CHAPTER6:TANGLED
1387 Words
AVA POV
The morning sun poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Ethan Rush’s corner office,it was casting long golden shadows across the polished marble floors.
I sat at the sleek desk just outside his door, my fingers flying over the keyboard as I organized his impossible schedule.
Every few minutes, I would feel his eyes on me, those dark, calculating eyes that seemed to strip away every careful layer of me.
“Coffee, Ava?”
Ethan’s voice drifted from inside the office, low and commanding.
I rose smoothly, smoothing down my pencil skirt before stepping into his domain.
He leaned back in his leather chair, jacket discarded, shirtsleeves rolled up to reveal strong forearms.
The top two buttons of his crisp white shirt were undone, offering a glimpse of tanned skin and the edge of what looked like an expensive watch.
Power suited him like a second skin.
He looks similar to Damien but they were different
“Black, no sugar,” I said, setting the cup down exactly where he liked it.
I had learned that much from the briefing notes Damien had provided the night before.
Ethan’s lips curved into that slow, predatory smile again.
“You pay attention. I like that.”
His fingers brushed mine as he took the mug, lingering a fraction too long.
Heat sparked up my arm, it was unwelcoming but undeniable.
I pulled back quickly, keeping my expression professional.
“It’s my job, Mr. Rush.”
“Ethan,” he corrected, his voice dropping an octave. “We’re going to be working very closely, Ava. No need for formalities when it’s just us.”
I nodded, forcing a small smile.
“Ethan.”
The name felt dangerous on my tongue, like signing another contract I couldn’t escape.
Damien’s instructions echoed in my head,
“Seduce him. Gain his trust. Get the evidence”
But standing this close, with the faint scent of his cologne, woody and expensive, wrapping around me, the line between act and reality blurred faster than I expected.
He gestured to the chair across from his desk. “Sit. Tell me about yourself. Your application was impressive, but I want to know the woman behind it.”
I perched on the edge of the seat, crossing my legs carefully.
“Not much to tell. I’ve worked in high-pressure environments before. I’m efficient, discreet, and I don’t ask unnecessary questions.”
His dark eyes sparkled with amusement.
“Discreet. That’s a rare quality these days.”
He sipped his coffee, studying me over the rim.
“Most assistants last three months here. They get overwhelmed. Or distracted.”
“I’m not easily distracted.”
“We’ll see.”
He set the mug down and slid a thick folder toward me.
“Today’s agenda. I have back-to-back meetings, but I want you in the room for 10 a.m. with the investors. Take notes. Observe. And after lunch, we’ll go over the quarterly projections together.”
“Understood.” I flipped open the folder, scanning the details.
My pulse quickened at the names, some I recognized from Damien’s research. This was my in access to meetings, files, conversations.
But Ethan watched me too closely for comfort.
The morning flew by in a blur of introductions and tasks. By the time we entered the glass-walled conference room for the investor meeting, I had already fielded three urgent calls, rescheduled two appointments, and forwarded a stack of encrypted emails that made my fingers itch to screenshot for Damien.
Ethan moved like a king among his court, commanding attention without raising his voice and charming when he needed to be, cutting when someone faltered.
I sat to his right, i had my notepad, legs tucked demurely. One of the investors, a slick man in his fifties named Harlan, kept glancing my way.
Ethan noticed.
His hand brushed my knee under the table once, light, almost accidental, before he launched into a flawless presentation on projected growth.
The touch sent a jolt through me.
Professional, I reminded myself. This is an act.
After the meeting, as everyone filed out, Ethan leaned close.
“You handled that well. Harlan couldn’t keep his eyes off you.”
“Jealous, Mr. Ethan?” The words slipped out before I could stop them.
Flirtatious.
Exactly what Damien wanted, but it felt risky.
His laugh was low and rich. “Possessive, maybe. I don’t share what’s mine.”
“I’m your assistant, not your property.”
“Yet.” He stood, buttoning his jacket.
“Lunch. My treat. There’s a private club nearby. We can discuss the projections over something better than office coffee.”
I hesitated for only a second. “Lead the way.”
The club was all dark wood and leather, the kind of place where deals worth millions were sealed over aged whiskey.
We sat in a corner booth, and Ethan ordered for both of us, seared scallops, a crisp white wine.
He was effortless company
Funny in a dry way, attentive, asking questions that dug just beneath the surface. I basically fed him polished half-truths about my past, just like I had practiced steering clear of anything that could expose my real desperation or Damien’s involvement.
“You seem guarded,” he said midway through the meal, his gaze locking onto mine.
“Like you’re carrying something ”
“Everyone has baggage, Ethan. Some of us just hide it better.”
He reached across the table, his thumb tracing the back of my hand.
“I could help lighten the load. If you let me.”
My skin tingled.
Part of me, exhausted, the lonely part, wanted to lean into it.
The rest screamed warnings.
This man was dangerous.
Fraud. Money laundering. Worse, according to Damien.
Yet here he was, looking at me like I was the only person in the room.
“I’m here to work,” I said softly, but I didn’t pull my hand away immediately. “Not to complicate things.”
“Sometimes complications make life interesting.” He smiled, that charming surface cracking just enough to show the ruthlessness beneath.
“Finish your wine. We have projections to review back at the office.”
The afternoon passed,
In his office, we pored over spreadsheets on his massive monitor.
Our shoulders brushed.
His hand rested on the back of my chair.
Every accidental touch felt deliberate, building a slow burn I couldn’t ignore.
I memorized file paths and noted password hints he typed without thinking.
By 5 p.m., I had enough crumbs to feed Damien for our first weekly report.
As I gathered my things to leave, Ethan stopped me at the door.
“Dinner tomorrow night? Not business. Just… us.”
My heart hammered.
“I’ll think about it.”
“Do more than think.” He tilted my chin up gently with one finger, his eyes darkening. “You intrigue me, Ava Thompson. And I always get what I intrigue me.”
I stepped back, flashing a teasing smile that hid my churning stomach. “Goodnight, Ethan.”
The drive back to my new apartment was a haze.
I parked the sleek sedan and immediately locked myself inside, my heart still racing.
The luxury surroundings, modern furniture, city view,felt like a gilded cage.
I pulled out the burner phone Damien had given me and typed a quick message,
" First day complete. Close access achieved. More tomorrow."
His reply came almost instantly: "Good girl. Keep your distance emotionally. He’s more dangerous than he looks. Report in detail.
I tossed the phone aside and sank onto the couch, staring at the ceiling.
Damien’s arrogant face flashed in my mind, those piercing gray eyes, the way he would smirk when I set my boundaries. Two powerful men now orbiting my life, both pulling me in opposite directions.
Ethan’s charm was a velvet trap. Damien’s control was iron wrapped in silk.
I touched my hand where Ethan had traced his thumb. The mission was working too well already.
But as I changed out of my work clothes into something comfortable, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was the one being seduced, by both of them.
I had to stay focused. Get the evidence. Get paid. Get out.
But deep down, I wondered if I was already in too deep
- Writer
