Elena had never considered herself the adventurous type, but lately, trailing after Ethan Carter had become an unexpected hobby. It was like a game of cat and mouse, and she wasn't quite sure which role she was playing. Today, however, was different. It wasn't after work; it wasn't in the usual settings. This time, it was during office hours, right after lunch when Ethan slipped out with an excuse of a "client meeting."

Elena trailed a few steps behind him, her eyes darting around for any sign that he might have noticed. Ethan moved casually through the bustling city streets, not looking back once. Was he really so oblivious, or was he playing a game of his own?

She watched as he crossed the road and entered a small, inconspicuous building. It didn't have any signs to indicate what it was—just a plain glass door and a series of buzzers along the side. She hurried to keep up, slipping inside the building just as the door swung shut behind him. He was already at the elevator, pressing the button, and he still hadn't glanced her way. Her heart raced as she watched him enter the elevator, the doors closing with a quiet thud.

Damn. She had to be smarter this time. She glanced at the directory on the wall. No company names, just floor numbers. "What is he up to?" she muttered under her breath.

Determined, she waited until the next elevator arrived, quickly pressing the button for the same floor number she had glimpsed before the doors closed behind Ethan. This time, she’d get answers. She needed to know what he was hiding if he was hiding anything at all.

The elevator ride felt like an eternity. As she reached the designated floor, the doors slid open with a soft ding. She peeked out cautiously, scanning the corridor. It was eerily quiet, with just a few closed doors lining the hallway. Then, at the far end, she saw it—Ethan, talking to someone, his posture relaxed but alert, as if ready to react at any moment.

Elena's breath caught. She couldn't hear their conversation, but she could see the intensity in Ethan's demeanor, the way he nodded and gestured, his expression serious. Who was he meeting here? And why?

She ducked back into the shadows, her heart pounding. What was she doing? This was insane. And yet, she couldn't turn back now. Not when she was so close to uncovering... something.

After a few moments, Ethan turned and started walking back toward the elevator. Panic surged through Elena as she realized he would spot her if she didn't move. She spun around, looking for an escape, and found a small side door leading to a stairwell. Without thinking, she dashed inside, pulling the door closed just as Ethan's footsteps echoed closer.

She pressed her back against the cold, metal railing, struggling to calm her breathing. The sound of his footsteps grew louder, and then... silence. She bit her lip, listening intently. He must be right outside. Any second now, he might open the door and find her standing there like a fool.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

But the door never opened. Instead, she heard the soft ding of the elevator and his footsteps fading away. Elena let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. Close call. Too close.

After a few moments, she gathered her nerves and carefully slipped out of the stairwell, tiptoeing back to the hallway. It was empty now, and whatever meeting Ethan had just finished was over. She scanned the floor, trying to find clues, anything to give her a hint about what had just happened.

"Focus, Elena," she whispered to herself. "You're here for a reason."

Just as she was about to peek into one of the rooms, she froze. The elevator dinged again, and the doors slid open. Ethan stepped out, his eyes immediately locking onto hers.

"Looking for something?" he asked, his tone calm, but his gaze piercing.

Her mind went blank. Busted. Again. She stood there, mouth slightly open, grasping for an excuse. “I was... just...”

Before she could finish, he took a step closer, his expression a mix of amusement and something else—something that sent a shiver down her spine. “Following me, again?” he asked, his voice dropping to a low, almost teasing whisper. He backed her up against the wall, his arm coming up to rest beside her head, trapping her in place.

Elena's heart pounded as she met his gaze. There was no playful grin this time, no lighthearted banter. His eyes were dark, and sharp, assessing her every move. She swallowed hard, her brain screaming at her to do something—anything—but she was rooted to the spot.

“What are you hiding?” she managed to choke out, the words coming out more defiant than she felt.

Ethan's lips twitched, almost forming a smirk. “I could ask you the same question,” he replied smoothly, his voice velvety and dangerous. “You've been awfully curious about me, haven't you?”

She bristled, anger flickering through her. “Because you're not who you say you are,” she shot back, trying to sound confident. “People like you... you're too perfect. It doesn't add up.”

His eyes narrowed, and for a second, she thought she saw something flash in them—surprise, maybe even admiration. Then it was gone, replaced by his usual calm, unreadable mask. “Is that what you think?” he asked, leaning closer. She could feel the warmth of his breath against her skin, his presence overwhelming.

She refused to back down. “Yeah,” she said, her voice steady. “And I'm going to find out what you're hiding.”

For a moment, they stood there, the tension crackling in the air between them. She could hear her heart thudding in her ears, her breath shallow and quick. And then, just as suddenly as he had cornered her, he stepped back, his expression softening into a faint smile.

“Good luck with that,” he said lightly, turning away. "Just remember... sometimes the truth is more dangerous than the lies." With that, he walked back to the elevator, leaving her standing there, breathless and stunned.

As the elevator doors closed behind him, Elena finally exhaled, her legs feeling like jelly. She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to steady her racing heart. That had been... intense. She didn't know what game Ethan was playing, but one thing was clear: he wasn't going to make it easy for her to find out.

“Well,” she muttered to herself, pushing away from the wall. “If he wants to play, I'm all in.” And with that, she turned, determination flaring within her. She would uncover his secrets, no matter how long it took.