THE BILLIONAIRE’S DAUGHTER FELL IN LOVE WITH HER UBER DRIVER
Chapter 2
Sophia told herself she wouldn’t request Ethan again.
That lasted one day.
On Saturday afternoon, she opened Uber.
His name appeared.
Ethan Carter.
Four-point-nine stars.
1,800 rides.
She stared at the screen.
Then laughed at herself.
“This is ridiculous.”
She booked him anyway.
Ten minutes later, Ethan pulled up.
When Sophia got inside, he smiled.
“Again?”
She shrugged.
“You were available.”
“Convenient.”
“Exactly.”
He pulled away.
“Where to?”
“Brookdale Market.”
Ethan glanced at her.
“The farmer’s market?”
“Yes.”
“Interesting.”
“What?”
“You don’t look like someone who shops at farmer’s markets.”
Sophia looked down at her simple sweater and jeans.
“How do I look?”
“Like you have someone who does that for you.”
She laughed.
“My father probably does.”
“Then why go?”
“Because I want to learn.”
“Learn what?”
“How normal people live.”
Ethan smiled.
“That’s a dangerous experiment.”
“Why?”
“Because normal people are broke and tired.”
Sophia laughed.
“You sound broke.”
“I am.”
“Are you tired?”
“Very.”
She studied him.
“You have another job?”
“Used to.”
“What happened?”
Ethan’s expression changed slightly.
“I was an aircraft engineer.”
Sophia looked surprised.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
“Layoffs.”
“And now you drive Uber.”
“Temporary.”
“How temporary?”
Ethan smiled.
“Longer than I planned.”
They arrived at the market.
Sophia opened the door.
“Wait.”
“What?”
“Can you stay?”
Ethan frowned.
“You want me to wait?”
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“I don’t know.”
He smiled.
“That’s not how rides work.”
She laughed.
“Please?”
Ethan checked the app.
“I can cancel the next request.”
“Thank you.”
For the next hour, he walked through the market with her.
She had no idea how to choose peaches.
He did.
She didn’t know which bread was fresh.
He did.
She nearly bought a giant pumpkin she couldn’t carry.
He stopped her.
“You don’t need that.”
“I like it.”
“You have a twenty-story building.”
“Technically it’s thirty-eight.”
He laughed.
She realized he was the first person she’d ever met who teased her about her wealth without trying to gain something from it.
At one stall, Ethan noticed a small wooden toy airplane.
He picked it up.
Sophia saw his expression.
“For your daughter?”
He nodded.
“Lily loves airplanes.”
“Because of your old job?”
“Probably.”
Sophia smiled.
“What’s she like?”
“Smart.”
He paused.
“Too smart sometimes.”
“Like her father?”
“Definitely not.”
Sophia laughed.
They bought the toy.
When they reached Ethan’s car, Sophia noticed a photograph taped to the dashboard.
A little girl holding a pink balloon.
“She’s beautiful.”
Ethan smiled.
“She is.”
Sophia touched the edge of the photograph.
“Is it just you and her?”
“Yes.”
She looked at him.
“Her mother?”
“Left when Lily was two.”
Sophia didn’t ask more.
She simply nodded.
Ethan looked at her.
“Your family?”
Sophia laughed softly.
“My father owns half the skyline.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
She looked at him.
“My mother died when I was sixteen.”
Ethan’s smile disappeared.
“I’m sorry.”
“Thank you.”
Silence settled between them.
Then Sophia said,
“Maybe we’re both raising pieces of families that don’t look the way they were supposed to.”
Ethan looked at her in the mirror.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then he started the engine.
Sophia watched the city outside.
She had known Ethan for less than two days.
But somehow, she trusted him more than people she had known for years.
She didn’t know it yet.
But that trust was about to become dangerous.
Because Sophia’s father had already noticed the Uber receipts.
