**Chapter 2: "Morning Madness"**

Ethan's alarm blared to life, and he groggily reached over to turn it off. As he sat up in bed, he was reminded of the multiple demands on his time and attention. His phone buzzed with notifications from various women in his life, each one vying for his attention. He let out a deep sigh, rubbed the sleep from his eyes, and swung his legs over the side of the bed. The moment he stood up, his coworker Sophia's voice echoed in his mind. She was a petite woman with long, curly blonde hair and a smile that could light up a room. Ethan had worked with Sophia for months, and she had made it clear that she was interested in him. He had managed to keep her at bay, but only just. As he made his way to the office, Ethan couldn't help but think about the demands that Sophia would make on him today. He had promised to help her with a project, and he knew she would expect him to devote his full attention to her. He quickened his pace, anxious to get to the office and prioritize his tasks. Upon arriving at the office, Ethan was greeted by Sophia's bright smile. She stood by his desk, her arms crossed and a look of expectation on her face. "Good morning, Ethan," she said, her voice husky. "I need your help with this report. Can you take a look?" Ethan nodded, trying to focus on the task at hand. As he worked on the report, Sophia hovered over him, her eyes locked on his. He could feel her gaze burning a hole in his skin, and he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Just as he was starting to get into the zone, his phone buzzed with an incoming text from Emma, his date from the night before. "Hey, handsome," she wrote. "Just wanted to check in and see how you're doing today." Ethan's heart sank as he tried to respond without being too obvious. He didn't want to lead Emma on, but he also didn't want to hurt her feelings. As he typed out a response, Sophia leaned in, her voice low and husky. "Ethan, can I ask you something?" He looked up, trying to focus on her question, but his mind wandered to the multiple women he needed to please today. There was Rachel, his girlfriend, who expected him to drive her to a meeting; Emma, who wanted to spend the day with him; and Sophia, who needed his help with her project. As he navigated the office, Ethan was constantly interrupted by women seeking his attention. His boss, Ms. Thompson, popped by his desk to ask for an update on his project, and his colleague, Rachel's friend, Sarah, stopped by to chat about her weekend. Ethan tried to keep up with the conversations, but it was like trying to juggle too many balls in the air. He took a deep breath and tried to focus on the task at hand. It was going to be a long day. As he worked, Ethan couldn't help but think about the societal structure of Azura. Women outnumbered men 5:1, and the dominance of the female population was reflected in every aspect of life. From a young age, men were taught to prioritize the needs of women, to be attentive and accommodating. It was a world where men like Ethan struggled to keep up with the demands of the women in their lives. The office was a flurry of activity, with women chatting and laughing as they went about their day. Ethan felt like he was drowning in a sea of estrogen, with no lifeline in sight. He tried to stay focused, but it was hard to resist the charms of his coworkers. Sophia leaned in close, her breath tickling his ear. "Ethan, can I talk to you for a minute?" she asked, her voice low and husky. He nodded, trying to focus on what she was saying. But as he listened, he couldn't help but feel like he was being pulled in a million different directions. The women in his life were all vying for his attention, and he was starting to feel like he was being stretched to the breaking point. He glanced at his watch, realizing he had only just begun to tackle the day's demands. With a sigh, Ethan stood up and followed Sophia to the conference room, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.