Chapter 180
Mia met up with his brother later that afternoon.
She had called Ethan to meet up after her interview, and he sounded just as excited as she felt. He didn’t ask too many questions, he sent his location and asked her to come over.
When Mia arrived at the plaza his tattoo shop was located in, she found herself just standing outside for a few seconds, staring at the sign above the door.
ETH–INK ROOTS.
When she walked in, the scent of ink and clean leather filled her nose.
The place was incredible. It was ten times bigger than the one he had back then close to her school.
Ethan had shown her on video calls and all that but nothing compared to standing in it.
“How… how did you pull all this off?” she whispered, slowly turning around the space.
Ethan grinned from the front desk, arms folded. “You like it?”
“Like it? Ethan, this is incredible,” Mia said, her voice thick with emotion. “It’s massive…elegant and so clean. It’s perfect.”
He rubbed the back of his neck, shy for a second. “Took a while. Still paying off some loans. But yeah, it’s mine.”
She walked over and gave him a warm hug; squeezing him tight.
“I’m so proud of you,” she whispered into his shoulder.
Just then, a little voice rang out from the back.
“Mommy!”
Mia turned, just in time to see Aiden running out with his tiny arms wide open, a huge grin on his face. Her heart leaped.
She bent down and scooped him up, holding him close as he wrapped his arms around her neck.
“My baby!” she said, kissing him all over his cheeks as he giggled in delight. “Did you miss me?”
Aiden nodded eagerly, his head buried in her shoulder. Then he pulled back a little, his big eyes searching hers. “How was your iperview, Mama?”
Mia blinked, then let out a soft laugh. “It’s interview, baby,” she corrected gently, booping his nose. “And it was… good. Mommy did her best.”
“That’s my girl,” Ethan said as he walked over and patted her head playfully. “I trust you nailed it.”
“Well,” Mia shrugged with a small smile, “I tried.”
They stayed at the shop for a while longer. Ethan gave her a full tour, showing off his equipment, a little storage room he planned to turn into a private studio, even the breakroom he painted himself. Mia listened intently, amazed by how far he had come.
When the sun started to set completely, she called for a cab and took Aiden home. The ride back was quiet. Aiden leaned against her, playing with the hem of her shirt, his tiny body warm and soft next to hers.
Once they got home, Mia kicked off her shoes, rolled up her sleeves, and headed straight for the kitchen. She didn’t even sit down.
There was something calming about cooking, chopping onions, stirring sauces. It will pull her mind off a lot of things.
Aiden dragged his little chair beside her like always.
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Chapter 180
“il help,” he said proudly.
“Of course you will,” Mia replied with a tired smile.
He handed hei ingredients one by one, giggling every time something slipped or made a mess. Mia felt her shoulders relax.
As she placed the last piece of chicken into the pot, her phone buzzed loudly on the counter.
She grabbed it with a wet hand, drying it quickly on her apron.
Her eyes widened.
The text was from ABL Corp.
Her heart skipped.
She tapped it open, her pulse loud in her ears.
“Thank you for coming in today. We would like to speak to you further. Please be available for a one–on–one session tomorrow.”
Mia let out a loud gasp, nearly dropping the phone.
She wasn’t sure what came over her, but she immediately started jumping in place, squealing like a child. Aiden looked up, startled at first, but then
caught on.
“We did it!” she yelled, pulling Aiden into a little dance. “Mommy got called back!”
Aiden squealed with her, laughing and spinning.
It wasn’t a full offer. They hadn’t said you’re hired, but they wanted to see her again. That meant she had a real shot. That meant she had impressed someone–maybe even the CEO himself. Was the CEO even there?
Minutes later, she sat back down at the table, her breathing slowed again. She opened the message once more, reading and rereading it.
They didn’t mention a specific role. Or salary. Or a confirmation. But still… it was something.
That evening, the three of them sat at the small dinner table.
Ethan took a bite, moaning dramatically. “Mia. You outdid yourself.”
“Shut up and eat,” she said with a laugh.
Aiden, mouth full of rice, mumbled, “It’s yummy!”
After a few more bites, Mia wiped her hands and looked up at Ethan.
“I got a text from the company,” she said carefully.
Ethan perked up. “ABL?”
She nodded. “They want me to come back for a one–on–one. They didn’t say anything about employment yet, but…”
“That’s great news!” he said, his smile wide. “You obviously impressed them.”
Mia gave a small smile. “I hope so.”
She poked at her food a bit before continuing, her voice lower. “There’s just… something strange about that company though.”
Ethan, still chewing, glanced at her. “What do you mean?”
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Chapter 180
She hesitated. “Their names.” The words were on her tongue, but before she could form them, Ethan jumped in too fast, too quick.
“What? You met him?”
Mia blinked, caught off guard by his reaction.
“Met who?”
“The CEO?” Ethan says his voice dropping
“No?” she replied, narrowing her eyes.
There was something odd about Ethan at that moment. His whole posture changed. His shoulders were tense, his laugh awkward.
“Are you okay?”
“I just… just had a tiring day,” he said, brushing it off with a shrug. “What were you trying to tell me?”
Mia stared at him, confused. Why was he being weird?
She paused for a long second.
But then she shook her head slowly, forcing a small smile.
“It’s nothing. Just me overthinking again.”
Ethan gave a little nod and returned to his food. But something about his expression didn’t sit right with her. He didn’t look relieved. He looked…
worried.
Something was off.
Something was making his brother nervous and worried…
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