Chapter 5
396words
I instinctively raised my hand to shield my eyes but touched something warm and firm instead… a chest?
My eyes flew open to find Ethan Holt's face inches from mine.
My entire body was wrapped around him like an octopus—arms and legs entangled with his.
My head rested on his arm, cheek pressed against his chest, and one leg was draped—rather inelegantly—across his waist.
And his uninjured hand rested lightly on my back.
The position was mortifyingly intimate.
I panicked, practically launching myself away from him and tumbling onto the floor with a thud.
The commotion jolted Ethan Holt awake.
He opened his eyes slowly, his dark gaze still clouded with sleep, making him look almost harmless.
But when he registered the scene before him, that drowsiness vanished, replaced by glacial coldness.
"Eve Sullivan." My name came through his gritted teeth like a threat.
I rubbed my bruised backside, utterly mortified.
"I swear I didn't do it on purpose! I'm a restless sleeper!"
He clearly didn't buy it. His expression darkened dangerously.
[Ding! Target has severe morning grumpiness! Villain Meter increased by 1%! Current Villain Meter: 94%!]
I wanted the floor to swallow me whole.
Just then, a knock sounded at the door. "Mr. Holt, are you awake?" Jenkins called from outside. "Miss Woods is here to see you."
Miss Woods?
Who the hell was Miss Woods?
Ethan Holt's brows furrowed deeper, irritation flashing in his eyes.
"Tell her to get lost."
"But sir, she says she's brought your favorite soup…"
"I said tell her to GET LOST!" Ethan Holt's voice exploded with sudden fury.
Jenkins fell silent immediately.
I shrank back, feeling the temperature in the room plummet.
[Ding! Side quest triggered: Drive away love rival. Target: Vivian Woods. Quest reward: +5 Affection Points with romance target. Failure penalty: Randomly cosplay an animal.]
I stared at the quest notification, completely numb.
Love rival? Cosplay an animal?
What fresh hell was this?
After his outburst, Ethan Holt seemed to regain some composure. He glanced at me coldly. "Go get rid of her. I don't want to hear her name again."
I pointed at myself, dumbfounded. "Me?"
"Who else?" he snapped.
I got it then—he was using me as his human shield.
Fine by me. Still better than having to dress up as a damn rabbit or something.
