a kiss of conviction

"What are you thinking?" Elisabeth's voice snapped Ethan out of his thoughts.

"Why do you insist on bringing me here?" Ethan asked, his tone serious as his gaze remained fixed on Paul, seated alone a few tables away.

"Just to apologize for the way I treated you yesterday," she replied, her expression soft.

Ethan's eyes darted back to Paul, his brows furrowed. "What's wrong?" Elisabeth asked, curiosity etched on her face.

"Oh, it's nothing. Don't worry," Ethan replied quickly, lowering his head as the waiter arrived with their order.

The waiter placed the dishes gently on the table, and Elisabeth flashed a grin. "Mmm… you've got good taste."

"Haha… it was just a random pick," Ethan said, attempting to ease the tension. His thoughts raced as he glanced toward Paul. At least he can't see my face from where he's sitting.

"Let's eat, then," Elisabeth said, lifting a spoon. She leaned forward, offering it to Ethan.

He hesitated, wanting to refuse, but the laughter from nearby tables made him reconsider. With a reluctant sigh, he accepted. Elisabeth's satisfaction was evident in her smile.

"So, tell me—what do you do for a living?" she asked, her gaze steady on his face as he ate.

"I do any job that pays," Ethan replied curtly.

"Oh, really?" she said with an amused smile, setting her fork down. "Then why not come work for me? I'll pay you well."

"What job is that?" Ethan asked, his tone curious but guarded. He kept his focus on his plate, avoiding her gaze.

"I'd have you work at my father's company as—" she began, but Ethan cut her off, his attention suddenly drawn to a familiar voice from the next table.

"Make it two," the voice said. Ethan turned sharply, his heart sinking as he spotted James.

"Hold on," Ethan said to Elisabeth, his tone urgent. "I need your help."

"What's wrong?" she asked, her expression turning serious.

"Can you spy on those two guys over there?" he asked, nodding toward James and Paul's table.

Elisabeth raised a skeptical eyebrow. "You want me to spy? How exactly?"

"Just pretend you're passing by. See if you can catch anything—like what's written on the file on their table or snippets of their conversation," Ethan said, his voice low and urgent.

"What's your concern with them? Why do you want to know their plans?" Elisabeth pressed.

"It's… complicated. Please, just trust me," Ethan said, sighing.

After a moment, Elisabeth relented. "Fine, I'll do it. But you owe me something in return," she said, narrowing her eyes toward James and Paul.

"What do you want?" Ethan asked, leaning closer.

"I'll tell you later," she said, standing up with a confident air.

Ethan watched her anxiously. "Be careful," he whispered.

Elisabeth approached their table, her steps deliberate, her expression carrying a feigned air of irritation. James and Paul paused their conversation, their eyes narrowing as they studied her sudden presence.

"What are you doing here? This table is occupied," James said sharply, his voice edged with authority. His piercing gaze lingered, as though trying to read her intentions.

Elisabeth didn't respond, ignoring him completely as her heart raced in her chest. She kept her face neutral, her eyes subtly flicking toward the open file on the table. The words were faint, but she caught glimpses of diagrams and typed notes.

Paul frowned deeply, his suspicion written all over his face. "Can't you hear? Move to another table, or should we call security?" he added, his voice dripping with disdain as he pushed back his chair, ready to summon help.

"Let her be," James said, raising a hand to stop Paul. His tone was commanding, but a faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He leaned forward slightly, his curiosity piqued.

"What's your name?" James asked, his voice suddenly softer, though no less calculated.

Elisabeth's pulse thundered in her ears. She refused to meet his gaze, keeping her breathing steady despite the growing tension. She remained silent, her expression carefully unreadable.

James chuckled darkly, leaning back in his chair. "Suit yourself," he said before pushing his plate toward her. "Eat," he added with a smirk, his eyes glinting with amusement.

Elisabeth's mind raced, her hands trembling slightly at her sides. She fought to keep herself composed, knowing any misstep could expose her.

James turned his attention back to Paul, dismissing her presence as though she were invisible. "I'll transfer the money tonight," he said, his voice returning to a business-like tone. "Make sure everyone is paid and ready. Let's see how long the old man can hold out," he added with a laugh.

Paul nodded, though his unease was clear. His eyes darted toward Elisabeth periodically, his wariness growing. He shifted in his seat, his discomfort evident.

Elisabeth maintained her act, though her heart threatened to betray her resolve. She resisted the urge to look too closely at the file, knowing even a glance might give her away.

She subtly scanned the restaurant with her eyes, searching for Ethan. Her pulse quickened when she couldn't find him. Where did he go? she wondered, the faintest trace of panic creeping into her chest. Her breathing hitched slightly as she tried to appear unaffected, but her heart raced harder when the minutes ticked by without him in sight.

Then, out of nowhere, Ethan appeared at her left-hand side, startling her slightly. He looked different—his appearance altered by a false beard, a cap, and glasses that masked his identity. Elisabeth's eyes widened for a brief moment, her mind spinning. How did he do that?

Ethan's calm demeanor brought her a measure of relief, though her heart was still pounding. With practiced confidence, he placed a hand on Elisabeth's shoulder, his voice smooth and composed. "Babe, let's go. Sorry for keeping you waiting."

James and Paul both turned toward him, their expressions a mix of surprise and skepticism. Elisabeth blinked, caught off guard by Ethan's sudden appearance, but she quickly caught on.

"Why did you take so long?" she said, feigning irritation as she stood. Her voice carried a believable edge of annoyance, though her pulse hadn't yet settled.

As they began to walk away, James's voice stopped them. "Hey."

Ethan turned slowly, his expression unreadable despite the adrenaline surging through him. "Yes?" he said evenly, meeting James's gaze.

"Is she your wife?" James asked, his tone casual, but his eyes sharp, scanning Ethan for any signs of deception.

Ethan let out a low chuckle, shrugging as though the question amused him. "Of course. Don't I look like the kind of guy who'd be married to someone as beautiful as her?" His smile was easy, his tone disarming.

James smirked, waving them off dismissively. "You can go."

Ethan gently guided Elisabeth away, his hand lingering on her back as they moved toward a quieter area. Once out of sight, Ethan pulled her aside, quickly removing the false beard he'd been wearing.

"Wow, that was intense," Elisabeth said, exhaling shakily as she leaned against the wall.

Ethan nodded, his own breath uneven. "Yeah, no kidding. Thanks for playing along," he said, his voice laced with genuine gratitude.

Elisabeth managed a faint smile. "You surprised me. I didn't know you could act," she said, trying to lighten the mood despite the adrenaline still coursing through her.

Ethan was about to respond when he spotted James and Paul heading in their direction. His instincts took over—grabbing Elisabeth by the waist, he turned her to face the wall and pressed his lips to hers in a quick, protective gesture.

Elisabeth froze, her wide eyes reflecting her shock as her heart hammered in her chest. The kiss was brief, yet it seemed to stretch into an eternity. Her cheeks burned, her thoughts a jumbled mess.

Paul nudged James, chuckling. "Look at them," he muttered, shaking his head. Both men laughed and walked away, leaving the restaurant without a second glance.

As soon as they were out of sight, Ethan pulled back, his expression unreadable. "Sorry," he said quietly, avoiding her eyes.

Elisabeth blinked, still trying to compose herself. "It's… fine," she managed to reply, her voice shaky.

Ethan rubbed the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable. "Let's go," he said, his tone brisk.

Elisabeth hesitated. "Wait—I haven't paid for our meal."

"I already handled it," Ethan replied, his voice clipped. He kept his focus forward, his composure wavering only slightly.

Surprised but unwilling to argue, Elisabeth nodded and followed him to her car.

As they drove off, the silence was heavy until Ethan sighed. "Thanks for playing along."

"It's fine," Elisabeth said softly, sneaking a glance at him.

"So, what did you hear from their discussion?" Ethan asked.

Elisabeth recounted everything she'd overheard, along with details from the file on the table. "It's about a construction project," she explained. "The file mentioned issues—how things suddenly changed, and everything seems to be falling apart."

As she spoke, Ethan's mind began connecting the dots. Her description of the file matched one he'd seen at Mr. Caldwell's house—the report about a company construction project that had been abruptly halted due to insufficient funds.

Why does James have a copy of that file? Ethan wondered, the weight of the question pressing on him. What's his connection to the project?

Elisabeth continued to describe what she'd seen, and with every detail, Ethan grew more certain. It wasn't just similar—it was the exact same file.