Chapter 6: Jessica Jones’ New Discovery

"Wow, is this your car?" Jessica Jones circled around the sleek black Lincoln Navigator and gave Ethan Hayes a thumbs up.

"Seriously, how do you make money?" Jessica asked, her curiosity piqued.

"No, wait—what's the name of your novel?" Jessica suddenly remembered Ethan had published a novel recently.

Ethan noticed the suspicious glances from a few of the locals around the parking lot. Without Jessica's presence, they might have already caused trouble.

"I'll tell you once we're in the car," Ethan said with a smile.

Jessica hopped into the passenger seat without hesitation. "I'm curious—what kind of novel did you write to make so much money?" she asked as soon as they were inside.

Ethan leaned closer and whispered the title of his book. Jessica's eyes widened in disbelief, her smoky, dark-rimmed eyes blinking in shock.

"No way—you just turned eighteen. You're telling me you're the author of Fifty Shades of Grey?" she exclaimed. "How did you even write something like that?"

Ethan grinned. "Keep it a secret. If this gets out, it'll be a huge problem for me."

Jessica shook her head in disbelief. "Tsk tsk, I can't believe I know such a weird writer. If this goes public, the entire country—no, the world—would explode with that news," she said, smiling at the thought.

But Jessica wasn't one to gossip. She had her own secrets and was far from a typical person. With her inhuman strength and unique abilities, she was an unconventional hero in Hell's Kitchen.

"Aren't you worried your agent or lawyer might sell you out?" Jessica asked, her voice suddenly serious.

Ethan chuckled. "My lawyer's blind. Besides, I've got some leverage on him."

Jessica raised an eyebrow. "Matt?" she guessed, referring to Hell's Kitchen's well-known blind lawyer.

Ethan didn't respond, letting her assumption stand as they drove toward his new apartment on Parker Low Street.

When they arrived, Julia, the real estate agent, was waiting. Dressed in a sharp professional suit, her alluring figure turned quite a few heads.

"Mr. Hayes, everything is ready. The transfer is complete, and you can move in today," Julia said, handing him the keys with a smile.

"Thank you, Miss Julia," Ethan said, his hand brushing hers as he took the key. Julia flashed a coquettish smile before walking off.

Jessica raised an eyebrow knowingly. "Looks like I interrupted something good," she teased.

Ethan shrugged. "What can I say? I'm an adult now."

Jessica seemed momentarily taken aback. She had gotten so used to thinking of Ethan as a kid that it was easy to forget he had grown up. Julia's not-so-subtle flirtation only made it more obvious. Ethan had changed—he was no longer the boy she had once known. At just eighteen, he had the maturity and composure of someone who had experienced more than most teens his age.

"It's getting dark. I had Julia prepare some food for us. Let me cook for you tonight—my treat," Ethan said, smiling as he led Jessica inside.

Jessica followed him into the sleek two-story duplex. As she took in the high-end apartment, her eyes brightened.

"The view's amazing, and the place is really nice," she remarked, impressed by the light luxury style of the interior. Compared to her place in Hell's Kitchen, this was like a mansion.

"When Julia showed me this place, I immediately loved it. The previous owner was a Wall Street stockbroker who put a lot of thought into the design. But he made some bad investments and lost a ton of money when he bought up Stark Industries stock," Ethan explained with a smile.

Jessica smirked. "He must have really taken a hit today. I heard Stark Industries dropped by 40%. Looks like Tony Stark's impulsive decisions aren't helping the shareholders much."

"Exactly. The guy needed cash fast to cover his losses, which is why I got this place for such a good price," Ethan said, handing Jessica a glass of water. "Drink up, and I'll whip up some wagyu steak for you."

Jessica's eyes lit up. "I thought you were going to cook Chinese food," she teased.

"Chinese food takes too much time to prepare properly, and I don't want to serve you random dishes. You're welcome here anytime, and that's when I'll show you my real skills. But tonight, since you helped me move, I won't keep you waiting too long," Ethan replied with a grin.

Jessica felt momentarily disconnected from the version of Ethan she thought she knew. Gone was the teenager she had met two years ago—now, she saw a calm and mature young man, more like a seasoned professional than a kid fresh out of school.

Ethan pulled out the ingredients from the fridge, all of which Julia had bought for him. Being one of her best clients, she'd gone out of her way to help with his requests. He had spared no expense on the top-grade wagyu beef from Japan.

Truthfully, Ethan had wanted to celebrate with a proper Chinese meal, but asking Julia to gather the right ingredients from Chinatown would have been too much of a hassle. So, he opted for something simpler this time.

As the steak sizzled on the grill, Ethan grabbed a bottle of wine from the rack. "1991 Harlan Estate red. This is one of the best vintages they've ever produced. It seems the previous owner left it behind to celebrate my move-in," he said, smiling. "It's a bit too old for my age group—I can't buy alcohol legally yet."

Jessica chuckled at his mischievous smile. "If you want to do community service, I won't stop you from drinking," she teased. In the U.S., the legal drinking age was 21, and underage drinking often led to community service.

"This is my home now," Ethan replied, flashing a charming smile. "If you don't tell, I won't either. Who's going to know?"