Ethan Roscente's gaze lingered on the slender figure until she disappeared around the street corner. The warmth in his eyes faded, replaced by a cold sharpness.
"Mr. Roscente, the clothes are ready. Should I deliver them to you?" Lucas Roscente, his assistant, asked cautiously from the driver's seat.
"No need." Ethan withdrew his gaze. "Take me back to the office."
"Understood." Lucas placed the shopping bag on the passenger seat and started the car.
At seven in the evening, Jenna Roland finished packing up her street stall and pedaled her e-tricycle home.
Three men in black suits stood smoking under her apartment building. Jenna glanced at them but paid no mind. She parked and was about to unload her goods when one of them suddenly spoke.
"Need help?"
Jenna eyed them warily and shook her head. "No, thanks."
She struggled to drag a large bag of clothes toward the entrance. Unexpectedly, the three men picked up the remaining packages without prompting.
"What are you doing?" Milo Roland immediately stepped forward to block them.
The leader flashed a friendly smile. "You looked like you could use a hand."
Jenna, now at her door, turned back. "We don't know each other. Why help me?"
The man pulled out his ID. "We just moved in—seventh floor. Check my ID if you're worried."
Jenna hesitated. She'd never encountered such eager strangers before.
"You live here too?" she asked skeptically.
"Yeah, seventh floor." He pocketed his ID. "Which floor are you on?"
"Sixth." After a pause, she relented. "Well... thanks."
The three efficiently carried the packages upstairs. When the elevator stopped on the sixth floor, Jenna took them back. "I can handle the rest."
She watched them head to the seventh floor before unlocking her door.
Upstairs, Ryan Roland's phone rang. He straightened instantly at the caller ID.
"Mr. Roscente."
"Did you see her?" The voice on the line was icy.
"Delivered Miss Roland's belongings to her doorstep," Ryan answered respectfully.
"Keep watching." Ethan ended the call without another word.