THE LOVE I NEVER PLANNED FOR Chapter One The Man I Wasn’t Supposed to NoticeI had made a promise to myself.I would never fall in love with a man who made my heart forget how to behave.Love, I had discovered, was beautiful in theory but dangerous in practice. It made sensible women make foolish decisions, turned strong women into desperate ones, and gave ordinary men the power to break hearts they had never earned.So, naturally, the first time I met Damian Cole, I knew I was in trouble.He stood across the crowded room in a perfectly tailored black suit, one hand tucked casually into his pocket, his expression unreadable.Our eyes met.For one brief second, the entire room seemed to disappear.Then he smiled.Not a warm smile.Not a friendly smile.A smile that said he knew exactly what he was doing to me.I looked away immediately.Absolutely not.I reached for my glass of champagne and took a sip, pretending that my sudden interest in the decorative flowers on the table was completely natural.Don't.I nearly choked.I turned to find my best friend, Amara, staring at me.Don't what?She raised an eyebrow.“Whatever you're doing.”“I’m doing nothing.”“You're staring.”“I wasn't staring.”“You were practically undressing him with your eyes.”My mouth fell open.Amara!She laughed.“What? I'm only telling the truth.”“I wasn't looking at him.”“You were.”“I was looking at the painting behind him.”She glanced across the room.“There is no painting behind him.”I turned.She was right.There wasn't.I closed my eyes for a second.“Please, Amara. Don't start.”“I haven't even started.”She leaned closer.“Who is he?”“I don't know.”“You don't know his name?”“No.”“Then find out.”“Why?”“Because you're single, he's handsome, and I'm tired of watching you reject every man who tries to talk to you.”“I don't reject every man.”She gave me a look.“Last month, you told a man who asked for your number that you were married.”“I panicked.”“You're not married.”“I know.”“And the man before him?”“I told him I was emotionally unavailable.”“You were.”“To everyone.”She laughed again.“Exactly.”I rolled my eyes.“I'm here to work, Amara.”“Yes, Your Honour.”I nudged her.Stop.She smiled before turning toward the room.The event was being held at one of the most expensive hotels in the city. It was a charity dinner attended by business executives, politicians, lawyers, celebrities, and people whose names I had only ever seen in newspapers.I had been invited because of my work with a legal aid foundation.It was supposed to be a simple evening.Shake hands.Make professional connections.Smile for photographs.Eat expensive food that I would never voluntarily spend money on.Then go home.That was the plan.There was no room in the plan for a tall, intimidating man in a black suit.Unfortunately, Damian Cole had apparently not received the memo.“Come,” Amara said.Where?“To greet some people.”I don't want to.You're coming.AmaraShe grabbed my wrist.“Move.”I sighed and followed her.We walked through the crowd, stopping every few minutes to greet someone she knew.I smiled politely, introduced myself, and tried my best to remember names.Then I heard a familiar voice.“Mr. Cole.”I froze.I didn't know why.Perhaps it was because I had already noticed him.Perhaps it was because his voice carried an authority that made people instinctively listen.Or perhaps my body had simply betrayed me.Again.I turned slightly.Damian was speaking to an older gentleman.“Good evening,” the man said.Good evening.They shook hands.“It's been a while.”“Too long.”I looked away.Stop looking at him.I mentally scolded myself.Then I felt someone step beside me.Interesting.I turned to Amara.What?“You're pretending not to look at him while looking directly at him.”I hate you.No, you don't.I might.You won't.Before I could respond, she smiled.Actually, you're going to love me.”Why?Because I'm about to introduce you.”My eyes widened.No.Yes.Amara.She was already walking.I followed because I had no choice.As we approached, Damian turned.His eyes landed on me.This time, he didn't look away.Neither did I.For some strange reason, I couldn't.There was something unsettling about his gaze.It wasn't flirtatious.It wasn't inappropriate.It was simply intense.As though he was trying to figure me out.And I hated that.I hated being studied.I hated being observed.Most of all, I hated the fact that some part of me wanted to know what he was thinking.“Damian,” Amara said cheerfully.He turned toward her.Amara.They clearly knew each other.“You know my friend, right?”His gaze shifted to me. I don't believe we've met.I extended my hand.“I'm Elena.”He looked at my hand for half a second before taking it.His palm was warm.Firm.And for reasons I could not explain, the contact sent an unfamiliar shiver through me.His eyes remained on mine. Damian Cole. Chapter Two to be Continued ❤️🙌