Chapter 14 Ethan Ronan

[Ella]
Jasper never comes back after he follows Ansel out to pay the bill with his credit card.
I am pondering how to thank Mr. Clapton when he asks me first, "I'm curious what in particular you find attractive about that guy?"
"I was just thinking about a similar question. Maybe I was in my adolescent years, and my vanity was fulfilled when I faced a date offer from the most popular boy in school." I sigh.
"I was expecting him to show me what kind of girl you used to be, but his lies let me down." Mr. Clapton shakes his head.
"Why are you so sure Jasper was lying? What if I really am a gold-digging girl who only ruins others' relationships, like he said?" I ask, but it's like butterflies are fluttering in my stomach because Mr. Clapton believes I'm not that kind of woman.
Mr. Clapton shakes his head and says, "If you were a gold-digger, the cat thing wouldn't have been such a hassle."
"Anyway, Mr. Clapton, thank you for your help." I grin and thank him.
"Is a 'thank you the only thing you can show your appreciation? You know I postponed the meeting and spent half an hour helping you get rid of your annoying ex-boyfriend, don't you?" Mr. Clapton wears the joking expression I'm familiar with.
"I thought that meeting was an excuse. Plus, you already charged Jasper." I ask him with a raised eyebrow.
"I do have a pack meeting this afternoon. And, I only charged for five minutes. If you count from when he entered and bothered you, you still owe me 25 minutes." He says after looking at his watch.
"So, what can I do to show my appreciation to you?" I'm not a stingy woman. But I can't imagine anything a billionaire whose daily salary is higher than my annual salary would need as a thank you gift from me.
"If that cat's health check is good, then I need you to make a good relationship with Mrs. Crawley. Better. Get her to invite you to the breeding lab daily tour next week." Mr. Clapton suddenly withdraws his smile and lowers his voice to deliver a mysterious-sounding request to me.
"Don't they invite you to be there? I mean, you're the real owner of Ethan." I ask.
"No. The invitations to that event were all sent to invitees before I bought the cat. I wasn't on the list." Mr. Clapton frowns, indicating his displeasure with the matter.
Oh, yes, Mr. Clapton doesn't like cats, even though he's a famous Alpha in North America. I resist the urge to laugh and nod my head in agreement, "Ok! I'll do my best. I am about to discuss Ethan's life at the breeding lab with Mrs. Crawley."
"Very well. If you succeed, I will pay you an extra monthly salary as a bonus." Mr. Clapton smiles again.
No, I don't want money as a bonus. The double pay is great, but part of me doesn't like the bonus he's offering. Probably only the Moon God and I know how much I want to touch him at this moment.
Ella, you couldn't have more feelings for him. He's Mia's mate. Even if Mia says she's not interested in her mate, you can't be the relationship wrecker.
The smell of buttered bread is back, and I wonder how Mr. Clapton's chef manages to get the aroma of buttered bread wafting to the door. I smile back at Mr. Clapton and walk quickly to the living room to complete my task.
Ethan's health check goes very well because he is very cooperative. Mrs. Crawley says Ethan is healthy but has a tendency to be overweight. It would be nice if he could get out and exercise more.
I have a great time talking to Mrs. Crawley, oh no, Sarah, as she is the first one who has been happy to discuss cats since I got Ethan. Although Mia likes Ethan, she is more interested in hearing if I have found a boyfriend.
Sarah shares many things with me about Ethan when he was a kitty. I gleefully tell her many funny things that happened to Ethan and ask for her expert advice on the homemade cat food I organize.
Sarah takes a sip of her black tea, sighs, and says, "Frankly, after my husband, Peter, said this smart boy was bought, I was worried the buyer would only treat him as a pet. You know he understands everything, except speaking English. Now I'm not worried at all."
"I know it! This little sweetheart is really smart." I rub Ethan's head with a proud smile, like a mother who hears compliments on her child.
"By the way, Ella, are you available next Wednesday? We're having a visiting event at the breeding lab. You will probably meet this smart boy's sister." Sarah offers me the invitation.
So, the task that Mr. Clapton gave me was not really difficult. However, my concern centers on the fact that Ethan has a sister.
"Really? Please do allow me to participate. I will definitely dress up this cool boy as the most handsome cat at the event." I shake Sarah's hand excitedly, wondering if Ethan's sister is as good-tempered and smart as Ethan. I lift Ethan up and take him for a half spin in mid-air. "My handsome little boy, you'll get to meet your sister next week. Are you happy?"
"Then deal, I'll send you an invitation when I get back." Sarah snaps her fingers.
We exchange email addresses. Perhaps I can be good friends with her. Before Sarah leaves, Mr. Clapton comes downstairs from his second-floor study to say goodbye to her.
"Sorry, Mrs. Crawley, I have a pack meeting this afternoon. Is everything all right with this little guy?" Mr. Clapton says, glancing at Ethan, who turns his head away and yawns.
"Oh, Mr. Clapton, you don't have to apologize. It is I should apologize to you and Ella for my rude assistant. You have absolutely nothing to worry about this little guy's health. Ella is taking excellent care of him. I will send you the specific medical report later. However, there is one thing I need to confirm." After that, Sarah reaches for Ethan's collar and asks Mr. Clapton and me, "Can I know the name you gave him? Eth doesn't seem to be the name of this cool baby. You guys know the official medical report needs this kid's full name."
"Uhh~" Ethan's name is stuck in my throat. I glance at Mr. Clapton and the smile on his face freezes.
"Ethan Ronan." Mr. Clapton states Ethan's full name in the blink of an eye, surprising me. He calmly lies, "You know I'm usually very busy at work. After I bought this little thing for Ella, she said he looked exactly like me when he was angry. So she named him Ethan. I added the last name because my baby really likes this cute little cat."
"I can feel that you really love Ella, Mr. Clapton," Sarah says without showing any doubt. She even covers her mouth and chuckles. Even though I also want to laugh, considering Mr. Clapton's current mood, I choose to purse my lips to hold back.
Before leaving, Sarah kisses Ethan and shakes my hand, "I'll see you next Wednesday, Ella and Ethan."
Sarah tries again to suppress a smile as she speaks Ethan's name. I'll bet she'll be definitely laughing on the way back.
"Well done, Ella," Mr. Clapton praises me and calls my first name, even though Sarah has already left.
His eyes show no sign of fooling or joking with me. My stomach flutters happily for a moment, and my heart goes into an uncontrollable and irregular beat.
"Thank you, Mr. Clapton," I smile with my head down and cheeks burning with happiness.
"Are you ready for the centennial dinner at Blue Moon University tomorrow night?" Mr. Clapton suddenly mentions tomorrow's banquet.
"Oh, thank you for the reminder. Please have Ansel take Ethan and me home. I'm going to rent the evening gown for tomorrow." At the mention of the banquet, I remember that I planned to go out this afternoon to rent a gown because I had promised Liam I would be his date tomorrow.
"You don't have your own evening gown?" Mr. Clapton raises an eyebrow with surprise. He must not understand why I, a country girl with student loans and no prom, don't have my own gown.
"Leave the cat with Ansel. Let's go pick out a gown." Mr. Clapton says and glances at his watch.
Huh? What does he mean?
I never really realize Mr. Clapton is taking me to pick out a nightgown until Ansel takes Ethan from me. I sit in the limo, and I notice the driver is Mr. Clapton.