Chapter 11

Ethan POV

Another declined call.

I exhaled slowly, tapping a finger against my desk. Seven times.

She wasn’t just ignoring me—she was avoiding me, and instead of irritation  I was intrigued.

Riley Bennett didn’t strike me as the type to run from anything. She had sat across from me at dinner, bold as ever, challenging every word that left my mouth. And now, suddenly, radio silence?

That wasn’t how this worked.

I leaned back in my chair, rolling my phone between my fingers. If she thought avoiding me would end things, she was mistaken.

I wasn’t chasing her.

But I would find out why she was running.

David barely glanced up from his laptop. “Let me guess—still no answer?”

I didn’t respond.

David smirked. “Ah. Ghosted already. That has to be a record, even for you.”

I ignored him. “Look into her.”

David arched a brow. “You want me to investigate Riley Bennett?”

I nodded.

He sighed but started typing. “Alright, let’s see what we can find… Business contacts first, then personal.”

A few minutes passed before he let out a small hum.

“Huh.”

I raised a brow. “What?”

“She actually works,” David mused.

That caught my attention.

David turned the screen toward me. “She’s a marketing strategist at Bellamy & Co. Small but high-end firm. They specialize in PR, branding, that sort of thing.”

That was… unexpected.

An heiress with a real job was rare. Most floated between "business ventures" funded by their parents or held meaningless board positions.

I steepled my fingers. “She’s been there how long?”

“Two years,” David said, still scrolling. “Not just a vanity title either—her team actually respects her. No scandals, no firings. Just… normal.”

That didn’t fit the Riley Bennett I had been introduced to.

“And her social life?” I prompted.

David’s lips twitched. “That’s where things get interesting.”

He turned the screen back to himself, reading something. “She’s been set up on at least twelve blind dates in the last three years.”

I frowned. “Twelve?”

David smirked. “And here’s the fun part. She never officially ends them.”

I narrowed my eyes.

David leaned forward slightly, enjoying this too much. “Every single one of those dates? The guy leaves first. No second date. No explanations. They just never call her again.”

I went still.

That didn’t make sense to me at all.

Riley was beautiful. She was confident, and charismatic – the type of woman who could walk into a room full of people and instantly have everyone’s attention.

Men like that type.

So why were they all leaving?

David stretched. “Whatever happens on those dates, none of them are willing to talk about it. Which means it was either so bad they don’t want to admit it… or something else is going on.”

I exhaled slowly, processing.

She hadn’t fought me on the blind date. She had expected it to fail.

Just like the rest.

But instead of leaving, I had called her bluff. I had played the game, matched her energy.

And that was why she was running now.

David closed the laptop. “So? What’s next?”

I glanced at my phone again. Is that what she thought? That she could ghost me like the rest?

David was still watching me, amused. “So. Want me to call her father?”

“No.”

Kenneth Bennett would probably hand over her entire schedule if I asked. But this wasn’t about access.

This was about answers.

I checked the time. 5:37 PM.

“She should be off work by now,” David mused, still scrolling.

I grabbed my jacket. “Find her.”

David groaned. “Oh, come on. You’re really sending me out there? I have a life, you know.”

I glanced at him.

He sighed heavily. “Fine. But if she throws a drink at me, I’m suing you.”

I smirked. “Noted.”

David’s POV

This was a waste of my time.

I fixed my tie as I walked toward Bellamy & Co., a sleek, modern glass building tucked between overpriced cafés. Employees were trickling out the doors, talking about weekend plans, relieved to be done for the day.

I sighed. How was I supposed to find one specific woman in this crowd?

Then, I got lucky.

A cheerful voice called out near the entrance.

“Goodnight, Riley!”

I immediately turned my head.

A lady stood near the curb, digging into her purse. Long wavy blonde hair, nice physique, and an effortless kind of confidence.

Bingo.

She pulled out her phone, frowning at the text on the screen. Then, rolling her eyes, she put it to her ear instead.

“Dad, seriously? I told you—I’ve got this,” she said in irritation.

I slowed my steps, watching.

A pause.

“No, I am not bringing him to brunch this weekend. That’s insane.”

Another pause.

“Oh my God, did you already invite people? Dad!”

I smirked. So that’s why she’s avoiding Ethan Her father was already making plans for the engagement, and she was desperately trying to stop it.

She groaned and hung up the phone then mumbled something under her breath.

Time to make my move.

I stepped forward. “Miss Bennett?”

She turned.

And damn.

I wasn’t expecting this.

She wasn’t just attractive—she was striking.

Sharp eyes met mine, her expression wary but curious. For a brief, dangerous second, I forgot what I was here for.

The air between us tensed. My throat went dry.

I barely caught myself before staring outright.

She tilted her head slightly. “Yes?”

Shit. Right. I had a job to do.

I cleared my throat, pushing aside whatever the hell that was. “You are… Miss Bennett, correct?”

She hesitated. Like she wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to answer me or not.

Then she nodded. “Yes, I am. But who are you?”

Her voice was smooth—just a touch suspicious.

I forced my brain to function. “I apologize for not introducing myself sooner. I’m from the blind date you recently went on with Glowmira’s CEO, Ethan Reynolds…”

Her eyes widened slightly.

And then, just as quickly, something shifted in her expression.

“Oh,” she breathed. “Mr. Ethan Reynolds.”

There was a strange mix of surprise and realization in her tone.   

I frowned slightly. Why did I get the feeling that something wasn’t adding up?

But before I could dwell on it, she smiled.

A slow, subtle smile that made something tighten in my chest.

She looked relieved.

I wasn’t sure why.

“I’m sorry for coming without any notice,” I continued, recovering quickly. “I was hoping we could talk somewhere private.”

She studied me for a moment.

I expected resistance. Maybe even an excuse to get rid of me.

But then she nodded slightly.

And just like that, I was falling into something I didn’t quite understand.