6. Ethan

6

Ethan

The grand ballroom stretches before me, a sea of elegantly dressed guests mingling beneath the soft glow of crystal chandeliers.

Another boring event that I have to make an appearance at.

My eyes sweep over the crowd, searching for a distraction from the monotony of yet another charity event. And then, like a bolt of lightning cutting through the darkness, I see her.

She stands alone, a vision in a gown the color of the night sky, her auburn hair cascading down her back like a fiery waterfall. There's something about her, something captivating that draws me in, a spark of intrigue that ignites a flame deep within me. Without a second thought, I find myself gravitating towards this gorgeous masked woman, unable to resist the pull of her presence.

I approach her with a confidence born of years of practice, a smile playing at the corners of my lips as I prepare to unleash my most charming repertoire. But as I draw near, she turns away, her movements graceful yet determined. Undeterred, I follow, intent to catch her attention.

"Excuse me, miss," I say, my voice smooth as silk. "I couldn't help but notice you from across the room. You look absolutely stunning tonight."

She pauses for a moment, her gaze flickering briefly in my direction before she continues on her path, her pace quickening ever so slightly. I take it as a challenge, a tantalizing invitation to pursue her further.

“Non parlo inglese,” she purrs in a sexy Italian accent, I think it’s Italian anyway.

"I don't believe we've had the pleasure of meeting," I continue, falling into step beside her. "I'm Ethan."

Her response is curt, her tone tinged with a hint of annoyance, but with a beautiful drawl. "Non parlo inglese.”

"Aww, so dismissive. I’m not as bad as all the lies you’ve probably heard about me.”

She rolls her eyes, clearly unimpressed by my attempts at flirtation. "Mi scusi?," she retorts, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

I chuckle. "I like a challenge," I admit, my eyes twinkling with amusement. "And you, my dear, seem to be the most intriguing challenge of all."

She turns again and walks away, leaving me standing alone in her wake. I watch her go, a smirk playing at the corners of my lips. She may be playing hard to get, but I can see the spark of attraction flickering in her eyes. And I'm determined to fan that spark into a blazing inferno.

I can use Google translate to figure out what she’s saying and speak to her.

Lost in my thoughts, I barely notice when Daniel approaches, a knowing grin spreading across his face.

“What has you making that face?”

“This gorgeous woman who keeps blowing me off.”

“That doesn’t happen often,” he chuckles.

“Very true, she’s a unicorn. She pretended not to speak English.”

“Or she could really not speak English,” he laughs as he shakes his head. “I heard that Kyle Withers is dating a girl from Italy.”

“How in the Hell did Kyle meet a woman from Italy, he’s never left Frostwood Falls.”

“Yes he has, you’re just too stuck in your own world to notice.”

“I’m hurt,” I joke.

“Your new PR manager is here. She’s supposed to be coming over to introduce herself.”

“Why couldn’t she meet me at the office on Monday? I don’t like to mix business with pleasure. My weekends are for me.”

“This ball isn’t for you, this is business and you know it. Besides, she’s really busy and could only make this time work.”

“If she’s that busy that she can only give me two hours of her time, then maybe she’s not the one I need to be working with.”

“I hear you, but she’s the best at what she does. I think you need her.”

“I don’t need anyone.”

Daniel lets out a long sigh and shakes his head at me.

“This is also a good event for her to get more clients. She has a successful PR firm and people under her, she’s assured me that you’ll be the top priority.”

“What does she look like?”

“Dark hair, she texted to tell me she’ll be wearing a blue dress. Her name is Savannah.”

“Hmmm,” I say.

Is Savannah the woman who just walked away?

“Be nice to her. You really need this.”

I sigh and nod my head.

“I’m aware.”

When my father traded his best player to rescue me from the quicksand I had fallen into with my career, I was pissed about it. I now understand his reasoning, as I had to build rapport with the team and the fans again after being gone. He was setting me up to take over the team now.

I didn’t want to come back because I was still stuck in that victim mentality and so angry at Ellie for leaving me.

My memories of my time with Elena are prevalent throughout our hometown and I was nervous that I would continue to be stuck in that mentality with all the reminders of her.

What I realized though, is that those memories were oddly comforting and not at all hard like I originally thought they would be.

Now I realize it was all necessary to help me heal and move on.

Being just a hockey star was a much simpler life. Inheriting the hockey team from my father has caused me to have to live under a microscope.

The media is all over me, people are watching everything I do constantly. With the dream of playing and becoming an owner, comes great responsibility that I’m not prepared for.

Anyway, why is it a big deal who I date?

Why does everyone think I drink and stay out until five in the morning? That life has been long gone for a while now.

And in any case, it’s no one’s business but my own.

The latest debacle of me being in the restaurant/bar and near a fight has my parents breathing down my neck as well as my coach and the media. No one wants to believe that I’m sober.

“Savannah is really good at what she does,” Daniel explains.

“How did you meet her again?”

“She was Elena’s creative business coach, PR manager, and they’re like besties.”

“She worked with El? And they’re friends? What are you thinking?”

Elena. Ellie. The one that got away.

It still hurts even though it’s been six years.

“Yeah. Don’t react before you see how good she is at her job.”

“What’s a creative business coach?” I ask.

“Someone who coaches creatives, writers like Ellie. She helped her promote her books, got her signings, whatever else it is that she needed done.”

“Does she know that Ellie and I used to date?”

“I don’t know, I didn’t ask and she didn’t say anything.”

“Why wouldn’t you tell me this before? I don’t know if this is a good idea.”

“Why not?” Daniel asks.

I shake my head.

I don’t even know how to explain what I’m feeling right now.

My eyes gravitate toward the auburn haired woman again. I watch as she mingles with the other guests, her every movement a study in poise and elegance. There's a magnetism to her presence that commands attention, drawing all eyes towards her like planets orbiting a sun.

Look at me getting all poetic here.

She’s something special.

Ellie is the only woman who has ever made me slip into that hopeless romantic vibe.

I catch sight of the woman slipping away from the crowd, a determined set to her jaw as she makes her way towards the restroom.

“I need to go to the bathroom,” I lie as I walk away from Daniel.

I slip through the crowd with my eyes never leaving her retreating figure as she disappears around a corner. When I finally reach the restrooms, I hesitate for a moment, the doors looming before me like a barrier between her and me. I prop myself against the wall, leisurely waiting for her.

She walks out a few minutes later. She stops and narrows her eyes at me.

"Are you following me?"

“You speak English?”

She makes a face realizing she’s been caught. There’s still a distinct accent, but at least we’re not going to have a language roadblock.

“I asked if you’re following me.”

I smile, taking a step closer. "I couldn't resist the opportunity to steal a few moments alone with you," I admit, my tone laced with playful charm.

She arches an eyebrow, unimpressed by my advances. "Is that so?" she replies, her lips quirking into a half-smile that makes my pants tighten.

I nod, closing the distance between us until there's barely a breath of space separating our bodies. "I’ve missed you.”

Why did I say that?

How can I miss someone whose name I don’t even know?

“Missed me?”

I lace my fingers through hers. I feel a jolt of electricity rush through me.

Just like I used to feel with Ellie.

Damn it, get her out of your head!

“Why don’t we step into one of these rooms and get to know each other better?”

I tug her toward me, but she stands rooted to the spot. Her eyes are watery, as if she’s about to cry.

You’re imagining things.

The sapphire studded mask she’s wearing highlights her gorgeous eyes. They’re not the same color as Ellie’s but why did they instantly make me think of her.

Weird.

Am I scaring her?

I take a step back and touch her cheek gently.

“Daniel said you could help me with my image. He said you’re the best of the best when it comes to public relations and marketing.”

“He said what?” she gasps.

“I can give you fifty grand now, but if you can make me look like the face of Sainthood, then I’ll give you two hundred grand total and that’ll be your annual salary until you decide otherwise.”

“Fifty grand? What?”

“Savannah, I’m not sure what it is, but I look into your eyes and feel like I’ve known you my entire life. It’s like I feel this intense connection to you that I can’t shake. You feel it too, right?”

She takes a step back from me and slaps me across the face.

"Save your lines for someone who's interested," she retorts, her tone sharp and cutting.

“What was that for? I didn’t deserve that.”

“You deserve that and more…”

That voice.

I must be going crazy.

I know that voice, even with the fake southern accent.

I hear someone coming up the hallway and turn to see Daniel laughing and shaking his head as he comes up to us.

“I see you’ve made an excellent impression, Ethan. Sav, he’s not an asshole. All of his wealth and privilege tend to make him come off as one though.”

She makes a weird sound before she shakes her head.

Daniel glances down at his phone and then looks back at me with wide eyes. He points at his phone and shows me a text from Savannah that is apologizing for not being able to make it to the ball.

“Oh shit, I’m so sorry, Miss. We thought you were someone else. I don’t know what he said, but it’s a case of mistaken identity,” Daniel says quickly.

“Elena…” I breathe as I start to realize who is standing before us.

“Daniel,” she starts in a hoarse voice, that fake accent is completely gone, and my entire world stops.

“El?” Daniel questions.

Oh shit.

Why was she faking an accent? Did she not want me to know who she was?

How did Daniel not recognize his own sister? How did I not recognize her?

Did they set me up?

I did recognize her, I just didn’t want to admit it. My body and heart knew the whole time who she was.

“ Daniel, why the fuck would you set me up like this?” I snap.

“What are you talking about? I had no clue this was Ellie. The mask and the hair… shit, how did I not recognize my own sister?”

We have a bigger problem here though. Why do I still feel such a strong connection to her?

She removes her mask, those gorgeous brown eyes narrow and pierce through me with such hatred and disgust that I feel like she slapped me across the face, again.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were here? Did you and Savannah plan to dress the same?”

“What are you talking about? Are you talking about Savannah Garbo? She isn’t here,” she snaps.

“Yes, who else would I be talking about? She was supposed to be. I helped Ethan hire her as his PR manager.”

She shakes her head and rolls her eyes.

“Is this some sick joke? Savannah and I haven’t spoken in two years because she stole money from me. She lost all of her clients because she’s a con artist..”

“What are you talking about?” Daniel snaps. “I’ve been messaging her for the last two weeks about this. Why didn’t you tell me any of this?”

“It’s no one’s business but my own. I handled it and didn’t want to put any more energy into her. She probably thinks it’s a setup. Did you give her money?”

“No. She was supposed to meet with Ethan to see if it would work.”

“Good thing Ethan ran into me spouting his ridiculous pick up lines then, he would’ve been swindled out of a lot of money.”

She turns on her heel to walk away.

“They weren’t pick up lines,” I interject as I reach out to touch her arm.

“Don’t touch me,” she hisses. “I realize you don’t know me anymore, but it seems you haven’t changed a bit. Spouting lies every chance you get.”

“El.”

“ Don’t call me that.”

There’s so much venom in her voice it’s hard to believe that we were ever best friends, that she ever loved me.

“Well shit, I thought I was being helpful and had a contact for you, turns out I don’t. You’ll have to find another PR manager, man.”

This is perfect.

It’s kismet.

It’s a synchronicity or whatever that stuff was in those romcoms Ellie loved to watch.

Fate is intervening and dropping my girl right back into my lap.

My best and favorite PR manager just came back to town, Ellie did this back in high school and college for me without the title.

“Elena could do it,” I say quickly before she gets too far away. She stops and turns around to stare at me. “You went to school for it as your minor. You’ve done a really good job of promoting your books from what I’ve seen on social media and what Daniel has told me. You also know me better than anyone else in the world.”

“I don’t know you anymore.”

“Well, you certainly seemed to think you did two minutes ago,” I retort.

Daniel chuckles as she narrows her eyes at me.

“I’m not working for you.”

“Elena, hear him out,” Daniel adds. “This might be exactly what you need.”

“I don’t need anything.”

“Stop being so stubborn,” I sigh. “I’ll double what I was going to pay Savannah.”

“I especially don’t need your money.”

“Sis, the boutique is going to suck money out of you for the first year at least. Grams is well-intentioned but she’s suffering from early onset dementia and you’re going to spend time digging yourself out of a money pit. What he’s offering you will help tremendously. You were so good at helping him when you two were together.”

“I did that because I loved him. I don’t…”

“Please don’t finish that sentence,” I growl without thinking.

She rolls her eyes and shakes her head again.

“I realize that you have pretty good savings built up from your books. Clearly, because you’ve been traveling nonstop, but you need this. It won’t just save the boutique, but it’ll also help you fund your writing.”

“No,” she snaps before she turns and walks away.

I look back at my best friend.

“Why in the Hell didn’t you tell me she was home?”

“I didn’t think she’d really come home. I thought she was just saying it to placate me and Grams, honestly. Does it matter? You’ve moved on and you’re not going to ever date her again.”

“What?”

“You destroyed her in college and ran her off. I haven’t seen her for more than video calls in six years, Ethan. She lost herself trying to make sure you were everything you ever dreamed of. I will let her be your PR manager, but I will not allow you to ever date her again. Not to mention, you two are even more total opposites now.”

“What does that mean? She’s still Ellie.”

“No, she’s not the same girl she was in college or high school. She was so insecure and introverted back then while you were a confident, outgoing guy. Now, she’s confident and outgoing, but she’s matured and you two will no longer align. She doesn’t drink or party like you do, she doesn’t spend frivolously. She’s intentional about everything she does and you’re only that way on the ice.”

“Why are you being like this right now?”

“I love you, bro, but I won’t allow you to destroy her ever again. If anything, your track record with women sucks.”

He’s not wrong on the last part, but Ellie destroyed me when she accused me of cheating and then left without so much as an explanation.

I lost myself in women and booze for a long time trying to make the pain go away.

She abandoned me when I needed her most and didn’t even care.

“How do I get her to take the job?”

“I’ll talk to her,” he sighs. “I’m certain she didn’t think things through when she agreed to take the boutique. I only just learned how much financial trouble Grams is in.”

“Thanks,” I say.

Daniel walks back into the ballroom and I lean against the wall again.

Elena is back in town and this is the perfect opportunity to win her back.

I’ll do whatever it takes to prove to her that I never cheated and never would.

I love her more than I’ve ever loved anyone in my life. Even with the space between us all these years, that never changed.

She’s the only human in the world that has ever understood me and never made me feel like I was less than because I wasn’t the same as anyone else. I used to be so insecure inside, but I never let anyone see that part of me on the outside, not even Elena.

Growing up in a family that only cares about your public image, who rarely complimented or supported me, I really appreciated that Elena always did that for me. My parents always made me feel an inch tall, but El, she always made me feel like a giant.

She supported me when she didn’t have to. She loved me despite me keeping her at arm's length.

I should have opened up to her more than I did.

I should have respected her and not taken her for granted.

It was always like we had this connection that went beyond the physical. I always seemed to know when she was thinking about me or was about to text or call me. I could feel her no matter where she was in a room.

She is the love of my life and I’ve spent the last six years looking for her in every woman I met with no luck at all.