Chapter Twelve: Dinner for Two
1029 Words
At exactly 7:15 p.m., Ethan Carter pulled up outside Ava’s apartment.
He checked the time on his dashboard.
7:14.
He smiled to himself.
For a man who was usually late to nothing, arriving one minute early felt strangely important.
He stepped out of the car just as Ava walked through the front door.
She wasn’t dressed for a business meeting.
That was the first thing he noticed.
She wore a simple dark-blue dress with a light jacket, her hair falling naturally around her shoulders.
Ethan suddenly forgot every sentence he had prepared.
Ava noticed him staring.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re staring.”
“I was just thinking.”
“That sounds dangerous.”
He smiled.
“You look nice.”
She paused.
“Thank you.”
Then she looked at him carefully.
“You clean up well too.”
“Too?”
“Don’t get excited.”
“I wasn’t.”
“You were.”
He opened the passenger door for her.
She looked at the car, then at him.
“You’re being unusually polite.”
“I’m always polite.”
Ava raised an eyebrow.
“Ethan.”
“Fine. I’m trying to make a good impression.”
She smiled and got into the car.
The restaurant was a small Italian place in Manhattan, far from the expensive restaurants Ethan usually visited for business meetings.
Ava looked around when they entered.
“I like this.”
“I thought you would.”
“How did you know?”
“I asked Lily.”
Ava stopped walking.
“You asked my sister?”
“She knows what you like.”
“You’ve been talking to my family without me?”
“Only occasionally.”
“Ethan.”
He laughed.
“Relax. I asked one question.”
They were seated near the window.
For the first few minutes, they talked about harmless things.
The hotel.
The weather.
Ryan’s terrible jokes.
Maya’s obsession with gossip.
Noah’s questions about Ethan’s money.
Eventually, Ava laughed so hard that she had to cover her mouth.
“I still can’t believe Noah asked you how much money you make.”
“He’s persistent.”
“He gets that from Dad.”
“And you?”
Ava smiled.
“I get my stubbornness from Mum.”
Ethan laughed.
“I believe that.”
Their food arrived.
For a while, they simply enjoyed the meal.
Then Ethan asked, “Why did you become an interior designer?”
Ava thought for a moment.
“When I was younger, I used to rearrange everything in my bedroom.”
“Everything?”
“Everything.”
“Why?”
“I liked changing how a space felt.”
He listened.
“I realized later that I wasn’t really interested in furniture. I was interested in how people reacted to spaces.”
Ethan nodded.
“That explains the hotel.”
“Maybe.”
She looked at him.
“What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Why business?”
He smiled faintly.
“Family tradition.”
“That doesn’t answer the question.”
He leaned back.
“My father expected me to join the company. My older relatives assumed I would eventually take over. When I was younger, I thought that was what I wanted.”
“And now?”
“Now I’m not sure.”
Ava studied him.
“Because of Los Angeles?”
“Partly.”
“What else?”
He looked down at his glass.
“I don’t know if I’m building a life or just fulfilling a plan someone else created for me.”
Ava’s expression softened.
“You’re allowed to change your mind.”
“My father doesn’t think so.”
“Your father doesn’t have to live your life.”
Ethan looked at her.
“Neither does yours.”
She blinked.
“My father?”
“You mentioned him before. You said you built your studio without waiting for anyone’s approval.”
Ava smiled.
“My dad worries. He doesn’t always understand my choices, but he supports me.”
“You’re lucky.”
“Yes.”
She paused.
“Do you wish your father were different?”
Ethan thought about the question.
“Sometimes.”
There was no anger in his voice.
Only sadness.
Ava reached across the table.
Her fingers lightly touched his hand.
“You don’t have to prove yourself to everyone.”
Ethan looked at their hands.
Then at her.
“Maybe I don’t.”
Neither moved.
For a few seconds, the restaurant disappeared around them.
There was only the warmth of her hand against his and the quiet understanding in her eyes.
Then Ava slowly pulled her hand back.
“We should probably eat before the food gets cold.”
Ethan smiled.
“Probably.”
After dinner, they walked outside.
The city was alive with lights and passing cars.
Ava hugged her jacket around herself.
“You cold?”
“A little.”
Ethan removed his jacket.
She immediately shook her head.
“No.”
“You’re cold.”
“I’ll survive.”
“You’re stubborn.”
“You’ve mentioned that.”
He placed the jacket around her shoulders anyway.
Ava looked up at him.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
They continued walking.
At the corner, Ava stopped.
“I had a good time tonight.”
“So did I.”
“I was worried it would be awkward.”
“Was it?”
“No.”
“Good.”
She smiled.
“Goodnight, Ethan.”
“Goodnight.”
She turned toward her building.
“Ava.”
She looked back.
He hesitated.
For a moment, she thought he might say something else.
Instead, he simply smiled.
“Nothing.”
She laughed.
“Goodnight.”
She disappeared inside.
Ethan stood there for a few seconds before returning to his car.
Neither of them knew that someone had been watching them from across the street.
A woman standing beside a black car lowered her phone.
She had taken a photograph.
And the moment she sent it, a message appeared on her screen.
Daniel Carter: Who is she?
The woman replied:
Someone who may become a problem.
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