Chapter 2 Attraction

"Oh what do we do? They are getting closer" The lady's worried voice made Ethan glance back too and indeed the mob was closing in

Without missing a beat, Ethan unlocked his fingers from the lady's and seized her hand in a firm grasp. The lady's eyes flashed with surprise but she didn't resist as Ethan pulled her along, their pace increasing as they fled from the mob

The mob's shouts and curses echoed through the air as they gained more pace.

The cool night wind brushed past Ethan's face as he ran faster, he felt a sense of freedom and exhilaration, as if he had been unleashed from a long confinement

They approached a hotel that looked familiar to Ethan and he dashed into the hotel pulling the lady along

The receptionist's eye lightened up immediately she saw him

"Mr Lee, its been a while, what brings you here tonight and without your Secretary"

"A room, get me a room immediately" Ethan said panting

"Of course, you seem to be in a haste to get a room" The receptionist said with a smirk as she stared at the lady he came in with

"Here, that's the key to our best VIP room"

"Good, I do not want to be disturbed so let nobody into my room" Ethan warned

"Definitely Sir, I will make sure you are not disturbed as you do your thing" The receptionist winked

Ethan entered the VIP room with the lady and he sank on the couch

"That was quite the run" the lady breathed as she sat beside Ethan

"What was that about?" Ethan finally asked after recovering his breath

"Oh that was my ex boyfriend, he is a gang leader and he....."

"You know what? It is none of my business, you already dragged me into your mess but I want no more of it, take your leave" Ethan stated

"You want me to leave? What if James and his people are still outside?" The lady uttered

"Who is James?" Ethan asked

"My ex boyfriend, he might still be right outside with his gang waiting for me to come out, I'd be dead if he catches me"

"Well that is still none of my business, go deal with your mess alone" Ethan asserted

"Oh don't say that, is it not obvious that you are fated to be my knight in shining armour tonight? We literally just escaped death together, we are like brothers in arms, you cannot abandon me like this" The lady pleaded as she grabbed his hand and looked at him

Ethan stared at her blue doe eyes and he knew he was getting ensnared and enchanted once again as he felt his resistance melt away

There was a sudden knock on the door and the lady's grip round Ethan's hand tightened

"What if its them? What if its James and his gang?"

She looked scared and Ethan shook his head, what has he gotten himself into

"Who is it?" Ethan asked

"Sorry for disturbing you Sir, but the manager heard of your presence and wanted to greet you specially" The receptionist said from outside the door and Ethan heaved a sigh

"Come in" Ethan said

The door opened and The receptionist came in along with a middle aged man dressed in a black suit

"Oh we.... we are sorry to disturb you"

"It seems you are busy now so we'll come back later"

They said on seeing Ethan and the lady holding hands

"Just say what you want to say, there's no need to come back later" Ethan said as he removed his hand from the lady's

"Well then, good evening Mr Lee, my name is Edward Taylor, I'm the manager of this hotel, you and your personal assistant paid us a visit some weeks back for an ad you wanted to run at our hotel" The manager reminded and Ethan nodded

"And?"

"Well I just wanted to thank you again for using our hotel, we've had a spike in visitors since that ad" the manager stated

"You are welcome, you may leave" Ethan uttered

"We know we are interrupting but please allow us a moment longer as we have a treat for you" The manager said and immediately the receptionist clapped her hand, dozens of servers trooped into the room with trays of different food and assorted drinks

"We hope this sets the mood for your adventures this night" The receptionist said with a wink and Ethan shook his head

They probably think he was about to have sex with this lady beside him

"Have a good night Mr Lee" They all bowed and left after setting the table

The lady stood up and began to peruse the table

"Wooooow" she mouthed

"You must be some big personality for the manager of the hotel to come greet you himself, and he gave you all these as a treat!"

"I remember telling you to take your leave" Ethan uttered sternly

"Oh come on, don't be so tight-fisted, you definitely can't finish all these alone, it will go to waste, perhaps I am quite parched and is this Clase Azul? I heard it is quite the strong and expensive liquor" She said as she immediately opened the bottle, took a big swig and suddenly began to cough

Ethan quickly stood up and snatched the bottle from her

"You fool, you don't drink it like that unless you want to choke on it"

The lady looked at Ethan and her lips curved into a perpetual smile

"Maybe we got off on the wrong foot, lets start again yeah? My name is Isabella Russell but you can call me Bella for short, and you are?" she asked as she stretched her hand for a handshake

Ethan stared at her for a moment, dropped the bottle on the table and went back to sit on the couch

"Come on, don't be such a bore" Isabella said as she went back to sit beside Ethan

"The manager called you Mr Lee so I assume that is your name" She said as she poured the liquor into two wine glasses and handed one to Ethan

"But I do not want to call you Mr Lee, that is too formal, so what's your first name?"

"We barely know each other, you are supposed to be formal" Ethan stated

"Oh please, formal is boring so loosen up a bit and lets have fun tonight, I've had a long day and this looks like the perfect setting for me to destress so help me out here please?" she said nudging Ethan to take the drink

Again, those cute blue doe eyes that Ethan was beginning to find hard to resist

"First name is Ethan" He said as he collected the glass

"You better drink slowly this time" Ethan warned

"Of course, cheers"

Ethan reluctantly clinked glasses with Isabella and they began to drink together

"So your name is Ethan Lee, are you asian?" Isabella asked

"My father was" Ethan replied as he drank

"Was? Is your father dead?" She asked

"Apparently" Ethan answered

"That's too bad, but lets not think about that, tonight is for destressing" Isabella said with a smile and Ethan nodded

"I think I needed this" he muttered

"Seems you were going through a rough patch too" Isabella said and he nodded as he took a big swig from his glass

Isabella collected the wine glass from him and dropped it on the table

"You advised me to go slowly but look at you now, you are wasted"

"I'm not, I'm fine" Ethan said as he stretched his hand for another glass

"If you insist" Isabella shrugged and they continued to eat and drink together till they were out of drinks

"Oh I'm quite full" Isabella breathed

"Are we out of drinks? Should I call in for more?" Ethan asked as he stood up, staggering to the phone desk but Isabella stopped him midway

"Rather than more drinks, why don't we try something else?" Isabella suggested

"And what might that be?" Ethan asked

Isabella moved closer to Ethan and placed a gentle kiss on his lips

"This" she said with a smile

........