AN UNFORGETTABLE STRANGER
747 Words
Chapter Three
Bella stood rooted to the spot as Michael disappeared into the crowd beside the elegant woman.
Only when Clara appeared beside her did she finally remember to breathe.
"There you are!" Clara whispered dramatically. "I've been looking everywhere. I turn my back for five minutes and you decide to assault the host?"
Bella covered her face with both hands.
"Please don't remind me."
Clara peeked through Bella's fingers.
"Wait..."
Her eyes widened.
"Tell me you didn't spill wine on—"
"I did."
"...Michael Vale?"
Bella groaned.
"Yes."
Clara stared at her for three long seconds before bursting into laughter.
Bella lowered her hands and glared.
"You're supposed to comfort me."
"I will."
Clara wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.
"As soon as I finish laughing."
Bella folded her arms.
"I nearly died of embarrassment."
"And yet..." Clara tilted her head curiously. "You don't look devastated."
Bella frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"It means Michael Vale didn't throw you out."
"He didn't."
"He didn't threaten to sue you."
"No."
"He didn't have security escort you away."
Bella blinked.
"...No."
Clara's smile slowly disappeared.
"That's... strange."
Bella looked across the ballroom unconsciously.
Michael was speaking with a group of executives now, composed as though nothing had happened.
Why wasn't he angry?
Most people with his level of influence wouldn't have been so patient.
"I thought he'd be furious," Bella admitted softly.
"So did I."
Clara linked her arm through Bella's.
"Come on."
"Where?"
"Far away from expensive wine."
Bella laughed.
"I think that's for the best."
Across the ballroom...
Michael accepted another glass of sparkling water from a waiter.
His assistant, Daniel, approached quietly.
"Should I have another suit brought over, sir?"
Michael glanced at the faint wine stain.
"It's unnecessary."
Daniel looked surprised.
"Very well."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Daniel asked carefully,
"Do you know the young woman?"
Michael looked toward the opposite side of the ballroom.
Bella was laughing at something her friend had said.
The sound couldn't possibly reach him...
Yet somehow he imagined it.
"No."
Daniel followed his gaze.
"But?"
Michael remained silent.
Daniel had worked with him for nearly eight years.
He knew that silence.
It meant Michael was thinking.
Finally...
"Find out who she is."
Daniel nodded once.
"I'll handle it."
Michael looked away.
He wasn't sure why he'd asked.
Perhaps because she hadn't tried to impress him.
She hadn't recognized his importance until after the accident.
She hadn't flirted.
She hadn't apologized excessively once he'd accepted it.
She had simply...
been herself.
It was... refreshing.
"So," Clara began as they wandered toward the dessert tables.
"What did he say?"
Bella picked up a tiny fruit tart.
"He told me not to pick up the broken glass."
"That's actually thoughtful."
Bella nodded absentmindedly.
"He even helped me."
Clara stopped walking.
"He... what?"
"He crouched down and helped me."
Clara stared.
"Bella."
"What?"
"Michael Vale does not crouch."
Bella laughed.
"What does that even mean?"
"It means billionaires usually let other people clean up their messes."
Bella smiled to herself.
"Maybe he isn't like other billionaires."
Clara noticed the smile immediately.
"Oh?"
Bella's eyes widened.
"What?"
"You smiled."
"I always smile."
"Not like that."
Bella quickly looked away.
"I was just being polite."
"Mmm-hmm."
"I'm serious."
"Sure."
Bella nudged Clara's shoulder.
"You're impossible."
"And you're avoiding my question."
"What question?"
"Is he as handsome in real life as the magazines claim?"
Bella nearly choked on her drink.
"I wasn't paying attention."
Clara gave her a look.
"Bella."
"What?"
"You looked at him."
Bella remembered those dark eyes.
That calm voice.
The warmth of his fingers brushing hers.
Her heart gave the tiniest, most inconvenient flutter.
She immediately pushed the feeling aside.
"He..."
Clara leaned closer.
"Yes?"
Bella sighed.
"...The cameras don't do him justice."
Clara squealed so loudly that two nearby guests turned to look.
"I knew it!"
Bella covered Clara's mouth.
"Would you keep your voice down?"
Clara laughed behind Bella's hand.
Bella couldn't help laughing too.
For the first time in weeks...
The weight she'd been carrying felt just a little lighter.
She didn't notice the pair of eyes watching her from the mezzanine above.
Sophia Sinclair slowly swirled the champagne in her glass.
Her gaze remained fixed on Bella.
"Who," she murmured quietly to herself,
"...are you?"
A slow, calculating smile touched her lips.
Something about that woman had caught Michael's attention.
And Sophia Sinclair had no intention of ignoring it.
- Writer
