I should’ve walked away. I should’ve stayed home and ignored the note. But instead, I found myself standing outside one of Baltimore’s most upscale restaurants, the kind of place I could never afford, wearing my best dress-if you could even call it that.
It was the same dress I wore to job interviews, and compared to the sleek black cars parked outside and the people draped in designer clothes walking in, I felt embarrassingly out of place.
“What am I doing?” I muttered under my breath, staring at my reflection in the restaurant’s glass doors.
I still had time to leave. I could turn around, go home, and pretend this never happened. But curiosity had gotten the better of me.
After that strange meeting with Ethan and the sudden appearance of Xavier Reed, my life felt like it was spinning out of control. And yet, here I was, about to meet Ethan Harris again.
A part of me wanted answers. Why me? Why had he left that note? And what the hell was Xavier Reed doing watching me?
Taking a deep breath, I pushed the doors open.
The inside of the restaurant was everything I expected and more-dimly lit, full of soft music and the scent of expensive food.
Waiters in crisp white shirts floated between tables, and the hum of low voices filled the air. It was a place for the rich, the powerful, and those who didn’t need to worry about price tags.
A hostess with perfectly coiffed hair and a too-bright smile greeted me. “Do you have a reservation?”
“Uh, I’m meeting someone,” I stammered, feeling more out of place by the second.
Her eyes briefly scanned my dress, and I felt the weight of her judgment. “Name?”
“Ethan Harris,” I said, barely able to keep the nervous tremor out of my voice.
At the mention of his name, her smile faltered, but only for a second. “Right this way, Miss.” She motioned for me to follow.
As I trailed behind her, I scanned the room, half-expecting to spot Xavier lurking in the shadows, but there was no sign of him. Still, the thought of him watching made my skin crawl.
The hostess led me to a private table near the back of the restaurant, where Ethan was already seated. He looked the same as before-sharp, polished, and impossibly handsome.
He stood as I approached, his eyes locking onto mine with that same intensity that had both unsettled and intrigued me.
“Alyssa,” he greeted, his voice smooth as silk. “I’m glad you came.”
“I’m not sure why I did,” I admitted, sliding into the seat across from him. “But I guess I’m here now.”
He smiled, but there was something behind it-a tension, like he was holding back. “I’m sure you have a lot of questions.”
“Yeah, you could say that.” I glanced around the restaurant before meeting his gaze again. “Like, why me? And what was that about last night? Who the hell is Xavier Reed, and why was he there?”
Ethan’s expression darkened at the mention of Xavier. He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice. “I’ll explain everything, but first, let’s order. I don’t want to raise any suspicions.”
I raised an eyebrow, but I didn’t argue. Instead, I picked up the menu in front of me, feeling completely out of my depth.
Everything on it was foreign to me, and I didn’t even want to know how much it cost. Ethan, noticing my hesitation, gave the waiter a simple nod, ordering for both of us without consulting me.
Once the waiter disappeared, I crossed my arms over my chest. “Okay, now can you explain why I’m here? And don’t give me some cryptic answer. I deserve to know what’s going on.”
Ethan sighed, his hands resting on the table, his fingers tapping a slow rhythm. “You’re right. You do deserve to know. But it’s not as simple as you think.”
“Try me.”
He held my gaze for a long moment before finally speaking. “Alyssa, I didn’t randomly leave that note for you. I’ve been… aware of you for some time now.”
My heart skipped a beat. “Aware of me? What does that even mean?”
He hesitated, clearly choosing his words carefully. “There are things about my life, about my business, that I can’t exactly explain here.
But let’s just say, I’m involved in more than just the tech world. And unfortunately, that world has its dangers.”
“Dangers like Xavier Reed?” I asked, feeling a chill run down my spine.
Ethan’s jaw clenched. “Exactly.”
I leaned back in my seat, trying to process everything. “So, what does this have to do with me? I’m a nobody. Just a waitress.”
“You’re far from a nobody, Alyssa,” he said, his voice soft but firm. “You’re stronger than you realize, and whether you like it or not, you’re involved in something much bigger than just a chance encounter.
I didn’t want to pull you into this, but I’m afraid Xavier’s interest in you has already sealed your fate.”
I stared at him, my pulse quickening. “What do you mean, my fate?”
Before Ethan could answer, the waiter returned with our drinks, placing them on the table with a practiced smile.
I barely registered what he said before he disappeared again, leaving me alone with Ethan and the growing sense of dread that had settled in my chest.
“This is insane,” I whispered, more to myself than to Ethan. “I should go. I should get out of here before I get dragged into something I can’t handle.”
Ethan reached across the table, his hand brushing mine, sending a jolt of electricity up my arm. “Alyssa, I know this is overwhelming, but I promise you, I’ll protect you. I won’t let Xavier or anyone else harm you.”
His words were sincere, but there was a flicker of doubt in his eyes that made me wonder if even he believed them.
“And why should I trust you?” I asked, pulling my hand back. “I don’t know you. For all I know, you’re just as dangerous as Xavier.”
Ethan’s expression hardened. “I’m not like him.”
“How do I know that?”
He didn’t answer, and the silence that followed spoke volumes.
Just as I was about to stand up, ready to walk out and never look back, a voice interrupted us.
“Well, isn’t this cozy?”
I froze. That voice-it was the same one from last night.
Slowly, I turned to see a man standing just a few feet away from our table. His presence commanded attention, and the smug smile on his face sent a shiver of fear down my spine.
Xavier Reed.
Up close, he was even more intimidating than I had imagined. Tall, broad-shouldered, with dark hair slicked back and sharp features that screamed danger.
He wore a perfectly tailored suit, but there was an edge to him that made it clear he was no ordinary businessman.
“Xavier,” Ethan said, his voice cold, but there was an underlying tension in it.
Xavier’s eyes shifted to me, and I felt like a rabbit caught in the gaze of a predator. His smile widened. “You must be Alyssa. I’ve heard so much about you.”
I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. “I wish I could say the same.”
He chuckled, but there was no humor in it. “Oh, trust me, sweetheart, by the time this is all over, you’ll know more about me than you ever wanted to.”
I glanced at Ethan, but his expression was unreadable. Whatever was happening here, it was way over my head, and I had no idea how to navigate it.
Xavier took a step closer, his gaze never leaving mine. “You should be careful, Alyssa. Associating with people like Ethan… it comes with risks. And unfortunately for you, those risks are about to become very real.”
My heart pounded in my chest, and I forced myself to stand, even though my legs felt like jelly. “What do you want from me?”
Xavier’s smile faded, and for the first time, I saw the cold, ruthless side of him-the side that had made him one of the most feared men in Baltimore.
“I want you to understand something,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “You’re not a player in this game, Alyssa. You’re a pawn. And pawns don’t get to choose their fate.”
Ethan stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor, his eyes blazing with fury. “Back off, Xavier.”