The weekend arrived like a soft sigh of relief, sweeping away the tense atmosphere of the office. Elena found herself at her favorite café, sipping a cappuccino while her best friend, Lila, animatedly recounted her week. The sun filtered through the windows, casting warm patterns on the table between them. But Elena's mind was elsewhere, drifting back to thoughts of Ethan Carter.

"...and then he spilled coffee all over his white shirt, can you believe it?" Lila was saying, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Classic Monday morning, right?"

Elena gave a distracted nod, her fingers absently tracing the rim of her cup. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about Ethan. After that strange phone call and the way he was overly cautious about his workspace, she found herself keeping an eye on him without meaning to. It wasn’t just the charm he used so smoothly; it was the subtle way he seemed to probe for information, like a detective fishing for clues.

"Earth to Elena!" Lila snapped her fingers in front of Elena's face, pulling her back to the present. "Okay, spill it. What's on your mind?"

Elena hesitated, glancing around the bustling café as if searching for the right words. "It's this new guy at work... Ethan," she began, lowering her voice as if she were sharing a forbidden secret. "He's...I don't know, strange."

Lila raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. "Strange how? You mean cute-strange or creepy-strange?"

"Neither," Elena frowned, searching for the right words. "More like...too smooth, if that makes sense? He's charming, yes, and everyone likes him. But he's also...calculated. One minute he’s all jokes and donuts, and the next he's intensely focused, almost like he's studying everything and everyone around him."

Lila's eyes widened, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Sounds like you've got yourself a real enigma. And let me guess—you're playing detective now?"

"No!" Elena protested, though a hint of doubt crept into her voice. "I mean, not really. It's just...he does these things that seem...off. Like the other day, I overheard him on the phone, talking about 'advancing plans' or something. And then there's the way he's overly protective of his workspace. I mean, it's almost like he's guarding something."

Lila's expression turned thoughtful, tapping her chin as if mulling over a mystery. "Sounds like he's hiding something...or maybe you're just overthinking it?"

Elena sighed, feeling the tug of uncertainty within her. "That's the thing, Lila. I don't want to overthink it. But what if he's hiding something serious? Like...he could be a corporate spy or something."

Lila's smirk grew. "Or maybe he's just a private person. Not everyone likes their desk being invaded, you know?"

Elena knew that Lila was right, but the nagging feeling wouldn't leave her. "I guess. But you know how I hate dishonesty. If he's really up to something shady, I can't just sit back and do nothing."

Lila raised an eyebrow, a hint of concern seeping into her voice. "El, remember what happened last time you went on a mission to uncover the truth? With that guy from college?"

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Elena grimaced, the memory surfacing like a bitter pill. She had trusted someone once, only to be betrayed, and since then, her tolerance for deception had been zero. "I know, I know," she muttered. "But this is different. This isn't just about me. If he's a spy, he could be hurting the company, all of us."

"Alright, detective," Lila said, leaning back in her chair, a smile dancing on her lips. "Just be careful, okay? And try not to get too wrapped up in it. You know how you can be when you get...fixated."

Elena nodded, though the determination in her eyes had already settled in. "I'll be careful," she promised, though even she could feel the lie in her words. Deep down, she knew she was already too invested, and she wouldn't let it go until she had the answers she sought.

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The First Follow

Elena had never considered herself a spy or even remotely stealthy. But there she was, slipping out of the office an hour later than usual, her eyes fixed on the figure ahead. Ethan walked with a confident stride, hands casually tucked into his pockets, seemingly oblivious to his surroundings. Perfect, she thought. He has no idea I'm here.

The plan had formed in her mind almost on impulse. She would follow him, just this once, to see if there was anything in his life that matched the sense of unease she felt around him. Nothing too invasive—just a simple observation.

But as they turned down a narrow street, Ethan paused. Elena's heart skipped a beat. She ducked behind a parked car, her breath held tight in her lungs. Did he see me? The question echoed in her mind, amplifying her anxiety.

After a moment, he continued walking, his pace unfaltering. Elena exhaled in relief, gathering her courage to keep trailing him. You've got this, she told herself. But then, almost as if he had eyes in the back of his head, Ethan suddenly turned on his heel and glanced directly in her direction.

“Elena?” he called out, his voice carrying a mix of amusement and surprise. “What are you doing here?”

Busted. Oh, crap. She stood up, trying to play it cool despite the heat rushing to her face. “Uh... just taking a walk,” she managed, forcing a casual smile. “Funny running into you here.”

Ethan raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a half-smile. “Right. A walk. In this... alleyway?”

She mentally kicked herself. An alleyway? Really? “Yeah, you know... shortcuts,” she said, cringing at her own excuse. This was not going as planned.

“Shortcuts.” He chuckled, shaking his head. “Well, it's a bit late to be out and about. I’ll walk you back to the main street.”

Before she could protest, he was already leading the way, and she found herself reluctantly following. His ease in handling the situation only deepened her suspicions. He was good. Too good.

As they walked, he glanced sideways at her, his eyes glinting with a hint of curiosity. “So, do you often take these... impromptu walks after work?” he asked lightly, though something in his tone suggested he wasn’t buying her excuse.

Elena's heart pounded. “Not really,” she replied, keeping her gaze forward. “Just needed some air, you know?”

“Right,” he said, his voice smooth as silk. “Well, next time, you should pick a more scenic route. Less... risky.”

She glanced at him sharply, searching his face for any sign of accusation, but he just smiled, his expression calm and composed. Is he toying with me? she wondered, feeling both embarrassed and intrigued.

“Thanks for the tip,” she muttered as they reached the main street. He paused, turning to face her fully, and for a brief moment, she felt as though he was reading her, dissecting every nuance of her expression.

“No problem,” he said finally, his eyes locking onto hers. “Just... be careful out there, Elena.” With that, he gave a nod and walked away, leaving her standing in the glow of the streetlights, feeling strangely exposed.

As she watched him disappear into the crowd, a mix of frustration and fascination bubbled within her. He had turned the situation on its head, making her feel like the one being studied. But instead of discouraging her, it only made her more determined.

Fine, Ethan Carter, she thought, narrowing her eyes. You want to play games? Game on.