Ava Chen, a college student and photographer, finds herself stranded at a remote bus shelter during a rainstorm after an engagement photoshoot. With no working Uber, no bus service on weekends, and her friend Bridget unavailable, she reluctantly calls her older brother Josh for help. Josh is in the middle of an intimate encounter and can't come himself—his car has been taken by a friend to buy ice for his farewell party—but promises to send someone, telling Ava to stay put and keep her pepper spray handy.

To Ava's dismay, the person who arrives is Alex Volkov, Josh's best friend and someone she considers cold, arrogant, and unapproachable. Alex drives a sleek black Aston Martin and barely speaks to her. Ava reflects on the contrast between herself and Josh—he's popular and outgoing, she's introverted with a small circle of close friends—and reveals she has a phobia related to bodies of water that limits her life. She also muses on Alex's background: orphaned young, a genius with an IQ of 160, a self-made multimillionaire, and the COO of a major real estate company, yet emotionally distant and intimidating.

Ava convinces a reluctant Alex to make a detour to Crumble & Bake so she can pick up a special chocolate cake she ordered for Josh's farewell. When she moves to exit the car, Alex stops her, pointing out that her white T-shirt has become completely see-through from the rain. Embarrassed and frustrated, Ava snaps at him, calling him an asshole and accusing him of staring. Alex coolly dismisses her, stating she's not his type, and insists on retrieving the cake himself to prevent her from going out in her condition.

On the drive back, the two share a rare moment of banter when Alex appears to crack a dry joke about his own rigidity. He asks why she was out there in the first place but cuts her off before she can explain fully, revealing he picked her up because he was in the area and because Josh would be unbearable if something happened to her. Ava exits the car fuming, grateful for the ride but irritated by Alex's demeanor. She consoles herself with the thought that she rarely has to see him, as Josh usually visits Alex in the city. Josh's farewell party is underway next door, and Ava plans to shower, change, and join the celebration.