Ethan walked out of his room, slipping his phone into his pocket.
Leon was sitting at the desk in the living room.
His laptop was open in front of him, a few sheets of paper scattered beside the keyboard, with the Mondo Fantasia folder lying a little farther away.
"I'm heading out."
Leon kept reading.
Ethan grabbed his jacket and left.
The door closed behind him.
---
Aurora found him at their usual place.
Ethan was sitting at one of the tables by the window, a cup in front of him and his phone in his hands.
When he saw her walk in, he raised a hand.
"You're late."
Aurora took off her jacket.
"By five minutes."
"Seven."
She looked at him.
"Do you want me to leave?"
"No."
Aurora sat down across from him.
"Then it's five."
Ethan smiled.
"Fine."
Aurora set her bag beside her chair.
For a few minutes, they talked the way they always did.
About work.
About Mia.
About a night out Ethan had been putting off for weeks.
Aurora reminded him that he'd been the one to suggest it.
Ethan claimed he didn't remember.
"You even picked the place."
"That doesn't prove anything."
"I still have the messages."
"Those can be faked."
Aurora shook her head.
"You've gotten worse."
"Five years will do that to people."
Aurora lowered her eyes to the cup that had just been brought to her.
"Not everyone."
Ethan looked at her for a moment.
Then he took a sip.
Aurora was the one who brought the subject up again.
"Anyway, I wasn't expecting to see you there."
"I wasn't expecting to see you either."
Aurora smiled faintly.
"Guess that makes two of us."
Ethan slowly turned his cup between his hands.
"Mondo Fantasia."
Ethan looked at her.
"Yeah."
"How long have you been working on it?"
"A while."
"Very specific."
"Thank you."
Aurora shot him a look.
Ethan smiled.
"I still don't know what they'll decide."
"It's a good proposal."
"You really think so?"
"Yes."
Aurora picked up her cup.
"It's well structured. And it's a good deal for the company."
Ethan nodded.
Aurora took a sip.
"I'm happy for you."
This time, Ethan didn't answer right away.
"Thanks."
Aurora lowered her cup.
"I mean it."
"I know."
Something in Ethan's tone made her look up.
He was simply watching her.
Aurora frowned slightly.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You're staring at me."
"I watch you a lot when you talk."
"Creepy."
"And you're only noticing after five years?"
Aurora laughed softly.
"I've probably learned to ignore you."
"That would explain a lot."
They kept talking.
Almost as if nothing had happened the day before.
Almost.
---
Richard closed the door to his office.
Marcus was still sitting across from his desk.
A copy of the folder lay between them.
Richard closed it.
"So we're moving forward."
"Yes."
Richard leaned back in his chair.
"We need to put the team together."
Marcus nodded.
"I already have a few names in mind."
Richard looked at him.
"Director?"
Marcus didn't need to think about it.
"Aurora."
Richard was silent for a moment.
"She's never directed a series."
"No."
"Is she ready?"
Marcus looked at him.
"She's been ready for a while. Over the last two years, I've trusted her with far more responsibility than her official role would suggest."
Richard watched him for another few seconds.
Then he nodded.
---
By the time Aurora and Ethan left, it was already dark outside.
They walked without hurrying.
Ethan had his hands in his jacket pockets.
Aurora walked beside him.
"So?" he asked.
"So what?"
"Yesterday."
Aurora understood immediately.
"Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Ethan."
"I'm asking."
"And I'm answering."
He looked at her.
Aurora kept walking.
"It was strange."
"I can imagine."
"I wasn't expecting it."
"Neither was he."
Aurora turned her head slightly.
"Did he tell you that?"
"No."
"Then how do you know?"
Ethan looked at her.
"Because I was there."
Aurora fell silent.
"Right."
They kept walking.
"Anyway," she said, "it doesn't matter."
Ethan said nothing.
Aurora slipped her hands into the pockets of her coat.
"If they accept the proposal, he'll be working with the company. That doesn't mean he has to work with me."
Ethan glanced at her.
"No."
"The company is big."
"Big enough."
"So I don't see the problem."
"I didn't say there was one."
Aurora looked at him.
Ethan held back a smile.
"You're annoying."
"I've been told."
They reached the intersection.
Aurora stopped.
"I'm going this way."
"I know."
"Then why did you stop?"
"Politeness."
Aurora shook her head.
"Goodnight, Ethan."
"Goodnight."
Aurora's phone vibrated in her pocket.
At almost the exact same moment, across the city, Leon's phone lit up on his desk.
Leon lowered his eyes.
Richard.
He answered.
"Yes."
"We've decided to move forward."
Leon remained still.
"All right."
"We can start tomorrow."
Leon closed his laptop.
"I'll be there."
"Nine o'clock."
"All right."
The call ended.
Leon set his phone down on the desk.
On the folder in front of him, the same two words were still there.
MONDO FANTASIA.
---
Aurora pulled out her phone.
Marcus.
She glanced at Ethan before answering.
"Hello?"
"Aurora."
"Yes?"
"We've approved the partnership."
Aurora stopped.
"Really?"
"Yes."
A smile appeared on her face.
"That's good news."
"It is."
Marcus was silent for a moment.
"I'm putting the team together."
Aurora listened.
"And I want you to direct it."
Her smile disappeared.
Not out of disappointment.
For a few seconds, she simply looked as though she hadn't understood.
"Me?"
"You."
Aurora tightened her grip on the phone.
"The series?"
"The series."
Her eyes lit up.
"Marcus..."
"You've earned it."
Aurora lowered her gaze.
A smile slowly returned to her lips.
Different this time.
Bigger.
"Yes."
Marcus waited.
"Yes, of course."
"Good."
Aurora took a slow breath.
"Thank you."
"Thank me by doing a good job."
She smiled.
"I will."
"Tomorrow at nine."
Aurora nodded.
"I'll be there."
"One more thing."
Aurora waited.
"You'll be working directly with Leon on the project."
Silence.
Ethan saw her freeze.
The smile stayed on Aurora's lips for another moment.
Then it disappeared.
"Aurora?"
She closed her eyes.
Just for a second.
"Yes."
"Is there a problem?"
Aurora opened her eyes again.
She looked at Ethan.
"No."
A pause.
"No problem."
"Good. See you tomorrow."
The call ended.
Aurora stood there with the phone still in her hand.
Ethan watched her.
"What happened?"
Aurora didn't answer.
"Aurora."
She slowly lowered the phone.
"I'm directing the series."
Ethan's eyes widened.
"Seriously?"
Aurora nodded.
Her smile returned.
She couldn't stop it.
"It's my first series."
Ethan smiled.
"Aurora, that's amazing."
"I know."
"Then why do you look like that?"
Aurora's smile faded.
She looked at Ethan.
Then straight ahead.
"Because I'll have to work with him."