The Task

Ethan sat frozen, his mind racing in confusion. Seduction? Seriously? His eyes flicked to the system notification again. It was still there, mocking him.

"Target: Selene. Time Limit: 1 hour."

He rubbed his temples, trying to process it. This is insane. How the hell do I even do that? He thought back to the few times he'd tried talking to girls and cringed. The idea of seducing someone—especially Selene—felt like some kind of sick joke.

I'm not cut out for this, he thought, his thoughts spiraling. I can't even talk to her without feeling like an idiot, and now I've got to make her... what? Fall for me in an hour?

He glanced at Selene, still standing near the door, her posture perfect, like a statue. The cold, aloof Ice Queen. Great. How am I supposed to pull this off?

He looked back at the notification. One hour. I have one hour. His heart hammered. I can't mess this up. But... how do I even start?

Ethan stood up, pushing his chair back with a squeak. There's no going back now. He took a deep breath, his palms sweating. Just go. Ask her something. Anything. Don't screw this up.

One hour, he thought again, with an almost bitter laugh. Just one hour. Let's get this over with.

Ethan called her name, his voice cutting through the tense silence.

"Selene, wait."

She turned, brow furrowed, eyes questioning. Why was he calling her?

Ethan felt it—the change. It surged through him, like a switch had been flipped. He could feel the shift in his posture, the newfound weight of his presence. Confidence radiated from him, and he closed the space between them with purpose.

He stopped just a foot away, meeting her gaze unwaveringly. "On second thought," he began, voice steady and commanding, "I think I'm like most guys."

Selene's eyes flickered, a hint of surprise crossing her face, but she quickly masked it. Ethan leaned in slightly, his voice dropping an octave. "Did you really think I'd pass up the chance to spend time with the Ice Queen?" His words were edged with a quiet authority, as though he knew he had control of the situation.

Her breath caught for a moment, a flash of disbelief in her eyes. This wasn't the Ethan she'd seen earlier—this was someone else. Someone bold, decisive.

Ethan barely noticed the effect his words had on her. He didn't care. His reputation was on the line, and he'd do whatever it took to ensure he came out on top. This was his chance, and he wasn't going to let it slip away.

"I'm not like other guys," he said, his smile a challenge. "I know exactly what I want, and right now? It's you."

Selene stood still, caught between confusion and something else she couldn't place. The Ice Queen, unyielding and unbothered, now seemed a little less sure of herself.

Ethan knew exactly what he was doing. In that moment, it was a win-win. He gets to keep his reputation intact and also gets to spend some fun time with the Ice Queen herself.

Ethan took slow, deliberate steps toward her, closing the gap with each movement. Selene's eyes widened, and she instinctively took a step back. Her back hit the cold wall with a soft thud, and there was no escape. Ethan stopped just in front of her, their bodies nearly brushing, the air between them charged with tension.

She turned her head to the left, scanning for an out. Anything. But before she could make a move, Ethan's hand was at her chin, gently but firmly guiding her face back toward him. His gaze locked with hers, unwavering, unyielding.

"Stop," she muttered, slapping his hand away, creating enough space to push against him and break free. She tried to slip past him, her feet scrambling for the door.

But Ethan didn't flinch. His voice was calm, cold—almost casual, as if this was all part of the game. "You can run. I won't stop you. But don't blame me if your secret gets out."

The words hung in the air, slicing through the tension like a knife. Selene froze in her tracks, her hand on the doorknob. The words stung, and the threat was clear.

Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she stood there, her body tense, caught between the desire to escape and the weight of Ethan's words. Slowly, she turned around, eyes still locked on him.

The escape she had hoped for was no longer an option.

She inhaled sharply, exhaled, and stood there.

Ethan smirked, the tension between them thickening with every passing second. He stepped even closer, his breath brushing her skin, sending a shiver down her spine.

Selene's chest rose and fell with rapid breaths, her eyes darting to the sides, seeking an escape that no longer existed. His presence towered over her, overwhelming and inescapable.

She hesitated, her lips parting as if to say something, but the words caught in her throat. The space between them felt impossibly small now, the room growing quieter, heavier with the weight of unspoken challenges. Her fingers curled slightly, as if she were preparing to push him away again, but he was too close.

Selene was finally able to mutter enough courage and said, "What do you want from me, you want my body? To take advantage of me?"

Ethan's voice dropped to a near whisper, his words deliberate, punctuating the silence that hung in the air.

"Yes..." he began, drawing the word out slowly, feeling the anticipation build.

Then, with a slight shift in his stance, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips, he added, "but not just that."

For a moment, everything seemed to freeze, the world outside their bubble irrelevant. He leaned in just enough for her to feel the heat of his words.

"I'm going to make you mine."

He watched her eyes flicker, a mix of disbelief and curiosity swirling in their depths. And for the first time, he felt like he was truly in control.

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