our first encounter
805 Words
The next morning, Isabella walked downstairs dressed in a crisp white blouse, black trousers, and a fitted blazer. Her long hair was tied into a neat ponytail, and her confidence filled the mansion before she even spoke.
The dining room fell silent.
Her father folded the newspaper. "Sit."
She calmly poured herself a cup of coffee instead.
"I'll stand."
Her mother sighed. "Isabella..."
"You've already decided my future without asking me. The least you can do is let me drink my coffee in peace."
Her father's expression darkened.
"This isn't a discussion."
"It became one the moment my life was involved."
Before anyone could answer, the front door opened.
A tall man stepped inside wearing a charcoal suit, one hand tucked into his pocket. Sharp jawline. Cold gray eyes. Calm... almost intimidating.
Ethan Blackwood.
His grandfather followed behind him.
"There they are," the old man said cheerfully. "The future bride and groom."
Isabella didn't even spare Ethan a second glance.
"I'm leaving."
"You will stay," her father ordered.
She looked at him, completely unfazed.
"No."
She walked toward the door.
Ethan moved to the side, blocking her path.
"You heard your father."
She slowly lifted her eyes to meet his.
"And who are you exactly?"
For the first time in years, someone had spoken to Ethan like that.
"I'm Ethan."
"I didn't ask for your name."
A faint smile appeared on the corner of his lips.
"You're rude."
"And you're in my way."
Neither of them moved.
The room grew painfully quiet.
Ethan had expected a spoiled rich girl who would immediately try to impress him.
Instead...
She looked completely uninterested.
"Move," Isabella repeated.
"What if I don't?"
She stepped closer until only a few inches separated them.
"Then you'll learn why people don't test my patience."
Her voice was calm.
Not loud.
Not angry.
Just... certain.
Something about that confidence caught Ethan completely off guard.
He slowly stepped aside.
"Thank you."
Without another word, she walked past him and left the mansion.
...
Twenty minutes later.
Downtown.
Isabella entered her favorite café.
"Morning, Bella!" the owner greeted.
"The usual?"
"You know me too well."
She sat near the window, opened her laptop, and began reviewing the business proposal she had been preparing for months.
Marriage wasn't part of her plan.
Building her own company was.
Her phone buzzed.
Mom.
She declined the call.
It rang again.
Declined.
Again.
She switched the phone to silent.
"Persistent," she muttered.
Outside the café, a black luxury car stopped.
Ethan stepped out.
His driver frowned.
"Sir... are we really following her?"
"I was curious."
"You never get curious."
"I know."
He watched through the window.
She wasn't scrolling through social media.
She wasn't shopping.
She wasn't gossiping.
She was working.
For almost an hour.
Without looking up once.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
He entered the café.
The waitress smiled.
"Table for one?"
"I'm meeting someone."
He walked straight toward Isabella.
She looked up briefly.
"Oh."
Her attention returned to her laptop.
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
"'Oh?'"
"Yes."
"'Oh.'"
"That's all?"
"What were you expecting?"
"I don't know."
"A dramatic reaction?"
"No."
"A smile?"
"No."
"A scream because the great Ethan Blackwood walked into a café?"
She finally looked at him.
Her lips curved into a teasing smile.
"Should I?"
For a second...
He almost laughed.
Almost.
Instead, he pulled out the chair opposite her.
She immediately closed the laptop.
"I don't remember inviting you."
"I wasn't asking."
"I wasn't offering."
Their eyes locked.
The tension between them was impossible to ignore.
"You really don't like me," Ethan said.
"I don't know you."
"So get to know me."
She leaned back in her chair.
"Convince me you're worth the effort."
Before Ethan could answer, a loud crash echoed through the café.
Three masked men burst inside.
"Nobody move!"
One fired a warning shot into the ceiling.
Customers screamed.
Tables overturned.
A little girl froze in the middle of the room, too frightened to move.
One of the robbers grabbed her roughly.
"Come here!"
The child cried.
Without hesitation, Isabella shot to her feet.
"Let her go."
The robber laughed.
"And who'll make me?"
Isabella stepped forward anyway.
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
"What are you doing?"
"Saving a child."
"He's armed."
"And?"
The robber pointed the gun directly at Isabella.
"One more step and I'll shoot."
She didn't flinch.
Instead, she smiled.
"You should've paid more attention."
"What?"
She kicked a nearby chair with incredible force.
It slammed into the robber's knees.
He lost his balance.
The gun flew from his hand.
Before anyone understood what had happened, Isabella pulled the little girl behind her.
Ethan moved instantly, driving his fist into another robber's jaw.
The café erupted into chaos.
The third robber reached for his weapon...
But his eyes locked onto Isabella.
She wasn't hiding.
She was already charging toward him.
- Writer
