Episode 2
903 Words
Ethan had been in dangerous situations before — war zones, high-risk extractions, guarding political figures in hostile countries. But nothing had prepared him for standing here, in Sophia Harrington’s penthouse, with her looking at him like he was a stranger.
She didn’t recognize him.
It had been sixteen years since the last time they’d seen each other — a summer afternoon in the Harrington family garden. She’d been barefoot on the grass, a crown of wildflowers in her hair, laughing as she made him promise, I’ll always keep you safe. Back then, he’d been the son of the family’s housekeeper, just a boy from the wrong side of the tracks who happened to be her closest friend.
Then one day, he was gone. No explanation. No goodbye.
Life after that had been a climb he wasn’t sure he’d survive — military service, private security, investments that made him quietly wealthy. But money had never been the point. And when he heard from a trusted contact that Sophia was in danger, he didn’t hesitate. Disguise, alias, agency cover — anything to get close without alerting whoever might be targeting her.
Now, here she was, standing in front of him — older, more polished, but with a quiet sadness in her eyes that hadn’t been there before.
He kept his voice steady. “Do you have the threatening letters?”
Without hesitation, she crossed to a desk in the corner. The soft rustle of her silk robe seemed loud in the quiet room. She returned with a thin folder.
Ethan flipped through the papers. All typed. No fingerprints. No identifying marks. Short phrases that didn’t demand anything — just aimed to unnerve. “These aren’t random,” he murmured. “They’re calculated.”
She studied his face. “You take this very seriously.”
“That’s why you hired me,” he said, closing the folder.
Her phone buzzed on the coffee table. Liam’s name lit the screen. Ethan didn’t let his expression change, but he knew Liam Bennett by reputation — the type who smiled for cameras while making deals in back rooms. A trust-fund charmer with deep debts and deeper secrets.
Through his contacts, Ethan already knew Liam wasn’t faithful. Worse, the other woman wasn’t a stranger — it was Isabella Moore, Sophia’s best friend. He had seen the discreet photographs: the lingering touches, the stolen glances. It wasn’t just betrayal. It was strategy.
But Sophia didn’t know. Not yet. And he couldn’t tell her until he had enough evidence to crush them both in one blow.
“Any travel plans?” he asked, tucking the folder into his bag.
“Not at the moment.”
“Good. Until I assess the threat fully, I want you in familiar places with controlled security.”
Her brow arched slightly. “You make it sound like you’re expecting things to escalate.”
“I am.”
She looked at him for a long moment, then smiled faintly. “Then I suppose I should get used to having you around, Mr. Cole.”
He didn’t correct her to Ethan. Not yet.
He spent the next twenty minutes moving through the penthouse, checking every entry point. He paused by the balcony doors. “Do you leave these unlocked?”
“Sometimes.”
“Not anymore,” he said, his tone firm but not unkind. “From tonight, you don’t go anywhere without me.”
Something in her eyes flickered — part defiance, part relief.
She disappeared into her bedroom for a few minutes. Ethan adjusted the settings on the security panel, slipping in a discreet alert system connected to his own device. If anyone tried to force their way in, he’d know before the building’s guards did.
When she returned, she was dressed in a soft cashmere sweater and tailored trousers, her hair loosely gathered. She looked every bit the elegant heiress — and every bit unaware of how much danger she might be in.
“I’ll send you my schedule by tomorrow morning,” she said. “And… thank you for coming on such short notice.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, and meant it.
Her phone rang again. She hesitated before answering. “Liam. I told you, I’m busy tonight… no, I can’t… we’ll talk tomorrow.” Her voice had gone softer, defensive.
When she hung up, she gave him a small smile. “I’m fine.”
He didn’t believe her.
As she walked past, her perfume — light, floral — hit him like a memory. It took him straight back to that summer, to the little girl who had called him her knight. He hadn’t been able to protect her then. He wouldn’t fail her now.
“Rest tonight,” he said. “I’ll be outside your door.”
Her brows lifted. “All night?”
“All night.”
She hesitated, as if wanting to say something more, but then simply nodded. “Goodnight, Mr. Cole.”
“Goodnight, Sophia,” he replied, letting her name sit on his tongue for the first time in years.
When she disappeared into her bedroom, he moved to the entrance, leaning casually against the wall. His hand brushed the holster under his jacket, reassuring himself the weapon was there.
Somewhere in this city, Liam Bennett thought he was p
laying the perfect game.
But Ethan was already on the board — and he never lost.
- Writer
