my phone (again). He doesn't even text me. I turn off my phone. I can't keep looking on the phone like I'm obsessed with him.

***

We arrive at Long Beach's private airport. The black Bentley is waiting for us on the tarmac. Jack sits in the front seat. I sit at the back alone.

I study the street. This is not the way to my apartment. "Jack, where are we going?"

Jack turns to me. "Your phone is still off?" I nod and reach for my phone to turn it on.

Wow... Ethan texted me.. so many times.. over 10 text messages, actually. All the message is asking about me and why I haven't turned on my phone. He also asked me to contact him once I saw the message. I am giddy now. I call him, biting my lips.

"Ethan," I say, controlling myself. Finally he is back!!

"Why'd you turned off your phone?" he says without preamble.

"What?"

"You know you don't need to turn off the phone when you are flying in private," he says, annoyed.

"Sorry, I was asleep during the flight. I turned off my phone so it won't disturb me." Not that I lie. I was disturbed by checking my phone every minute to see whether there was a text from him.

"Oh," his voice softened. "You okay? Do you need Jack to take you to the hospital?"

"No, I'm okay." I smile to myself. "By the way Ethan, you said in the message that you want me to sleep in your house. Why?"

"There are many people there. You'll be safe. And Consuela can take care of you in case you need anything."

"But you're not there," I whisper to him.

Silence.

"Ethan?"

He clears his throat. "Just go there and take a rest. I need to go. Bye." He hangs up.

I glare at the phone. I'm going to change his name into Ethan Stupid Hall NOW!

***

2 days at Ethan's house. I love the house. Not because it's Ethan's, but because Consuela, Paolo and the other staff are so nice to me. I feel loved. They are not nosy about my life. Most of the time they are busy with the house, but when we're having time together, normally after dinner. They will tell stories that make my belly laugh.

Ethan is still in Paris. The day I arrived, the HR texted me 15 mins after I called Ethan. They said that I'm not allowed to go back to the office until next week. It's an order from Ethan. Why did he have to ask the HR to text me?

"You're still thinking about Ethan?" Consuela asks me.

I'm sitting in the pantry, nursing my vodka while Consuela baking some cookies. I just finished my dinner. I nod desperately.

"He's complicated, Mads. And what happened with you in Paris, I guess it triggers the old wound inside him."

"Old wound?"

"The accident of David Hall, Ethan's father."

"I know his father died in a car accident when Ethan was still in college or graduate school. But how is it related to us now?"

"Just check it by yourself, dear. It's not my capacity to tell you about this part of his life," she smiles motherly to me.

After talking with Consuela, I walk alone in the garden through the maze and magically find my way to the fountain. I sit there watching the fountain.

I search about the accident on Google, but nothing much was revealed. The PR team already covered all the truth of the story until it only said that David Hall was having a car accident. And the date... It's Ethan's birthday. This! This must be have something to do with what Consuela told me.. Who can tell me about this... Christian!

I dial his number.

"Hello Madeline sweet cake," comes Christian jolly voice.

I laugh. "Are you planning to call me that? It's a mouthful."

"Well, I don't think someone appreciates it if I call you Sweetness, though." He chuckles, and just like that, my mood goes south..

"No one calls me that anymore," I say glumly.

"Um.. what did my stupid cousin do this time?" Christian asks in a more sober voice.

So I tell him about the accident in Paris, including Ethan's weird attitude towards me afterwards.

Christian exhales. "It's not you, Mads. Really."

"I know Christian. I mean, this has something to do with Ethan's father's accident. Right? I've tried to read about the accident from Google. But I still don't get it. All I can find is, it happened on Ethan's birthday."

"It actually happened because of Ethan's birthday," Christian says in a more serious voice. Gone the jolly voice.

"What do you mean?" I whisper. I feel the bitterness build up in my stomach. My gut says I will not like what Christian going to say. But I need to hear this.

"His father was on his way to Ethan's apartment. With a cake in his hand."

"Oh my God!" I cover my mouth.

"It was an accident, but Ethan blamed himself for this. We already talked to him so many times. But he refused to listen to us. Thanks to Hall Industries, the only things that keeps him insane. He has to be sane and sober to run the company, right? So he forced himself to learn everything from Michael Hall as much and as fast as he can. It's his legacy, after all. And he doesn't want to disappoint his late father."

"God. I didn't know," I whisper. My voice is shaky.

"I'm sure everyone around Ethan knows what is on his mind right now."

Jack. Consuela. I close my eyes. "He assumes I will end up like his father? Because of him, I got hurt. Because of him, his father dead."

"Yeah, something like that, Mads."

"But... but it's ridiculous!! It's not his fault, Christian! Every father must be want to visit his son on their birthday! And I did that because I care for him! It's ridiculous for him to think that it's his fault! Come on, he is a smart guy!" I say angrily.

Christian chuckles. "Mads, now I got it why Ethan is crazy with you."

I sigh, between desperate and pissed. "He is avoiding me right now, Christian," I say sourly.

"Well, you are smart enough to make him face you, right Mads?" and I have to laugh at that. Christian joins me, too. "I ship you with my cousin, Madeline Parker!"

***

Since I have a mission to make Ethan Hall talk to me, I need a reinforcement. So, here I am at Meredith's apartment. I didn't tell her the whole thing about Ethan's life drama. But she knows Ethan is avoiding me because of his old experience.

"Well, first, you will meet him eventually in the office," she says, pouring 2 glasses of wine and giving one to me.

"But he can keep things professional. And I'm done with trying to talk with him. I did in Paris. The rejection still stings by the way/" I gulp my wine.

Meredith smiles sympathetically. "Okay, we have to make him piss with you. I don't think something can persuade easily people like Ethan Hall to do anything. Especially if he put his mind on something," she says while looking at her wine as if the wine has an answer for that.

"I need to get his full attention. But how?"

Suddenly, Meredith stops and looks at me with her mischievous eyes. I raise an eyebrow at her. "Is there any policy in Hall Industries about the employee's outfit?"

"Hmm, I don't think we have."

"No?"

"No."

"Great!" And Meredith takes me to her super enormous wardrobe.

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