Challenging

Gwen's first day at work got off to a great start. She was introduced to the entire team and apparently everyone was more than helpful and excited to be working with her.

During college, Gwen was the first student. always with the best grades. She gave up a good opportunity when she got married, but after her divorce, the director of the Institute was still willing to receive the great student of Yale and she went to Germany. Now, proving to be excellent as everybody thought she would be, she was now second in command of the company in Cincinnati.

"Thanks to all of you for being so open to receive me!" She said.

"We are more than glad and honored to work with you, Miss Hoffmann." A woman with big glasses said. She was the head of the laboratory. Serena Bernard.

"Thank you, Mrs. Bernard." Gwen said and bowed.

The rest of the day went by smoothly. She had no problems at all. When it was time for her to leave, she said her goodbyes and went to get her car at the garage.

While driving, Gwen decided she was hungry and not in the mood to cook. She turned left and went to a restaurant she liked a lot, but after she got married, she never set foot there again. Ethan didn't like it very much. He was very picky with his food and, actually, he never gave a chance to the restaurant.

In the beginning of the marriage, she was still hoping they could get along and be a real couple. So, she mentioned the restaurant and he just looked at her with a frown brow and scolded her, for trying to kill him, by dragging him to somewhere so random and not trustworthy. His stomach was sensitive.

After that, she never mentioned not that restaurant, nor any other. That applied to most of the things. She would say something, suggest, and he would dismiss it. She gave up on the idea of 'doing things together'. She followed him when he wanted or needed her to. That was it.

She parked her car and got out. But before she could enter the restaurant, someone grabbed her arm and slammed her on the wall.

"Ouch!" She said.

"Give me everything, bitch!" A man said, with his face covered. That place was not the most secure, but for what she remembered, it was not that bad, either.

"Okay! But you have to let go of my arm!" She answered. The man looked her up and down.

"You're hot. We better go somewhere else." He said in a disgusting seductive voice. Gwen felt shivers run down her spine.

"No." She said in a low voice. She would fight, get stabbed, or even get shot, but she would not go anywhere with that man.

He showed her a knife and put it to her neck, but then, someone grabbed his hand and threw him away.

"Get the fuck away or I'll call the cops." The man said. he had his back to Gwen, but the smell of him was something she could not forget in ten lives. Ethan had his cologne made just for him. It was his signature.

"Who are you?" the man asked and Ethan just punched the guy, who fell to the floor and, next thing, he was running away.

Ethan, then, turned around and looked at Gwen up and down.

"Are you hurt?" he asked in a cold voice.

"No." She answered, not looking at him. "And thank you." she said.

"Good. So, we are even." he said. "No need to be thankful. I was just paying back the favor. I owe you nothing, now."

Gwen turned her head to him immediately.

"Anyway. thank you." She said and passed by him, but he grabbed her arm and made her look at him. "What is it, now?"

"I told you to leave the city." he said.

"Yeah, I heard. I'm not deaf." She tried to get away again, but he held her arm tighter. "You're hurting me!" She started to fight to get free.

Ethan got closer, with a menacing look in his eyes.

"You will leave, you'll do as I say, or..."

"Or what?" She asked, her chin up. "I am not your dog, Ethan. No, better… I am not your wife, who used to follow your orders, blindly. I do not have to obey you and I won't. Now, let go of me or I'll start to scream and the police will come for you."

He let go of her, with a scornful smile on his lips.

"You should have done that before. And you wouldn't need my help."

"Argh!" She threw her hands in the air. "You, Mr. Lennox, are insufferable!" She gave him her back and got inside the restaurant.

Ethan looked up and remembered she once asked him to eat there. It was not that he didn't know the place or that he didn't like. He just didn't want to do anything with her. He said no just to piss her off. And when they were not together, he would eat there and think that in a way, he was having his vengeance against her and her family. He wanted her to be miserable for making him marry her.

Sure, it was not her idea. There was a deal before he was even born. Or her. But she accepted. His family was the one who had to accept. But she could be the one saying 'no' and he would be free. She didn't. She wanted to marry him. So, he made sure she regretted it.

He smiled and with hands in his pockets, he entered the restaurant.

Gwen was looking at the menu when the door opened and the bell chimed. She would always look, even when she was not waiting for someone. It was just a reflex. When she saw Ethan entering, she gave him an ugly look.

His eyes were locked in hers, and he sat on the table across from hers. The waitress appeared and without even looking at the menu, he ordered. It could only mean he knew the place! He raised his eyebrow to her, showing that he was challenging her.

Gwen's lips turned into a thin line. The bastard!