Mystery Woman
668 Words
The problem with Ethan Blackwood was that he never forgot anything.
Especially when he was right.
For the next two days, he brought it up whenever he had the chance.
"You're jealous."
"I am not."
"Hm."
"Stop saying that."
"Hm."
Lia seriously considered throwing a stapler at him.
By Friday morning, she was already exhausted.
Not from work.
From Ethan.
Mostly Ethan.
Definitely Ethan.
She stepped into the elevator carrying a stack of reports.
Three employees entered behind her.
At first, she paid them no attention.
Then she heard her name.
"...Miss Santos?"
Lia froze.
The employees didn't notice she was standing there.
Or maybe they thought she couldn't hear them.
"I heard she went to the Langford Gala with him."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah."
"Then the rumors are true."
Lia frowned.
Rumors?
What rumors?
The elevator doors opened.
The employees hurried out.
Lia followed immediately.
"Wait."
The three turned.
Surprised.
"What rumors?"
Their faces turned pale.
Five minutes later, Lia wished she had never asked.
She stormed toward Ethan's office.
The rumors were everywhere.
Apparently, half the company believed she was secretly dating him.
The other half believed she was his future girlfriend.
Some people had apparently planned their wedding already.
Idiots.
Every single one of them.
The office doors flew open.
Ethan looked up.
"You seem angry."
"Really?"
She dropped a folder onto his desk.
The sound echoed through the room.
"People think we're dating."
A pause.
Then another.
Then—
"Oh."
"Oh?"
"That explains a few things."
Lia stared.
"THAT EXPLAINS A FEW THINGS?"
Ethan calmly returned to reading his report.
Lia felt her eye twitch.
"You're not concerned?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"They're rumors."
"Bad rumors."
"They aren't affecting productivity."
Lia was speechless.
Absolutely speechless.
"People think I'm your girlfriend."
Ethan looked up.
His expression remained perfectly calm.
"And?"
Lia almost passed away.
"AND?"
"Yes."
"Ethan!"
"What?"
"This is a disaster."
"No."
"It absolutely is."
"No."
The argument lasted ten minutes.
Neither won.
Which meant Ethan won.
Unfortunately.
Around noon, Sophia appeared at Lia's desk.
She looked suspiciously amused.
Again.
Everyone was suspiciously amused lately.
Lia hated it.
"You've become popular."
"I don't want to be popular."
"Too late."
Sophia handed her a folder.
Inside was a newspaper clipping.
Lia nearly fainted.
A photo.
Of her.
And Ethan.
Leaving the gala together.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me."
The headline wasn't much better.
BLACKWOOD HEIR SPOTTED WITH MYSTERY WOMAN
Mystery woman.
Wonderful.
Exactly what every normal college student wanted to be called.
By the end of the day, the rumor had spread beyond the company.
Business blogs.
Social media.
Entertainment pages.
Everyone wanted to know who she was.
Lia wanted to move to another country.
That evening, Ethan found her sitting alone in a conference room.
Staring dramatically out a window.
He stood beside her.
Silent.
For once.
After a minute, he spoke.
"You'll survive."
Lia didn't look at him.
"Easy for you to say."
"It is."
At least he was honest.
"They don't know me."
"No."
"They're making things up."
"Yes."
"It's unfair."
A pause.
Then Ethan said quietly,
"Welcome to my world."
For the first time, Lia looked at him.
Really looked at him.
Not the billionaire.
Not the CEO.
Just Ethan.
The expression on his face surprised her.
Because he looked tired.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
"Does it bother you?" she asked.
"The rumors?"
He nodded.
Sometimes.
The answer shocked her.
Because it sounded honest.
And Ethan rarely gave people honest answers.
A strange silence settled between them.
Not uncomfortable.
Not awkward.
Just quiet.
Then Ethan looked at her.
His gaze steady.
Focused.
The kind of look that always made her nervous.
"If it becomes a problem..."
He paused.
Lia waited.
"I'll handle it."
The words were simple.
Yet something about them made her chest tighten.
Because for the first time...
It felt less like a promise from a boss.
And more like a promise from someone who genuinely intended to protect her.
Lia quickly looked away.
Dangerous.
That feeling was becoming very dangerous.
- Writer
