Elena had her back pressed against the cold wall, her heart thudding in her chest. Footsteps echoed closer, their rhythmic tap on the concrete floor sending chills down her spine. If she got caught now, it was all over.

How had she gotten here? It all started with him. Ethan Carter.

————————

The office buzzed with its usual Monday morning frenzy when Ethan Carter made his entrance. Elena Sinclair, buried in her emails, barely glanced up when the door swung open, followed by a wave of cheerful laughter. But then she heard it—his voice. Low, warm, and utterly confident, like a song that knew it would be stuck in your head for days.

“Morning, everyone,” he called out, his tone impossibly upbeat for this early hour. “I brought donuts. Thought we could use a little Monday motivation.”

Elena couldn’t help but look up then. The new guy was already surrounded by their colleagues, handing out pastries with the ease of someone who'd been there for years. He was tall, impeccably dressed in a way that suggested effortless style rather than forced professionalism, with a light dusting of stubble that gave his sharp jawline a roguish edge. His dark eyes scanned the room, landing on each person as if they were the only one that mattered at that moment.

She studied him quietly, feeling a flicker of something—a mixture of curiosity and mild skepticism. "Great," she thought, "another one of those types." The kind who knew just how to charm his way into everyone’s good graces without breaking a sweat.

“Elena, right?” he said, his gaze shifting to her, a hint of amusement playing at the corner of his lips as if they shared a secret joke.

She blinked, taken aback by the directness of his attention. “Yeah, that's me,” she replied, trying to sound casual, though inwardly she felt a strange twist. What was it? Annoyance? Intrigue? It was too early to tell.

“I'm Ethan,” he said, extending a hand. “New to the sales team. I've heard good things about you.”

His grip was firm, not too tight, but not overly casual either. The kind of handshake that implied confidence without arrogance. She nodded, forcing a polite smile. “Welcome to the madhouse,” she managed, hoping her voice didn't betray her unease.

As the morning wore on, she found herself glancing his way more often than she'd like to admit. Ethan moved through the room with a certain fluidity, effortlessly chatting with colleagues, and throwing around compliments like they cost him nothing. And yet, he was sharp. She could tell by the way he responded to questions, how his eyes flickered over spreadsheets and charts. He was good—almost too good.

When he finally settled at his desk across the room, he caught her looking. Their eyes met for a brief, charged second, and he flashed her a grin, a small quirk of his lips that seemed to say, "I see you."

Elena's heart skipped an involuntary beat, and she quickly looked away, annoyed with herself. What was she doing? This was just some new guy who was good at his job and probably knew it. Nothing special. Nothing she hadn't seen before.

"He's smooth, isn't he?" Maya whispered, sliding into the chair beside Elena's. Her friend, always keen on office gossip, nudged her playfully.

Elena scoffed, turning back to her screen. "He's just doing his job," she muttered, though inwardly, she couldn't deny the little flicker of intrigue that had settled in the back of her mind. There was something about him. Something she couldn't quite put her finger on. And that bothered her.

Ethan's smoothness wasn't just an act; he seemed genuinely interested in people, which only added to the mystique. As lunchtime approached, he casually strolled up to her desk, leaning in just enough to be friendly but not intrusive.

“So,” he began, with that easy smile of his, “I heard you're a bit of a history buff. Got any book recommendations?”

Elena raised an eyebrow. Where did that come from? Most people in the office barely knew about her penchant for historical novels. It wasn't something she advertised. “I might have a few,” she replied cautiously, tilting her head. “How did you know?”

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Ethan shrugged, that playful glint back in his eyes. “Office gossip travels fast. Plus, I have an eye for people's interests.” He winked his tone light, teasing even.

She let out a small, reluctant laugh, though inside, her curiosity deepened. Why did he want to know? Was this just his way of charming his new colleagues? She couldn't shake the feeling that he was too smooth, the type who always knew the right things to say.

“Well, if you’re interested,” she said, crossing her arms, “I'd recommend starting with 'The Forgotten Kingdom.’ It's got a bit of everything—drama, intrigue, the works.”

Ethan nodded, his gaze holding hers a beat longer than necessary. “Sounds perfect. I'll check it out.” Then, with a casual wave, he was off to charm the next person, leaving Elena staring after him, an unsettling mix of curiosity and caution swirling inside her.

As she watched him navigate the office, a thought settled into her mind. He was like one of those polished stones she used to collect as a kid—smooth on the outside, but she couldn't tell what lay underneath.

————————

Later That Weekend

The weekend brought with it a sigh of relief. Elena sipped on her latte, gazing out at the bustle of the street beyond the café window. The morning sun spilled over the tables, casting a warm glow on the wooden surfaces. Across from her, Lila was busy scrolling through her phone, her face illuminated by the screen's blue light.

"Did you see that new place opening downtown?" Lila asked absently, flipping her phone around to show Elena a sleek flyer for an upcoming rooftop bar. "We should go some time."

Elena smiled, nodding along, though her thoughts were elsewhere. Her gaze drifted away from the flyer and settled on the memories of the past week. Specifically, the new arrival at the office. Ethan Carter. She hadn't realized she was frowning until Lila reached out and snapped her fingers in front of Elena's face.

“Earth to Elena!” Lila teased, eyes narrowing in mock concern. “You've been zoning out for the past five minutes. What's up?”

Elena blinked, taken aback by her own distraction. “Oh, sorry. It's nothing.” She shrugged, stirring her latte unnecessarily. “Just thinking about work.”

“Liar,” Lila grinned, leaning forward on her elbows. “You don't think about work on weekends. Spill it.”

Elena sighed, knowing she couldn't hide anything from Lila. "It's... this new guy at work. Ethan. He's, I don't know... charming."

“Charming how?” Lila's eyebrows shot up, eyes gleaming with interest. “Wait, is he cute? That's usually how these complaints start.”

Elena rolled her eyes, though a reluctant smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "He's... charming, I guess. The type that everyone instantly likes. He brought donuts on his first day, and he's got this smooth way of talking that just... makes people trust him."

Lila nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful. "Okay, so he's Mr. Popular. Why's that bothering you?"

Elena hesitated, staring into the swirling foam of her latte. “I don't know,” she admitted, biting her lip. "Maybe it's just me being paranoid, but he seems... too perfect. Like he's playing a part, you know?"

Lila let out a thoughtful hum, resting her chin on her hand. "Sounds like you've got yourself a classic charmer. Just keep your eyes open, El."

“Sure,” Elena replied, trying to sound nonchalant. “He's probably just one of those types. Smooth talker, charming, and probably not much else.”

Lila grinned, raising her coffee cup. “To charming troublemakers, then.”

Elena clinked her cup against Lila's, forcing a smile. Whatever Ethan Carter was, she'd figure it out in time. He was just another smooth-talking charmer, right?

If only she knew how wrong she was. Ethan Carter was far more than he appeared to be, and soon, she would find herself caught up in secrets and dangers she never could have imagined.