Ethan Moore

General POV

However, he soon heard screams emanating from the alleyway. What shocked him was that the screams weren't coming from the woman; they were from the men surrounding her.

After finishing his business, he approached cautiously and watched from a distance as the woman fiercely fought off the men, yelling and cursing at them.

"If you mess with her again, I'll kill you! All of you!" he heard her threaten before she walked away.

Ethan stood there for a moment, dumbfounded and amazed.

What a woman!

And it was at that moment he decided…

***

The convoy soon arrives at their destination, pulling into the mansion through the open, sturdy black iron gates.

Ethan swiftly steps out of the car and strides gracefully to the back. He unlocks the trunk, but as it opens, a sudden kick meets his face, causing him to stagger backward.

"Fuck," he curses under his breath, chuckling as he wipes blood from his nose.

He secretly enjoys this violence. He wonders if she'll still be this violent after spending a day in his house.

He'll mold and shape her until she's calm and gentle by the time he's done with her.

"Easy now, Spitfire. Will you?" Ethan steps closer to the trunk.

"Only a fool like you would say that after kidnapping someone. Easy now, you say? How do you expect me to go easy on you?! Who the hell are you to mess with my human rights?!" Elizabeth isn't taking this lightly. In fact, she's starting to feel scared. She doesn't know this man or his people...

"Where have you brought me?!" She demands angrily, scanning the unfamiliar surroundings.

Ethan's grin widens. "My house."

"I feel like slapping that smile off your face," she snaps.

"Do it, then," he shrugs nonchalantly.

Elizabeth glares at him. "Wait, why am I here?"

"Come with me and you'll find out," Ethan smiles at her before striding into the mansion.

Elizabeth has never felt so exasperated in her entire life. How is this even happening, and why?

Earlier in the day, Elizabeth Claire was standing alone by the roadside when a convoy of cars suddenly pulled up beside her.

She couldn't help but notice an extremely tall man stepping out of the first car. She wouldn't deny it, he looked incredibly handsome. He had striking features...

She was mesmerized as he approached and stood right in front of her, leaving only a few inches between them. Elizabeth found herself completely taken with him. She even wished she could bed him that instant.

But the words that came out of his mouth the next second made her mentally slap herself: "Hi, I'm Ethan Moore. You're mine from this moment onward."

"Who does that?" Elizabeth wondered if he had read the line in a book and decided to try it on her, but it wasn't so. He kidnapped her right then and there. Why?

***

"What do you want from me?" Elizabeth questions inwardly, regaining her composure.

She scans her surroundings again, taking in every detail. They might come in handy later.

There's only one way to find out the answer to her question.

She follows Ethan quickly, and they soon step inside the mansion. Wow.

Elizabeth is amazed by what she sees. The interior decor of the mansion is beautiful and exquisite; she can't deny it.

‘This is beautiful,’ she nods thoughtfully, gawking at everything her eyes land on.

"Thank you," Ethan smiles at her.

Oops, she actually just said that out loud. Pressing her lips together, she clears her throat awkwardly.

"Please, have a seat," Ethan gestures to an armchair while he settles on a couch.

Elizabeth takes her seat but continues to look around, her eyes darting from one angle to another.

Ethan stays quiet, observing her as she takes in every detail of his grand living room. He finds her pleasing to watch, but he knows he needs to get straight to business.

Clearing his throat to get her attention, he begins, "Like I said earlier, I'm Ethan Moore. I'm the executive director of ENQ Company, I'm wealthy, as you can see—"

"What does that have to do with me? Why are you showing off?" Elizabeth cuts him off.

She dislikes rich people, especially those who show off, and many wealthy individuals tend to do that all the time—just like the man before her is doing now.

Elizabeth Claire is a middle-class citizen; she isn't rich, but she isn't poor either. She has never had to beg anyone for food because she is hardworking herself. Having no one to rely on since childhood has made her fiercely independent. So, for this man to sit in front of her and brag about being wealthy and whatnot... It irks her.

Ethan stares at the woman helplessly. He isn't bragging; he's simply trying to set things straight before he gets to the point.

"If only you don't interrupt me a second time, you'll know why I'm saying all of this."

"Oh, okay," Elizabeth replies, irritated.

"As I was saying, I have everything I want. But there's something I need your help with, and that is why you're here."

"You mean that's why you kidnapped me—because you have something you need me to help you with?"

Ethan is speechless. The brat just won't stop interrupting him. It's even surprising that she doesn't seem to know who he is.

Ethan Moore is a name known by the young, old, men, and women. Even children can spell that name in their sleep. E T H A N M O O R E.

So how come the woman in front of him... Ethan is suddenly torn between being happy and being sad.

A part of Ethan likes that she isn't some fanatic obsessed with his fame, but another part of him feels mixed feelings of disappointment that she doesn't recognize him.

"Fine, I'll stop interrupting," Elizabeth mutters after noticing a change in Ethan's expression.

She knows she shouldn't act gullible. She's in the lion's den. She doesn't know this man at all—he could be extremely dangerous. She needs to tread carefully.