Chapter 4: The Coffee Disaster
1005 Words
Emma was beginning to relax.
The ballroom no longer felt quite as intimidating as it had when she first arrived. The music was soft, conversations flowed around her, and Sarah had already managed to make friends with three different people at their table.
Meanwhile, Emma was perfectly content observing from a distance.
"You're hiding."
Emma looked up to find Sarah smirking at her.
"I'm not hiding."
"You absolutely are."
"I'm people-watching."
"That's just hiding with extra steps."
Emma laughed.
Before she could respond, Sarah was pulled away by another conversation.
For the first time all evening, Emma found herself alone.
She decided a fresh cup of coffee sounded like a good idea.
The refreshment station was located near one side of the ballroom, away from most of the guests.
Perfect.
She picked up a cup and carefully poured herself some coffee.
The rich aroma instantly made her smile.
At least one thing tonight felt familiar.
Turning around, she began walking back toward her table.
Then someone called her name.
"Emma!"
She looked up.
Sarah was waving enthusiastically from across the room.
Unfortunately, looking up was a mistake.
Because she didn't see the waiter stepping backward directly into her path.
Everything happened in seconds.
The waiter bumped into her.
Emma stumbled.
The coffee cup tilted.
And an entire cup of hot coffee flew through the air.
Straight onto a man's expensive black suit.
The ballroom seemed to freeze.
Emma's eyes widened in horror.
Oh no.
No, no, no.
The man looked down at the dark stain spreading across his jacket.
Then he slowly looked up.
Emma's heart nearly stopped.
It was him.
The handsome stranger she'd noticed earlier.
The one with the piercing blue eyes.
The one she'd accidentally been thinking about for the past hour.
And she had just covered him in coffee.
"Oh my God."
Emma wanted the floor to open and swallow her whole.
"I'm so sorry."
The waiter immediately began apologizing as well.
"I'm terribly sorry, sir."
Emma felt heat rush into her face.
"This was my fault."
She grabbed a napkin and immediately started trying to clean the suit.
Which only made things worse.
"Oh no."
The stain spread.
Emma nearly died of embarrassment.
"I'm making it worse."
The man looked at her for a second.
Then, unexpectedly, he laughed.
Actually laughed.
A deep, warm laugh.
Emma blinked.
"You aren't angry?"
His smile widened.
"You look more upset than I am."
"Because I just ruined your suit."
"I have other suits."
Emma stared at him.
Most wealthy people she had met would have reacted very differently.
He seemed completely un-bothered.
"I still feel terrible."
"It's really okay."
The waiter excused himself, clearly relieved that nobody was yelling.
Emma finally looked directly into the stranger's eyes.
And immediately forgot what she was about to say.
They were even more striking up close.
Bright blue.
Warm.
Kind.
Dangerously attractive.
"I'm Emma," she blurted out.
Wonderful.
Now she was introducing herself to the man she'd assaulted with coffee.
His smile returned.
"Alexander."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Something strange settled between them.
Not awkward.
Not uncomfortable.
Just... something.
Before Emma could figure out what it was, a woman's voice interrupted.
"Alexander."
Both turned.
A beautiful blonde woman approached them.
Her designer gown probably cost more than Emma's car.
She looked at the stain on Alexander's jacket.
Then at Emma.
And immediately appeared unimpressed.
"Who is this?"
Alexander's expression subtly changed.
Not cold.
But definitely less warm than before.
"Victoria, this is Emma."
Victoria smiled politely.
The kind of smile that wasn't actually friendly.
"Nice to meet you."
Emma suddenly felt out of place again.
Very out of place.
Alexander noticed.
"Emma was just helping me recover from a tragic coffee-related incident."
Victoria's eyes flicked toward the stain.
"Perhaps you should change your jacket."
"Perhaps."
Emma stepped back.
"I should go."
Alexander immediately looked at her.
"You don't have to."
She smiled nervously.
"I really do."
Before he could say anything else, she turned and walked away.
Her heart was beating far too fast.
She couldn't explain it.
She had only spoken to the man for a few minutes.
Yet somehow it felt important.
Back at her table, Sarah looked excited.
"What happened?"
Emma sat down.
"I spilled coffee on someone."
Sarah's eyes widened.
"What?"
"I spilled coffee on someone."
"Who?"
Emma pointed discreetly across the room.
Sarah followed her gaze.
Then nearly choked on her drink.
"EMMA."
"What?"
"Do you know who that is?"
Emma frowned.
"No."
Sarah stared at her.
"That's Alexander Kingston."
Emma blinked.
"The Alexander Kingston?"
"The Alexander Kingston."
Her stomach dropped.
Suddenly everything made sense.
The expensive suit.
The attention he received.
The beautiful blonde woman.
The confidence.
Alexander Kingston.
Future CEO of Kingston Enterprises.
One of the wealthiest young businessmen in the country.
And she had thrown coffee on him.
Fantastic.
Absolutely fantastic.
Across the ballroom, Alexander watched Emma return to her table.
His father appeared beside him.
"Interesting."
Alexander glanced at him.
"What?"
Richard Kingston smiled slightly.
"You've spent more time talking to that woman than anyone else tonight."
Alexander looked away.
His father wasn't wrong.
For the first time all evening, a conversation had actually felt real.
Emma hadn't cared who he was.
She hadn't tried to impress him.
She hadn't wanted anything from him.
In fact, she seemed genuinely horrified to discover his identity.
Which was oddly refreshing.
"She's a nurse," his father said.
Alexander looked surprised.
"How do you know that?"
"Her name tag."
Alexander hadn't even noticed.
His father studied him carefully.
"Be careful."
Alexander frowned.
"About what?"
But Richard simply walked away.
Leaving Alexander staring across the ballroom once more.
Emma happened to look up.
Their eyes met again.
And this time neither looked away immediately.
A small smile appeared on her face.
Alexander felt himself smile back.
Neither of them realized it yet.
But what had started as a complete disaster was becoming something else entirely.
Something unexpected.
Something neither had been looking for.
And perhaps...
Something worth fighting for.
- Writer
