Elliot led Aeisha to a steakhouse in the mall, a place so luxurious it felt worlds away from anything she would have dared to enter alone. The soft lighting bathed the pristine tables in a golden glow, and Aeisha couldn’t help but gape at the opulence surrounding her.
Elliot noticed her reaction and smirked. “You’ll need to get used to this. Your lifestyle is going to change.”
Aeisha frowned, unsure how to respond. “There’s no point in getting used to it,” she said softly. “After a year, we’ll go our separate ways, and all of this will disappear.”
For a moment, his expression flickered, revealing something unspoken, but the moment passed as quickly as it came. He sighed but said nothing, signaling the waiter to take their order.
Elliot took charge, ordering for both of them, sparing Aeisha the challenge of navigating the complex menu. As they waited, he began asking her questions—simple ones at first.
“What’s your favorite food?” he asked, his tone casual.
“Pasta,” Aeisha replied immediately.
“And dessert?”
“Choux à la crème,” she said with a small smile.
“Interesting. Favorite color?”
“Pastel purple,” she answered.
He raised an eyebrow. “Pastel purple? Is that even a color?”
Aeisha laughed softly. “Of course it is! There are so many colors beyond the rainbow.”
Elliot nodded, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “I see. And your favorite flower?”
“Tulips.”
He seemed to commit her answers to memory, his composed expression softening slightly.
When the food arrived, they ate in comfortable silence, but Aeisha couldn’t suppress her curiosity. “What about you? What’s your favorite food?”
Elliot’s answers were vague—“Whatever’s convenient” or “I don’t really have a preference.” His nonchalance left her more puzzled than before.
As they continued their meal, Elliot’s gaze shifted toward the entrance of the steakhouse. His brow furrowed slightly, and his jaw tightened, though his expression quickly returned to neutral.
“Is something wrong?” Aeisha asked, following his line of sight.
“It’s nothing,” he replied, his tone calm but distant. “Just eat.”
Though unconvinced, Aeisha chose not to press further. Unknown to her, Lance had already slipped away, silently investigating whatever—or whoever—had caught Elliot’s attention.
After dinner, Elliot drove them home. The quiet hum of the car and the stillness of the night seemed to ease Aeisha’s nerves, and she leaned back in her seat, allowing herself to relax.
The tranquility shattered in an instant.
Out of nowhere, another car rammed into theirs, jerking them violently to the side. Aeisha screamed in shock, clutching her seatbelt as her heart pounded in her chest.
The car skidded, but Elliot’s hands stayed firm on the wheel, quickly regaining control. “Duck down!” he commanded, his voice sharp and authoritative.
Terrified, Aeisha obeyed, crouching low as the deafening sound of gunfire erupted around them. Glass shattered, and metal groaned under the assault. Each jolt of the car sent fresh waves of panic coursing through her.
Through the chaos, she saw Elliot reach under his seat, pulling out a gun with practiced precision. Her eyes widened in disbelief as he rolled the window down just enough to return fire.
The sharp cracks of his weapon mingled with the cacophony outside, and Aeisha pressed her hands over her ears, trying to block out the terrifying noise. Despite the danger, Elliot remained calm and focused, his movements calculated and efficient.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the car screeched to a halt in an isolated area.
“Stay here. Don’t look. Don’t move,” Elliot ordered, his voice cold and firm.
Too shaken to argue, Aeisha nodded, huddling in her seat as he stepped out of the car. His tall, imposing figure disappeared into the darkness, the sound of gunfire resuming moments later.
Aeisha sat frozen, her breathing shallow and uneven. She prayed for the nightmare to end, her mind racing with questions. Who were these attackers? Why were they targeting Elliot?
After a tense few minutes, the chaos ceased, and silence blanketed the area.
“It’s safe now,” Elliot’s voice called out, breaking the oppressive stillness.
Aeisha hesitated before unbuckling her seatbelt and stepping out of the car. Her legs wobbled beneath her as her eyes searched for him.
Elliot stood a few steps away, his figure illuminated by the dim light of a streetlamp. Without thinking, Aeisha ran to him, tears streaming down her face as fear and relief collided within her.
She threw her arms around him, burying her face in his chest. “I was so scared,” she sobbed, her voice trembling.
Elliot hesitated briefly before wrapping an arm around her, his hold steady and reassuring. “You’re safe now,” he said quietly, his tone unusually gentle. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
