Riven wasn’t sure what to make of Ethan Park.
The man was annoyingly cheerful. Always smiling. Always polite. But most frustratingly—he never lied.
Not once.
It was unnatural.
Riven tested him.
RIVEN HALE/RIVEN/MC
You’ve worked as an assistant before?
ETHAN PARK/ETHAN/MC'S ASSISTANT
Nope! First time.
No pain.
RIVEN HALE/RIVEN/MC
You’re not intimidated by me?
ETHAN PARK/ETHAN/MC'S ASSISTANT
Oh, I am. You’re kind of scary.
Still no pain.
RIVEN HALE/RIVEN/MC
You’re not thinking about quitting already?
ETHAN PARK/ETHAN/MC'S ASSISTANT
Nope! Unless you fire me first.
ETHAN PARK/ETHAN/MC'S ASSISTANT
Nothing.
Riven didn’t know what to do with that.
He had spent his life surrounded by people who twisted the truth for their own gain. People who told him what he wanted to hear.
Ethan was different.
He was honest—painfully honest—but not in a cruel way. He simply had no reason to lie
And somehow, that made him the most unpredictable person Riven had ever met.
---
By the end of the first week, Ethan had done something no assistant before him had managed—
He impressed Riven Hale.
He was efficient. Organized. He memorized Riven’s schedule without needing reminders. He handled emails, phone calls, and meetings flawlessly.
And, most surprisingly—he wasn’t afraid to speak his mind.
ETHAN PARK/ETHAN/MC'S ASSISTANT
That deal doesn’t seem fair to me, Mr. Hale.
ETHAN PARK/ETHAN/MC'S ASSISTANT
This report is wrong. The numbers don’t match
ETHAN PARK/ETHAN/MC'S ASSISTANT
I think you should take a break. You look exhausted.
No one talked to Riven like that.
And yet, Ethan did.
And Riven let him.
One afternoon, Riven caught Ethan staring at him, deep in thought.
RIVEN HALE/RIVEN/MC
What? *he asked*
Ethan hesitated. Then, with that same blunt honesty, he said—
ETHAN PARK/ETHAN/MC'S ASSISTANT
I don’t think you’re as scary as people say
RIVEN HALE/RIVEN/MC
*Raised a brow* Oh?
ETHAN PARK/ETHAN/MC'S ASSISTANT
*Smiled* You act like you don’t care, but you do. You just don’t like showing it.
Riven stared at him, unsure whether to be annoyed or amused.
Most people tried to impress him. They wanted his approval, his wealth, his power.
But Ethan?
Ethan just wanted to do his job.
Maybe that’s why Riven didn’t mind having him around.
For the first time in a long time, he had someone in his life who didn’t expect anything from him.
And oddly enough…
That felt nice.
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