9. ETHAN
CHAPTER 9
ETHAN
The restaurant smells like heaven—fresh basil, tomato sauce simmering in garlic, and the unmistakable aroma of perfectly baked bread. It’s one of those upscale Italian places where they serve you just enough pasta to look fancy but not enough to fill you up. I wouldn’t usually choose a spot like this for our Love Lab shoot, but Marcus insisted, saying it would set the right mood for a “real date.” Whatever that means.
I’m already regretting it.
I lean against the bar, watching as Olivia makes her way to the table. I have to do a double-take. She looks... stunning. She’s wearing this deep green dress that hugs her curves in all the right places, her hair pulled back but with a few strands framing her face. It’s simple but classy, and the color makes her eyes pop. I’m suddenly very aware of the fact that I’m staring.
I clear my throat and pretend to fiddle with the camera setup, acting like I’m adjusting something important. Jax, standing next to me, smirks. He’s already noticed.
“You good, man?” he asks, not even bothering to hide the knowing tone in his voice.
“Yeah, fine. Just making sure everything’s ready,” I say, maybe a little too quickly.
“Uh-huh,” he says, drawing it out. He elbows me lightly. “Just try not to drool, okay? We need this to look professional.”
I roll my eyes and turn back to my viewfinder, but it’s impossible to ignore the way my chest tightens as Marcus arrives and Olivia’s face lights up with a smile. He’s dressed up too—a nice button-down, sleeves rolled to his elbows in that way that women seem to love. They take their seats, and I signal to them that we’re starting.
I take a deep breath and step forward, trying to find my “director” voice. “Okay, we’re rolling. Just be yourselves. This is all about the chemistry.”
Olivia glances up at me with an amused smile. “Chemistry, huh?”
“Yeah, you know, the sparks. The... whatever. Just go with it,” I mumble, feeling a little ridiculous.
Marcus leans in closer to her, looking like he’s genuinely interested in what she’s saying. I feel this inexplicable urge to yank him back by the collar.
“So, Olivia,” Marcus says smoothly, “tell me more about what it’s like running a company that’s about to go public. That’s a pretty big deal.”
“You won’t stop calling me that, would you?” she laughs.
Marcus’s nose scrunches. “Old habits die hard.”
Olivia leans forward slightly, her fingers tracing the edge of her wine glass. “Well, about your question… it’s definitely stressful,” she admits with a small laugh. “But exciting. I just hope we don’t crash and burn on launch day now that we have chosen to go down the hard path.”
Marcus chuckles, his gaze softening as he looks at her. “I don’t think you have anything to worry about. You seem like you’ve got it all together.”
“Cut!” I bark out, louder than I meant to. Both of them jump a little, turning to stare at me in confusion.
“What?” Olivia asks, frowning. “What was wrong with that?”
“I just... I thought I saw a reflection on the lens,” I lie. “Let’s go again from the top.”
Jax groans beside me, rubbing a hand over his face. “Dude, relax. We can’t keep doing this. It needs to flow naturally, or people are going to know it’s staged.”
“I’m relaxed,” I snap back, but I know I’m anything but. I give Jax a tight smile and motion for them to start again.
Olivia throws me a look that says really? before turning back to Marcus. They dive back into their conversation, and Marcus reaches out to touch her hand briefly this time. I grit my teeth so hard I’m surprised I don’t crack a molar.
“Cut!” I shout again.
Now both Marcus and Olivia turn to glare at me.
“Ethan, what the hell?” Olivia says, her voice tinged with irritation. “We’ve barely started.”
I wave my hand dismissively, trying to play it off. “Just trying to make sure we get the best shot.”
Marcus leans back in his chair, clearly amused. “You sure that’s all it is, Ethan?” he asks, one eyebrow raised in challenge.
I can feel Jax’s smirk without even looking at him. “I’m telling you, man,” Jax mutters, “we need to keep this moving. The whole point is that it feels like a real date.”
I swallow hard, trying to focus. “Right. Yeah. Let’s keep going. No more interruptions.”
“Promise?” Olivia asks, giving me a look that’s half teasing, half annoyed.
“Promise,” I say, holding up my hands in surrender.
They go back to their conversation, and I force myself to stand back and let it happen. But it’s torture. Marcus leans in close, listening intently as Olivia talks about her plans for the company’s dating game simulator. She’s animated and excited in a way I haven’t seen before, and it’s obvious she’s passionate about her work.
“That sounds incredible,” Marcus says, his voice low and sincere. “You’ve really built something amazing, Olivia.”
Her cheeks flush, and she looks down, a shy smile tugging at her lips. “Thanks. It’s been a lot of hard work.”
I can’t take it anymore. I step forward, my hands clenching into fists at my sides. “Cut.”
“ Ethan ,” Olivia snaps, turning to me with fire in her eyes. “What now?”
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. I have no good excuse this time.
Jax throws his hands up in exasperation. “Seriously, man? What’s the problem? You’ve cut like, five times already.”
I stammer, floundering for a reason that doesn’t make me sound like a jealous idiot. “I just... I want it to be perfect, okay?”
Marcus leans back, looking entirely too pleased with himself. “Or maybe you don’t want it happening at all.”
“Shut up, Marcus,” I snap.
He laughs, shaking his head. “Hey, I’m just saying. It’s pretty clear what’s going on here.”
Shit, I almost forgot what Marcus does for a living.
I can feel Olivia’s eyes scrutinizing me, trying to figure out what the hell is wrong with me. I avoid her gaze, turning back to the camera setup and adjusting a lens that doesn’t actually need adjusting.
“Fine,” she says, her voice clipped. “We’ll do it again. But this is the last time, Ethan. I’m serious.”
“Got it,” I mumble, feeling like a complete idiot.
“I’ll go over and readjust,” Jax says before I can stop him.
As he approaches Olivia and Marcus, I notice the slight shift in her body language—she straightens up and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. I swear I see her face go a little red at his proximity.
He’s talking to Marcus, but his eyes keep darting toward Olivia. A flicker of something unreadable crosses his face.
I narrow my eyes, watching the exchange from behind the lens. Jax is leaning in slightly, saying something to Marcus, but his gaze is locked on Olivia like she’s the only person in the room.
Olivia meets his gaze, and there’s this quick moment where they just stare at each other. It’s like they’re having a whole conversation with their eyes, and I can’t hear a damn word of it. Marcus seems oblivious, chuckling as he leans back in his chair.
What the hell is going on there? I wonder. I make a mental note to ask him about it later. Right now, I need to stay focused on the shoot. Jax returns to where I am, blowing a breath out of his mouth.
I give a thumbs up to signal that I’m about to start rolling again when, out of nowhere, a woman strides up to the table. She looks like she’s in her late thirties, but it’s hard to tell—her makeup is flawless, her dark hair styled into a sleek bob. She’s dressed in a tailored blazer that probably costs more than my rent, paired with jeans and heels that click against the polished wooden floor with every step. There’s a certain haughty confidence in the way she carries herself, like she owns the place.
“Uh, who the hell is that?” Jax murmurs.
She’s striding over like she owns the place.
Oh, no. I know her.
It takes me a second to place the face, but then it clicks. Charlie Green. I recognize her from a WeTube scandal a couple of years back. She’s one of those self-proclaimed investigative journalists who spends her time digging up dirt on creators and stirring up drama.
This is bad.
I barely have time to react before she’s standing at the table, leaning in with a faux-friendly smile. “Well, well, well. Isn’t this interesting?” she says, her voice dripping with condescension.
Marcus straightens up, clearly taken aback. Olivia’s eyes narrow. She doesn’t know who Charlie is—hell, Marcus probably doesn’t either. They just look confused, like they’re trying to figure out why this woman is interrupting their date.
“Can we help you?” Marcus asks, keeping his voice polite but firm.
“Oh, I think you can,” Charlie says, pulling out her phone and pointing it towards them. “I’m Charlie Green, I run the channel ‘Unmasked Truths.’ I couldn’t help but notice you’re filming something here. Love Lab, isn’t it?”
Jax turns his head slightly, his smile faltering. He wasn’t expecting this either. “We’re in the middle of shooting,” he says, trying to step in between Charlie and the table. “Do you mind giving us a little space?”
Charlie laughs, a sharp, grating sound. “Oh, come on. You guys want the exposure, don’t you? That’s why you’re out here in public, isn’t it?”
I feel my heart sink. This is exactly the kind of thing we don’t need right now—someone hijacking the shoot and turning it into a spectacle.
“Look,” Marcus says, trying to keep his cool. “We’re just here to enjoy a meal. It’s a private shoot.”
“Private, huh?” Charlie raises an eyebrow, panning her phone between Marcus and Olivia. “So tell me, what’s the real deal here? Are you guys actually dating, or is this just another staged video to scam your viewers?”
Olivia’s face goes red—not with embarrassment, but with anger. I can see it building, the way her shoulders tense and her jaw sets. She’s not the type to take this kind of crap lying down.
“Excuse me,” Olivia says, her voice icy. “Who the hell do you think you are?”
“I’m just asking the questions everyone else wants to know,” Charlie says with a smirk. “Like, is this all part of some weird love triangle? Or maybe a square, considering how you’ve got Jax here hovering like a jealous boyfriend.”
Jax bristles at that, stepping forward. “Hey, back off,” he snaps. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Charlie’s grin widens. “Oh, I think I do. This whole ‘Love Lab’ thing—you guys have been floundering for a while now, haven’t you? Views dropping, subscribers bailing. It’s almost like you’re desperate for a hit.”
I can feel the blood pounding in my ears. This is going south fast, and I need to intervene before it gets worse.
“Cut the feed,” I say, stepping forward and waving at the crew. “Everyone, stop rolling.”
Charlie laughs again, this time louder. “Oh, cutting the cameras now? What, afraid of a little truth?”
“Lady, you need to leave,” Jax growls, his usual laid-back demeanor completely gone. He’s tense, fists clenched at his sides like he’s seconds away from losing it.
Marcus tries one last time to de-escalate. “Look, we’re not here to cause trouble. We’re just trying to film a segment.”
“Sure you are,” Charlie sneers. “But let’s be real—no one’s buying it. Especially not when it looks like you’re all vying for the same woman’s attention. It’s kind of pathetic, don’t you think?”
Olivia shoots to her feet, her chair scraping loudly against the floor. “You don’t know a damn thing about us,” she snaps.
I step in, grabbing her by the arm gently. “Liv, don’t. She’s just trying to get a reaction.”
“Oh, I’m getting plenty of reaction,” Charlie says, her eyes gleaming as she takes in the scene. “This is going to make one hell of an episode.”
I glare at her. “This isn’t your show.”
Charlie doesn’t walk away like I’d hoped. Instead, she lingers at the edge of our table, her eyes darting between Olivia, Marcus, and Jax as if she’s already spinning some scandalous headline in her head.
“I gotta hand it to you,” she says, loud enough that the tables nearby start to glance over. “You guys certainly know how to draw attention.”
Jax steps forward, blocking her view. He’s tall and intimidating when he wants to be, but Charlie doesn’t even flinch. “We asked you to leave,” he says, voice low and dangerous. “This isn’t your business.”
“Oh, but it is,” she replies smoothly, sidestepping him so she can see Olivia. “This whole setup is my business. It’s everyone’s business now that you’re streaming your little experiment for the world to see. Do you think people won’t figure it out? That they won’t notice how staged this all is?”
She turns to Olivia.
“How does it feel to be strung along by three men for views?”
Olivia’s face flushes with anger, and she looks like she’s about to launch herself across the table. “Excuse me?” she snaps. “I’m not anyone’s pawn, and if you think?—”
“Liv,” I interrupt, stepping in. I can feel the tension ratcheting up, and I’m desperate to shut this down before it gets any worse. “Don’t engage with her. She’s just trying to stir up trouble.”
“Oh, but he’s right,” Charlie coos, leaning towards Olivia as if they’re best friends. “You shouldn’t engage. After all, it’s not like you’re really in control here, are you? You’re just a tool they’re using for content. Or is it more than that? Maybe you think it’s actually true, which really makes everything even more pathetic.”
Olivia grabs the nearest bowl of soup—a fancy minestrone, still steaming—and dumps it right over Charlie Green’s perfectly styled hair in one swift, fluid motion.
The whole restaurant falls silent, like someone hit the mute button. Charlie just stands there, dripping soup, her mouth open in shock. A noodle slides down her cheek, dangling off her chin like the world’s saddest accessory.
“How’s that for pathetic?” Olivia says.
Jax lets out a low whistle. “Damn,” he mutters. “Did not see that coming.”
Marcus is staring, wide-eyed, like he can’t believe what just happened. He’s gripping his glass of wine so tight, I’m worried it’s going to shatter. “Olivia, what the hell?” he manages, his voice hushed and incredulous.
But I’m struggling to hold back a laugh. I press a hand to my mouth, trying to hide my grin, but it’s impossible.
Charlie finally seems to snap out of her stupor. Her face contorts with rage, and she starts sputtering, wiping soup from her eyes. “You—you psycho!” she screeches, her voice echoing off the marble walls. “Do you know who I am? You can’t do this to me!”
Olivia stands her ground, crossing her arms over her chest. She looks calm, almost serene, but I can see the fire blazing in her eyes. “Oh, I know exactly who you are,” she says coolly. “And I’ve had about enough of your bullshit.”
The restaurant is in full chaos now. Patrons are turning in their seats, snapping pictures and whispering excitedly. The manager, who’s now completely red-faced, marches over, looking as if he’s about to explode.
“Ma’am, please,” he says, looking between Olivia and the dripping, fuming Charlie. “This is a respectable establishment. We can’t have this kind of behavior.”
“Oh, you’re damn right it’s not respectable,” Charlie snaps, pointing a shaking finger at Olivia. “She assaulted me! I want her out of here. I want all of them out of here!”
Marcus pinches the bridge of his nose, like he’s trying to ward off a migraine. “This is a disaster,” he mutters.
“Fine by me,” Olivia says, turning on her heel and grabbing her purse. She gives Charlie a sharp look, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Enjoy the bisque. I’d say it’s on me, but, well…it’s mostly on you.”
Jax covers his mouth with his hand, trying to stifle a laugh, while Marcus lets out a strangled sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose. And me? I can’t help it.
That’s my girl, I think. But the thought stops me in my tracks. Olivia is not my girl, right?