ng out into the night, their laughter fading as t

. She was about to call for a ride when she saw Ethan approach. He stopped besi

ered, his voice calm but lea

is offer. A small thrill ran through her, the quiet excit

red, suddenly aware of the way

an in the room watching his every mov

road, his face set in serious concentration. She wanted to say something, to ask him why he'd chosen her to dan

ndering if the dance had meant anything at all to him o

over Ethan's face, highlighting the firm line of his jaw, the slight frown between his br

her end began speaking quickly, their words too low for Elena to hear, but she could see the slight narrowing of Ethan's eyes as

his voice a low growl

mirror, then back to the road as he

d, feeling as though she were intruding on something she shouldn't have. Then, wi

oked over at him, confusion etched acr

his face closed off,

see if it was cor

repeated, his tone leav

dred thoughts flashed through her mind, each more painful than the l

" she managed, her v

ard line. But there was something dark in his eyes, something she could

swallowed her pride, reaching for the door h

rly alone and humiliated. She wanted to scream, to demand why he was doing this, bu

ay from the curb and disappearing down the road. The taillights faded into the

re, small and abandoned, standing beneath the dim streetlight. A faint, amused smile

, speaking softly. "Follow her.

he call, a sense of satisfaction settling over him a

of what had just happened sank in. Her initial shock turned quickly to frustrati

special in her. But now it felt like nothing more than a cruel joke, as t

erself tightly, feeling her eyes burn with unshed

ding from the sudden, bewildering end to her night. She kept glanci

y, and each step grew heavier as her

was, throwing her out like

s she was starting to collect her thoughts, the distant sound of an engine

g off her heels and running as quickly as she could. The car cont

nger door opened, but Elena, panicking, only ran

craping her hands against the gravel. Wincing, she sat up, her heart racing even faste

g the car door behind him as he app

g. "What?" she managed, her voic

l. "I work for Mr. Cole. He asked me to make sure you g

shock, allowing him to help her to her feet. "So... he just sent you t

d at her with a patient, s

her mind racing as she settled into the passenger seat.

t on the side of the road and then

from the dark street. It felt ridiculous-like a scene from a bad roma

, Ethan watching her every expression on a small moni

of emotion-confusion, frustration, the small pang of hur

sest friend, raised an eyebrow,

lot," he remarked, a grin tugging at his lips as he shook his head. "Spying on the

th tilting into a faint smile. "I'm just ensuri

nconvinced. "Come on, E