« Amelia, » she said gently. « Believe me, leagues only exist in the minds of insecure people. »
Before I could answer, the woman in the red dress was already just a few steps away. Her heels clicked on the marble floor with the confidence of someone who always got what she wanted.
« Ethan, » she said with a flawless smile. « I knew you were here. »
His gaze fell upon me, assessing me as if I were a stain on the tablecloth.
—And you are…?
Ethan didn’t hesitate for a second.
He took my hand.
Then she intertwined her fingers with mine in such a natural way that my heart leaped.
« This is Amelia, » he said calmly. « My girlfriend. »
The silence lasted barely a second, but it felt eternal.
The woman in the red dress blinked.
—Your… girlfriend?
Ethan nodded.
-Yeah.
He looked at me with a warm smile.
—The woman I told you about.
I could barely breathe.
But something inside me —perhaps pride, perhaps pure survival— decided to play along.
—Hello— I said with a small smile. —Nice to meet you.
The woman did not return my smile.
—Interesting—he murmured.
Her eyes moved between Ethan and me, trying to find the crack in the story.
—I didn’t know you had a girlfriend.
Ethan shrugged.
—I don’t usually talk about my private life.
She leaned in a little closer.
—Ethan… can we talk for a moment?
—Not now—he replied.
The woman clenched her jaw.
—This is not like you.
Ethan simply raised our intertwined hands.
—Now it is.
For the first time, the woman’s confidence seemed to waver.
« Well, » he finally said coldly. « Enjoy your night. »
And he walked away.
I released the air I didn’t even know I was holding.
« Oh my God, » I whispered. « I think I’m going to faint. »
Ethan let out a small laugh.
—You did amazing.
—I didn’t do anything.
—You did exactly what I needed.
I looked at him in disbelief.
—Is this… over?
Ethan looked around the room.
-Not yet.
-Because?
—Because now everyone thinks you’re my girlfriend.
I followed her gaze.
Several people were watching us.
Some curious ones.
Others were surprised.
And then I saw something that left me even more confused.
Rebecca and Miguel were approaching.
Rebecca seemed nervous.
—Amelia—she said when she arrived at the table—. I didn’t know you were with someone.
Ethan stood up gracefully.
« Ethan Mitchell, » he said, extending his hand.
Miguel shook her hand… and her eyes opened.
—Mitchell… like Mitchell Group?
Ethan nodded.
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