Ethan snored softly, his body sinking deeper into the couch with every slow breath.
His chest rose and fell steadily, completely lost in sleep.
At so point during the night, he had shifted, rolling onto his side, but he never fully fell off the couch.
One arm dangled lazily over the edge, while his other hand was tucked under his head, his face relaxed in deep slumber.
The living room was quiet, save for the faint ticking of a nearby clock. The morning sun had already begun creeping in through the curtains, casting a golden glow across the room.
The minutes passed, the clock hands moving steadily forward.
It was already getting late.
If he didn't wake up soon, he wouldn't make it to Atlas early.
A light tapping on his arm disrupted his peaceful rest.
Ethan stirred, groaning softly as he tried to swat at whatever was disturbing him.
The tapping persisted — gentle but insistent.
He mumbled sothing incoherent, his mind still foggy from sleep.
A soft voice spoke. "Sir, it's morning. You should wake up."
Another tap on his arm, this ti firr.
Ethan groaned again, cracking one eye open.
The blurred image of a maid leaning over him ca into focus. She was dressed in a neat uniform, her expression patient yet persistent.
"Sir," she said again, this ti more firmly.
Ethan exhaled sharply and rubbed his face with both hands before mumbling, "Yeah, yeah… I'm up."
The maid straightened, nodding slightly. "You have a long day ahead, sir."
Ethan blinked, glancing at the clock on the wall. His brain took a second to register the ti — shit, he had to leave soon.
"Thanks," he muttered as he forced himself up. His body protested the movent, stiff from sleeping in such an awkward position all night.
He rolled his shoulders, groaning under his breath as he stretched.
The maid gave a polite nod before stepping away, allowing him space to fully wake up.
With a tired sigh, Ethan trudged toward the bathroom.
He turned the sink faucet on, splashing cold water onto his face, hoping it would shock so life back into him.
The coolness spread across his skin, waking him up instantly.
He glanced at his reflection. His hair was ssy, his eyes slightly droopy from exhaustion, but otherwise, he looked fine.
He grabbed a toothbrush, quickly running it over his teeth, then rinsed his mouth.
Once he was done freshening up, he made his way to his bedroom.
His closet doors swung open, revealing a collection of neatly hung clothes.
Ethan didn't bother going for anything fancy today — no suits, no formalwear. Instead, he grabbed sothing casual yet sharp.
A black fitted T-shirt, paired with a dark denim jacket, and so well-fitted jeans.
He slipped into a pair of sneakers before running a hand through his hair, making sure he didn't look like he had just rolled off a couch — even though he had.
Satisfied with his appearance, Ethan grabbed his keys and walked out the door.
His Porsche was parked in the driveway, gleaming under the soft morning sun.
He climbed in, settling into the driver's seat with a deep exhale.
His hands instinctively gripped the steering wheel, the familiarity of the car bringing a sense of comfort.
The engine roared to life with a smooth purr as he pulled out of the driveway and onto the road.
Atlas awaited and hopefully he would be here before Zack this ti.
Ethan's Porsche glided smoothly down the road, the early morning air crisp and cool. The streets were quieter than usual, the city still waking up.
The sky above was painted in soft shades of orange and pink, the last traces of dawn fading as the sun slowly rose higher.
His fingers tapped lightly against the steering wheel as he drove, the distant hum of the engine filling the otherwise silent car.
His mind was already drifting to the day ahead — another long one at Atlas.
The resort had barely been open for a day, and yet, its impact was already undeniable. The grand opening had been nothing short of a success, and the Postgram page was exploding with engagent.
Custors were already singing praises, the reviews glowing, the pictures circulating like wildfire.
It was exactly what he had wanted.
Still, success ca with its own weight. There was always more to do, more to maintain, more expectations to et.
And that ant early mornings like these — dragging himself out of bed, shaking off exhaustion, and getting back to work.
As he approached the resort, the grand entrance ca into view, standing tall and imposing under the morning sun.
The sleek, modern architecture of Atlas reflected the light beautifully, the glass windows gleaming as if to welco the day.
He slowed as he neared the gate, rolling down his window as the guards stationed there acknowledged his arrival.
"Good morning, sir," one of them greeted, giving him a respectful nod.
Ethan returned the nod. "Morning."
The gate slid open smoothly, and he drove in, pulling into the wide driveway. The landscaping was as immaculate as ever, the pathways clean, the greenery well-kept.
As he parked, he glanced around. No sign of Zack.
Not that he expected him to be here this early, but still — it would've been nice to see his second-in-command already at work.
The place wasn't empty, though.
The staff were already moving about, handling the early morning preparations. So were setting up breakfast service, others were checking on the guest lodgings.
A few employees near the front desk saw Ethan step out of his car and imdiately greeted him with warm smiles.
"Good morning, Mr. Ethan!"
"Morning," he replied, nodding to them as he strode inside.
The lobby was just as polished and welcoming as it had been yesterday. The subtle scent of fresh flowers lingered in the air, and the soft background music played gently through the speakers.
Despite the early hour, Atlas was already alive.
Ethan moved through the space, heading straight for the office.
Once inside, he closed the door behind him and let out a slow, tired sigh.
He wasn't exhausted, not exactly — but he was drained.
With a small grunt, he settled into his chair, leaning back as he propped his feet up on the desk.
Reviews
All reviews (0)