chapter eight

"Go ahead, I'm listening," I told him, crossing my arms over the table. "What are the rules?"

"Well..." he started, pausing briefly as the waitress returned with our order. She laid the plates down with a bright smile, and Ethan caught her eye, flashing her a quick, effortless wink. The girl immediately giggled, her cheeks flushing crimson before she walked away.

The second she was out of earshot, Janice executed a perfect, exaggerated mimic of the waitress's high pitched giggle. We all burst into light laughter, the tension in the room instantly melting away.

Ethan cleared his throat, his expression transitioning into something far more serious. He leaned forward, bracing his forearms against the table as his intense gaze locked onto mine. "Back to business. Look, I’m really delighted that you decided to give me a chance," he said, his tone entirely sincere. "I didn't want to bind you to a strict legal contract. I believe that if you truly wanted to say no, you would have,even though this arrangement helps you out, too. To be completely honest, I haven't been very lucky when it comes to women."

I raised an eyebrow, surprised by the sudden vulnerability.

"My last girlfriend was quite the actress," he confessed, a bitter edge entering his voice. "She played me like a total fool, feeding off my status and money before breaking my heart. After that, I vowed never to love again... well, until you came along." He threw in a sudden wink, breaking the heavy mood.

I couldn't help but smile, rolling my eyes at his relentless charm.

"I used to change women like clothes because I was terrified of getting hurt again," Ethan continued, shifting back to his candid tone. "But my lifestyle didn't sit well with my parents especially my dad. See, he was an NHL star back in the nineties, and it gets incredibly exhausting because everyone expects me to live up to his legacy. The internet trolled me for months, branding me a reckless playboy. As much as Nike wanted to sign me, they didn't want that toxic reputation tied to their brand name. But when the media saw us together... for the first time in months, they actually printed something positive about a woman I was with. My management saw it as a golden opportunity. I just really want to thank you for your cooperation, Kathrine"

A genuine, warm smile spread across his handsome face.

"You're welcome, Ethan," I said softly, touched by the raw truth of his story. "You were kind to me from the very first moment we met, despite my sassiness. This is the absolute least I can do."

He nodded appreciatively. "Well, the rules are simple. We make regular public appearances, hold hands, and make the world believe we have a stable, committed relationship going on. If Nike finally sees that I'm responsible, I get the deal." He relaxed back into his chair, looking satisfied.

"So, what happens afterward?" I asked, tilting my head. "A mutual breakup?"

"Ehh... yes," he said, a playful grin tugging at the corner of his lips. "Unless, of course, you want us to get married? I'm entirely open to being your life partner." He casually popped a few fries into his mouth. Janice remained completely silent next to me, her nose buried in her phone, though I could tell she was listening to every word.

"Deal?" he asked, extending his hand across the table.

I looked at his open palm, a small smile forming on my face. "Deal."

Even as the word left my mouth, a quiet prayer echoed in my chest, begging that I wouldn't end up hurt again. It's not real, I fiercely reminded myself. Keep your guard up. It's just a game.

"Good. Let's seal it with a kiss then," he suggested, a flirtatious smirk playing on his lips.

"Absolutely not!" I protested instantly, picking up my fork and digging into my lunch.

"You do know we're going to have to kiss occasionally for the cameras, right?" Ethan said, the humor completely draining from his voice, replaced by flat practicality.

I paused, speaking with my mouth half full. "Why?"

"Who is going to believe we're madly in love if we only hold hands, huh?" he chuckled, leaning back.

"Actually, he's completely right, girl," Janice chimed in, finally looking up from her screen. She took a slow sip of her juice. "Even I wouldn't believe it."

I rolled my eyes dramatically at my best friend. "I didn't know you could talk so silly, Janice."

"Look at you," Ethan murmured, pointing a fry at me with a soft smile. "You're violent."

"That is so true!" Janice agreed instantly, nudging my shoulder playfully. "Finally, a guy who sees the real you."

My cheeks flushed an intense crimson. Trying desperately to hide my deep embarrassment, I glared at both of them. "Stop it, you two. You're ganging up on me!"

We finished the rest of our meals in a comfortable, easy silence. After Ethan took care of the bill, we headed out of the restaurant toward the valet parking. As we stepped out into the afternoon air, a small group of girls walked past us, their heads turning instantly.

"Oh my god, Ethan is so hot," one of them whispered loudly.

Ethan caught their gaze and flashed a brief smile, which only made them giggle.

"That must be his new girlfriend," another girl whispered to her friend, pulling out her phone. "I recognize her from the pictures online."

Sensing the eyes on us, Ethan didn’t hesitate. He stepped closer, leaning down, and firmly pressed a sweet, lingering peck against my cheek.

Before a protest could even form on my lips, he brought his hand up, gently pressing a single finger against my mouth to silence me. "Don't..." he whispered, his eyes locked onto mine, his breath warm against my skin. "I'm positive someone is recording us right now."

I forced a tight, performative smile for the imaginary cameras, but leaned in closer so only he could hear me. "I am going to literally kill you for that."

Ethan just opened the passenger door for me, chuckling richly under his breath. Janice slid into the back seat, and within seconds, he was driving us back toward the academy.

By the time we pulled into the school gates, we had officially missed the rest of our classes. Since there was no point in staying, Janice and I quickly slipped inside to grab our bags from our lockers, and she drove me straight home.

The moment I stepped through the front door, a strange tension hung in the air. My parents were both sitting in the living room, looking incredibly alert.

"Hello, Mom. Hello, Dad," I greeted, setting my bag down.

"Hi, sweetie!" my mom chirped. Her smile was far too wide, stretching unnaturally across her face.

I paused at the edge of the rug, narrowing my eyes. "Okay... what is it now?"

My mom and dad immediately exchanged a knowing, loaded glance before looking back at me. "Nothing, love," my mom insisted smoothly.

Shaking my head at their bizarre behavior, I walked past them and headed upstairs.

I pushed open the door to my bedroom, stepping inside, but froze the instant my eyes landed on my mattress. Sitting right in the center of my bed was a massive, beautifully wrapped, high-end designer box.

My heart did a strange, sudden flutter. I walked over slowly, dropping my school bag on the floor. Resting right on top of the sleek lid was a small, elegant card written in sharp, confident handwriting.

I picked it up. It read:

Open the box, love.