Chapter 10: Equal Status
"I have worked for him for a long time, and his family and mine are kind of related. So... you know it, right?"
Ethan broke off in mid-sentence, leaving Amelia some imagination to satisfy her curiosity.
"You're not gonna tell me you don't own this house either, are you?"
Amelia surveyed furnishings in the house. It was splendid, and a white-collar worker wouldn't be able to afford it.
Ethan paused and then smiled, "Smart girl. You can read my mind."
He stared at her, watching her reaction. Ethan wondered how would Amelia treat him if he owned nothing.
Amelia sighed, "I thought I was out of your league because I own nothing now. Now it seems..." She shook her head.
"Now it seems I'm out of your league, right? Right. I don't have a car or a house," Ethan nodded.
Amelia sighed again, "Right? No. We are now in equal status, a perfect match. I don't have to worry about owing you anything. That's good news."
Looking at her expression, Ethan smiled. "She is cute," he thought.
"So you don't mind it?"
"Yeah, at least we got a roof. I don't have to fight with hobos."
"No, you don't. Don't worry. You will always have a roof."
Amelia glanced at the man. He could be potential.
"What about I give you some shares after I get it back? You know, as a token of my gratitude."
"Some? I thought we were a couple."
"No way. You want half of it, huh?"
"Something is wrong. Someone handed in a proposed acquisition to him that morning. How could he be a junior clerk?" Amelia thought.
She recalled that morning, examining the man in front of her doubtfully. Which part was real and which was not?
"I don't want some. Hurry up. I gotta go now. Can't be late."
Amelia kept silent, staring at him.
...
Amelia wandered in the living room and wondered what to do. It was an important task. She needed to expose the father and the daughter, and she had to get her mother's share back. What should she do first?
She picked up her bag and walked out of the villa.
"Mr. Frost, the proposed acquisition is checked. So far, it looks good."
The man beside Ethan was his secretary. The secretary was handsome and tall but not as handsome as Ethan. Well, so far, no one could be compared with Ethan.
"I see. Reschedule the meeting to two o'clock in the afternoon. I got an appointment in the morning."
"I'll get on it first thing, Mr. Frost."
Ethan strode to the conference room.
"Ethan."
"Adrian.
When did you get back? Pleased to meet you."
Adrian Wilson was a famous movie star who was always busy with his job. His parents were fabulously rich. Ethan and Adrian had similar family background.
"I just finished my last film. And this one will be shot here, so I'm back."
"Dinner tonight?"
"Sounds great. We can talk about the old days."
While talking, Ethan suddenly froze for a moment. Adrian stared at him and noticed changes.
"What? What are you trying to see?"
Adrian coughed and said, "You are a little different. What happened? You convert, huh?"
Adrian put every sentence into play. They started the play.
"I'm chained to my job. I can't be as available as you, superstar."
"Is that so?"
When they talked about dinner at night, Ethan froze and hesitated. Adrian thought he might have someone in his heart.
"Sure. Okay, dinner tonight at Chinchol Manor."
Chinchol Manor was a classy and romantic place. People dated there, and successful people gave priority to talk about business there.
"Well-chosen. However, where else is there for a rich man like you?"
They smiled at each other. Ethan thought in his mind, "I can't go home and cook. Should I call Amelia or text her? Maybe I should take her with me."
...
"I got nothing today except sore legs. I can't even approach the Harper family. Safety first."
On the way back villa, Amelia looked tired. She was a rich girl, but now she could only walk with her legs. That was pathetic.
Days ago, she was out of her mind after the heavy shock. When she walked to the villa nestled among the verdant trees, she found a name. The villa was called Villa Willowbrook.
"This place even got such a tasteful name. That is out of my expectation. Well, it fits the name."
Amelia shuffled, longing for a soft bed. When she reached the door, she suddenly recalled that she had no key.
"What am I thinking?"
She patted her head. Ethan gave her a key to make her feel at ease, but she forgot that.
Fair enough. Amelia had to call Ethan. She was way too tired, and she didn't know where he worked.
...
"Weird. Why does she call me? She needs me at home?" Ethan thought, looking at the "Honey" on his phone screen.
"Hello, what's wrong?"
"Come back. I forgot my key, and I can't enter the house."
It was an awkward and helpless tone.
"Okay, I'll be home soon."
Ethan smiled. She needed him but said to him like that, not gentle but unyielding.
"I forgot my key,"
Amelia said it again when Ethan parked the Rolls-Royce in front of the villa and got off the car. There was pleading in her eyes, but her tone was still unyielding.
Ethan kept silent and opened the door directly.
Amelia observed his expression and checked the time. She thought, "It is almost the time to get off. Is he going back to work later?"
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone