Chapter - 6
Ethan didn't flinch. His eyes met the man's gaze.
"I am just an eyesore who's trying to be a knight in shining armour," he said with a shrug.
"Now if you will excuse me. There is some place I need to be." With that, Ethan turned to leave.
But how can he leave now? He had made the man lose face in front of a bunch of women he could have brought to his bed and had the time of his life. Maybe more than one at once.
But now the charm of his wealth was gone.
"You think you can embarrass me and leave, you filthy motherfucker!" The man lunged forward as he swung his arm, ready to break Ethan's jaws.
But as if Ethan saw it coming, he glanced over his shoulder and he twisted his body such that he twirled and the punch swept past his face by miles. And before the man could react, Ethan was behind him, with his leg held up.
Ethan didn't care who it was in front of him, and he lazily struck his leg out, kicking the man on his ass. And that was all he did, the man's momentum did the rest.
"Aggh!!" The man let out a startled grunt as he was carried away by his own weight.
He tried his best to stop, but his shiny Italian loafers skated helplessly across the marble floor. He flailed, threw his arms like a windmill as panic struck his face. But nothing helped. And then.
WHAM!
He fell on the ground face-first with his ass sticking out inviting anyone who desired.
His phone dropped and skidded far away and one of his shoes shot off in the air only to fall back on his ass, spanking him and leaving an imprint for everyone to admire.
The entire lobby froze.
For two full seconds, the silence was absolute. Then, somewhere near the security desk, someone choked back a laugh. Then someone else chuckled, and then someone else.
And then it spread like a wildfire until the sound of muffled chuckles filled the entire lobby.
The man groaned in pain as his handsome face pressed against the spotless floor.
"Hey careful!" Ethan called out, "You might slip."
"Opps… I was late." Ethan showed a sheepish, apologetic smile, acting sorry.
The receptionist, Chloe, bit her lip hard to stop the smile threatening to break through. But her professionalism was losing the battle fast.
The man pushed himself up on trembling hands, glaring at Ethan, "You think you are funny, you cheap cloth wearing low life?" he spat, blood mixing with saliva on his lip.
His one cheek was already swelling pink. His hair was a mess. And his once-perfect pride… was gone.
Ethan shrugged, "A little, maybe. But you did most of the choreography yourself. Ten out of ten for commitment. Maybe we can deduct a point for the landing. You could have done better."
And that was it. The lobby erupted loudly in a wave of laughter. No one knew who started it, but no one cared right now. Even if they were to offend the man, it was hard for them to keep a straight face any longer.
The man looked around, the dominance he held on these people was gone. They knew who he was, but they no longer cared about it.
"You… You don't know who I am!" The man spoke, gritting his teeth.
Ethan leaned closer, nodding his head, "Sure I do. You are the funny little guy who just made everyone's day." He glanced at Chloe and winked, "What a man! What a good man!"
The man's eyes burned in fury, but he had no retort to the boy's words.
"But seriously. I really don't know who you are. So if you are some big shot, find it in your big heart to let me off the hook," Ethan put his hand on the man's chest and gave it a little squeeze before turning towards the receptionist, leaving the man speechless.
"I believe my interview's waiting."
Chloe cracked a full smile as she reached for a visitor badge and handed it to him, "You will find the elevator this way, Mr Ethan" she said, her tone softer now. "And for what it's worth… I think they will like you up there."
Ethan gave a small, lopsided smile. "Let's hope they are as easy to impress as he was." And with that Ethan left.
"Yeah! Run away you coward," The man finally found his voice, "The name is Julian Thorne you motherfucker. The next time I see you. You are dead meat."
"You won't get nothing here, you fucker. I will make sure Jasmine dare not hire you."
The man yelled from behind. And stopped only when Ethan was out of sight.
"Huh… I will let him go this time. I am busy," Julian awkwardly looked around and spoke.
"What are you looking at, bastard? Want me to pluck your eyes?" Julian snapped at the janitor.
"Get moving fuckers. The show's over."
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
Ding!
And the elevator door opened for Ethan to step inside. He quickly pressed the button for the fourteenth floor.
He wasted some time with that pansy douchebag.
The doors began to close and Ethan began to prepare himself mentally when suddenly the door opened again.
Ethan saw a pale, slender arm slip through the gap. The sensor triggered, and the doors slid open again with a chime.
Ethan's brow lifted slightly, curiosity flickering in his eyes as he turned to see who had followed him in.
And just then, a woman stumbled through the narrow gap just as the doors began to open. She slammed her palm against the wall for a quick support, her chest heaving, and her hat wobbling on her head. The elevator seemed too small to contain her panic.
Ethan looked at the girl and found it a bit odd for the building. Her wide-brimmed floppy hat looked like something out of a vacation ad.
THen she had oversized black sunglasses covering half her face, and a blue mask that hid the rest. The girl looked like she had just walked out of a fashion week.
Without so much as a glance at Ethan, she jabbed at the "Lobby" button. Once, twice, five times, as if repetition could make the elevator move faster.
Then, in a move that caught Ethan completely off guard, she turned, pressed herself behind his tall frame, and crouched. Like a startled cat trying to disappear behind a lamp post.
Ethan looked at her confused, "Uh… you good?"
"Shhh!" The girl put her fingers on her lips and gestured to Ethan to stay quiet.
Ethan blinked at her reaction. He was very, very confused.
But before he could process the situation, hurried footsteps echoed through the lobby outside closing in.
"Find her! She couldn't have gone far!" a man barked orders.
His tone didn't sound angry… It felt tired. It was the kind of exhausted fury that came from dealing with the same nonsense one too many times.
"Honestly, this is becoming a habit," another voice grumbled, "Why she can't just behave like a normal adult for once?"
"Oh, let her breathe for once, Mark," a softer, female voice said, trying to diffuse the tension, "She's been cooped up between her apartment and work for days. Maybe she just wanted some fresh air."
"Wanted fresh air?" the first man snapped, his voice cracking. "Do you think I enjoy keeping her inside? You think I want to chase her through half the damn building?"
"I am only following the CEO's orders! And that CEO's the one paying for my daughter's college! So maybe stop lecturing me and start looking!"
Ethan blinked. His brain processed the pieces — the expensive outfit, the mask, the panic. So she wasn't a criminal. She was someone important. Someone who wasn't supposed to be here, someone who sneaked out.
As the footsteps drew closer, the elevator doors, of course, chose this exact moment to move slower than a government office queue.
He didn't think. He just moved.
With a calmness that made absolutely no sense given the situation, Ethan shrugged off his jacket, turned slightly, and held it open like a curtain — blocking the woman completely from view as the doors began to inch shut.
He adjusted his shirt cuff, acting casual. Just another guy fixing his clothes before an interview.
Two security guards jogged past, eyes flicking briefly toward the elevator. What they saw: a tall man, neat shirt, straight posture. Alone.
Nothing suspicious.
The doors finally sealed with a soft, satisfying ding.
Silence filled the elevator.
Ethan slowly put his jacket back on, as if hiding women in elevators was a normal Tuesday activity.
Behind him, there was a shaky exhale — part sigh, part laugh of relief. Then, a soft voice, low and feminine.
"Thank you…"
Ethan turned halfway toward her. "No problem," he said, eyes flicking over her outfit. "But, uh… I have to ask. Are you like… robbing a bank or dodging an ex?"
** ** ** ** **
[
Author's Question: What do you think about Chloe? Should Ethan bang her?
A. Yes
B. No
]