Secrets In The Sunset | KTH 18+ ✔️

Chapter Eighty

Taking an extended lunch break, Ethan and I arrive at the realtor's office for me to sign off on the paperwork. I still can't believe I'm finally about to be able to open up my own art gallery. Something I had been dreaming about since I was young and now it's going to become a reality.

My heart races with each number that lights up inside of the elevator indicating that we're getting closer and closer and I bounce in place with excitement.

"Are you nervous?" Ethan chuckles watching me wiggling around, trying to calm myself.

"No. Excited!" I squeal and throw my arms around his neck, forcing him to wrap his around my waist. "Thanks for all of your help."

He leans down and leaves me with a quick kiss just as the elevator door begins to slide open to the correct floor, "You're welcome baby."

Trudging down the hallway beside him, I recognize the sign on the frosted glass door of the realtor's office he's been working with and take a deep breath so that I can appear less child-like and more like a grown adult who could financially afford to start her own business.

Phones ring behind the front desk while the two receptionists answer them and smile up at us as we wait for one of them to become available. Soft music plays through their shared clock radio placed neatly in between the two of them next to a stack of Manila folders with various names printed on their tabs. For it to be a realtor's office, it's pretty fancy. The ones I had been in as a kid were much more plain than this, but with it being in the city, I can't say that I'm too surprised.

"Sorry about that." The curly redheaded receptionist smiles at us as she hangs up the phone. "What can I do for you?"

"We're here to see Mr. Bradshaw. Ethan Michaels and Ava Young." Ethan announces as I stand next to him with an awkward tight-lipped smile.

Great job so far at seeming like a grown adult who has their shit together, Ava.

I hear a door open down the hallway to my right as the receptionist informs us it'll be a few minutes and I reflexively look over. To my surprise, I see someone I easily recognize unknowingly walking my way as he stays focused on the realtor he's talking with. My eyes grow twice their size as I face forward again. I don't know if I should try to hide or just act as calm as possible.

I go with the latter.

"Ava?" Taehyung questions with a bright boxy smile on his face once he notices me, making Ethan and I both turn our heads to look in his direction.

"Hey!" I nervously reply with a crack in my tone and I clear my throat immediately to try again. "Hey."

"Hello Ethan." Taehyung's smile drops as he looks at him, but nods his head politely anyway.

"Hello Taehyung." Ethan replies with an even more deadpan expression.

No, this isn't awkward at all.

Taehyung turns his attention back to me, all trace of the flat expression he had just a second ago being replaced with another warm smile. "I didn't expect to see you here."

"Yeah, same." I giggle and flit my eyes over to Ethan, making Taehyung huff out a chuckle of his own. "Something to do with the house you're building?"

"Huh? Oh, no. I'm getting ready to sell Uncle Kim's house for him since he won't be here but for about another week." He explains as he takes a couple steps closer towards me.

"Selling his house? Aww!" My bottom lip pokes out at the thought of never seeing it again. "You'll have to let me see it one more time before it's sold."