Episode 15

Alexander's POV

A new week began at the company, and I was aware that it meant Ethan's medical leave was ending, which deep down made me feel relieved that he was okay, as he was an employee I appreciated and who performed his job excellently even though his hiring had been rushed and I didn't have high expectations for him at first, and even though I felt that way, I kept my expression serious and professional at all times.

I watched Ethan as he returned to his tasks, noticing his apparent improvement. However, something in his countenance made him look different, as if he had gone through something that had changed him in some way, I didn't know how to describe it, I just knew there was something different. I kept wondering what had happened during his absence, but I kept my distance and didn't pressure him about it.

Also, something I had noticed since his return was that the new cologne he used to wear had disappeared. At first, I thought it was just a coincidence, but the more time passed, the more it caught my attention, but I decided to convince myself that it meant nothing, that Ethan could wear whatever cologne he wanted and if he wanted he could not wear it. Of course that was it, just his cologne, after all his blood tests indicated that he was a beta through and through.

My head that Monday seemed only able to focus on Ethan, and every time I walked down the hall or into my office, I analyzed him. Between one of those many encounters I finally confirmed that Ethan looked thinner than before, which made the worry inside me awaken, but I chose to keep those thoughts to myself, after all, Ethan was a capable adult and did not need me to worry about him.

As I continued with my responsibilities, I had this constant feeling of unease, fueled by unanswered questions about Ethan's apparent change and his seemingly fragile health. All this in my head I hid it in a facade of calm and control as it should be, since I was the person in charge and representative of the company that had to keep at bay a lot of corporate old men who did not trust my leadership skills just because I was young, I was barely 30.

I tried to go on as normal, Ethan and I weren't close, we just had a professional relationship, or so I wanted to believe, but as the week went on, I realized that I couldn't completely ignore my concerns. Although Ethan seemed to be recovering, his frail and delicate appearance continued to worry me. I watched him struggle to get his work done, but his eyes reflected a weariness I couldn't ignore, so I made a decision, I decided I would invite him to lunch, hoping that indirectly my worries would be alleviated as a mere whim of mine.

Amidst these worries and concerns, the sudden absence of the new cologne continued to baffle me, why had he stopped wearing it out of the blue? I tried to find a logical explanation, but none seemed to fit.