"Name please", the receptionist requested, "you're here to see?", the receptionist asked, "Juliana… Juliana Monroe", Ethan responded. "I'm sorry sir, only family members are allowed to visit…", "sorry sir, she's new, she clearly doesn't know who you are", a neighbor receptionist cut her off. Ethan shrugged it off, "that's alright", "I just just need a quick visit then I'm out". "You're a regular, you should know her room, it's room 303, just take the elevator", "alright thanks". He proceeded to the elevator door, you could hear the slight banter between the two receptionists, "damnit Sandra, you're lucky he's a calm one younno", she said in a scolding tone, "how don't you know him, he's THE Ethan Cole", "Glimmer Tower ring a bell?".
Ethan heard everything they said, given his abilities, but brushed it off with what seemed almost like a smile. At the hallway leading to her room, he sees Jason quietly leaving her room. He pauses for a second, turning on his lurk ability, which slightly lets people around not notice his presence. With Jason gone, he enters her room. "Hospitals can be boring most times right?", Ethan said with a humorous intent, she let out a small chuckle, "not with you comin' around it isn't", Juliana seemed weaker to him, but was trying to hide it. "I saw Jason leave not long ago, I hope he's no trouble", Ethan said, "what is it with the two of you actually, always arguing", "I mean y'all have history?", "figure your shit out", she continued. Ethan had a look surprise written all over his face, "yeah we actually do, I just know the kind of things Jason's capable of, it's why I'm always skeptical about him".
"Oh yeah?", "Rosette?, what's that to you?", "Jason seemed pissed while he brought it up during your argument the other day". "No, you need not know everything about me", Ethan replied "Jason's just mad for his absence when it happened, and the way it happened, and he thinks he can just put the blame on someone else", "is that so…", Juliana countered. Ethan had a calm look on his face this time, as he moved closer to her bed, "oh my God, you're burning up", he said as he touched her hands. "I'd tell you when the time's right, you need not worry", he said, giving her a gentle kiss on the forehead, "I'm leaving now, else I'd be late for the meeting," "I'd let the nurse know what's up, anything you need let them know it's all on me", he said as he left the room.
As he left the room, he got the attention of one of the nurses, "yeah, she's burning up, please attend to her", "oh and get her whatever she requests for, hit me up with the bills later". "Will do", the nurse replied, "thanks", Ethan said walking towards the elevator, when he notices the presence of someone around watching him, but he brushed it off. "I'm coming out the front in two minutes, be there", he said to someone over the phone. He ends the call and slips his phone into his inner coat pocket.
On his way out, you could see one of the receptionist, the one he met first looking at him and blushing. He notices it, but paid no attention to her. "Oh my Gosh, he's so hot", she said, "oh now you like him, wondering if it's got something to do with the fact that he's a billionaire".
Ethan stood out front, waiting for his ride. "What took you so long", "I have no excuse this time", he let out a sigh, "just get me to the meeting in time would you". "Good day sir, "one of the guards at the tower greeted, on the way to the elevator, he still noticed the same feeling from earlier. He felt that same watchful eyes, but once again he brushed it off. He took the elevator, and before long he was standing at the door to the meeting room. "Sorry I'm late", he said on entering, he went straight to his seat. "I had some personal things worth attending to", "shall we?", he said. The one sitting opposite him began, "we are still standing on our decision Mr. Ethan", "and as we said before, there's opportunity sitting right under our nose, and we can't afford let it slip". "Just because of some lowlife Hollowshade residents", another continued. Ethan had this look on his face, one that clearly says 'all you inconsiderate assholes', "those 'lowlifes' are still living beings", "some still your kind". "Raising such building in the central district of Hollowshade would most definitely cause casualties, and people wouldn't have anywhere else to turn to". One of them sitting at the far end of the table spoke up, "Mr Cole, please don't allow you soft side to jeopardize this opportuni…", "oh I'm soft huh", Ethan cutting him off, "how many times do I have to stress this", "I need one simple thing from you, put yourself in their shoes for once". "But…", another wanted to continue, but was still cut off by Ethan, "my decision is final, we're not doing it, we'll come up with something else later", "let's focus on more pressing issues at hand".
At sundown, the meeting had ended, Ethan was at his office, sitting down with legs crossed on the desk. Marlo came in with few knocks, "good evening sir, how was the meeting", "tedious", Ethan replied with a calm tone. "What do you have for me", "the engineers below have made a breakthrough". Ethan sighed "it's late already Marlo, add it to my schedule tomorrow". "Send word to the nurses, I couldn't come today", "oh and tell them to send me the invoice, then you make sure you get back to me on this", "goodnight", he said standing up and picking up his coat for the hanger.
This time he decided to take a walk, he had his umbrella above his head. He stumbled upon a little girl, no more than twelve, the rain pouring down on her as she stood still in the middle of the street, she looked lost. He approached her and crouched down to her height, "hello there, you seem lost, where's mum and dad", she burst into tears, "they went to get ice cream, they told me to wait here for them, but they haven't come back yet". To him this sounded like irresponsible parents who abandoned their child. He notices she shivering from the cold, so he takes off his coat and wears it over her body, "I'm so sorry you had to experience such, doesn't sound like they'd be coming back", "why don't we head home, get you something to eat", "how's that sound", he said wiping her tears off.
"Is it true they'd be destroying some buildings at Hollowshade central district, I know you own Glimmer Tower, my parents told me", the little girl told him. "What's your name", Ethan asked, "they call me Martha". "Alright Martha I think we should get home first, and no, I won't allow that", "you have nothing to worry about". That night they got home, and she was assigned her own room. He had an unsettling feeling, like he know something bad was going to happen soon, but what.