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“Get it together, man,” I said aloud, running a hand through my hair as I slid into the driver’s seat. The engine growled to life, but my thoughts were already miles away, tangled up in the mess I’d left behind in Cedar Cove. I knew I needed to respond, but the truth was, I didn’t know what to say. I was balancing too many lies, and reality was starting to crush me.
The drive to the airport felt like a blur. My mind raced as I tried to figure out how to keep everything from falling apart. I was the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar company, but I couldn’t even manage to keep my personal life from spiraling out of control. The sleek buildings of Dallas whizzed by, fading into thebackground as I pulled into the private terminal where our jet was waiting.
The silver Sterling Solutions logo on the side of the plane glistened in the morning sunlight, usually a source of pride for me, but today, it was just a reminder of the life I was struggling to balance. I pulled out my phone and typed a quick message to Natalie, hoping it would buy me some time.
ETHAN: Hi, beautiful. Sorry I missed your message. It’s been a hectic morning. I’ve got a meeting with my dad’s doctor today to discuss some things. I miss you too, Natalie. A lot.
I hit ‘Send,’ shoving the phone back into my pocket, knowing it was just another half-truth. I was about to deal with Charles Whitmore, one of the wealthiest and most demanding clients we’d ever taken on, but my mind was stuck in Cedar Cove with Natalie.
Sophia was waiting by the steps of the jet, her expression as calm and composed as always. She looked every bit the part of the successful CFO—her dark hair pulled back into a stylish ponytail; her tailored suit perfectly fitted. But there was something in her eyes, a flicker of concern that she rarely let show.
“Morning,” she greeted me professionally.
“Good morning, Sophie,” I replied, trying to shake off our shared uncertainty. “Ready to get this deal done?”
She nodded, but her gaze lingered on me as I joined her at the steps. “You look like you haven’t slept much. Everything alright?”
“Just got a lot on my mind,” I said, brushing off her concern as we boarded the plane. “I’ll be fine.”
Sophia didn’t press, but I knew her well enough to expect this conversation wasn’t over. The engines hummed to life as we took our seats, the familiar routine of takeoff doing little to calm the storm brewing inside me.
As the jet lifted off, I tried to focus on the task at hand. Sophia pulled out the portfolio for the ski resort Whitmore was interested in, spreading the documents out on the table between us.
Soon, the Texas landscape stretched out before us. The beauty of it should have been inspiring, but all I could think about was how far removed this world was from the simplicity of Cedar Cove.
“You need to make a decision, Ethan,” Sophia said after a few minutes of silence. Her voice was gentle but firm, the way it always was when she needed to get through to me. “Either you come clean with Natalie and see where things go, or you end it. But this in-between stuff? It’s not sustainable—for you or for her.”
“I know,” I admitted, staring out the window at the endless sky. “I just… I don’t want to lose her, but I don’t know how she’ll react when she finds out who I really am. And I can’t exactly walk away from all of this either.”
She reached across the table, placing her hand on mine. Her grip was firm, grounding me in the moment. “You can’t keep doing this to yourself. It’s affecting your focus, and it’s only a matter of time before it affects the business, too. You’ve always been good at compartmentalizing, but this time it’s different.”
I nodded, knowing she was right. But that didn’t make the decision any easier. The idea of losing Natalie made my chest tighten, but so did the thought of keeping up this charade. “I want to be honest with her, but I’m afraid it’ll blow everything up.”
Sophia’s eyes softened, but her voice remained steady. “Ethan, if she’s the right person, she’ll understand. And if not… well, then at least you’ll know. But you owe it to both of you, to be honest.”
The plane leveled out, and Sophia turned her attention back to the documents in front of her. I followed suit, forcing myself to focus on the task at hand. This was what I knew, what I was good at—closing deals, making things happen.
Sophia and I worked in relative silence, going over the finer details of the ski resort property. Whitmore was a heavy hitter in the investment world, with a portfolio that spanned multiple industries. But The Telluride Resort was his first venture into real estate of this kind, and he was relying on us to guide him through it.
The sun streamed through the windows, casting a bright light over the documents spread out on the table. Outside, the mountains loomed closer, their jagged peaks dusted with snow. I could see the allure of a place like this, the kind of luxury it represented. But for me, it was just another deal—a big one, sure, but still just a means to an end.
Sophia glanced at me as we went over the numbers, her expression thoughtful as I looked out the window. “I’m going to remind you one more time. You’ve got to get your head straight, Ethan,” she said, her tone quiet but firm. “This client needs our full attention.”
I nodded, trying to shake off the fog of doubt that had settled over me. “You’re right. Let’s focus on Whitmore.”
As we descended into Telluride, the small airport nestled in the valley between towering peaks, came into view. I turned to Sophia as we prepared to disembark. “Let’s get this done. We’ll take it one step at a time. This client is a great opportunity for us.”
The drive from the airport to the lodge where we were meeting was short but scenic. The road wound through a picturesque landscape of snow-dusted trees and rolling hills, the place felt like a world away from the chaos of city life. Sophia was focused on her tablet, reviewing the key points we needed to address in the meeting.
When we arrived at the lodge, a sprawling, rustic building with sweeping views of the surrounding mountains, I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. This was what I did—close deals—make things happen. I couldn’t afford to let anything get in the way of that, not even my feelings for Natalie.
Whitmore was waiting for us in a private meeting room, a fire crackling in the stone fireplace behind him. He was a tall man with a commanding presence and an air of confidence that came from years of success in the business world. He greeted us with a firm handshake, his eyes sharp and assessing.
“Ethan, Sophia, good to see you both,” he said, motioning for us to sit. “I’m looking forward to hearing what you’ve come up with.”
Sophia and I exchanged a brief glance before diving into the details. We laid out the pros and cons of the ski resort property, highlighting the potential for growth and the unique challenges it presented. Whitmore listened intently, nodding along as we spoke, his expression thoughtful.
As the meeting progressed, I could feel my focus returning. This was my element—analyzing the risks, weighing the options, and presenting a solid strategy.
