Chapter 66 On The Edge
Ever since the Vincent incident, Ethan couldn't stop thinking about Lena. He had assigned one of his security men to watch over her discreetly, day and night. He'd seen the fragility she worked so hard to hide the gentleness buried beneath that tough, fiery shell. And somewhere along the way, his concern for her had grown into something he couldn't quite name, something that lingered in his thoughts.
He had decided to stay by the pool, not only because he wanted to be near her or because he enjoyed her company, but because a quiet, persistent unease wouldn't let him leave. The pool was vast, its depth swallowing the sunlight in darker blues toward the far end. He knew how quickly a moment of distraction could turn into disaster, and the thought of her vanishing beneath that still surface made something twist uncomfortably inside him.
So he lingered, pretending to focus on his laptop, though his attention kept drifting back to her, her laughter carried on the breeze, the glint of water on her skin, the way she seemed so at peace. He forced himself not to dwell on it, not to admit how much he liked having her within sight.
Then, without warning, he noticed she had drifted into the deeper section. Seconds passed. Too many. She hadn't resurfaced. His pulse slammed against his ribs, the world narrowing to that one patch of rippling water. The laptop slid from his lap with a dull thud as he surged to his feet. In the next heartbeat, he was in motion, shoving the chair back and diving headfirst into the cold water.
What Ethan didn't know was that Lena was, in fact, an excellent swimmer, back in school, she'd been the star of her team, winning competition after competition, able to stay underwater for what felt like forever. That was why she'd been so thrilled when she stumbled upon the pool, practically aching to dive in after such a long time. She'd been having the time of her life, cutting through the water in smooth strokes, when she decided to try one of her old underwater maneuvers.
Halfway through the move, the world above her erupted with a sudden splash. In the next heartbeat, an arm hooked around her waist and yanked her upward. She burst through the surface, startled and blinking water from her lashes.
his grip was firm, his eyes sharp with worry. The raw concern in his face startled her, it didn't fit with the cool, guarded man she thought she knew. She hadn't even realized he'd been watching her swim, let alone that he'd react like this.
Ethan swam to the edge in a rush, his movements slicing through the water, and pulled her out with surprising strength. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice low but laced with worry that showed plainly on his face. Without hesitation, he grabbed a towel, wrapping it snugly around her shoulders, his hands lingering just long enough to steady her.
Lena wanted to tell him she was fine, really fine, but she didn't. She liked the way he looked at her, the way his touch lingered, the firm, grounding strength in his hands. So instead, she coughed lightly, as though she'd swallowed water. His eyes darkened with concern, scanning her face as though searching for any sign of distress.
"Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?" he said, voice low but edged with restrained anger. "You could've" He cut himself off, his jaw working as if the thought alone was too much. " God... Lena you have to be careful" He said, Lena looked at him, coughing again as if she were unable to speak.
His words carried warning, but his grip never loosened. She could feel the heat of him even through the towel. Their eyes caught and held his gaze fierce yet softened by something he couldn't seem to hide, hers unable to look away.
"You're still cold," he murmured, his voice quieter now, almost intimate. Without asking, he bent and scooped her up into his arms. She stiffened for a second, startled, but the solid feel of him, his arm beneath her knees, his chest firm and warm against her side, made her relax.
He carried her to a bench at the poolside, setting her down gently but staying close, still holding one end of the towel so it wouldn't fall away.
"I'm fine now," Lena said, steadying herself, her voice even. "I just... felt really weak and couldn't swim back up." She nearly laughed at the absurdity of her own lie, but kept her face straight.
"It's fine," Ethan replied. "Thank God I was around." The relief in his tone lasted only a heartbeat before his voice cooled, sliding back into the detached demeanor she'd come to expect from him.
Lena studied his face for a moment, something stirring in her she couldn't quite name. He glanced at her, and she quickly looked away. Without another word, he stepped back, lowering himself into the other chair.
He sat there in silence, trying to steady his breathing. He didn't like this. This sudden pull toward her, this raw concern that had blindsided him. Ethan had been raised to shut out emotions, to view them as weaknesses. Anything that stirred them felt foreign, almost dangerous. And yet, here he was, fighting the urge to look at her again.
Ethan didn't like caring about anyone. He had dated before, but never once had he felt a real emotional connection. Feelings, to him, were distractions. unnecessary, dangerous. And yet, Lena was becoming a problem. She was staying longer and longer in his thoughts, intruding where she didn't belong.
He frowned, deciding he needed to put an end to it. He turned toward her, ready to scold her, to remind her of their contract and warn her to stop causing trouble for him. But when his eyes met hers, the anger he'd been holding onto faltered, slipping away before he could summon the words.
Ethan glanced at his watch, his expression hardening. "I have to get ready," he said, standing. He pulled off the towel draped over his shoulders and tossed it onto the chair.
Lena was still sitting there, legs tucked beneath her, staring out at the pool.
"You should leave the pool area," he told her, his tone firm. "You've had enough for one day."
She tilted her head. "I'm fine now. I might stay a bit longer, the house is really boring"
His brow furrowed. "Stay longer? After what just happened?"
"It was nothing," she said with a shrug, leaning back in her seat.
He stared at her for a beat, half-annoyed, half-baffled. "Unbelievable," he muttered under his breath. Then, after a moment, he said, "Fine. Get changed."
She looked at him, puzzled. "Why?"
"You're coming with me to the Autolux Expo," he said.
Her eyes widened slightly. "The car expo?"
"Yes," he replied, already turning away. "At least that way I'll know you're not here finding new ways to give me a heart attack."
Ethan didn't know why he'd invited her. Part of him was still on edge after the pool, taking her along felt like the safest way to keep an eye on her. He ran a hand over his forehead, annoyed at himself. Why was he trying to protect her? he wondered, frustration prickling his veins. Lena, meanwhile, was practically vibrating with excitement, almost jumping in place. He stared at her, incredulous. Wasn't this the same girl who had almost drowned?