Chapter 40: The Uninvited Guest

Chapter 40: The Uninvited Guest

Emily's eyes widened in surprise as she blurted out, "In your dreams!" She immediately pushed Ethan away, her face turning a deep shade of red.

"Ethan, are you starting this nonsense again? Give you an inch, and you want to paint a Mona Lisa?" she fumed, her tone sharp.

Ethan staggered back a step from the force of her push. He straightened his tie, looking amused. "Why would I paint a Mona Lisa," he mused, "when I've already painted an Alisa?"

Emily's expression turned blank for a moment before realization hit her. She had indeed forgotten about that particular piece.

He really had painted her.

Her thoughts flashed back to the oil painting from her exhibition. It had only been displayed that day, then mysteriously disappeared, almost as if it was meant solely for her eyes. Even though she had seen it just once, the memory was vivid. The details—the texture of her skin, the silkiness of the dress, even the delicate strokes of the "xx" initials in the corner—were etched in her mind.

Despite herself, Emily had to admit that the painting had been created with great care and attention to detail.

She shot a sideways glance at Ethan.

Who would have guessed this man had such hidden talents?

"When did you learn to paint?" she asked, her tone slightly more curious than accusatory.

Seeing her soften a little, Ethan's lips curled into a smile. He didn't answer her question directly. Instead, his gaze fixed on hers, as if knowing exactly what she thought. "Did you like it?" he asked, almost certain of her answer.

Before she could respond, he continued, "I've already had the painting moved to your new studio."

Emily paused, caught off guard. "I never said I liked it—" she started, but her voice trailed off as his words sank in. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at him, suspicion creeping in. "New studio? What new studio?"

**

Ethan's idea of a "new studio" was more of an upgrade—moving Emily's workspace from an ordinary office in a subsidiary building to the top floor of the Creston Media headquarters.

To Emily, the differences were negligible.

It was just slightly more spacious, in a better location, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, with stricter security, and a more complete staff...

Really, just minor differences.

While Emily maintained her nonchalant attitude, her team was buzzing with excitement. They marveled at the expansive studio, complete with cutting-edge equipment and photography tools.

"Wow, an Alpa medium format camera with a Phase One back! This setup alone must have cost over a million!" one of the team members exclaimed.

"I never thought I'd get to handle my dream camera in this lifetime!"

"Working with the boss sure has its perks."

"Forget perks, just looking at all this gear makes it worth it!"

...

As Emily took in her new surroundings, which now resembled more of a photography museum than a studio, she couldn't help but reconsider Ethan's earlier comment about photography versus shopping in Paris. Perhaps she could forgive him a little.

Apart from the luxury of equipment, she was surprised to find a dedicated darkroom.

Despite the prevalence of digital cameras, traditional film cameras offer greater dynamic range and richer, more textured colors. Many photographers, including Emily, preferred the unique qualities of film over digital. While she mostly worked with digital cameras, she found film to be more reliable in capturing true-to-life colors.

But how had he known? And why go out of his way to set up a darkroom?

Above the darkroom was Emily's office. For a photographer, it was an exceptionally spacious area, complete with a private lounge and a kitchenette.

When Emily walked into the lounge, her gaze locked onto the wall.

In the center of the main wall hung the oil painting of herself.

Emily stared at the painting for a few moments before shifting her gaze to the window, where she froze again.

Her new office was directly opposite Creston Media's headquarters. From this vantage point, she had a perfect view of the massive, imposing building across the street.

Specifically, she could see the full-length windows of an office she knew all too well.

Her office now directly faced Ethan's.

Emily sighed, staring out at the black-tinted windows, half-expecting him to be standing there, looking right back at her. It felt like she was being watched, and she wasn't thrilled by the thought.

Was this the real reason for her relocation?

Her assistant rushed over, snapping Emily out of her thoughts.

"Boss, everyone's ready. Are you coming down?"

After one last glance at the opposite building, Emily followed her assistant to the main office area.

The studio was still in its early days, with only a small core team that included her assistant, a makeup artist Jessica had recommended, a post-production expert, and a props master.

Excluding the support staff and temporary workers, there were only five of them, including Emily herself. Despite the small team, each member was handpicked by Emily for their skills, and every one of them was more than capable of handling their responsibilities.

They were all around the same age, and with Emily's laid-back leadership style, they got along well.

"Thank you all for your hard work these past few days," Emily said with a warm smile. "Especially during the tough times we just went through."

Her team responded with enthusiastic applause.

"For the next few days, our focus will be on the cover shoot for 'Iris'. Naomi will arrive tonight at eleven."

'Iris' was the top fashion magazine in the country, and they had secured the Japanese model Naomi, who was a sensation with her uniquely aloof look, for their first cover of the year.

A popular model paired with a renowned photographer like Emily showed just how seriously 'Iris' took this project.

"I won't say much more," Emily continued with a playful pause, "but after we wrap this cover shoot, everyone gets three days off—and triple your monthly salary as a bonus!"

The room erupted into cheers, everyone's faces lighting up with joy.

This was the kind of boss they loved—straight to the point and generous with rewards!

"And since it's the winter solstice today, and we've got a long night ahead of us, let's have a team party and feast before we get to work!"

**

Ethan closed his laptop and rubbed his temples. He glanced out of his floor-to-ceiling window.

Across the street, lights were still on.

"Are they still working?" he asked.

Jason, his assistant, followed his gaze. "I believe they haven't started yet. Alisa is shooting the 'Iris' cover tonight, and the model won't arrive until late. They're likely in for an all-nighter."

Ethan's brow furrowed slightly, his lips moving as if he muttered, "Another all-nighter."

Jason hesitated before adding, "It seems they're having a party right now."

"Party?" Ethan's eyes narrowed. "What kind of party at this hour?"

Jason shrugged. "Maybe they're celebrating the move? Or maybe it's for the winter solstice?"

Ethan's expression darkened.

He recalled a time when Emily had returned late from a party, wearing a sequined mini-dress, her lips painted red, her hair curled into a temptress's waves. She had been half-drunk and more than a little mischievous, keeping him up most of the night.

Since then, any mention of Emily and a party together left him feeling distinctly uneasy.

He checked his watch and cast another glance across the street.

"Have you eaten?" Ethan suddenly asked his assistant.

Jason blinked, caught off guard by his boss's unexpected concern. "Uh… no?"

"Come on," Ethan said, gesturing for him to follow. "Let's go grab something to eat."

**

"Boss, Alisa!" Emily's assistant burst into her office.

Emily was typing on her computer, her phone in hand as she discussed details with someone. She gestured for her assistant to wait.

After wrapping up the call, she turned her attention to her assistant. "What is it? Has the food arrived?"

"No," her assistant replied, looking increasingly anxious. "But someone else has."

Emily descended the stairs, already sensing that something was amiss. As she reached the lower level, she saw her team standing in a row like schoolchildren, their expressions far from comfortable.

She turned the corner and finally saw who had arrived.

Emily stopped in her tracks.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice tinged with surprise.

The uninvited guest stood tall, draped in a black overcoat, surveying the room with interest, seemingly unaware of how his presence unsettled everyone.

"Just dropping by to congratulate you on your new place," Ethan said, nodding to Jason, who handed over a gift box.

"Uh… thank you, Chairman Harrison," Emily replied, taking the box. But Ethan made no move to leave. Instead, he stepped further into the room, casually removing his coat. "Still celebrating?"

His tone was light, but his raised eyebrow carried a hint of expectation. "Am I intruding?"

The staff immediately shook their heads. "No, no, not at all!"

"Welcome, Chairman Harrison! You're very welcome here!"

Emily sighed internally.

Spineless. The lot of them.