《Until Forever Ink Fades》


 Chapter1: marriage proposal

    Anastasia Gilbert took a quick glance at her watch for the fourth time feeling impatient, every minutes that passed by felt like hours to her , she had been sitted for the last ten minutes in this half empty restaurant and she felt very much angry , because each moment spent here could have been used to go through some files in the office.


    Infact she didn''t want to be here if it wasn''t for her Mother''s screaming voice through the phone , she won''t be wasting her beloved special time here, her Mother had forced her on this date threatening to report her to her grandfather if she failed to meet up with her blind date because of the lousy excuses she made each time , she has a date.she could still remember her Mother''s nagging voice "Anastasia you are already twenty six it''s not good for a young lady to be only work minded and had no romance in her life."


    Since she turned 25 her family had not let a day pass by with out reminding her that she needed a partner,even when she gave the excuse that she hadn''t met the right one yet ,her mother always told her that it was because she had never given any man the chance to show her love and be her Mr right.


    "Anastasia Gilbert?" Someone asked making Ana look up to the overbearing shadow ,before her stood a man of about 1.9 meters tall,he wore dark brown suit with a long tailored coat that matched the suit ,he wore a pair of dark brown sunglass a black mask that covered his mouth and nose,his dark black hair was brushed back neatly leaving a single strand untouched ,he looked like an actor that just stepped of the stage,but the aura he exudes wasn''t the kind an ordinary person would.


    "Yes"Ana replied briefly watching as the man sat opposite to her,he took of his sunglasses revealing a pair of dark blue eyes that almost looked with a sparkle.


    " Ethan Maverick."he said sounding better polite ,Ana also noticed that he had a deep magnetic voice that sounds nice to her ears." Sorry I was late,had something to handle." He said taking his mask off, showing a dead gorgeous face,his jaws where sharp and defined ,his jawline was strong and firm ,he had a very pointy nose and his lips was just good for his face,he didn''t look like a young Kid ,rather he looked like someone who was in his late twenties or so.


    "I would be a terrible liar if I said I didn''t mind, Mr Maverick I''m a very busy person please keep to time." Ana said not arrogantly but rather in-between politeness,she sounded very professional.


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    "I would have in mind not to have the lady waiting next time." Ethan said sounding just as professional as Ana.


    "Have you ordered yet?"


    "I already had something before coming Mr Maverick, let''s make this quick I have an appointment in one hour."Ana said taking a quick glance at her watch.


    Ethan chuckled slightly and said."please tell me about your self Ms Gilbert."


    Ana hesitated for a moment before launching into a brief professional summary. "I''m Anastasia Gilbert , twenty seven as from last week, a vice president of NEXA Technology, devoted to my work not interested in being someone''s girlfriend not a party timer and most importantly not a coquettish young girl looking for love."


    " Ethan Maverick, Thirty a share holder of FusionX, biggest ambition is work,have no interest in love as it''s just a mere word and Literally doesn''t have a meaning to the world." Ethan said calmly and reserved.


    Ana looked up at him trying to see if this man was sprouting lies, after all men weren''t trustworthy not to talk on one she just met,but when he eyes mey the cold blue eyes she knew for sure this man wasn''t playing games. " Since we both are on the same side,we can just go our ways and report to our families that we aren''t suitable match." Ana said with a small business like smile.


    "I''m afraid you haven''t let me finish Ms Gilbert, since we both share same attitude and value towards work, let''s not further talk , we can drive to the court on Friday to get a marriage license." Ethan said casually, having Ana look up in surprise.


    "I''m sorry Mr Maverick, I may have heard the wrong words." Ana said looking skeptically at him.


    "Ms Gilbert, what you heard was exactly the words I said, we can get married and fulfill both families biggest wish." Ethan stated his thin lips shutting as though they were never open.


    "Mr Maverick, I may wish to escape my families grasp , but I''m at the peek of my career , I can''t be tied down by marriage, so I must reject your offer." Ana stated firmly , she was never letting her years hard work reduced to the point of being tied down by marriage .


    " No body would tie you down to marriage Ms Gilbert, it''s more like a marriage of convenience, you can keep up with your work with out worrying about anything, we just have to get our families eyes off our lives." Ethan explained still sounding very calm and reserved and Ana silently gave him credit for that.


    "With all due respects Mr Maverick you''re definitely crazy and delusional,it was nice meeting you ,but I''ll skip your offer" Ana said preparing to leave.


    "Ms Gilbert I may be delusional,but still very practical ,we can fulfill our families expectations and still maintain our independence ,no one''s on the loosing side." Ethan paused for a second reaching his hand into his Coat inner pocket and took out a black card ,pushing over to Ana and said." There''s no need to rush things we have all the time in the world, you can think of it and contact me when you are ready"Ethan stood up." Have a wonderful evening Ms Gilbert."


    Ana sat quietly looking at Ethan walk straight to the restaurant door ,opened it and left.

 Chapter 2: job promotion

    Two days later, Ana sat in her spacious, modern office, analysing files scattered across her massive, mahogany desk. The light grey walls seemed to glow softly in the morning light streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Her dark wood floor creaked softly as she shifted in her high-backed, leather chair.


    The files she was analyzing was sent the previous day, she had sorted them but she still wanted to be sure she made no mistake, she wasn''t the type to make mistakes or accept mistake, she believed that as long as one invested their whole mind in their work , they would be no errors,her six years of working with NEXA had taught her that.


    When she joined the company six years ago she was fresh out of College and came for internship in NEXA her hard work that period had paid off and six month after working as an intern she was hired and became a regular employee, she worked very hard and soon even before the other workers that joined the company before her , she was promoted to Department chief and soon enough,she became the director in span of two years she made her way to being the vice president of NEXA Technology, she was a strict boss , she made it hard for her staffs but their pay and bonuses was enough to keep them working hard everyday, they all know her no Errors policy, her employees called her "devil''s wife. ¡± behind her back.


    A sudden knock on the door made her stop her Work for a seconds taking a quick glance at her watch, she was someone who worked with time, today was a Friday, her employees were free to leave early and they was barely works to do on Friday''s they never disturb her work.


    "Come in" Ana said going back to sort her files.


    The door swung open, and Mr. Patrick, the president''s assistant, strolled in. Ana''s eyes narrowed slightly as she watched him approach her desk. She had never been fond of Mr. Patrick, who seemed to do nothing but occupy space and collect a paycheck.


    With his perpetual smile and relaxed demeanor, Mr. Patrick gave the impression that he was always on vacation. His lack of urgency and apparent disinterest in the company''s affairs grated on Ana''s nerves. She couldn''t understand why the president kept him on as his assistant, despite his obvious lack of usefulness.


    "Good morning, Ana," Mr. Patrick said, his voice dripping with false enthusiasm. "The president is looking for you. He wants to discuss something with you."


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    Ana raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "What does he want to discuss?" she asked curtly, not bothering to hide her disdain for Mr. Patrick.


    Mr. Patrick shrugged, his smile never wavering. "I''m not entirely sure. He just told me to come get you."


    Ana sighed inwardly, wondering what pointless meeting or trivial matter the president wanted to discuss with her. She gestured to Mr. Patrick to lead the way, her eyes already returning to the files on her desk.


    Ana gently knocked on the door.


    "Come-on in Anastasia." A voice said from inside of the office, Anastasia pushed open the door and stepped in.


    "Good afternoon, President Michael." Anastasia greeted politely bowing her head a little low to show her respect, aside having a useless Assistant, the President wasn''t useless , he was like a role model to Anastasia, he was a man in his late forties and already had slight gray hairs, he looked refined and stern, his dark green eyes were filled with knowledge .


    President Michael looked up from the papers on his desk, his dark green eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled. "Ah, Ana, Please, have a seat." He gestured to the leather chair in front of his desk.


    Ana sat down, her back straight and her hands clasped together in her lap. She looked at President Michael with a mixture of curiosity and respect. Despite his refined and stern appearance, she knew he was a fair and wise leader.


    "So, Ana, I''ve been reviewing your reports," President Michael said, his eyes scanning the papers on his desk. "I must say, I''m impressed. Your work has been outstanding, as always."


    Ana felt a surge of pride at the president''s praise. She had always strived to do her best, and it was gratifying to know that her efforts were appreciated.


    "Thank you, President Michael," she said, her voice polite and professional. "I''m glad to hear that my work has been satisfactory."


    President Michael leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers together as he regarded Ana thoughtfully. "I''ve been thinking, Ana," he said. "You''ve been with NEXA for six years now, and you''ve consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and a keen business sense."


    Ana''s curiosity was piqued. Where was President Michael going with this?


    "I think it''s time we discussed a possible promotion," he continued. "I believe you have the potential to take on even greater challenges and responsibilities within the company."


    Ana''s heart skipped a beat. A promotion? She hadn''t expected this. But as she thought about it, she realized that it made sense. She had been working hard for years, and she was ready for a new challenge, maybe she would finally join the board.


    "The board thinks you''d be the perfect candidate to head our new operation in China," President Michael said, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "You''ll be overseeing the entire project, from setup to launch. It''s a huge responsibility, but we believe you''re up to the task."


    Ana''s mind was racing. China? That was a huge opportunity, but also a significant challenge. She had never thought of relocating for any reason she didn''t like the idea of relocating.


    "I''m not sure, President Michael," Ana said, her voice measured. "I''ve never considered relocating to China. I have a lot of responsibilities here."


    President Michael nodded understandingly. "I know it''s a big decision, Ana. But I truly believe you''re the best person for this job. You have the skills, the experience, and the drive to make this project a success."


    Ana took a deep breath, weighing her options. She had always been focused on her career, and this was an opportunity she couldn''t ignore. But the thought of leaving her life here was daunting. "Can I reject the offer."?

 Chapter 4 : married woman

    When Ana stepped out of the Civil marriage office, she knew one thing for sure and it was the fact that she was no longer a young single lady instead she was a married woman now and the man who stood next to her was her husband.


    She stared at the ruby ring on her finger for a long time , undeniably it was beautiful and it''s meaning also scared her , she was married, just this morning she was Single, not in a relationship, had no interest but now she was here and married.


    "If you don''t like the ring, I would have my assistant get you a new one." Ethan said when he noticed her stare at the ring.


    Ana shook her head she hadn''t even expected him to buy them a ring. "I think it''s beautiful." She said with a small smile."what''s the price,I would Venmo it to you." Ana said taking her phone out of her pocket.


    Ethan chuckled lightly."I know it''s a marriage of convenience,but it''s still a real marriage ,you are my wife and I''m your husband it''s only normal for me to do those things."


    Ana gazed at this man and felt somehow strange when he referred to them as "husband" and "wife" it sounded foreign to her, it would take her a while to adapt to this new development." I don''t like owning people. " She said bluntly.


    "If you insist then I would prefer we have dinner and talk about our future."Ethan said formally.


    Ana nodded." I''ll order a cab." She said and logged into the app.


    "They would be no need for that. " Ethan said and almost immediately a car pulled over before them , it was a black Maybach, Ana didn''t know much about car as she herself didn''t have one , she had failed her driving lessons so many times and had decided to just give up , she relied on the company''s private car.


    As Ana''s eyes widened in surprise, Ethan smiled and opened the door to the luxurious Maybach. "After you, wife," he said, gesturing for her to get in.


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    Ana felt a flutter in her chest at the term "wife," but she pushed aside her emotions and slid into the plush leather seat. The interior was exquisite, with sleek wood trim and soft, cream-colored leather.


    Ethan got in beside her, and the driver, who had been waiting patiently, closed the door behind them. As the car glided smoothly away from the curb, Ana couldn''t help but feel a sense of wonder. She had never been in a car like this before.


    "Where are we going?" she asked Ethan, trying to sound casual despite her growing curiosity.


    "I thought we could try that new restaurant downtown," he replied, his eyes fixed on her. "I''ve heard great things about it."


    Ana nodded and took out her phone and logged into her zoom to join the company''a online Audio conference, she listened attentively to the report and Analysis, she mentally calculated their words and stored them.


    By the time the car came to a stop , The meeting was almost rounded up so she decides to log off, and took a quick look at Ethan who was watching her with an amused expression.


    "I''m sorry about that." She said not sounding sincere at all.


    "No worries, we are here." Ethan said and stepped down from the car.


    As Ethan offered his hand to help Ana out of the car, she took it, feeling a spark of electricity as their palms touched. She couldn''t help but notice the way he looked at her, with a mixture of amusement and curiosity.


    As they stepped onto the sidewalk, Ana couldn''t help but gaze around at the luxurious surroundings. The restaurant was located in a high-end part of town, with sleek skyscrapers and upscale boutiques lining the streets.


    Ethan led her into the restaurant, where they were greeted by a friendly hostess who showed them to their table. As they sat down, Ana couldn''t help but feel a sense of unease. She had never been one for fancy restaurants or luxurious surroundings.


    A waitress walked over to their table with a smile. "Good evening, please what could I get you."? The waitress asked sounding very professional.


    Ana picked up the menu took a quick glance and realized these food were foreign foods and she couldn''t possibly have them, she frowned preparing to order water.


    "We would have steaks, medium rare , sparkling mineral water. " Ethan said having the waitress write it down and left to get their order.


    They say quietly for a minute before Ana broke the silence. " I know we are married now but I would love to keep a low profile , no need to make it public, we can meet familie if there''s a need , aside that we are just two strangers bound by a paper and marriege oath."


    Ethan listened patiently to Ana''s rules he didn''t seem to have a problem with it." It would be as you have said, we are both adults can of course pull through with this."


    Ana thought in her mind that Ethan was smart and she liked it , aside his good looks he was also intelligent and not stupid like men these days." I''m glad you see it that way Mr Maverick. "


    The waitress soon returned with their order, Ana was first to dig in, she couldn''t lie , the steak tasted good it was tender and soft , not too spicy not too bland and exactly what she wanted it was just good for her mouth.


    "So when do you suggest we move in together." ? Ethan asked doubt the blue.

 Chapter 5: are you engaged?

    Ana got choked on her food coughing violently, Ethan reached out and passed her a glass of water.


    Ana took a sip of the water, trying to compose herself. "I didn''t think we were going to live together," she said, her voice steady.


    Ethan raised an eyebrow, looking surprised. "We''re married, It''s only natural that we live together."


    Ana felt a wave of panic wash over her. She hadn''t thought this through, she realized. She had assumed that they would just go their separate ways, maintaining the illusion of a marriage without actually having to live together. "Mr Maverick, you seem to have forgotten that I said clearly I don''t need any form of distraction, I''m a career lady and I have no plan to be the wife you seem to have in mind."


    Ethan Leaned back to his chair with a small smile." Who said anything about distraction, of course as married couple we should be cohabiting to make our marriage seem more real, we both would have our private spaces , no one would disturb the other, we just have to maintain the profile of a married couple, we are less than couples. "


    Ana sighed wondering why this man was always so logically right. "I would need an office at home , I work from house during weekends."


    Ethan smile widened as he said "That shouldn''t be a big problem,it could be arranged, my penthouse is big enough for that. "


    Ana''s eyebrows raised an eyebrow a little impressed." A penthouse huh..? Mr Maverick must be a man of luxury. "


    Ethan chuckled." You got it wrong , the penthous is actually a gift from my parents." Ethan explained. Ana nodded it made More sense,even if he was rich a penthouse was still quite expensive which was why she lived in an apartment.


    "I would send my driver to help you get your stuffs tomorrow,as it''s weekend." Ethan said casually, it seemed as tho he wanted everything done already.


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    Ana wasn''t stupid as to argue about the short time range ,infact she too wants things to be hurried so President Michael doesn''t suspect a thing. "Alright."


    ****. ***


    Ana''s sleep was interrupted by her alarm clock that was set to wake her up by 6:00 am sharp everyday, even today that was weekend , she still got up early it was already a routine she was used to it.


    Ana stood up from bed and went to take a bathe and brush her teeth, she didn''t stay long in the bathroom before coming out looking all fresh and new , since she wasn''t going to work , she wore a tight yoga pants and sweat shirt, plugged in her ear pods and turned to the software chanel audio podcast and went for jogging.


    After about half and hour she was back and when came back she saw the house cleaner was already at her home and was folding her laundries, the housekeeper came only on Saturdays to clean and help Her restock her fridge sometimes.


    "Morning Ms Gilbert." The middle aged housekeeper greeted with a charming smile.


    " Hello Mrs Burrow. " Ana greeted back smiling too, she didn''t stay for more chats but just went to the fridge to get a bottle of water , just as her hand reached for the water she noticed a shiny object on her hand, when she looked at her hand , she saw a small ruby ring on her finger, she Frowned she didn''t even notice it while bathing how did..... But then she paused when she remembered yesterday, it really wasn''t a dream she was now married to a person.


    While Ana was looking at the ring , Mrs Burrow stepped into the kitchen and saw Ana staring at her finger , her eyes caught the shiny object on Ana''s hand and she gasped. "Ms Gilbert did you get engaged?"


    Ana''s eyes widened slightly and she hesitated for a moment before answering."married actually."


    The housekeeper gasped and let out a small laugh of joy." That''s really amazing dear ,I wouldn''t have even known you were seeing a man, congratulations dear ,but since you''re married does it mean I''m relieved of my duties?."


    Ana quickly shook her head , even if she moved in with Ethan ,she didn''t want to fire Mrs Burrow,who was especially kidney to her and very loyal." If you would still wish to work for me I can have that work." Ana stated and just then the doorbell rang.


    "I think that must be the delivery man , I ordered some takeaway for you." The housekeeper said and went to get the door while Ana went to her room to freshen up.


    Ana spent half of the day analyzing datas in her home office , infact those datas she was sorting had been sorted by her some many times , she almost had nothing to do but it was already Imprinted deep into her, she couldn''t stay idle.


    Her phone rang,she quickly picked it without looking at the screen. "Hello, Anastasia Gilbert here."


    "Ana!!!."


    Ana''s eyes lit up as she recognized the voice on the end of the line. "Lily, thought you were dead."


    Lily was Ana''s best friend and also a popular model, she knew Ana''s character well and of course Ana''s words had other hidden meaning. " I missed you too , sorry I didn''t call during my three months trip."


    "Hmmmm ,I do not accept your insincere apology." Ana said with a small smile.


    Opay


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    Lily chuckled lightly. "Come-on Ana, I''m really sorry ,I even got you a gift,the joy of stats , signed by no other than your famous statistics idol, Lee dong Jun." Lily said excitedly knowing this was all she needed to get Ana happy


    " For real!!!!!? " Ana''s voice rang, Lee dong Jun was a famous statistics professors and wrote somany books r she t e butshe never had the chance to meet him, hearing this piece of news from Lily ) meany so much to her.