章節 9: Chapter 9: Playing Hard to Get
"Wait!" Ethan Hayes heard a familiar voice as he pressed the button to close the elevator door. Just before it shut, Gwen Stacy slipped inside.
"Thanks," Gwen said with a smile, only for her expression to freeze when she saw Ethan standing there. Her eyes widened in surprise.
"Ethan Hayes? What are you doing here?"
Ethan gave her a cold glance and pressed the button for the lower parking level.
Gwen pouted, clearly remembering the lecture she had given Ethan yesterday. It seemed that her words had left him indifferent. She shifted slightly, leaning against the edge of the elevator and staring at the ceiling, trying to ignore him. But her curiosity was growing.
What was Ethan doing in the same building as her? There were only two apartments on the top floor of her complex. And then it clicked—her mother had mentioned that Mr. Smith had sold his apartment recently. The new neighbor had bought the entire place but hadn't introduced themselves yet.
Gwen began to piece things together. Ethan had always kept a low profile at school. The only thing she really knew about him was that his parents had been killed two years ago, and he was supposedly living with a cousin in Chinatown. But she had seen him in Hell's Kitchen multiple times, which was a dangerous place in Manhattan, even for someone with a cop for a father.
How had Ethan, a classmate she barely knew, ended up in a high-end apartment complex right next to her own? And where did he get the money to buy Mr. Smith's apartment?
The elevator dinged, arriving at the second floor. Ethan stepped out, a faint smile on his lips. Yesterday, he had hinted to Gwen that she didn't really know him, subtly suggesting that she should. And now, finding him as her new neighbor had piqued her curiosity even more.
In the elevator, Gwen was left pondering. Her curiosity had been sparked, and the seed Ethan had planted in her mind was starting to grow. She wanted to understand him, and the mystery around him only drew her in further.
"What is this trick called?" Ethan mused to himself. "Playing hard to get?"
As he walked down the hallway, Gwen's voice called after him. "Ethan, wait!"
Ethan glanced at his watch. "Gwen, if you don't head down now, you're going to miss the bus and be late for school," he said without turning around.
Gwen crossed her arms, clearly still annoyed. "Hmph, Ethan, don't you think you owe me an apology for what happened yesterday?"
Ethan paused, feigning confusion. "For what?"
"After school, you drove past me and splashed dirty water all over me!" Gwen exclaimed, her hands resting on her hips. "Hannah saw it too."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "I did? If that's the case, then I apologize. It was unintentional."
Gwen's irritation faded slightly at his apology, but she wasn't quite done. "You have no idea how many people stared at me on my way home!"
Ethan offered her a small smile. "It seems I caused you more trouble than I realized. How about I treat you to dinner to make up for it?"
Gwen felt her frustration dissolve at his words. How could a man not want to apologize when faced with her cute, angry face? And besides, a dinner invitation was exactly what she wanted. She had to admit, she was eager to get to know her mysterious neighbor better.
"Fine, I'll take you up on that dinner offer," Gwen agreed. "But today, you're giving me a ride to school. And after class, you're driving me home."
"Just today," Ethan responded, unlocking the car.
"Just today? Cheapskate," Gwen muttered, but she climbed into the passenger seat happily enough.
The ride was mostly quiet, except for the soft hum of pop music playing in the background. Ethan was deliberately keeping the conversation light, playing it cool to keep Gwen intrigued. Meanwhile, Gwen was trying to figure out how to start a conversation with the enigmatic boy beside her. She couldn't help but feel like he was a bit too distant, too composed. It was almost annoying.
When they reached the school, Ethan finally broke the silence. "I'll wait for you here after class."
Gwen gave him a playful glare. "You're so boring, Ethan."
She slammed the car door as she got out, the loud sound drawing the attention of nearby students. As soon as they saw her, whispers began to spread.
"Did Gwen Stacy just get out of a car with a guy?"
"Who's the guy?"
Hannah appeared behind Ethan and grinned. "So, is Gwen your prom date?"
Ethan smiled. "I'm not much for social events. Even prom isn't my thing."
Hannah glanced at Gwen's retreating figure. "What if Gwen invites you?"
Ethan thought for a moment. "Gwen's beautiful. I can't think of any guy in school who could say no to her."
Hannah laughed. "You might want to be prepared. Something special always happens at prom."
Ethan knew that prom was more than just a dance—it was practically a public declaration of interest in American culture. But his mind wasn't focused on school events. He had bigger things on his mind: money.
The stock for Stark Industries had leveled out after the massive drop, and Ethan knew this was the perfect time to get back in. His urge to re-invest was growing stronger. He needed Stark's success to build his wealth. This was the key to growing his fortune, and if he missed this opportunity, he'd be left with more… unconventional ways to increase his wealth.
"Gangsters, maybe? Could taking money from gangsters increase my wealth and desire points?" Ethan pondered. The thought of Hell's Kitchen flashed through his mind. If Jessica Jones' intel was accurate, his revenge plan was coming together. It was a day he'd waited for a long time.
"Jessica has been quiet these past two days," he thought, wondering if she felt awkward after what had happened between them. But Ethan wasn't about to let that go. No woman he conquered was going to slip away from him.
Tonight, he would pay Hell's Kitchen a visit.
With his mind made up, Ethan lost all interest in the day's classes. When he reached his locker, he noticed the defaced pattern had been cleaned. Fleischer, the school bully, stayed far away, too scared to even make eye contact. Ethan decided to let him go—for now.
He asked his teacher for early dismissal and left the school, his mind already focused on his next steps.
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