Chapter 5

Emily’s POV… 

I stirred as the soft morning light streamed through my bedroom window, casting a warm glow over the sheets. The first thing I became aware of was the soreness in my body—a reminder of exactly how last night had unfolded.

The second thing? The steady, solid warmth beside me. 

Ethan was still here. 

I blinked, my head turning slowly on the pillow. 

He was lying on his back, one arm resting behind his head, the other draped loosely over his stomach. He’d been awake, watching me for a while. 

I swallowed, suddenly unsure of what to say. “You stayed.” 

Ethan’s lips twitched, but he didn’t move. “I did.” 

That was unexpected. 

Ethan Sinclair wasn’t the type to linger. He wasn’t the type to entertain repeats- at least that’s what I’d always heard. 

And yet, here he was. 

Before I could over-think it, he shifted, reaching over to brush a strand of hair from my face. His fingers were warm, his touch, too gentle for a man who had been anything but last night. 

“What are you doing tonight?” he asked casually.

I blinked. “Tonight?”

Ethan nodded, his thumb tracing absent circles against my cheek.

“I have an event,” he said, watching me closely. “Come with me.”

My heart skipped a beat. 

An event. 

A public event. Not one behind closed doors. 

Ethan Sinclair never took the same woman anywhere twice. And yet, he was inviting me again.

I sat up slightly, pulling the sheet with me. “Are you asking me on a date?” I teased, though my pulse raced.

Ethan smirked. “I don’t ask, Emily.”

I rolled my eyes, trying to ignore the thrill that ran through me. “Of course you don’t.” 

His smirk faded slightly, his expression turning more serious. “So?”

I hesitated. This was dangerous. I knew it. 

But I had already played with fire. 

And I had no intention of stopping now. 

I met his gaze, a slow smile curving my lips. “Alright Sinclair, let’s see what you’ve got for me tonight.” 

Ethan’s eyes darkened, his grip tightening around my waist.

“Oh, you have no idea.”

*** 

I stood in front of my mirror, smoothing down the fabric of my dress. It was deep navy, elegant yet daring, with a thigh-high slit and an open back that dipped just low enough to be scandalous. I wasn’t sure what kind of event Ethan was taking me to, but I knew one thing- if I was going to step into his world, I wasn’t going to do it quietly. 

My phone buzzed. 

Ethan: I’m outside.

My pulse kicked up. 

I took a final deep breath, grabbed my clutch and made my way to the door. 

When I stepped outside, the first thing I noticed wasn’t the sleek black car waiting at the curb—it was Ethan.

He leaned against the car, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, his crisp white shirt open at the collar. No tie. No effort to look too polished. Just enough to make it look effortless.

His eyes met mine, and then he smirked. 

“You’re going to make this difficult for me, aren't you?” 

I arched a brow as I descended the steps toward him. “And what exactly am I making difficult?” 

Ethan stepped forward, his hand brushing over my waist as he opened the car door for me. “Resisting the urge to keep you to myself.” 

My breath caught, but I refused to let him see the effect he had on me. 

Instead, I slid into the car, heart pounding, as Ethan followed. 

When we arrived, I realized it wasn’t just any event—it was an exclusive gala, the kind where powerful men made deals behind closed doors, where the women on their arms were more than just accessories.

I felt the weight of the stares the moment we stepped inside. 

But the only one I cared about was Ethan’s. 

He kept a firm hand on the small of my back, guiding me through the crowd like I belonged there. And for the first time, I wondered if maybe I did. 

“You’re staring,” I murmured, glancing up at him as we stopped near the bar. 

Ethan didn’t look away. “Can you blame me?” 

I laughed softly, taking a sip of the champagne a waiter handed me. “So tell me, Sinclair,” I teased, tilting my head. “Are we making a statement tonight?”

I honestly can’t wait to see the Daniels’ face when he finds out I’ve been hanging out with his brother. 

His expression remained unreadable. “What do you think?”

I glanced around the room, catching the way people looked at us. 

“People are talking,” I noted.

Ethan smirked. “Let them.”

I knew that stepping into Ethan’s world would be different, but I hadn’t expected to feel so out of place. 

The ballroom was extravagant—crystal chandeliers, marble floors, and a sea of impeccably dressed guests who carried themselves with quiet arrogance. These weren’t just wealthy people. They were powerful.

And Ethan was one of them.

He moved through the room with effortless confidence, exchanging handshakes and nods, introducing me to men in tailored suits and women with sharp smiles.

“This is Emily Carter,” he told them. “A friend.”

Just a friend.

The words stung more than they should have.

I told myself it didn’t matter. This wasn’t a relationship. It wasn’t serious. But as the night went on, I couldn’t shake the growing unease in my chest. 

Because it was obvious—Ethan had no intention of acknowledging what was really happening between us.

And the more I watched him, the more I realized… this wasn’t new for him.

***

The silence in the car was thick.

I sat with my hands in my lap, my gaze fixed on the city lights streaking past the window. 

Finally, I spoke, “Why didn’t you tell them the truth?” 

Ethan didn’t look at me. His grip tightened slightly on the steering wheel. “What truth?” 

I turned to face him. “That we’re more than JUST friends.” 

He sighed. “Emily—”

“I mean, that is what this is, right?” I pressed. “Because if I’ve been misreading things, feel free to correct me.”

Ethan exhaled, his jaw tight. “It’s not that simple.”

I let out a short, humorless laugh. “Right. Because of your family image?”

His hands flexed against the wheel. “Yes.”

I stared at him, waiting for more. But that was all he said.

I shook my head. “Wow.”

Ethan finally glanced at me, his gaze unreadable. “You don’t understand the pressure I’m under. Everything I do is watched. Scrutinized. If I bring someone into my life publicly, it has consequences.”

I swallowed, trying to keep my voice steady. “And what are the consequences of this, Ethan? Of making me feel like I don’t exist in your world?”

A muscle ticked in his jaw. “That’s not what I’m doing.”

“Then what are you doing?”

Silence.

I exhaled slowly, turning back to the window. “You know what? It’s fine.”

Ethan’s fingers drummed against the wheel. “Emily—”

“I said it’s fine,” I repeated, my voice flat.

But the truth was, it wasn’t fine.

And I wasn’t sure how much longer I could pretend it was.