Chapter 2: The Arrogant Stranger.
939 Words
Chapter 2: The Arrogant Stranger
The rain continued to pour relentlessly from the dark sky as Ava Carter stood in the middle of the deserted street, gripping the metal pipe tightly while staring at the man whose life she had just saved.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
The silence felt strange, almost heavy, as if the night itself was holding its breath.
Ethan Blackwood's dark eyes remained fixed on her face, carefully studying her as though he were trying to understand something that made no sense.
Most people trembled under his gaze.
Most people avoided eye contact.
Most people did everything possible to stay on his good side.
Yet the young woman standing before him looked completely unimpressed.
Ava shifted her weight and folded her arms.
"Are you planning to keep staring at me all night?"
A few of the bodyguards gasped softly.
Nobody spoke to Ethan like that.
Nobody.
Ethan ignored them.
"You're unusually brave," he said.
Ava rolled her eyes.
"Or maybe you're just used to people acting scared."
A strange expression crossed Ethan's face before disappearing almost immediately.
The bodyguards looked as if they wanted to drag her away before she accidentally got herself killed.
Before anyone could say another word, one of Ethan's men approached quickly.
"Boss, we need to leave."
Ethan nodded slightly.
Then his attention returned to Ava.
"What's your name?"
"Ava Carter."
"Do you live nearby?"
Ava narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"Why do you want to know?"
Ethan's patience seemed to decrease by the second.
"Because the men who attacked me saw your face."
The words instantly wiped the confidence from her expression.
She hadn't considered that.
The attackers had seen her interfere.
Seen her attack one of their men.
Seen her help Ethan.
A knot formed in her stomach.
One of the bodyguards stepped forward.
"Miss Carter, the safest thing is for you to come with us."
Ava looked at him.
Then at Ethan.
Then back at the expensive cars surrounding them.
Everything about this situation screamed danger.
"No."
The answer came immediately.
Several bodyguards blinked.
"No?" one repeated.
"No," Ava said firmly. "I don't know any of you."
Ethan rubbed his temple.
Already she was giving him a headache.
"You are in danger."
"And whose fault is that?" Ava shot back.
The question caught everyone off guard.
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean I was walking home peacefully before your enemies decided to turn my night into a battlefield."
The bodyguards looked horrified.
Nobody blamed Ethan Blackwood for anything.
Ava clearly hadn't received the memo.
For a moment, Ethan simply stared at her.
Then, unexpectedly, he laughed.
Not a loud laugh.
Not a warm laugh.
Just a brief sound of amusement that shocked everyone present.
The bodyguards exchanged confused looks.
Most of them had never heard their boss laugh before.
Unfortunately, Ava wasn't impressed.
"What's funny?"
"You."
Her eyes widened.
"Excuse me?"
"You have no idea who you're talking to."
Ava lifted her chin stubbornly.
"And you have no idea who you're talking to either."
The amusement vanished from Ethan's face.
This woman was impossible.
Before he could respond, another bodyguard hurried toward them.
His expression was grim.
"Boss."
Ethan immediately recognized the seriousness in his tone.
"What is it?"
"One of them escaped."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Ava felt her stomach drop.
The bodyguard continued.
"He was conscious when he ran."
Silence.
A very dangerous silence.
Because everyone knew what that meant.
The attacker had seen Ava.
Seen her face.
Seen her help Ethan.
Ethan's expression darkened.
For the first time that night, Ava felt genuine fear.
"What happens now?" she asked quietly.
Ethan looked directly at her.
"Now they know who you are."
The reality hit her harder than she expected.
She thought the nightmare was over.
Instead, it was only beginning.
A black luxury car pulled up beside them.
One of the bodyguards opened the rear door.
"Get in."
Ava stared at Ethan.
"Still not happening."
The muscle in Ethan's jaw twitched.
"Miss Carter—"
"No."
"This is not a debate."
"Then stop turning it into one."
The bodyguards collectively looked ready to resign.
Ethan took a slow breath.
Then another.
Trying very hard not to lose his patience.
"You are unbelievably stubborn."
"And you're unbelievably arrogant."
Neither looked away.
The tension between them was so thick that even the bodyguards could feel it.
Finally, Ethan made a decision.
He stepped closer.
Close enough for Ava to see the faint scar near his jaw.
Close enough for her to realize just how intimidating he really was.
But she refused to back down.
"If you return home tonight," Ethan said calmly, "there is a possibility those men will find you before sunrise."
The confidence slowly drained from her face.
Because deep down, she knew he wasn't lying.
Ethan watched her carefully.
For the first time since they met, she looked uncertain.
Good.
At least she was finally being realistic.
After several moments, Ava sighed heavily.
"I hate this."
"I know."
"I don't trust you."
"I know."
"I think you're rude."
"I know."
Ava glared at him.
The corner of Ethan's mouth twitched slightly.
It was the closest thing to a smile she had seen all night.
With obvious reluctance, she walked toward the waiting car.
"This doesn't mean I like you."
Ethan opened the door for her.
"The feeling is mutual."
Ava climbed into the vehicle and immediately regretted every life decision that had led her to this moment.
Because one thing was becoming painfully clear.
Meeting Ethan Blackwood was going to change her life forever.
And not necessarily for the better.
- Writer
