Chapter 144: Tiny Distance

Ethan's POV

I stayed in my study for the rest of the evening meditating on everything that had happened today at the office.

Rachel was the lost daughter of the Nielsons. She was Emerald Nielson, and her parents wanted her back.

The information was just so surprising.

What baffled me now was, how did Emerald, or Rachel end up in the hands of the Andrews?

From what I knew, the Nielson were in Europe when their daughter went missing, while the Andrews were a family established in the states.

" I need a drink ". I sighed standing up from seat and walking towards my mini bar.

My eyes instantly surveyed the numerous amount of bottles there but couldn't find any bottle of bourbon.

What?

I had made sure to always stock up, and I don't drink often. But this past few weeks had been terrible.

I couldn't sleep until I had at least a few glasses to take my mind of things.

"I don't even know if I'm drinking to celebrate Rachel finding her parents or to get rid of all these questions revolving around her disappearance". I mumbled to myself before leaving my study to the kitchen.

There was a secret wine cellar in the kitchen which was kept away. No one knew it's existence, not even Victoria.

It was specifically made for occasions like this.

" Yes ". I smiled picking up the bottle I wanted from the cellar before walking out of it.

I picked a glass from the rack and sat down by the kitchen counter pouring myself a glass and instantly drowning the content.

I hissed as the liquid burned though my throat as it went down.

I poured myself another glass and was about drowning it as quickly as I did the first when I noticed someone else was in the kitchen with me.

Turning around sharply, I glared at the person only to be met with a familiar face which held a nervous look.

" Uhm... Hi" Rachel said with a small wave before looking down awkwardly.

This was one of the main reasons I had been avoiding having a conversation with her, it was going to be awkward.

"HI " I wave back, before pouring the all the contents in the glass in my mouth in one go.

" Can I join you? " I heard Rachel say after a while in a small voice and I looked up at her, blinking in surprise.

" You drink whiskey?"

Rachel nodded and for the first time since she got discharged... Since everything happened with Lana, she smiled at me, genuinely. " You would be surprised. "

I wasted no time in getting another glass for her.

"Here" I gave her the glass which she took as she came to seat beside me by the counter.

She hissed shutting her eyes as she shook her head after drinking the first glass.

I thought she was even going to back out when I heard her say,

" Another "

I scoffed in surprise, but poured more for her and myself.

" Cheers ". We clinked the bottom of both glasses before drinking it.

Rachel was right beside me. My heart leaped for joy as I drank out of the glass.

" This is the best bourbon I've drank in years " I said as I poured more of the liquid into both me and Rachel's glasses.

It actually tasted better with Rachel right beside me, I could bet anything would feel good with her.

We kept drinking, glass after glass without saying anything to each other. Unlike the other silence, this one felt comforting and calm.

After over half an hour Rachel tapped me and I turned to face her, not like I had look away for long.

My eyes has been glued on her the entire time but I just saw something else that made me look away.

Her elbow was popped up as she rested her face on her hands staring at me.

" I'm partially drunk right now... Just partially " Rachel said in a high cute tone blinking her big blue eyes at me "So explain".

A smile graced my lips as I stared at her.

She had her long blonde hair tied up to a ponytail with a couple of loose strands here and there, her beautiful smooth face had a stain of pink on both cheeks, and her lips were pulled out in a small pout.

" You are just so beautiful". I said without even realizing, my gaze still fixed on her.

" I know ". She said with a soft drunken giggle." And you are very hot"

I felt my cheeks redden.

Did she just compliment me?

" And cute. " She raised a hand to my face as squeezed my cheeks.

' Am I drunk or in heaven?

Because hell I don't want this to stop '

"But why do you have to break my heart though?"

My half closed eyes opened fully to see her eyes now had stains of tears on them.

" You know, Joyce, Marina and even Victoria says the same thing. That you have a reason for being with Lana, so why don't you tell me now huh? "

Victoria was right, she indeed felt heartbroken.

A surge of hope rose in my chest as I shook my head.

" I'm not with Lana, I have never ever been with Lana, everything that happened that night was all just a misunderstanding ". I explained.

This was the first time I was talking to Rachel about this matter and she was so calm about it. The alcohol really was helping me.

A tear slipped down from Rachel's eyes and I brought my hands to her face, wiping the tear off with my thumb. " A misunderstanding you say? Then how was Lana pregnant for you?" She asked again more tears flowing down from her eyes.

Fuck...

No matter how many times I promised myself to make sure Rachel wouldn't cry, now I was the one breaking that promise.

Each one of her tear were like a stab in the heart.

" Lana was never pregnant for me. Lana's dead foetus was tested and the baby belonged to David".

I has this test done just after I found out that Lana was pregnant ' for me '. I knew I had nothing to do with the girl, but wanted to show Rachel the evidence so she would be sure.

" Do you want me to tell you a secret?" I leaned in and whispered, my eyes darting from her eyes to her plump red and succulent lips.

As if noticing I was looking at it, she bit down on it before releasing it, making the lips look even more tasty.

" Yes ". She nodded softly blinking her eyes cutely.

Hee behavior reminded me of the little girl we saw at my park that day.

Just cute.

" Rachel..." I leaned even closer to whisper in her ears. " I love you ".

She frowned pushing my face away. " I already know that. " She said in her drink high tone.

She already knows?

" You know? " I asked and she nodded. " I just don't believe it. " She said shaking her head.

' How can you not believe it? '

"Do you want me to prove it?" I asked again and she tilted her head as if thinking in her drunk like manner.

Yet she said she could handle alcohol.

I couldn't help but smile at her cute expression.

After a few seconds she nodded biting her lips again.

For fuck sake was she trying to seduce me? Because of she was, it was sure as hell working.

" Come here ". I gestured with my hands and she moved closer.

"Closer..."

"Closer..."

"Closer..."

"Hey, I'm close e..."

I crossed the tiny distance between us and shut her cute mouth with a kiss.