She broke the kiss, her heart thundering loud behind her chest and she could hear it amidst the loud music but she enjoyed the anonymity that she wore, that way she cancelled all chances for him to find her.
She replayed the scenario in her drunken mind to remind herself that it was all real. Her inability to resist his overwhelming allure, while she closed the gap between them, drawn in by the enchantment of the night. The music swirling around them, offering a backdrop of hidden desires, as their lips brushed together in a stolen moment of passion.The mystery of her mask making their encounter all the more tantalizing and enthralling.But reality had begin to set in and she needed to wake up, she needed to turn away to avoiding diving deeper into the enigmatic aura that surrounded this handsome stranger.“I need to go” she said loudly due to the music and realizing she had left Cheryl for too long and she needed to go back, with or without the drink.“Don’t” Jackson held unto her wrist, his playboy charm at work and not willing to let go yet, the kiss had enthralled him, he didn’t know what she looked like but the passionate kiss they shared had painted a vivid picture in his head.“Stay” he pleaded still holding on tightly to her wrist but she shook her head and he could sense the determination which drove a sword of disappointment into his already pounding heart.“I’m sorry I need to go” she pulled her hands out of his grip oblivious to her silver bangle that fell into his hands. Before he had the chance to speak, she had blended back into the crowd, knowing that their paths might never cross again because he knew nothing about her except her name.Emily WalkerThey were a million Emily Walkers in New York City, how could he find her again?Jackson Hatton stayed still on his bed in the early hours of the next day, unable to drift back to sleep. The taste of the mysterious girl’s kiss still lingering on his lips, a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions consumed him. His dimly lit room pulsated with anticipation, the cold of the air condition mixed with the smell of booze and his Armani cologne wafting through the air yet his mind was fixated on the girl who had captivated his attention with a simple yet hot kiss. He had kissed a lot of girls, way more than he could remember but none of them had left him wanting, left him intrigued. Maybe it was the anonymity, or the fact that she wasn’t over him begging for his attention. He needed to find her.Jackson replayed the moment in his head, the brief encounter that felt like an eternity. The soft touch of her lips against his, the rush of adrenaline as their connection sparked in the midst of part chaos. But just as quickly as it had begun, she vanished, leaving nothing but her delicate bracelet and her name.Emily WalkerHe clutched the bracelet tightly, a physical reminder of the mystery that now plagued his every thought. Who was she? Where did she come from? He yearned to know more, a sense of frustration and yearning slowly creeping in.Quickly, Jackson jumped out of his bed and making his way out of the room. He craved for a glass of booze even though he still felt hung over from the previous night. He made his way through the long flight of stairs, heading straight to the in house bar that was in fact as large as his room.Getting there, he could hear familiar voices coming from within the bar and he stopped for a second to listen. It was his father and Ethan discussing and he slowly moved closer because they were almost talking in hushed whispers.“.......investors are getting impatient, we are at risk of losing the new tech startup if we don’t seal the deal and you know what that means” Jackson heard his father say as he struggled to listen. Quietness followed before he heard his father speak again.“If we lose the tech startup of Hatton companies, other investors start pulling out and we don’t want that, we might be at risk of losing the company. I gave you this as an opportunity to save yourself from the rubbish you pulled”“I’m working on it dad, I’m working hard” He heard Ethan say“Well apparently not hard enough, or maybe I should give it all Jackson” Jackson startled at the mention of his name but he listened harder, his ears standing alert now.“How’d you like that Ethan, I’m sure he’d be a better businessman than you” he heard his father say“He’s a child that’ll blow all his time and money on booze and women. He’s not fit to handle the business yet” he heard Ethan say and Jackson paused.That one stungHe couldn’t believe his ears, that was what Ethan thought of him? He knew he probably went a bit overboard with the clubbing and womanizing but he would never jeopardize the family’s business because of that, at least not like Ethan did and it hurt him. It hurt him that Ethan would say that to their father, especially to make himself look good.He had made it clear thousands of time that he had no particular interest in the company yet but maybe he should. Maybe he needed to step up and prove that he wasn’t a child who spent all his time on booze and women, maybe he needed to show that he also had a talent for business.With that mindset, Jackson walked back to his room with a goal to take everything from Ethan, regardless of what it was.He was no longer a child.Emily woke up in a start, feeling disheveled and a blinding headache striking her suddenly that she winced in pain. The events of the previous night, although blurry were rolling in and she felt repulsed at how much alcohol she drank. She quickly gazed around her room and her clothes were strewn about and she groaned trying to recollect herself. In the hushed tranquility of her room, she allowed her mind wander back to the enchanted part where anonymity and allure intertwined. The memory of the masked faces, each shrouded in secrecy, dances around her like ethereal apparitions, whispering secrets but not yet unveiled.With each recollection, Emily’s senses began to come alive, weaving a tapestry of vivid impressions. She could still feel the velvet touch of his lips against hers.The handsome strangerIt felt like a delicate symphony of warmth and yearning. In her mind’s eye, she could imagine the twinkle of evening stars reflecting in his eyes, those enigmatic pools of mystery that
Emily sat somberly in Ethan’s car while he drove her to the hospital, she had searched the whole ballroom frantically yet the silver bangle with a crimson gemstone was nowhere in site. She felt downcast and sad, and she wondered how she was going to let Orion know she had misplaced a precious antique bracelet he had given her. Had someone picked it? Or had it somehow fallen into the hands of the mysterious stranger she had kissed, she stayed baffled with her mind turning in circles and the weird guy pulling her out of her train of thoughts when she only just realized he still hadn’t told her his name.“Was the bracelet a gift from your boyfriend?” he asked her, his eyes fixed on the road and she turned to face him“You still haven’t told me your name, you could be a serial killer for all I know” she said instead and he chuckled glancing at her from his side eye.“Fine, I’m Ethan” he told her “Ethan Jacobs.Ethan wasn’t entirely sure why he lied but a sense of guilt suddenly settled
The sleek, glass-encased boardroom buzzed with anticipation as the morning sun poured through floor-to ceiling windows, casting a warm glow on the polished mahogany table. Ethan Hatton stood at the head of the room, his charcoal gray suit crisply tailored to perfection and a shield against the brewing chaos, exuding an air of confidence, yet his heart fluttered with nervousness. Before him sat a group of potential investors, with their eyes sharp and calculating, their expressions guarded. Their presence alone commanded respect, an assembly of power and wealth that Ethan had been associated with all his life. He stared at them, although his eyes were fixed anywhere but them. He knew he had to bag this deal, he knew that securing their financial backing would bring Hatton Tech startup to unimaginable heights and he needed to be the brain behind it, but their terms were far more intricate than he needed them to be.The room fell into a hushed silence as the lead investor, Mr. Thompson,
Ethan Hatton had received several images and a text messages from his publicist, Nicholas Smith. They were pictures of himself and Emily, coming out of The Luxe hotel and also at the restaurant with the head line ‘Billionaire son and common girl; Who’s the mystery girl?”“The media is going to release this, should we block it” Nicholas had sent.Ethan stared at the pictures and text for a second, he weighed the pros and cons of the media releasing these pictures with that headline and the only con he could think about was lying to Emily about his name and he didn’t want her to find out through the media. But then, if the media releases this, it could push an idea of him getting married and secure the deal a lot of faster.“No, let them release it” he sent back to Nicholas. He would find Emily and explain to her later and he would ask her to marry him, he liked her decently enough but for that moment he had to go back to the board meeting to repair the damage Jackson had caused, that s
The sun dipped below the horizon when Emily Walker finally got off her shift and agreed to meet with Ethan. She claimed she needed time to process everything that was suddenly going on. In the heart of the enchanting metropolis, the air was thick with anticipation as she sat with him in a lonely park. The shadows grew longer and secrets danced in the fading light. It was a delicate hour that felt like fate was weaving its intricate tapestry.Emily gazed at Ethan Hatton, whom she thought she knew as Ethan Jacob but apparently he was not. He lied to her. Her eyes searching for answers in the depth of his troubled gaze. Her heart, once ablaze with admiration, now flickered with uncertainty.“You’re Hatton? You’re the Ethan Hatton? You’re a billionaire?” she asked him, her voice laced with confusion, her eyes dancing about.“The Rolls Royce didn’t do it for you?” he asked back and noticing her frown he softened his look.“Why did you lie to me?”Ethan still clad in his tailored suit took
It was the next, a day before Ethan Hatton had issued for the press release of his engagement so he had arranged a date with Emily to discuss all the terms of their marriage. It was in the evening, as the sun began its descent, casting its usual warm golden hue across the city. They both found themselves seated in a cozy corner booth at a trendy restaurant that offered a bit of privacy. Ethan looked suave and impeccably dressed, his dark hair neatly styled and those piercing eyes never missing the hint of mischief in them, while Emily hopped in her most elegant dress in her little wardrobe, a flowing a flowering dress that exposed the curve of her shoulders, highlighting delicate spots that drew Ethan’s attention.Nervously, Emily fiddled with her silverware, stealing glances at Ethan, her head still sending off alarms but she chose to ignore them “So, um Ethan, shall we discuss the terms of our….. contract marriage?”Ethan leaned back in his chair, a small smile playing on his lips
“Anita?” Ethan had called again, when he noticed she was the one, her presence threatening to shatter the tranquility of the evening. A mix of emotions flooding Ethan’s mind – disbelief, frustration and somehow there was a tinge of guilt wedged in there, but he managed to conceal it all so perfectly and keep his expression stoic. Anita James had clearly said she didn’t want to marry him, he had even offered a contract marriage and they could split after a few months but she had vehemently refused, and now she was here? He couldn’t process it, the mix of emotions flowing through him, it was even harder to ignore the confused expression plastered on Emily’s face, he threw an apologetic look her way. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was about to unfold. From what he knew, Anita James could be extremely difficult to deal with.Anita’s gaze locked with Ethan, a hint of defiance and jealousy lingering in her eyes, the ring still on her finger.“Ethan” she called, still with
As the grand sliding doors of the Hatton mansion swung open, revealing the magnificent interior, Ethan stood tall and proud. He took a deep breath, his heart pounding with anticipation. Today was the day he would introduce Emily to his family, unknown to his family it was not a love story but rather a business arrangement, and they didn’t they need to know that, but yet he wanted to paint a love at first sight image to them.Leading the way, Ethan walked into the lavish room where his mother and father sat waiting eagerly. Jackson Hatton, lounged in a chair, seemingly uninterested but his eyes perked up when he saw Emily walk in quietly with Ethan.“Family, I would like you to meet Emily, my fiancée” Ethan announced, his voice filled with both excitement and nervousness. Emily stepped forward, her eyes sparkling with humility, a hint of fear but there was determination hidden underneath them. Her heart pounded fiercely beneath her chest as she scanned the house. She had never been a