THE HEART I HIDE

The evening air was warm, the kind that made the city hum with restless energy. Somewhere far below, car horns blared and laughter spilled from rooftop bars. Inside the glass-and-marble penthouse of Richard and Samantha Hartman, a different kind of buzz filled the air like an expensive one. The Hartmans were hosting a charity gala tonight, the kind where champagne flowed like water and deals worth millions were sealed with a handshake but Samuel Hartman wasn’t impressed.

He sat sprawled on the edge of his king-sized bed, hair still damp from a quick shower, staring at the tuxedo hanging on his wardrobe door like it was a prison sentence.

“You’re going to be late,” Samantha’s voice rang from the hallway. The door cracked open and she peeked in elegant as always, in a silver gown that shimmered under the light. “Your father is expecting you downstairs in five minutes.”

Sam smirked. “Five minutes is enough to show up, say hi, and disappear before anyone notices I’m gone.”

Samantha rolled her eyes. “Samuel, this is an important event. The Parkers will be there and the Whitmores.

This could be “A networking opportunity, I know,” Sam cut in, standing to grab his shirt. “But do you know what sounds better than networking? Literally anything else.”

By the time he finally made it downstairs, Richard Hartman,impeccable in his black tux was in full conversation with two grey-haired men about property acquisitions. The sight was enough to make Sam’s skin itch. His father caught his eye and waved him over, but Sam slipped past discreetly, heading straight for the exit.

The moment he stepped outside into the night, he felt lighter. He needed to breathe away from the polite smiles and shallow conversations.

Across town, Rose Westwood adjusted the strap of her sundress as she arranged chairs in the small but lively community center her mother, Diana, ran. Kids were laughing, chasing each other around the hall while a group of volunteers stacked boxes of donated clothes.

“Rose,” Diana called, striding over in a crisp navy blouse. “Please make sure the guests tonight feel welcomed. The mayor’s wife is coming to see our new youth program.”

Rose smiled. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll be on my best behavior.”

“Best behavior,” Diana repeated with a pointed look. “That means no telling them exactly what you think about their so-called charity work.”

Rose laughed under her breath. “I’ll try.”

As she moved through the crowd, helping with trays of snacks and chatting with the kids, her mind drifted not to wealth or parties, but to the dream she kept tucked away: travelling, exploring, living a life bigger than this small corner of the city.

Later that night,the crossing

Sam didn’t know exactly where he was going. He just kept driving until the streetlights thinned and the city’s edge blurred into quieter roads. At a red light, he spotted a crowd gathering near the community center. Curious, he slowed down and that’s when it happened,Rose darted across the street, carrying a stack of flyers, not looking up until his headlights hit her.

She froze and he slammed the brakes.The flyers flew from her hands, scattering like startled birds. For a second, all either of them could do was stare.

Sam stepped out of the car, hands raised. “I swear I wasn’t trying to kill you.”

Rose’s eyes narrowed. “What kind of maniac speeds past a crosswalk?”

“The light was green”

“And you were still too fast,” she shot back, brushing past him to collect her papers.

Sam crouched to help. “Look, I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you.”

“You couldn’t afford it,” she muttered.

He grinned, a spark of amusement lighting his face. “Try me.”

For reasons she couldn’t quite name, she looked up at him then—and for the briefest moment, something electric hummed between them.

Neither of them knew it yet, but this accidental meeting was about to set off a chain of events that would crash through both their lives like a storm.

As Rose turned to leave, Sam called after her, “At least tell me your name.”

She glanced over her shoulder. “Why? So you can add me to your list of people to charm and forget?”

Before he could answer, a voice from across the street shouted, “Rose! We need you!”

She gave him a final, guarded look and disappeared into the crowd.Sam stood there,grinning like a man who’d just found his next obsession.