A DEAL I SHOULD HAVE REFUSED
1270 Words
Elisa had always believed that wealthy people lived in a completely different universe.
A universe where money erased problems, expensive cars replaced emotions, and people spoke in numbers she would spend a lifetime trying to earn.
But as she sat behind the wheel of her old Toyota with Ethan Blake seated beside her, she realized she had been wrong.
Some rich people did not live in another universe.
They simply believed they owned this one.
The entire drive from the airport had been painfully quiet.
Ethan sat in the passenger seat, scrolling through his phone, occasionally typing short responses to messages that were probably worth millions of dollars.
Elisa stole a glance at him.
"FOUR DAYS UNDER ONE ROOF" — Ethan will reveal the loneliness behind his request, Elisa will discover his emotional wounds, and the dangerous four-day agreement will begin.
His expression was unreadable.
Cold.
Controlled.
The kind of face that had never been told no.
Unfortunately for him, she specialized in saying no.
She looked back at the road.
"You know, it's actually rude to get into someone's car without saying thank you."
His fingers stopped moving.
Slowly, he turned to her.
"Excuse me?"
She smiled.
Oh, she enjoyed this.
"You heard me."
Ethan stared at her as though she had spoken a language he did not understand.
"Do you always criticize your clients?"
"Only the arrogant ones."
A silence followed.
A dangerous one.
Then something unexpected happened.
Ethan laughed.
A real laugh.
Not a polite business laugh.
Not the kind people used when cameras were around.
A genuine laugh.
The sound was deep and strangely attractive.
Elisa hated that she noticed.
"I apologize," he said.
Her eyes widened.
"What?"
"I said I apologize."
She shook her head.
"Wait. The Ethan Blake is apologizing to me?"
A small smile appeared on his face.
"You know my name."
"Everybody knows your name."
"And what exactly have you heard?"
She hesitated.
She probably should not answer.
Which was exactly why she did.
"That you're cold."
His expression did not change.
"Interesting."
"That you're difficult."
He nodded.
"Fair."
"That you fired an executive for arriving ten minutes late to a meeting."
His eyebrow rose.
"That one is exaggerated."
"So you didn't fire him?"
"I fired him because he lied about why he was late."
She looked at him.
"See?"
"See what?"
"Exactly my point."
Another laugh escaped him.
And for a moment, something about him changed.
The cold billionaire disappeared.
In his place was a man with tired eyes and a smile that looked like it had not been used often enough.
Elisa quickly looked away.
Dangerous.
That was what he was.
Not because of his money, power or fame
But because she was beginning to see the man behind all of it.
And she had known him for less than an hour.
An hour later, they arrived at the gates of Blake Manor.
Elisa's foot pressed against the brake.
Her mouth slowly opened.
"This is a house?"
Ethan glanced outside.
"Yes."
She turned to him.
"Are you sure?"
A corner of his lips lifted.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It looks like a palace."
The enormous iron gates opened automatically.
Beyond them stretched a driveway lined with ancient trees, perfectly trimmed gardens, fountains glowing beneath golden lights, and a mansion so breathtaking that Elisa wondered whether she had accidentally driven into a movie set.
"How many people live here?"
"My parents."
"And this entire kingdom belongs to two people?"
Ethan looked amused.
"You're funny."
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
She shook her head.
"Rich people are weird."
Ethan smiled.
"That's probably true."
She parked the car in front of the entrance.
Before she could say another word, the front door opened.
A graceful woman in her sixties rushed down the steps.
The moment she saw Ethan, tears filled her eyes.
"My son."
The cold billionaire who had been intimidating her all evening suddenly transformed.
"Mother."
The woman embraced him tightly.
Elisa looked away, feeling like she was witnessing something private.
The way Ethan held his mother revealed something the newspapers never would.
Ethan Blake loved deeply.
"Why do you keep staying away for so long?" his mother complained.
"Mother—"
"No. Don't 'Mother' me."
Ethan laughed softly.
"Nice to know you haven't changed."
Then his mother's eyes moved.
Directly to Elisa.
The woman's expression froze.
Her gaze traveled from Elisa to Ethan and back again.
And then a smile slowly appeared.
A smile that made Elisa nervous.
Very nervous.
"Oh my goodness."
Ethan immediately noticed.
"Mother, wait—"
But it was too late.
The woman rushed forward and took Elisa's hands.
"After all these years, you finally brought someone home."
Elisa's heart stopped.
"No, ma'am. I think there is a misunderstanding—"
"I knew my son was hiding someone."
"Actually—"
"Look at how beautiful you are."
Ethan closed his eyes.
A man who controlled billion-dollar negotiations looked completely helpless.
"Mother."
She ignored him.
"What's your name, dear?"
"Elisa."
"Elisa."
The woman repeated the name as though she was already adding it to the family tree.
"What a lovely name."
Ethan looked at Elisa.
Elisa looked at Ethan.
Panic passed silently between them.
Fix this.
No, you fix it.
This is your family.
This is your problem.
Before either of them could speak, another voice joined them.
"Ethan!"
A young woman ran down the stairs with excitement.
She stopped when she saw Elisa.
Her eyes widened.
Then she screamed.
"You have a girlfriend?"
Oh no.
This was getting worse.
Within minutes, the entire Blake household had changed.
His sister had taken Elisa's luggage.
His mother was already discussing family traditions.
The servants were preparing a larger dinner.
Everyone was celebrating.
Everyone looked happy.
Too happy.
And Ethan was watching them.
Especially his mother.
Elisa noticed it.
The softness in his eyes.
The happiness.
The fear of taking it away.
When they were finally left alone in the grand living room, she turned to him immediately.
"Say something."
Ethan remained quiet.
"Ethan."
Still nothing.
Her voice rose.
"I have work to return to."
Before she could continue, Ethan spoke.
"Stay."
She blinked.
"What?"
"Please."
The single word caught her off guard.
It did not sound like a billionaire giving an order.
It sounded like a son asking for a miracle.
"You saw my mother."
"Ethan—"
"I haven't seen her smile like that in years."
She softened for a second.
Only for a second.
Then she remembered herself.
"No."
His jaw tightened.
"It is only four days."
"What?"
"The family gathering. Four days."
She stepped back.
"You cannot be serious."
"I will compensate you."
The room became silent.
Her eyes changed.
The softness disappeared.
"What did you say?"
Ethan realized his mistake immediately.
"Elisa—"
"No."
She shook her head.
A bitter laugh escaped her lips.
"Of course."
Her voice broke with anger.
"You're a billionaire. Why would you ask when you can buy?"
"That's not what I meant."
"Isn't it?"
She stepped closer.
Her eyes burning.
"You think you can pay your way into having me?"
Those words hit him harder than any business failure ever had.
For the first time that night, Ethan Blake had no response.
Because the woman standing before him was the first person in years who looked at his money…
and was not impressed.
Ethan has everything in the world—money, power, and influence.
But standing before him is the one woman who refuses to be bought.
And for the first time in his life…
Ethan Blake does not know how to get what he wants.
- Writer
