Chapter Six: The First Encounter

The charity gala was gradually coming to an end, yet the Kingsley Grand Hotel remained alive with music, laughter, and conversation.

Guests gathered in small groups, raising crystal glasses in celebration while photographers captured the evening's final moments.

Olivia and Mia had just finished dinner when Mia glanced at her phone.

"Oh no."

Olivia looked up.

"What happened?"

"My cousin just texted me. She needs help backstage with the raffle prizes."

Olivia smiled reassuringly.

"Go. I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm not a child."

Mia narrowed her eyes playfully.

"I'll only be gone for ten minutes."

Olivia laughed.

"You said that an hour ago."

Mia grinned before disappearing into the crowd.

Left on her own, Olivia wandered through the elegant hotel lobby.

A grand piano near the entrance filled the air with a slow, soothing melody.

She admired the paintings decorating the walls before stopping beside a magnificent indoor fountain.

She smiled to herself.

"This place is unbelievable."

Just then, a young waiter hurried past carrying a tray filled with crystal glasses.

His face was pale.

His hands trembled ever so slightly.

He looked terrified.

Before Olivia could wonder why, another guest accidentally bumped into him.

Everything happened in an instant.

The tray tilted.

The waiter lost his balance.

Without thinking, Olivia reached out to steady him.

She managed to catch part of the tray...

But one glass slipped free.

It spun through the air.

Splash!

Amber-colored juice splashed across the sleeve of a perfectly tailored black suit.

Silence.

The waiter froze.

Olivia slowly lifted her eyes.

Standing before her was a tall man with sharp features, neatly styled dark hair, and calm gray eyes that revealed almost nothing.

His expensive suit was stained.

For a brief moment...

No one spoke.

"I'm... I'm so sorry, sir," the waiter stammered, his voice shaking.

"It was my fault."

Olivia immediately stepped forward.

"No."

The waiter stared at her.

"It wasn't your fault."

She turned toward the stranger.

"The guest behind him bumped into him first."

The man regarded her quietly.

His expression remained unreadable.

Just then, the hotel manager hurried over.

The moment he saw the stained suit, his face turned pale.

"Mr. Kingsley!"

Olivia frowned.

Kingsley?

The manager bowed repeatedly.

"We sincerely apologize, sir."

Then he rounded on the frightened waiter.

"You're fired!"

"No!"

Olivia's voice rang through the lobby louder than she intended.

Nearby conversations stopped.

Several guests turned to watch.

The manager looked at her in disbelief.

"Excuse me?"

"He doesn't deserve to lose his job."

"Miss, this matter doesn't concern—"

"It does."

She stepped protectively in front of the waiter.

"He was doing his job."

"It was an accident."

The manager hesitated.

"But Mr. Kingsley—"

For the first time...

Olivia looked directly into Ethan's eyes.

She had expected anger.

Instead, she found quiet composure.

Cold.

Controlled.

Impossible to read.

Ethan shifted his gaze toward the waiter.

"What's your name?"

The young man swallowed nervously.

"Jacob, sir."

"How long have you worked here?"

"Three months."

Ethan nodded once.

"Then learn from your mistake."

Jacob blinked in confusion.

"S-Sir?"

"You're not fired."

The manager looked equally stunned.

"But, Mr. Kingsley—"

"I said he's not fired."

His voice never rose.

Yet it carried enough authority to end the discussion instantly.

"Yes, Mr. Kingsley."

Relief flooded Jacob's face.

"Thank you, sir."

Ethan gave a slight nod before brushing a few drops of juice from his sleeve.

Then his attention returned to Olivia.

"You defended someone you didn't know."

Olivia folded her arms.

"Someone had to."

"You weren't worried about embarrassing yourself?"

She met his gaze without hesitation.

"I'd rather embarrass myself than stay silent when something is unfair."

For the first time that evening...

The corner of Ethan's mouth almost curved into a smile.

Almost.

"You have an interesting sense of justice."

Olivia glanced at his stained jacket.

"And you have expensive suits."

Ethan followed her gaze.

"So it would seem."

A soft laugh escaped Olivia.

"So..."

She tilted her head.

"Are you angry?"

"No."

"You should probably change before the stain sets."

"I suppose I should."

For a brief moment...

Neither of them moved.

It wasn't romantic.

It wasn't awkward.

It was simply...

Unexpected.

Then a woman's voice broke the silence.

"Ethan."

A stunning woman in a shimmering silver gown approached confidently and slipped her arm through his.

"We've been looking everywhere for you."

Her eyes shifted to Olivia.

The pleasant smile on her face faded almost instantly.

She looked Olivia up and down before turning back to Ethan.

"Who's she?"

Before Ethan could answer, Olivia smiled politely.

"No one."

With a small nod, she turned and walked away.

Ethan watched her disappear into the crowd.

Something about the encounter stayed with him.

She hadn't asked for his name.

She hadn't tried to impress him.

She hadn't even seemed interested in who he was.

That almost never happened.

Across the ballroom...

"There you are!" Mia exclaimed as Olivia approached.

"What took you so long?"

Olivia shrugged.

"I accidentally spilled a drink on some CEO."

Mia's eyes widened.

"You what?"

"It wasn't exactly my fault."

"Do you even know who he was?"

"The manager called him... Mr. Kingsley."

Mia stopped walking.

"Olivia..."

"What?"

"You mean Ethan Kingsley?"

Olivia frowned.

"Should I know who that is?"

Mia stared at her in disbelief.

"You really don't?"

Olivia shook her head.

"No."

Mia burst into laughter.

"Only you could meet the richest CEO in Westbridge..."

"...and walk away as if it were nothing."

Olivia smiled thoughtfully.

"He seemed..."

She searched for the right word.

"Different."

"What do you mean?"

"I expected someone arrogant."

"But he wasn't."

Near one of the ballroom windows...

Daniel approached Ethan quietly.

"Sir?"

Ethan's eyes remained fixed on the crowd.

"Find out who she is."

Daniel followed his gaze.

"The young woman in the green dress?"

"Yes."

"Would you like me to investigate her?"

Ethan thought for a moment.

"No."

A brief silence followed.

"Just tell me her name."

Outside...

Rain had begun to fall softly over Westbridge.

Olivia and Mia disappeared into the night, completely unaware that someone was watching them from the shadows once again.

The mysterious figure slipped a photograph into a black envelope.

Across the front, three words had been written in neat handwriting.

She's the one.

The envelope disappeared into a leather briefcase.

And with it...

A dangerous plan quietly began to unfold.