[The Next Morning]
Ethan pulled up outside the shop apartment just as the morning sun bathed the city in a soft golden glow.
The commercial district was beginning to stir — store owners unlocking doors, early customers browsing, the distant hum of traffic filling the air.
It was a commercial location, right where his father had always wanted to set up shop.
As the car stopped, Ethan glanced at his father in the passenger seat.
Harold sat quietly, his gaze locked on the storefront.
There was something different in his expression today — not just the usual contemplation, but something closer to satisfaction.
"This is the one," Robert finally said, his voice firm.
Ethan smirked. "Well, good thing I already bought it."
His father let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. "You always had a way of making things happen fast."
Ethan turned off the engine. "C'mon, let's check it out."
They stepped out of the car, the crisp morning air refreshing after the drive.
Ethan unlocked the glass door, pushing it open with ease.
The space inside was exactly as he had expected — clean, well-maintained, and spacious enough for what Harold had planned.
The last owner had already moved everything out, leaving it a blank slate.
Harold stepped inside slowly, running his hand along the polished counter near the entrance. "Feels good," he murmured.
Ethan leaned against the doorway. "Not bad, right?"
His father nodded. "It's perfect."
Harold had owned a store before, back when Ethan was younger.
But that shop had been in a quieter part of the city, a place that never saw much foot traffic.
Even with that, the new shops that opened up quickly took his position.
Business had been decent, but he had always talked about wanting a store in the heart of the commercial district — somewhere with real potential for better customers.
Ethan had listened.
And now, here it was.
Harold walked further inside, his hands on his hips as he took in the empty space.
"Plenty of room for inventory," he noted. "Storage in the back?"
Ethan gestured toward a door on the right. "Yeah, and an office too."
Harold checked the rooms one by one, nodding in approval.
The storage area was more spacious than his last shop, with shelves already installed.
The office was simple — a desk, a couple of chairs, and a filing cabinet.
Everything he needed to get started.
"This place is solid," Harold said after a while. "More than solid. This is the kind of spot I used to dream about."
Ethan crossed his arms. "Well, dreams are expensive. Lucky for you, I got a good deal."
Harold turned to face him. "I still don't know how you pulled this off."
Ethan shrugged. "Just an opportunity that came at the right time."
His father studied him for a long moment. He had always been sharp, and Ethan knew he was probably wondering how his son had suddenly gotten the resources to afford something like this.
But Robert had learned not to press too hard when it came to Ethan's business.
Instead, he just smiled and patted the countertop. "I'll make the most of it."
"Figured you would."
They spent the next couple of hours going through the shop, checking the plumbing, the lighting, and the security system.
Everything was in working order, though Robert made a list of small adjustments he wanted to make — repainting the walls, changing out the signage, maybe adding some display cases near the windows.
Ethan listened as his father spoke, noting how energized he seemed.
This wasn't just about owning a shop after all — it was about finally being where he wanted to be.
At some point, they took a break, sitting on a couple of crates near the counter.
"You sure you don't want in on this?" Robert asked suddenly.
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Me? Running a store?" He smirked. "Yeah, I think I'll pass."
His father chuckled. "Didn't think you'd say yes, but I figured I'd ask."
Ethan leaned back against the counter. "This is your thing, Dad. I just made sure you got it."
Robert nodded slowly. "You've done a lot for me and your sisters."
Ethan shrugged. "You did a lot for us first."
His father didn't say anything, but the look he gave Ethan was full of understanding.
After finishing up inside, they locked up and headed back to the car.
Ethan drove his father home, the conversation shifting to lighter topics about how the neighborhood was going and also Julie talking about the time she had spent in the mansion.
When they pulled up to the house, Robert sighed, stretching his arms.
"I'll head back to the shop tomorrow, start setting things up."
Ethan nodded. "Sounds good."
His father hesitated before opening the car door. "You sure you don't want to stay for lunch?"
"No need," Ethan said, "I have somewhere to go,"
His father nodded and left, leaving Ethan to himself.
Ethan quickly drove off, parking at a nearby lot and bringing out his phone - it was the day of the race after all and even though he couldn't be there, he wanted to watch her through the streams.
#####
The electric atmosphere of the stadium pulsed through the air, waves of excitement rolling through the massive crowd.
Cameras hovered in the sky, capturing every angle of the grand event as millions across the world tuned in to witness one of the most intense races of the year.
The International Speed Grand Prix — an elite competition where only thirty of the world's top racers had been invited to compete.
Among them, sitting in the cockpit of a sleek black and gold race car, was Vanessa Carter.
She adjusted her gloves, gripping the wheel as she exhaled slowly.
Her nerves were steady, her pulse calm, but her mind kept wandering to something — or rather, someone — else.
Was he watching?
The thought irritated her.
She didn't need Ethan's approval. She didn't need him to be impressed.
And yet…
She scoffed under her breath, shaking her head.
It was stupid to care.