[Side Ethan]
Very early in the morning, before the rooster crowed, "Morning, Mr. Ethan," several employees greeted him as they passed.
"Good morning," Ethan replied, smiling.
With a light step, Ethan walked toward the HR office, which was his workplace. A couple of female employees who saw Ethan's face that morning commented:
"Hey, it's weird how refreshed Mr. Ethan looks today," one employee said.
"Yeah, I know. Usually, he's sluggish and weak in the morning. He looks even handsomer now, don't you think?" replied the other employee.
"Totally. I'm gonna get close to him at lunch, hehe," the first employee said.
"Shh, don't! Mr. Ethan is married, you know," replied the employee next to her.
"Oh, right. No wonder he's fresh today; maybe he got lucky with his wife last night, hehe," the first employee replied.
"Hehe, you've got a point. Whatever, let's get back to work," replied the employee next to her.
Ethan entered his office. He was greeted by one of his subordinates, who immediately approached him as he walked in.
"Morning, Mr. Ethan. Wow, you look different today, sir," the subordinate said.
"Morning, Bobby. Different how?" Ethan asked.
"How should I put it? You just look fresher. Did you sleep really well last night, sir?" Bobby asked.
"Oh, you're right. Yes, I slept so well last night I didn't even realize it was morning. Is the difference that noticeable?" Ethan asked, touching his face.
"Very much, sir. And you have an interview schedule today, right? Let me handle that," Bobby said.
"It's okay. I'll take care of it myself," Ethan replied, cutting off Bobby.
"Seriously, sir? Don't you usually hand over the marketing and advertising positions to me?" Bobby asked, confused.
"Yes, but I'll assist you today," Ethan replied.
"Wow, thank you so much, sir. I'm happy to have a head like you, hahaha," Bobby replied.
"Stop it. Anyway, are there any complaints or issues from the employees? Have you checked the suggestion box?" Ethan asked.
"Well, sir, yesterday there were a few..."
Ethan listened to Bobby's explanation. Bobby was one of the HR managers under him, who served as the Head of HR, as they walked into his private office within the HR department. As soon as they finished discussing the work agenda and employee feedback,
"Okay, sir, I'll excuse myself now. Oh, don't forget tonight, sir, we have to attend the company anniversary party," Bobby said.
"Yes, Bob, I haven't forgotten," Ethan replied.
"Clap."
Bobby left and closed his office door. Ethan took his bag and placed it on his lap. His hand went inside, then pulled out the leather-bound book he had put in his bag at home. He opened the page again and stared at Elena's face in the drawing on the second page.
"If I do this, is it considered cheating? This morning when I read about lucid dreams, it said that the dream will appear according to our desires. That means the figure of Ms. Elena in the dream is not a real person; she's only my imagination because I long for Diana to be a person like Ms. Elena. I shouldn't get lost in last night's dream. It could be dangerous and unhealthy for my marriage," Ethan said.
Ethan read his conversation with Elena again and smiled to himself at his desk. After that, Ethan started working on his tasks and checking the employee salary distribution on his computer. Suddenly, "Dring," his smartphone rang. He saw his wife's name on the screen and immediately answered it.
"Hello, honey," he greeted.
"Honey, you won't believe this! I've been promoted to Editor-in-Chief. I'm so happy! What time are you coming home? Let's have dinner out, or maybe I'll just come to your office," Diana invited.
"Wow, congratulations, honey. Your hard work has paid off. I'd love to, but I have the company's anniversary party tonight. Do you want to come with me?" Ethan asked.
"Oh, is that so? That's okay, honey, it'll be a hassle. No one is bringing their spouse, right? I'll wait for you at home then. Will you be home late?" Diana asked.
"Um... it could be late, honey. You know how it is when the boss invites us to drink," Ethan replied.
"Hmm, well, that's okay. In that case, I'm going out with my colleagues too, okay?" Diana asked.
"Yeah, of course. Well, that's that. Tomorrow's Saturday, let's go out and celebrate your promotion," Ethan replied.
"Okay, tomorrow it is. I have to go now. I just finished the meeting, and I need to go back downstairs," Diana said.
"Wait, where are you?" Ethan asked.
"On the rooftop, hehe. I called you first because I wanted you to be the first to know about my promotion," Diana replied.
"Haha, you're something. Didn't everyone in the meeting already know? I'm not the first, you know. Anyway, hurry up. They might be looking for you," Ethan said.
"Hehe, you're right. I'm going down now. Bye, honey. See you at home," Diana said.
"Bye, honey," Ethan replied.
Ethan hung up the phone and put his smartphone on the desk. He leaned back in his chair with a smile on his face. He was happy to hear his wife call to tell him about her promotion, and he was also happy that his wife's hard work had paid off. He was just a little disappointed that he had to attend the company's anniversary party tonight as the Head of HR and couldn't spend time with his wife, Diana, who had invited him out to eat.
"It's rare for her to ask me out, but I'm happy. I'm sorry, Diana, the timing is really bad," Ethan said in his heart.
Ethan returned to concentrating on his work. He glanced at the leather-bound book on his desk. His hand picked up the book and put it back inside his bag without opening or looking at its contents again.
***
That night, at a fancy restaurant in the city center, which was entirely rented out for the company employees,
"Cheers!"
"Clink."
All the attendees of the company's anniversary party raised their glasses to toast with the company leader, including Ethan. He immediately drank his beverage until it was finished and refilled it.
The meal began. Waiters came out serving food at the tables of the partygoers. Bobby, who was sitting next to him and holding a bottle, offered Ethan a refill, pointing the neck of the bottle toward Ethan's glass.
"Mr. Ethan, would you like more to drink?" Bobby asked, pouring a drink into Ethan's glass.
"Yeah, thanks, Bob," Ethan said.
"Does your wife know the office is having a party, sir?" Bobby asked.
"She knows. She called me this morning," Ethan replied, already a little tipsy.
"Wow, that's great. A cohesive husband and wife. As for me, my wife doesn't know about this event. She thinks I'm working overtime because that's what I told her. If she knew I was drinking like this, it would be a mess, no matter the reason, haha," Bobby complained.
"Why don't you just be honest? It's a company event. Besides, I've noticed you enjoy working overtime lately. There's even a record of it in the system. I'm confused," Ethan said.
"I just don't feel like going home, sir. My wife starts asking for strange things. I just got home and she ordered me to go out and buy sour mangoes again. Where am I supposed to find those late at night, seriously," Bobby complained.
"That's not right, Bob. Your wife is pregnant. It's normal for her to crave strange things. You have to indulge her, or your child will suffer later," Ethan said.
"Haha, I'm just kidding, sir. I work overtime to supervise the finance department, who are also working late. We can't all leave. Sometimes you work overtime too, sir. Besides, don't worry, sir, my wife is very understanding," Bobby said, bragging about his wife.
"Haha, yeah, I know. That's good that your wife is understanding," Ethan replied, smiling.
Ethan drank his beverage again. He glanced at Bobby, who was talking to the woman next to him.
"You're lucky, Bob. You'll have a child soon, and your wife is at home. (He thought.) When will Diana get pregnant? (He thought again.) Ah, impossible. She doesn't even want me to touch her; how could she get pregnant," Ethan said in his heart, drinking his beverage.