3
300words
I hate making people wait, so I stepped out early.
When Ethan appeared I caught a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
He quickly looked away and mumbled, "You waited this long? You really like me."
I said nothing.
The banquet had already begun and the ballroom was full.
A man approached—Lucas Reed. When he saw Ethan he sneered. His gaze paused when it landed on me.
"Ethan, you didn't get the other one? But I think this one is prettier," he said, and his mouth tilted.
Ethan's face went cold. The room went quiet—everyone felt the tension.
I broke the silence. "Thanks. You're not bad yourself."
Lucas glanced at me with something complicated in his eyes and drifted away.
The room relaxed. Ethan told me later that Lucas was his family's enemy—both in business and in politics.
The two clans were locked in a feud, both vying for dominance. Naturally, the two of them were also competing.
I sipped my wine. Ethan murmured, "Of course—he loves stealing my women."
I didn't know how to respond, so I said the only thing I could think of: "That's kind of bad."
That was my sternest criticism to date—partly to be agreeable to Ethan.
He looked at me: "…Just kind of?"
I set my jaw. "No—very bad."
His driver walked up and handed me a shiny smartphone. "This is one of mine," he said awkwardly.
It was so new!
For the first time that night I stepped out of my people-pleasing boundaries and said Lucas Reed's name: "Lucas Reed is really bad."
Ethan nodded with satisfaction, then went to find his brother.
Lucas raised his glass at me from across the room.
I gave a quick smile and hoped he hadn't heard my loud-mouthed remark.
