Beneath the surface

Chapter 17

Ethan veiw:

As I stood there, trying to shake off the unease that had been gnawing at me all night, my phone buzzed with an alarm. I glanced down, seeing the notification that Max and Ava were heading back inside. A pang of jealousy shot through me, and I felt my grip on my drink tighten.

I watched as they walked back into the party, their faces lit up by the flashing lights. Max had his arm around Ava's shoulders, and she was laughing at something he said. The sight sent a wave of frustration through me. Why couldn't she see that Max was just using her?

I pushed my way through the crowd, my eyes fixed on Ava. As I reached her side, I grabbed her hand, my touch firm. "We need to leave," I said, my voice low and urgent.

Ava looked up at me, surprise etched on her face. "What's wrong, Ethan?" she asked, trying to pull her hand free.

But I held tight, my fingers wrapping around hers like a vice. "We need to go," I repeated, my eyes locked on Max's.

Max's expression darkened, and he took a step forward. "Ava, do you want to leave?" he asked, his voice even.

Ava hesitated, her eyes darting between us. "I...I don't know," she said finally.

I pulled her closer, my heart racing with possessiveness. "Come on, Ava," I said, my voice low and persuasive. "Let's get out of here."

As I pulled her away from Max, I felt a surge of satisfaction. But it was short-lived, replaced by a growing sense of unease. What was I doing? Why was I acting like this?

The questions swirled in my mind as I dragged Ava out of the party, but I pushed them aside, focusing on the feeling of her hand in mine. For now, that was all that mattered.

Let's explore Ethan's motivations and Ava's feelings further.

As Ethan pulled Ava away from the party, she felt a mix of emotions. She was confused by Ethan's behavior, and a part of her was angry at being dragged away from Max. But another part of her was drawn to Ethan's intensity, his possessiveness.

"What's going on, Ethan?" Ava asked, trying to pull her hand free. "Why are you acting like this?"

Ethan didn't answer, his eyes fixed on the road ahead as he drove Ava home. Ava could see the tension in his jaw, the way his hands gripped the steering wheel.

When they arrived at Ava's apartment, Ethan turned off the engine and turned to her. "I don't know what's going on with me," he said, his voice low and rough. "But I know I don't want to lose you."

Ava felt a shiver run down her spine as Ethan's eyes locked onto hers. She saw the vulnerability there, the fear of losing her, and it touched something deep within her.

"Ethan, I..." Ava started to say, but Ethan cut her off, his lips crashing down on hers in a fierce kiss.

The kiss was intense, passionate, and Ava felt herself getting lost in it. But as she kissed him back, she couldn't shake the feeling that Ethan's motivations were complex, that there was more to his behavior than met the eye.

As they pulled back, gasping for air, Ava looked into Ethan's eyes. "What's going on, Ethan?" she asked again, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ethan's eyes searched hers, and for a moment, Ava thought she saw a glimmer of uncertainty. But then his mask slipped back into place, and he smiled, his eyes gleaming with possessiveness.

"Let's just say I'm not willing to share you," Ethan said, his voice low and husky.

Ava's heart skipped a beat as she processed Ethan's words.

As I walked into my room, I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Everything was going exactly according to plan. I had played my part perfectly, and Ethan had taken the bait.

I pulled out my phone and dialed a number, waiting for the handler to pick up. When they answered, I smiled, feeling a thrill of excitement.

"It's done," I said, my voice low and confident. "Ethan's hooked, and the game is on."

The handler's voice was calm and collected on the other end of the line. "Well done, Ava. You've played your part perfectly. Now, let's see how this plays out."

I grinned, feeling a sense of anticipation. This was just the beginning, and I was ready to see how far I could push Ethan. And Max, for that matter.

"What's the next move?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"We'll wait and see how Ethan reacts," the handler replied. "But for now, just enjoy the game. You're doing great."

I nodded, even though the handler couldn't see me. I was enjoying the game, all right. And I was just getting started.

As I hung up the phone, I couldn't help but think about Ethan's reaction. How far would he go? Would he do exactly as I planned?

I walked over to my mirror, examining my reflection. I looked calm and collected, but inside, I was seething with excitement. This was what I had been waiting for – the perfect moment to strike.

I thought back to the way Ethan had grabbed my hand, pulling me away from Max. It was almost... possessive. I smiled to myself, knowing that I had him right where I wanted him.

But what was my endgame? What did I plan to do with Ethan now that I had him hooked? Would I toy with him, playing on his emotions, or would I reveal my true intentions?

The possibilities were endless, and I was eager to see how this would all play out. One thing was for sure – I was in control, and Ethan was just a pawn in my game.