No Strings Attached

Chapter 1

Olivia wandered the busy streets of New York City, her camera slung over her shoulder. She loved capturing the energy of the city, freezing moments in time with each click of her camera. Today, she was on her way to Central Park, hoping to get some shots of the late afternoon sunlight filtering through the trees.

As she walked, she noticed something on the sidewalk. It was a phone, lying there as if it had been dropped by accident. She picked it up and looked around, but no one seemed to be searching for it.

"Should I leave it here?" she wondered aloud. But then she thought, "What if the person who lost it is trying to call it?"

Just as she had this thought, the phone rang. She hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Hello?" she said tentatively.

"Who is this?" a deep voice responded, sounding both impatient and suspicious.

"My name is Olivia. I found this phone on the street. Who are you?"

There was a brief silence before the voice replied, "My name is Ethan. That phone belongs to one of my men. Where are you?"

Olivia felt a mix of relief and curiosity. "I'm near Central Park. How can I return it to you?"

Ethan gave her an address, a small café not far from where she was. He said he'd meet her there in an hour. Olivia agreed and hung up, feeling a strange mix of excitement and apprehension. She continued to Central Park but found it hard to focus on her photography. Her mind kept drifting back to the mysterious voice on the phone.

An hour later, Olivia walked into the café. It was a quiet place, with a few people sitting at tables, sipping coffee and chatting. She spotted a man sitting alone at a corner table. He was tall, with dark hair and a serious expression. As their eyes met, she knew it was him.

"Ethan?" she asked as she approached the table.

He stood up and nodded curtly. "You must be Olivia. Hand over the phone."

She handed it to him, and their fingers brushed briefly. A spark of electricity seemed to pass between them. She quickly pulled her hand away, feeling a bit flustered.

"No problem," she said, trying to sound casual. "I'm just glad it found its way back."

Ethan's expression remained stern. "Let's take a walk," he said abruptly.

Olivia felt a twinge of unease but followed him out of the café. They walked down a deserted side street, the noises of the city fading behind them. Suddenly, Ethan stopped and turned to face her.

"Why did you really pick up the phone?" he asked, his voice hardening.

Olivia was taken aback. "I just wanted to return it," she said. "I thought someone might be worried about it."

Ethan's eyes narrowed. "Do you know who I am?"

Olivia shook her head, her heart pounding. "No, I don't. Should I?"

Without warning, Ethan pulled out a gun and pointed it at her head. Olivia froze, her mind racing. This wasn't what she had expected at all.

"I don't trust strangers," Ethan said coldly. "Especially ones who get involved in my business."

Terror surged through Olivia, but she tried to stay calm. "I won't tell anyone," she pleaded. "I swear."

Ethan's finger twitched on the trigger, but then he lowered the gun slightly. "I'm not taking any chances."

Before she could react, he struck her on the side of the head with the butt of the gun. Pain exploded in her skull, and everything went black.

As Olivia crumpled to the ground, Ethan looked down at her, his face a mask of indifference. He didn't like leaving loose ends, but in his world, trust was a luxury he couldn't afford. He holstered his gun and picked up her limp body, carrying her to a nearby car.

"Maybe this will teach you to mind your own business," he muttered as he laid her in the back seat and drove away, leaving the quiet street empty once more.