Ripples of us

7

But as the debate continued, Emily began to feel a growing frustration. Ethan's stubbornness and unwillingness to consider her ideas grated on her nerves. She found herself clenching her fists, her jaw tightening as she tried to maintain her composure.

"Mr. Johnson, you're not even listening to me!" Emily exclaimed, her voice rising with each word. "I've presented multiple solutions, but you keep dismissing them without even considering them."

Ethan's eyes narrowed, his expression turning defensive. "I'm not dismissing them, Ms. Thompson. I just think we can do better. I have a vision for this project, and I'm not going to compromise on it."

Emily scoffed, shaking her head. "This isn't about compromise. It's about collaboration. We're supposed to be working together, but you're too stubborn to see beyond your own ideas."

The twins exchanged a worried glance, their eyes darting between Emily and Ethan. Lila placed a hand on Emily's arm, trying to calm her down. Leo, on the other hand, couldn't help but smirk at the tension.

Ethan leaned back in his chair, his expression hardening. "I'm not going to let you undermine my vision, Ms. Thompson. This is my company, and I'll make the final call on what happens here."

Emily's eyes narrowed, her voice trembling with anger. "Don't you forget, Mr. Johnson. My company is just as invested in this project as yours. We're equals, and I won't be treated like a mere lackey."

The twins watched the exchange in silence, their faces a mix of concern and confusion. Leo's smirk had vanished, replaced by a look of unease. Lila's grip on Emily's arm tightened, her own anger simmering beneath the surface.

Ethan stood, his towering presence looming over Emily. "Fine. If this is how you want to play it, Emily, then we'll do it your way. But know that I won't hesitate to remind you who's boss." he says dropping the honors.

Emily rose to her feet, her eyes locked on Ethan's. "And I won't hesitate to remind you that you need us just as much as we need you."

The twins exchanged a worried glance, their eyes darting between Emily and Ethan. Lila's grip on Emily's arm tightened, her voice low and urgent. "Boss, maybe we should take a break and come back to this later. We're not getting anywhere like this."

Emily shook her head, her eyes never leaving Ethan's. "No, Lila. I'm not going to back down. He needs to understand that we're equals in this partnership."

Ethan scoffed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Equals? You're delusional if you think that, Emily. This is my company, and I'll be the one making the final decisions."

Emily's eyes flashed with anger, her voice rising to a shout. "You arrogant, stubborn, pig-headed fool! You think you can just steamroll over everyone and get your way? Well, I won't let you. You need us as much as we need you, so you'd better learn to play nice."

With that, Emily spun on her heel and stormed out of Ethan's office, her team following closely behind. Lila and Leo exchanged concerned glances, their usually composed boss clearly rattled by the heated exchange.

The sound of Emily's heels clicked against the floor as she strode through the building. Her mind raced, her thoughts a whirlwind of frustration and confusion. How had things escalated so quickly between her and Ethan?

Outside, the sun was setting, casting an orange glow over the city skyline. Emily leaned against the wall, her hands balled into fists at her sides. She couldn't believe how their meeting had ended.

Lila approached her, placing a hand on Emily's shoulder. "Are you alright?" she asked, her voice soft with concern.

Emily sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I don't know, Lila. I never thought things would turn out like this."

"Wow, boss. I've never seen you this riled up before," Leo said, his voice tinged with amusement.

Lila glared at her brother. "Stop it, Leo," she hissed at him to which he just shrugged.

Emily shook her head, forcing a smile. "He's not wrong, Lila. I was unprofessional." Soon She turns to them and calls it a day.

As she walked down the sidewalk, her mind whirling with thoughts of the day's events, soon her gaze fell on the waiter she had met few days ago and the man from three years ago.

He stood across the street, his smile widening as their eyes met. Emily felt her heart rate spike, her cheeks flushing with warmth.

"Emily?" he called out, crossing the street. "It's great to see you again."

She smiled, her nerves getting the better of her. "Yes, it's nice to see you too. I'm sorry, I don't remember your name."

He chuckled, a boyish grin spreading across his face. "I'm Christian. And you look even more beautiful now than you did that night."

Emily couldn't help but blush, her heart fluttering in her chest. Christian teased her gently, "No more crying, I see."

She laughed softly, feeling a sense of relief that he didn't hold her past against her. "No, not today, at least."

Christian's smile grew wider, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Well, if you're not in a hurry, I was just about to head out on my bike. Would you like to join me for a ride?"

Emily's eyes lit up, the excitement from their encounter three years ago resurfacing. "Yes, that would be wonderful."

Christian grabbed his bike, and Emily followed him as he began to pedal away. They chatted easily, their conversation flowing as if no time had passed at all.

As they rode, Emily caught a glimpse of Ethan exiting the building and getting into his car. Their eyes met for a brief moment, the tension between them palpable.

Lost in the thrill of her conversation with Christian, Emily didn't give Ethan another thought. She focused on the present, the warm breeze on her face, and the sound of laughter that filled the air.

As they rode through the city, Emily felt a sense of freedom she hadn't experienced in a long time. Christian's easy demeanor and infectious smile made her feel at ease, a stark contrast to the tension with Ethan.

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Thank you for reading guys❤️