An Opening
747 Words
By the end of her first week, Lia had learned three things.
First, Ethan Blackwood was impossible.
Second, his coffee consumption should probably be illegal.
And third...
Nobody ever said no to him.
At least, nobody except her.
"You're doing it wrong."
Lia looked up from her computer.
"Ethan, it's literally copying files."
"It's organizing files."
"Same thing."
"It's not."
She stared at him.
He stared back.
The silence stretched.
Finally, Lia sighed dramatically and rearranged the folders exactly how he wanted.
A second later, Ethan nodded.
"Better."
"I hope you're happy."
"I am."
She immediately regretted asking.
A few days later, Sophia handed Lia a stack of invitations.
"What are these?"
"A charity gala."
Lia frowned.
"Why do I need these?"
"Because you're attending."
The invitation slipped from her fingers.
"I'm what?"
Twenty minutes later, she stormed into Ethan's office.
"I'm not going."
Ethan didn't even look up.
"You are."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
Lia crossed her arms.
Ethan continued reading his document.
Neither moved.
Neither spoke.
Finally, Ethan sighed.
"You've known me for a week and you're already arguing with me."
"You make it very easy."
The invitation landed on his desk.
"I don't belong at some billionaire party."
Ethan glanced at it.
Then at her.
"Why not?"
Lia laughed.
Actually laughed.
"Have you looked at me?"
His gaze traveled over her briefly.
Then back to her eyes.
"Yes."
The simple answer caught her off guard.
For some reason, she forgot what she was going to say next.
A moment passed.
Then Ethan returned to his paperwork.
"You're attending."
"Why?"
"Because I need an assistant there."
"There will be hundreds of assistants."
"I need mine."
The words shouldn't have mattered.
Yet something about them lingered.
Mine.
A strange warmth appeared in her chest.
She immediately ignored it.
That evening, Sophia dragged her into an expensive clothing store.
Everything looked terrifyingly expensive.
Lia didn't even want to touch anything.
One dress probably cost more than her monthly expenses.
Maybe yearly.
Maybe both.
"I'm going to faint."
Sophia didn't look concerned.
"Please do it after the fitting."
Hours later, Lia emerged from the dressing room.
The mirror nearly made her stop walking.
The woman staring back at her didn't look like the girl who worked part-time jobs between classes.
The dress was elegant.
Simple.
Beautiful.
For the first time in years...
She felt beautiful too.
The realization made her uncomfortable.
"Mr. Blackwood approved this one."
Lia blinked.
"He what?"
Sophia nodded.
"He selected it."
"Why was he selecting dresses?"
Sophia smiled mysteriously.
"I didn't ask."
That somehow made it worse.
The gala arrived faster than expected.
Luxury cars lined the entrance.
Cameras flashed constantly.
Famous people walked across the red carpet.
Lia suddenly wanted to run away.
"This is a mistake."
Ethan stood beside her.
"No."
"It definitely is."
"No."
She glared at him.
He ignored her.
As usual.
When they entered the ballroom, conversations immediately shifted.
People noticed Ethan.
They always noticed Ethan.
Power followed him like a shadow.
Then their eyes moved to Lia.
Whispers started.
Questions.
Curiosity.
Who was she?
Why was she with him?
Lia hated it instantly.
"Stay close."
She looked up.
"What?"
"Stay close."
His voice was calm.
But there was something else underneath it.
A warning.
Lia followed his gaze.
Several people across the room were staring.
Not at him.
At her.
Evaluating.
Judging.
Calculating.
For the first time, she understood.
This world wasn't glamorous.
It was dangerous.
Just in a different way.
The evening passed slowly.
Then a woman approached.
Beautiful.
Elegant.
Confident.
The kind of person who belonged in this world.
Unlike Lia.
The woman smiled at Ethan.
A real smile.
The familiar kind.
"Still working too much?"
Ethan's expression softened slightly.
Slightly.
But Lia noticed.
And for some reason...
She didn't like it.
Not one bit.
The realization surprised her.
Why should she care?
The woman turned toward Lia.
"And who is this?"
Before Lia could answer, Ethan spoke.
"My assistant."
The words were simple.
Professional.
Nothing more.
Yet for some reason...
Lia felt disappointed.
She didn't understand why.
And that bothered her most of all.
As the woman walked away, Ethan looked down at her.
"You seem upset."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You are."
Lia groaned.
"Do you enjoy being annoying?"
"Occasionally."
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
A rare almost-smile.
And despite herself...
Lia's heart skipped.
Just once.
A tiny, traitorous beat.
The first c***k in her defenses.
And she hated it.
- Writer
