Chapter 6: Finally caught.
Rory winced, guilt settling in her chest. "I'm fine, Mom," she assured, glancing at Ethan, who was now watching her with open amusement. She turned away, lowering her voice. "I… I stayed at a friend's place."
Ethan let out a quiet, knowing chuckle.
Rory's teeth gnashed together, her fingers tightening around the phone as she shot him a murderous glare. The audacity of this man.
Her mother exhaled in relief. "Rory, You had us worried sick. You didn't answer any of our calls. We thought something had happened to you."
"I'm really sorry," Rory said sincerely, her voice softening. "I should've called. I just—things got out of hand last night."
Her mother sighed, the tension in her voice easing slightly. " So who is this friend of yours?, we called all your friends but non of them mentioned seeing you? Is this someone you met recently while studying abroad?"
" Uhh it's something like that..." Rory tried to sound as honest as possible while stealing a glance at Ethan who seemed to be enjoying the show.
"Alright. Just come home as soon as you can, okay? And call Julian when you get the chance. He's been worried sick about you."
' I think worrying might be an understatement...' Rory hesitated for a fraction of a second before nodding. "I will."
After exchanging a few more reassurances, she finally ended the call, letting out a slow breath.
She turned back to Ethan, her eyes narrowing. "What's the name of this hotel?"
Ethan smirked, seemingly enjoying her reaction far too much. "The St. Laurent."
Her stomach dropped. She stared at him, disbelief flashing across her features. "You brought me to a five-star hotel? How the hell did you afford this?"
Ethan merely shrugged, as if spending a fortune on a single night in one of the most luxurious hotels in the city was nothing to him. "I have my ways."
His evasiveness only irritated her further.
"You—" Rory inhaled sharply, forcing herself to rein in her frustration. She let out a long sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose.
Ethan, who had been lounging since who knew when arched an eyebrow. "Well when are you going."
" Why does it sound like you can't wait to get rid of me...."
" Because I can't." Ethan replied with a pitying smile. " I'm a very busy man, you can't expect me to spend my whole day here with you now do you?"
Rory shot him a glare, her patience wearing dangerously thin. "You are insufferable."
Ethan merely grinned, unbothered. "And yet, here you are, waking up in my hotel room."
Rory's fist clenched at her side, her sharp gaze fixed on Ethan, who sat with his usual air of effortless confidence, the faintest smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.
The longer she looked at him—the way he carried himself, the sheer ease with which he brushed off every single question she threw his way—the more uneasy she felt.
And then, the thought struck her.
She narrowed her eyes. "Just who are you?"
Ethan arched a brow, the smirk deepening, his blue eyes twinkling with amusement. " How hurtful. Have you forgotten my name already?"
"That's not what I meant," she said, crossing the room toward him. "A five-star hotel? The way you talk, the way you act like someone who's got money to burn. No normal guy in his twenties books a room in this kind of place for the night–"
" It's been 30 nights actually" Ethan replied matter of fact.
" 30..30 nights?!" she took a deep breath, her suspicion hardening, "are you some kind of… mafia heir? Or a human trafficker?"
For a second, Ethan just stared at her, completely frozen. He was expecting her to be in awe from his reply but this..
" Hahahaha, Your joking" Ethan broke into a deep, rich, unrestrained laugh, full of genuine amusement that sent his shoulders shaking. He even placed a hand over his stomach, as if trying to steady himself, but it was no use. His laughter echoed through the luxurious room, rolling off the polished walls, making Rory's irritation spike.
"Oh, sweetheart," he finally managed, exhaling as he wiped an imaginary tear from the corner of his eye. "That's by far the best thing I've heard all morning." He chuckled again, shaking his head. "A mafia heir? A human trafficker? Damn, Rory, you really know how to keep things interesting."
Rory's face burned with embarrassment, and she clenched her fists. "It's not funny!"
"It's hilarious." Ethan grinned, looking down at her with that insufferable, teasing expression. "I mean, I knew you were feisty, but I didn't think your imagination was this wild. Should I start wearing pinstriped suits and carrying a cigar? Maybe get a pet tiger for the full effect?" he broke into another fit of laughter.
Rory gritted her teeth, ready to snap back, but before she could, her phone buzzed violently in her hand.
' Who is it now?!' She grumbled internally, checking her phone only to see.
Julian.
Her stomach twisted. ' I totally forgot about calling Julian!.'
She hesitated for only a second before answering. "Julian—"
"Come downstairs....Now"
Rory frowned at the sheer force in his voice, sharp, clipped, and brimming with barely restrained anger.
' Wait... downstairs?, how'd he find me?' Her mind suddenly turned static when she realized that she hadn't told anyone she knew of where she was.
" Julian... How?—".Click. Before she could finish her sentence he had already hung up.
Ethan, still thoroughly amused, clasped a hand over his mouth as if trying to suppress his laughter. But his shaking shoulders gave him away.
Rory scowled. "Oh, shut up."
Ethan raised both hands in mock surrender, though the grin never left his face as he approached her on the bed. "I didn't say a word, sweetheart."
"No, but you were thinking it." Rory glared at him with her big beautiful watery eyes.
"Guilty as charged." He let out a dramatic sigh, stretching his arms over his head. "Well, since your Prince Charming has summoned you, I suppose I should escort you downstairs."