Eitan took a gentle hold of both her shoulders in an effort to calm her down. "You can relax now," he said soothingly. "He's not coming after you anymore."
Ava stared at him, wide eyed, her hand reaching up to squeeze his wrist tightly. "R–really?"
Eitan's brows furrowed lightly. "...Yes, really."
Ava looked around again just to make sure, then she nodded. "Al–alright." She agreed softly. "Alright…"
Relief washed all over her, causing her to lose strength in her legs. She collapsed to the ground faster than Eitan could get a hold of her.
"Hey!" He called in concern before crouching to match her level. "Are you okay?"
"I'm–I'm sorry…" Ava apologised, her eyes clouding over as tears began to roll down her cheeks. "I'm just… I'm just so tired…"
Eitan was taken aback and he began to panic inwardly. How exactly was he supposed to console a crying woman?
In all twenty six years of his life, he'd never been in this kind of situation.
He hesitated for a moment, then gently rubbed the back of his index finger against a tear streaked cheek. "...Don't cry."
Ava blinked. "Don't cry…?" She repeated quietly then suddenly let out a burst of laughter despite her tears. "What… what kind of consolation is that?"
Eitan pursed his lips, quietly withdrawing his hand.
"I'm sorry…" Ava said, wiping her tears away and offering him a genuine smile. "Alright… I won't cry."
Eitan pursed his lips. He had a lot of questions he wanted to ask her… but alas, none of what happened was his business. He'd come to such a desolate part for a raason.
Ava clutched her bag tighter and swallowed. "Thank you." She said softly. "I don't know what would have happened if it wasn't for you."
Eitan nodded. "It's alright." He paused. "I... have a car… would you like me to take you home? He might still be around here somewhere."
Ava stiffened. "...I'll… I'll take you up on your offer if it isn't too much trouble." She voiced, then added softly. "But please… don't do anything to me."
Eitan's eyes widened for a brief moment before he simply nodded in understanding. There was no way she would blindly put her trust in him after what just happened.
He'd watched how she handled the first man and saw how she began to run immediately after, like she knew someone else was going to be on her heels soon.
So he knew she was only asking him not to hurt her because she didn't have a choice. She'd lost the strength to continue fighting.
"I promise." Eitan assured her.
Ava stared at him, fascinated. And for some reason, she trusted those words he said without a single shift in his expression.
He reached a hand out toward her and she took it, though she stumbled, she regained her footing after he helped steady her.
"Where do you live?" He asked.
Ava swallowed. "Fo… forty nine downtown street. It's… It's not too far from here…"
Eitan nodded. "Alright."
It was a quiet walk to his car, and Ava took a few couple glances at him on their way, increasingly wondering if he truly didn't recognise her.
She found that hard to believe, there was no way he would help a stranger he saw just once at a café went to sit at… or were there really people with such good hearts that would help someone unimportant they met briefly?
Ava sighted his car for the first time in close range and her jaw nearly dropped. Her mouth was actually left agape the moment he opened the door for her to get into the passenger's seat.
She had only entered an expensive car once and that was so long ago, she'd forgotten what it looked like.
This car had no keys, just a tab… or was it a monitor that Eitan inputted into before he began to drive. Everything in it looked so futuristic and she was sure she wouldn't even be surprised if it had the auto drive she usually saw in movies.
She kept her hands close to herself, clutching her bag to avoid touching or ruining anything by mistake. She couldn't stop staring.
Eitan took a glance at her from the corner of his eye and his expression softened somewhat.
'Her complexion looks alot better now…'
He let out a breath. "I didn't know rich people took part time jobs at cafés." He voiced, his gaze solely focused on the road.
Ava stiffened.
He… he recognised her! But… but how?! She was wearing a mask that day!
She cleared her throat, trying her best not to look put off. "Well, I didn't know rich people liked to visit rundown cafes either."
Eitan's lips twitched. "So you're not denying it?"
Ava shifted her gaze. "I doubt it would work on you even if I gave it my best."
Now she knew for certain… Eitan hadn't believed her when she told him she was new money at the party.
… He had been the one who suggested it but that was beside the point…
He had spoken to her that night to observe her and left after concluding that she wasn't a threat.
'He's smart.' She thought. 'I have to be careful around him.'
"That makes me even more curious." Eitan started. "I wonder what you were doing at a party you weren't invited to?"
Ava pursed her lips. There was no way she would get out of this by lying. He might as well drive her to the police station if he felt like it, and she wouldn't be able to do anything about It.
Heck, she didn't even know how to open the door.
"I was sent there to gather information." She answered quietly.
"Sent?" Eitan echoed with a raised brow. "By whom?"
Ava furrowed her brows. "I don't know." She responded and she truly didn't.
"I see…" Eitan mused. "So you just do whatever anyone asks of you, for what, the money?"
Ava's hands fidgeted as she clawed at her fingernails. "Yes."
Eitan nodded. "Very well," he started. "For double the amount, tell me what you found out at the party."
Ava's eyes widened and she turned her head towards him swiftly. "What…?"
"You heard me."
Ava sucked in a sharp breath. "My client paid over a million dollars!"
"And you think I won't be able to give you double that amount?" Eitan challenged. "Surely, you underestimate me."