WE MET IN AN ELEVATOR DURING A BLACKOUT. THE LIGHTS CAME ON TOO SOON. part -3

The restaurant was the kind of expensive that made me wonder if Daniel planned to pay—or if I'd be washing dishes in my cocktail dress.

He stood when I entered, his charcoal suit replaced by dark jeans and a shirt that clung to his shoulders like it owed him money. No tie this time. No wedding band either.

"You came," he said, pulling out my chair.

I sat, smoothing my dress. "You doubted?"

His fingers brushed my shoulder as he pushed me in. "I fired someone in this building today. Thought you might be next."

The wine arrived before I could ask if he was joking.

Three glasses in, I learned:

He was my new boss (technically the CEO's nephew)

The "divorce" was an annulment (his Vegas wedding lasted 37 hours)

He'd ridden that elevator daily for weeks hoping to see me again

"Stalker much?" I teased.

Daniel swirled his scotch. "Romantic persistence." His knee bumped mine under the table. "Besides, you're the one who stopped the—"

A scream cut him off.

The power died. Again.

Not just the restaurant—the entire block. Cell phones flickered on around us as Daniel's hand found mine in the dark.

"Tell me you planned this," I whispered.

His thumb traced my knuckles. "I wish I had."

Then—a crash. Shouting. The unmistakable sound of a jewelry store display case shattering across the street.

Daniel stood so fast his chair toppled. "Stay here."

Like hell.

I followed him into the chaos, my heels abandoned under the table. We rounded the corner just as a masked figure bolted from Tiffany's—straight into me.

The collision sent me sprawling. Pain shot through my knee as the robber scrambled up, but not fast enough. Daniel tackled him with the precision of someone who'd played college football.

The thief's mask slipped.

Recognition punched me in the gut.

"Ethan?" My little brother—who was supposed to be at college—stared up at me, a diamond necklace spilling from his hoodie pocket.

Daniel froze. "You know him?"

The streetlights chose that moment to blaze back to life, illuminating:

My brother's guilty face

The Tiffany bag in my hand (I'd tripped and grabbed it instinctively)

Three police cars screeching to a halt

"Ma'am," an officer called, "drop the jewelry!"

Daniel stepped between us, hands raised. "There's been a—"

Ethan bolted.

I moved to chase him. Daniel caught my wrist.

The cop drew his taser.

And that's how our first date ended with me in handcuffs, Daniel posting my bail, and my brother sending a text:

✉️ Ethan: sorry about your boyfriend

✉️ Ethan: he looks like he wants to murder me

✉️ Me: I want to murder you

✉️ Daniel: Tell him I charge $500/hr for legal counsel

✉️ Daniel: Also you still owe me dinner

[To Be Continued...]

New Questions:

Why was Ethan robbing Tiffany's?

Will Daniel really represent him?

What's in her purse that she's hiding?

Vocal Hook:

"Would YOU bail out a date after this? (78% said NO—prove them wrong!)"

Want Part 4: The Jailhouse Confession? Let me know! 💎