Chapter 2

Emily’s POV…

Ethan studied me over the rim of his glass, his sharp blue eyes filled with quiet amusement. He didn’t smile-not fully- but there was something in his expression that told me he wasn’t used to being challenged. 

"Alright, Sinclair. Let’s see what you’ve got."

He let a beat of silence pass, as if assessing me, before taking a slow sip of his drink. When he finally spoke, his voice was slow, deliberate. 

"That depends," he said, tilting his head slightly. "Are we talking business or something else?"

I smirked. "Wouldn’t you like to know?"

Ethan let out a quiet chuckle—low, deep, the kind that sent a strange thrill down my spine. "I usually don’t play games," he said, watching me with an intensity that made my stomach tighten.

“That’s funny,” I replied, swirling the champagne in my glass. “Because you’ve been staring at me like you’re already playing one.” 

His gaze didn’t waver. If anything, it darkened slightly. “Maybe I’m just trying to figure out your angle.”

I took a slow sip of my drink, holding his gaze. “And what have you come up with so far?” 

Ethan didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he studied me, the weight of his attention making me feel as though he could see right through me. Unlike Daniel, who had always been easy to read, Ethan was impossible to decipher. 

Finally, he leaned in just enough for his voice to drop slightly, sending a shiver down my spine. 

“I think you’re trying to prove something.” 

My fingers tightened around the stem of my glass. He wasn’t wrong- but I wasn’t about to admit that. 

“And what exactly am I trying to prove?” I asked, arching a brow. 

Ethan’s lips quirked in the slightest smirk. "That you’re over him."

The words hit harder than I expected.

I knew I had no reason to feel embarrassed- I was over Daniel. I had no interest in pining over a man who had discarded me so easily. But the way Ethan said it, like he could see past my perfectly crafted indifference, making my pulse quicken. 

I met his gaze head-on, refusing to let him have the upper hand. “And if I am?”

Ethan exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head slightly. “Then you’re playing a dangerous, game, Carter.” 

The way he said my name sent a slow, steady heat curling through me. 

But I wasn’t going to back down. 

“Good,” I said, tilting my chin up slightly. “I could use a little danger.” 

Ethan’s jaw ticked, and for the first time that night, his cool, unreadable expression shifted- just slightly. Enough for me to know I had caught him off guard. 

A flicker of something passed through his gaze. Something dark. Something intrigued. 

And then, just as quickly, it was gone. 

He took another sip of his drink, watching me over the rim of his glass. 

“Careful what you wish for,” he murmured. 

I smirked, feeling the rush of victory in my veins. 

I had a feeling Ethan Sinclair wasn’t the type to let a challenge go unanswered. 

The air between us shifted, charged with an unspoken tension neither of us acknowledged but both undoubtedly felt. 

Ethan’s gaze remained steady on me, assessing, calculating. He wasn’t like Daniel- he didn’t fill silences with empty charm or meaningless flirtation. He let the quiet stretch, waiting for me to break it first. 

I refused to. 

Instead, I swirled the champagne in my glass, mirroring his compose demeanor. “You say I’m playing a dangerous game,” I mused. “But you haven’t walked away yet.” 

Ethan’s lips twitched. The closest thing to a smirk I’d seen from him so far. “Maybe I don’t mind a little danger.” 

That sent a thrill down my spine.

I leaned in slightly, lowering my voice just enough to make it feel like a secret between us. “So what happens now, Sinclair? Are you going to warn me away again?”

Ethan tilted his head, considering me. Then, in a move so subtle yet deliberate, he stepped closer—just enough that I could catch the faintest trace of his cologne, something dark and expensive.

“I don’t waste my time on warnings,” he murmured. “If someone makes a mistake, that’s on them.”

His voice was calm, unaffected, but there was something beneath the surface—a quiet challenge. He was testing me just as much as I was testing him.

I lifted my chin, refusing to be intimidated. “Who says this would be a mistake?” 

Ethan studied me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, without another word, he reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out a sleek black business card, and slipped it between my fingers. 

My pulse jumped at the brief contact, the warmth of his touch lingering even as he pulled away. 

“If you’re so sure,” he said, his voice low and smooth, “give me a call.” 

And just like that, Ethan Sinclair turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd. 

I stared down at the card in my hand, my heart hammering against my ribs. 

Oh, I was in trouble. 

But for the first time in a long time, I didn’t mind one bit. 

*** 

I sat cross-legged on my couch, a half-empty glass of wine in my hand, as I stared at the sleek black business card resting on the coffee table. Ethan Sinclair. His name was printed in clean, silver lettering—simple, elegant, just like the man himself.

Across from me, Olivia Reynolds, my best friend since college, tucked her legs under herself and grinned. “Let me get this straight—you flirted with Ethan Sinclair, he flirted back, and then he gave you his number?”

I groaned, dragging a hand down my face. “It wasn’t his number. It was a business card.”

Olivia waved a dismissive hand. “Same thing. He wants you to call him.”

I chewed my bottom lip, staring at the card like it might burn a hole through the table. “It could mean anything. Maybe he was just being polite.” 

Olivia scoffed. “Polite? Emily, he’s Ethan freaking Sinclair. That man doesn’t do things out of politeness. If he didn’t want to hear from you, he wouldn’t have given you the card.”

I sighed, swirling my wine. “Even if he is interested, I don’t know if it’s a good idea.”

“Why not?” Olivia propped her chin on her hand, her expression fully invested now.

“For starters, he’s Daniel’s brother,” I said, gesturing as if that explained everything.

Olivia just shrugged. “And? You don’t owe Daniel anything. He cheated on you. If anything, this is poetic justice.”

I let out a small laugh, shaking my head. “I don’t want to get involved just to get back at Daniel. That’s not the kind of person I am.” 

“No, you’re not,” Olivia agreed. “But let’s be honest—this isn’t just about Daniel, is it?”

I hesitated. 

Because no, it wasn’t. 

It wasn’t about revenge. It wasn’t even about proving something. 

It was about the way Ethan had looked at me—like I wasn’t just Daniel’s ex, but someone worth noticing. It was about the quiet intensity in his voice, the way he challenged me without trying to impress me.

It was about the way my heart had raced when he handed me that card. 

Olivia smirked, clearly reading my mind. “So what’s stopping you?” 

I exhaled. “What if I call him and he’s not actually interested? What if I misread the whole thing?” 

“Oh, please,” Olivia rolled her eyes. “Emily, you’re smart, but you can be so dense when it comes to men. You didn’t misread anything. He’s into you. And honestly?” She grinned. “I think you want to call him.” 

I bit the inside of my cheek. 

Did I? 

My gaze flickered back to the business card, my fingers itching to pick it up. 

Maybe Olivia was right. Maybe I did want to. 

Taking a deep breath, I grabbed my phone. 

“Okay,” I murmured. “Let’s see what happens.”

Olivia let out an excited squeal, kicking her feet. “Now this is going to be fun.”