Chapter 12 – After the Applause
They made it back to the car in tense silence. Clara waited until the driver pulled away before asking, "Okay. Spill it. Who was the woman?"
Ethan's jaw clenched. "Someone connected to Vance."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning she was one of our former legal consultants. She disappeared six months ago after selling private data."
Clara blinked. "And she just happened to show up tonight?"
"Apparently."
She crossed her arms. "And you still think marrying me was your weirdest decision?"
His lips pressed together. "You're not helping."
"I'm trying to! You just have that permanent 'I'm about to fire someone' face."
For a heartbeat, silence — and then, softly, Ethan exhaled something that sounded suspiciously like a laugh.
Clara grinned. "Was that… amusement? Did I just make the Ice King laugh?"
He shot her a look. "Don't push your luck."
But the air between them felt different now — lighter, thinner, almost charged.
When the car stopped at her apartment, she hesitated before getting out. "You'll… let me know if you find out what she's doing here, right?"
His gaze softened imperceptibly. "Yes."
"Good," she said, stepping out. Then, with a mischievous smile: "Also, next gala? You're buying me shoes that don't feel like torture devices."
His voice followed her as she walked away. "Noted."
Inside the car, Ethan found himself watching her through the window until the lights went off in her apartment.
He told himself it was caution.
He didn't believe it.