The next morning, Ava couldn't shake the unease that clung to her like a heavy fog. She had barely slept, her mind still racing after the strange encounter with the man at her door. What was he trying to warn her about? And why had he insisted she stay away from Ethan?
She tried to tell herself that it was all some sort of misunderstanding—a random encounter, maybe even a misguided attempt to protect her from something that wasn't really a threat. But the cryptic words kept playing over in her mind, like a haunting refrain.
You're too close to something. Something Ethan doesn't want you to know. Something you shouldn't be involved in.
Ava shuddered at the thought. She had felt a connection with Ethan, something raw and real. But now, after hearing those words, doubts began to creep in. What if there was more to him than the charming businessman she had met? What if the distance he kept from people wasn't just a product of his family's expectations, but a deeper, darker reason?
Her phone buzzed again, and she froze, her stomach twisting. It was a message from Ethan, just as she expected.
Ethan: "Ava, I hope you're okay. We need to talk. Please meet me tonight at 7. I'll explain everything. Trust me, I'm not the person you think I am."
Her fingers hovered over the screen. She knew what she had to do. She had to meet him. She had to hear him out, get the answers she needed. But something inside her—something she couldn't quite identify—told her that the truth wasn't going to be as simple as he made it sound.
The hours dragged by. Ava tried to focus on work, but her mind kept drifting back to the night before—the kiss, the man's warning, and the cryptic messages from Ethan. The thought of seeing him again both thrilled and terrified her. What if everything she had believed about their connection was wrong? What if the man was right—what if Ethan was hiding something dangerous?
As the afternoon faded into evening, Ava found herself standing in front of the mirror, running her fingers through her hair, trying to decide what to wear. Her usual professional attire felt wrong for the evening ahead, and yet, she couldn't bring herself to wear something too casual. She settled on a simple black dress that hugged her figure, one she had worn to work events before. It was elegant but understated—perfect for a conversation she still couldn't quite understand.
At 6:45 PM, she left her apartment, heart pounding as she walked to the car. She didn't know what to expect tonight. All she knew was that whatever Ethan was hiding, whatever secrets he was keeping, they were about to come to light.
When she arrived at the restaurant, a cozy Italian place tucked away on a quiet street, Ava was surprised to see Ethan already waiting at a table in the back. His dark suit looked sharp as always, his expression unreadable. His eyes, however, flickered with something that could only be described as a mix of urgency and guilt.
She walked toward him, trying to steady her nerves.
"Ava," he greeted, standing as she approached. "You made it."
She smiled faintly but didn't sit down right away. "Of course I did. I promised I'd come. But, Ethan…" She paused, meeting his eyes. "I need to know what's going on. You've been distant. Something's off. And I can't ignore it anymore."
Ethan's expression faltered for a moment, a brief shadow crossing his face. Then, as if he had steeled himself, he gestured for her to sit. "I'm glad you came. But I need you to listen carefully, Ava. What I'm about to tell you is dangerous, and it might change everything you think you know about me."
Ava sat, her eyes narrowing. She folded her hands on the table, bracing herself for what was to come.
"Go on," she said, her voice calm but firm.
Ethan took a deep breath, his gaze flickering around the room, as though checking for anyone who might be listening in. Ava watched him closely, noticing how tense his shoulders were, the way his jaw clenched as he spoke.
"There are things in my life that I've kept hidden, things I haven't wanted to share with anyone. I've been running from them for years, trying to keep them buried." He paused, looking down at the table. "The Blackwood family has a long history. A history of… darkness."
Ava leaned forward, intrigued despite herself. "What do you mean, 'darkness'?"
Ethan's eyes met hers, dark and intense. "My family is involved in things that no one should be. Business dealings, yes, but also... other things. Dangerous things. Things I can't talk about in detail, not yet."
Ava's heart skipped a beat. Dangerous things? Her mind flashed back to the man who had visited her last night—the warning he had given her. Was this the danger he had been referring to? Was Ethan's family somehow involved in things that went beyond business?
"Why are you telling me this now?" Ava asked, her voice a little more shaky than she intended. "What does this have to do with me?"
Ethan leaned in, his voice low. "Because I can't keep you in the dark anymore, Ava. There are people watching me. Watching us. And they won't stop until they get what they want. I've tried to protect you. I've kept my distance because I didn't want you involved. But now—"
Ava interrupted him, her hands gripping the edge of the table. "What do they want, Ethan? What does your family want from me?"
His eyes softened for a moment, but his face hardened as he continued. "It's not just my family, Ava. It's the people they're connected to. And they know about you. They know about us. I'm not sure how much you're in danger, but if they think you're a threat to them, if they think you've seen something you shouldn't have…" He trailed off, his voice barely above a whisper.
Ava felt the weight of his words settle in her chest. "What are you asking me to do, Ethan? Run? Hide?" Her voice broke slightly. "This is insane. I can't just leave everything behind. My life… my work…"
I don't want you to leave everything behind," Ethan said urgently. "I just need you to trust me. I need you to understand that there's more at stake here than either of us realizes. And I need you to be careful. Because they won't stop until they get what they want."
Ava's mind was spinning, everything she thought she knew about Ethan now in question. The charming businessman she had met at the gala, the man who had kissed her and seemed to want something real—was he truly the person he had portrayed? Or was there a darker side to him, something he had kept hidden all this time?
She had never been one to run from danger, but this was different. This wasn't just about her—this was about a web of deceit, betrayal, and hidden secrets that went deeper than she could ever have imagined.
She stood up suddenly, her chair scraping across the floor. Ethan's eyes followed her, his expression pleading.
"I need time, Ethan," she said, her voice strained. "I need time to think about all of this. I don't know if I can just jump into something like this without knowing all the facts. You're asking me to trust you, but I don't even know what I'm trusting you with."
Ethan stood as well, reaching out to grab her arm gently, but she pulled away quickly.
"I'll be here when you're ready," he said quietly, his voice a mix of frustration and desperation.
Ava met his gaze, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on her.
"I don't know when that will be," she said, her voice softening. "But I promise you this—if I find out you've lied to me, if you've hidden things from me, I won't be here."
Without another word, she turned and walked out of the restaurant, her heart heavy with the uncertainty of everything she had just learned.
As she stepped into the night air, she knew one thing for certain: the story had only just begun.