Chapter 3: THE BLIND DATE

The man at table seven was not Daniel Chen.

I knew what Daniel looked like. I'd seen photos. Mom showed me like a hundred times.

Daniel was nice looking. Normal. Safe.

This man was... not that.

He was wearing a black suit that probably cost more than my rent. His dark hair was perfectly styled. Sharp jawline. Broad shoulders.

And his eyes.

Dark. Intense. Like they could see straight through me.

He looked up as I approached.

Our eyes met.

Something electric shot through me. Something I'd never felt before.

Not even with Jake.

"Um... hi?"

My voice came out squeaky. Great.

He stood up. Tall. Really tall.

"Hello."

His voice was deep. Smooth. The kind that made your stomach flip.

"I think... I think there's been a mistake."

"Is there?"

He pulled out the chair across from him.

"Please. Sit."

I should have left. Should have called Mom. Asked where the real Daniel was.

But my feet moved on their own. I sat down.

"I'm supposed to be meeting someone else."

"Are you sure about that?"

He smiled. Just a little. Like he knew something I didn't.

"I'm Emma."

"I know."

"You... you know?"

"Your family made sure I knew everything about you."

Wait. What?

"Are you... are you Daniel Chen?"

He laughed. Low and warm.

"No. I'm definitely not Daniel Chen."

"Then why are you sitting at table seven?"

"Because someone told me to."

This was insane. I should leave. Walk out. Call Marcus.

But I didn't move.

The waiter came over. Poured water. Asked if we wanted wine.

"Yes," the mystery man said.

"Red okay?"

I nodded. Words weren't working anymore.

The waiter left.

We sat in silence for a moment.

He watched me. Really watched me. Not like Jake used to... distracted, always checking his phone.

This man looked at me like I was the only person in the entire restaurant.

"You've been crying."

It wasn't a question.

"How can you tell? I fixed my makeup."

"Your eyes. They're still swollen."

My hand went to my face automatically.

"Don't."

His voice was soft.

"You're still beautiful."

My heart did something weird. Skipped. Jumped. I don't know.

"I don't even know your name."

"Does it matter?"

"Yes?"

He leaned back. Studied me some more.

"Call me Ethan."

Ethan. Strong name. Confident name.

"Okay... Ethan. Why are you here?"

"Same reason you are. Someone thought it was a good idea."

The wine arrived. I grabbed my glass immediately. Took a big sip.

"Bad day?"

I laughed. It came out bitter.

"Bad year."

"Want to talk about it?"

"Not really."

"Good. I hate small talk anyway."

Another sip of wine. The warmth spread through my chest.

"So what do we talk about then?"

"Anything real."

Real. When was the last time I had a real conversation?

Jake and I used to talk about bills. Chores. What to watch on Netflix.

Nothing deep. Nothing that mattered.

"I caught my boyfriend cheating on me yesterday."

The words just came out. No filter.

Ethan didn't look shocked. Didn't offer fake sympathy.

"His loss."

"You don't even know me."

"I know enough."

"Like what?"

He tilted his head. Those dark eyes pinned me in place.

"You're loyal. You loved him even when things got hard. You probably made excuses for him. Blamed yourself."

My throat tightened.

"How..."

"Because people who get cheated on are usually the ones who loved the most."

Something in his voice. Pain. Old pain.

"You've been cheated on too."

"Once. Long time ago."

"What did you do?"

"Left. Never looked back."

I wished I could be like that. Strong. Decisive.

"I keep thinking about what I did wrong."

"Nothing. You did nothing wrong."

"He said I was boring. Predictable."

Ethan's jaw tightened.

"He's an idiot."

"You don't know that."

"Yes I do."

The way he said it. So certain. Like it was a fact.

"Why are you being so nice to me? You don't even know me."

"Maybe that's why."

We ordered food. I don't even remember what.

We talked. About everything. Nothing.

He told me about his work. Something in business. He was vague but I didn't push.

I told him about my job. How much I hated it lately. How everything felt pointless.

"So quit."

"I can't just quit."

"Why not?"

"Because... because that's not how life works."

"Says who?"

I didn't have an answer for that.

The food came. We ate. Drank more wine.

Time felt weird. Too fast. Too slow. Both at once.

He made me laugh. Actually laugh. Something I thought I'd never do again.

"You have a beautiful smile."

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

"Stop."

"Stop what?"

"Being so... so..."

"Honest?"

Yes. That.

Jake never said things like that. He used to. In the beginning. But it faded.

Everything faded with Jake.

But with Ethan... everything felt sharp. Clear. Real.

"Can I ask you something crazy?"

Ethan leaned forward.

"Please do."

My heart pounded. The wine made me brave. Or stupid. Probably stupid.

"Do you believe in fresh starts?"

"I believe in taking what you want."

"What if what you want is impossible?"

"Nothing's impossible."

I looked at him. Really looked at him.

This stranger who listened like my words mattered. Who looked at me like I was worth something.

The opposite of Jake in every way.

What if...

No. That's insane.

But my mouth opened anyway.

"Marry me."

The words hung in the air.

Ethan didn't laugh. Didn't look surprised.

He just held my gaze.

"Okay."

Wait.

"What?"

"I said okay."

"You... you can't just say okay."

"Why not?"

"Because that's crazy! We just met!"

"So?"

"So people don't just... you can't..."

He stood up. Held out his hand.

"Emma. Do you want to marry me or not?"

This was insane. Completely insane.

I should say no. Walk away. Go home. Forget this ever happened.

But when I looked at his hand...

When I looked at his eyes...

I saw a way out. A escape. A chance to be someone new.

Someone exciting. Unpredictable.

Everything Jake said I wasn't.

My hand reached out. Took his.

"Yes."

He pulled me up. We were standing so close.

"Then let's go."

"Go where?"

"Does it matter?"

No. It didn't.

Nothing mattered anymore except getting away from the pain. The memories. The old Emma who wasn't enough.

He left cash on the table. A lot of cash.

Then we walked toward the exit.

His hand still held mine. Warm. Strong. Steady.

The cool night air hit my face as we stepped outside.

Reality started creeping back in.

What did I just do?

What did I just agree to?

"Ethan... I..."

"Mr. Blackwood!"

A man in a dark suit rushed up behind us. Breathing hard.

"Sir, your security team is waiting. The board is furious you vanished again."

I froze.

Security team? Board?

I looked at Ethan.

No. Mr. Blackwood.

"Who are you?"

The suited man looked between us. Confused.

"Ma'am, this is Ethan Blackwood. CEO of Blackwood Industries."

The name hit me like a truck.

Blackwood Industries.

The biggest tech company in the country. Maybe the world.

Worth billions.

I'd seen that name in magazines. On billboards.

But I'd never seen his face.

He was always private. Mysterious.

And now...

Now he was holding my hand.

The man I just agreed to marry.

A billionaire.

"Emma..."

Ethan turned to me. His eyes searching my face.

"I can explain."

The ground felt unsteady.

"You're... you're..."

"I know. I should have told you."

The suited man cleared his throat.

"Sir, we really need to go. The situation is urgent."

Ethan didn't move. Didn't let go of my hand.

"Do you want to come with me?"

"Where?"

"Anywhere. Everywhere."

My phone buzzed in my purse. Probably Marcus. Probably wondering where I was.

I had a choice.

Go back to my parents' house. To the pity. The pain. The memories of Jake.

Or go with this stranger. This billionaire. This man who looked at me like I mattered.

The man I just agreed to marry.

Insane.

Completely insane.

I squeezed his hand.

"Let's go.”