The day finally arrived.
Tiana stood at the location he had sent—fifteen minutes early, just as promised.
"Alright, Saturday. Saturday it is,"
She muttered to herself as the crisp October breeze played with her curled hair.
Her fingers toyed with the hem of her coat, nervous energy building up.
"Calm down. You're not here to seduce him—just work. Work. Right?"
But despite her pep talk, her nerves refused to settle.
This would be the first time she was alone with a man outside of work—and that thought alone made her heart flutter uneasily.
"Now that I think about it... why did he even agree to this?"
Her gaze drifted into the distance, one hand holding down her hair against the wind.
"If I'm not delusional, maybe he's finally falling for my charm?"
A faint, mischievous smile tugged at her lips.
Just then, she caught sight of him—across the road, leaning against his car, arms folded, and just... watching her.
"Wait—what?!"
"How long has he been standing there?"
Her thoughts spiraled in chaos even as her face automatically lit up with a bright smile for him.
"How long are you planning to stand there?"
His voice called out as he began crossing the road toward her, his tone dry but teasing.
Tiana looked up quickly, blinking, heart doing somersaults.
"Oh—sorry! I got carried away,"
She beamed, gazing away as warmth crept into her cheeks as she thought.
"Alright, now who dressed to seduce who here?"
She dared not meet his eyes too long—his ethereal presence always had a way of disarming her completely.
"Wait a second," Tiana teased, stepping a little closer and tilting her head.
"Weren't you the one staring at me like you're obsessed?"
A flicker of amusement twitched at the corner of Ethan's mouth, but was she seeing that right though? but his reply was blunt:
"That's your time running out from your hour."
"He didn't just say that—!"
Tiana froze, the confidence she had puffed up instantly deflating.
But she caught herself with a dramatic and fluttered hand against her cheek like a fangirl.
"Well, if that's the case, Forget about the revision help, I'll gladly spend it with you!"
…And then it hit her.
Like a freight train.
His face. That expressionless, unreadable face.
"Yep… I overdid it again."
She awkwardly began to retreat when—
"Here."
Tiana blinked.
Her eyes widened.
His hand was stretched out toward her, palm up. His voice was calm, and yet the effect it had on her was anything but.
A swarm of butterflies exploded in her stomach.
"One minute he's stone cold, and the next… he pulls this card?"
Trying to keep her cool, she slowly reached her hand out to meet his.
"Wait! What is going on?"
Tiana's thoughts jolted as her hand inched closer to Ethan's.
"I'm about to take a man's hand… A man's hand!!"
Her mind screamed like a siren as panic overtook her.
But then—
"I meant your sketchbook."
Ethan's voice cut in, cool and flat.
The words slammed into her like a brick. She froze.
"Oh."
Not only was she mortified, but her hand practically fumbled the sketchbook into his.
Looking away in defeat, she muttered internally,
"Why do I feel like he's teasing me?"
Ethan's lips twitched—just barely—a faint smile threatening to appear as he noticed she was embarrassed.
"Get in."
Without another word, they got into the car and took off.
It took Tiana exactly three seconds to notice the speed.
"Alright—can someone explain why the speedometer says 85mph in a 55 zone?!"
Her thoughts spiraled in panic.
"Is this how rich people break the law? Just because they've got the money to pay the fines?"
She maintain her fear masked with stiffness but her mind.
"I'm scared, you inconsiderate jerk!"
Meanwhile, Ethan had been quietly observing her the entire ride—from the masked fear to the subtle groans—until she eventually dozed off just a few minutes in.
As her head began to tilt toward him, he glanced at the approaching traffic light, slowing the car to a stop. Then, without thinking much of it, he gently caught her falling head mid-lean.
Carefully, he nudged her back upright. But in doing so, his gaze lingered—too long, too close.
For the first time, he found himself truly looking at her only few inches away from her face.
His hand rested on her cheek, warm and steady. Then, almost unconsciously, his thumb brushed just below her eye. He blinked, slightly startled by the length of her lashes, how soft and natural they were.
His eyes drifted lower—lingering on the shape of her lips.
Just then—HOOONK!
The loud blast of a horn snapped him out of it.
The light had already turned green.
But could still feel the lingering very vividly and warm in his palm, closing that palm as he took off with one hand.
************
An hour later, Tiana jolted awake as the car came to a sudden stop.
"Umm?"
She blinked drowsily.
Then it hit her.
"I fell asleep... in a man's car!!!"
Her thoughts screamed in panic.
She slowly turned to look at Ethan, only for him to say calmly:
"How long are you planning to stay in here?"
Grinning, she responded with her usual teasing tone,
"As long as I'm with you, I don't mind."
"Out."
"Yes, sir!"
She shot up immediately at the command, nearly tripping as she scrambled out of the car.
Now walking behind him, she lowered her gaze and mumbled in her thoughts,
"Now that I think about it…"
"In this scheme of mine, why do I feel like I'm the one being chased? Despite the mixed signals, as Hannah put it…"
Tiana thought to herself, walking behind Ethan, her head down.
"Well, I hope your personal feelings don't get involved, Tiana."
She looked up at him as he added, "Because that would be tragic."
But then It suddenly dawned on her. She was in another city, looking at the address.
"What in the world?"
"I'm two hours away from home?!"
She thought, frantically checking her map.
As she looked up at the entrance to the villa, she realized this was a private setting.
"Alright, I think my scheme might be backfiring on me."
Not only did she feel an urge to go back, but the thought of a private setting started making her feel more uneasy. Her mind began racing.
"Is it too late to reschedule?"