"There's something in your hair," Ethan said lightly, explaining as if nothing had happened.
Ava let out a small breath of relief. "Huh? Thank you, Mr. Sterling."
The staff rushed over, flustered, bowing their heads in apology. "Sir, I'm so sorry, that was our mistake. It won't happen again."
Ethan's tone stayed calm, but carried weight. "Be more careful next time." He wasn't scolding, exactly, but his presence alone left the man nervous.
"Yes, sir," the worker stammered before backing away.
When the commotion settled, Ethan's eyes shifted to Ava. She was rubbing her palm, trying to hide the faint red marks where debris had grazed her skin. From his angle, he could clearly see the small scratches.
"Let's go," he said simply, pulling her out of the venue toward the parking lot.
Inside the sleek Maserati, Ethan reached for a small leather case tucked neatly behind the seat. Without a word, he opened it and pulled out antiseptic and ointment.
Ava blinked in surprise. He carries a medical kit in his car?
"Hold still." His voice was low as he gently cleaned her hand.
She flinched with a soft gasp.
Ethan's hands stilled, his movements immediately gentler. "Be careful next time," he murmured.
When he finished wrapping the bandage, he packed everything back with practiced ease, as though it was second nature. Then he leaned back, closing his eyes, giving her no further attention.
In the front seat, his driver, Jason, caught Ava's lingering gaze through the rearview mirror. She was staring at Ethan's profile, sharp, unreadable, yet oddly calm. James discreetly shifted his eyes back to the road.
The silence was broken by the sudden ring of Ava's phone. She jumped, fumbling to answer.
"Hello?" she whispered, almost afraid of waking him.
"Ava! You sneak! Why didn't you tell me you went to the city? Do you know how long I've been waiting to hear from you, and you just—" The voice on the other end was loud and scolding.
Three months ago, something happened to Ava's family, and she had no choice but to leave the small apartment shared by the two of them and return home. At that time, she never thought that she would go home, and never go back.
Ava nearly dropped the phone, pressing her hand over the speaker as she darted a glance at Ethan. He hadn't moved, eyes still closed. Still, she lowered her voice. "Nina, keep it down! I'll explain later, I promise. I'm… at work right now. Can we talk after?"
"Fine, but don't think you're off the hook!" her best friend huffed before the line went dead.
Ava sighed and quickly tucked her phone away, then noticed James watching her from the mirror. She offered him an awkward smile, embarrassed, and turned toward the window.
When they pulled up to her apartment, James eased the car to a stop.
"Thank you," she said softly, glancing once more at Ethan. He didn't stir, not even when she carefully slipped out of the car. She hesitated on the sidewalk, watching the Maserati glide away before finally heading upstairs.
Inside the car, Ethan's eyes opened the moment the door shut. He hadn't been asleep at all. Every word of her conversation still echoed in his mind.
She hadn't been here long.
He recalled what Lisa had told him before—that Ava had studied design, and the position originally meant for her was in the design department.
Ava…
Something about her was different, though he couldn't put his finger on it. Why did she feel unlike anyone else? Was he imagining it?
"James," Ethan said quietly, pressing the bridge of his nose. "How long has Mason been gone?"
"About ten days," the driver replied.
"Take me to the hospital."
The Maserati's turn signal clicked on, redirecting them away from the city lights and into the distance.