The car ride back from the hotel was very quiet. Ethan sat in the back of his Rolls Royce, looking out the window as the city lights flashed by. He wasn't thinking about the money he made; he was thinking about the dangerous people who wanted to hurt his kids. He realized his home couldn't just be a fancy house anymore. It had to be a safe zone, like a fort. To do that, he needed someone he could trust completely to run it.
When he walked into his palace, he felt calm and silent. The air smelled like nice wood, and everything was perfectly clean and shiny.
He knew this was because of Elara.
Ethan's heart was still racing from the brutal fight at the hotel. Instead of going to sleep, he went to his private gym. He took off his shirt and started hitting a heavy punching bag.
Thud. Thud. Crack. Boom.
Every hit felt strong. He was testing his new strength, feeling the power in his arms. He was so focused on training that he almost didn't notice the door open.
A young woman walked in very quietly. This was Elara. Ethan had seen her during the Introduction of the staffs when he bought the Obsidian Palace.
She was very pretty, but she didn't try to show off. Her hair was tied back neatly, and she wore a simple work vest and pants. She moved gracefully, trying not to make any noise.
Ethan stopped hitting the bag. Sweat was running down his skin as he turned to face her.
Elara stopped moving. Her face turned a soft pink. She was too shy to look him in the eyes. She walked over and put a cold drink and a clean towel on a bench. Her hands shook just a little bit as she fixed the towel.
Ethan used his System to look at her:
[Target: Elara]
[Intelligence:14]
[Body: 90]
[Age: 25years]
[Specific waist/hip ratio: 0.8]
[No-smoking, Drinking-Controlled, No-Drugs and No-Tattoos.]
Ethan realized something. Elena was loud and ambitious. It figures since she was a gold digger to begin with. Mei Ling was sweet and caring . But Elara was the one who made his life actually work. She knew exactly what he liked and how he wanted things done without him even asking.
"Elara," Ethan said. His voice sounded loud in the quiet room.
She jumped, startled. "Y-yes, Mr. Benjamin?"
"The house looks great tonight," Ethan said as he picked up the drink. "You are doing a very good job."
Elara's eyes grew wide. A real, happy smile crossed her face. "Thank you, sir. I just want everything to be perfect for you. Always."
She bowed quickly and ran out of the room, like a startled rabbit her heart beating fast.
Ethan watched her go. She wasn't just an employee; she was someone who truly cared about his goals. While dangerous people were trying to ruin him, Elara could quietly protecting his peace.
He took a sip of the drink. It was the perfect temperature.
Ethan thought about the three women in his life: the secretary, the nurse, and now the manager. His team was almost ready. Now, he just had to find a way to keep them all happy under the same roof without any drama starting.