Chapter One : The Blind Date
1407 Words
“You didn’t say it was him”
Juliette Monroe stood frozen in the arched doorway of Le Maison Blanche, the upscale French restaurant tucked into one of London’s oldest districts. Her eyes locked on the tall man at the table, broad shoulders, sharp jawline, eyes like storm clouds and all the air left her chest. Ethan Whitmore.
Sienna’s smile faltered. “I……. I didn’t know. Lucas set it up. He said Ethan’s date was canceled and it would be fun. Come on, Jules. You’ve already seen him. Might as well make it count.”
Juliette’s heels clicked against the marble floor as she approached the table with what little composure she had. He hadn’t looked up yet, too busy swirling a glass of wine, the picture of bored elegance. But the moment he sensed her presence, his gaze lifted and the silence crackled.
His eyes narrowed. “You.”
“Hello to you too,” Juliette said coolly, sliding into the seat opposite him as if her pulse wasn’t roaring in her ears. “Fancy seeing you here, Ethan.”
“You changed your hair.”
“You didn’t.”
He smirked, but the curve of his lips held no warmth. “I assume this was Sienna’s idea.”
“Lucas’s, apparently.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened. “Figures.”
It had been three years since that week in Santorini. Five magical days. One mistake and not a single word since.
Juliette picked up her menu, hoping to shield herself behind its gold-rimmed pages. Her fingers trembled, betraying the cool front she wore.
“You look... well,” he said finally.
“And you look... rich.”
He chuckled. “I try.”
At that moment, Sienna and Lucas approached the table. Sienna’s eyes flicked between Ethan and Juliette, eyebrows slightly raised. Lucas, always the diplomat, offered a warm smile. “Glad you two are acquainted. I was hoping this wouldn’t be entirely awkward.”
“Oh, it’s not awkward,” Juliette said, flipping the menu. “It’s deeply uncomfortable.”
Sienna stifled a laugh, while Ethan took a long sip of his wine.
The evening blurred into slow courses and tense glances. Conversation floated around them. Lucas and Sienna discussed their upcoming engagement dinner, plans for travel, an interior designer Sienna adored. But Ethan and Juliette kept their words clipped.
That was until a voice interrupted again.
“Ethan, darling.”
Vanessa Grant, wrapped in silk and entitlement, appeared at the side of their table like a wasp drawn to honey. Her eyes skimmed over Juliette before resting affectionately on Ethan.
“I didn’t realize you were dining here tonight,” Vanessa said, ignoring Juliette entirely. “Mother said she thought she saw your car outside and I came to confirm. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“You always mean to interrupt,” Juliette murmured, but only Sienna heard her.
Ethan, polite but visibly confused, raised an eyebrow. “You came here because my car was outside?”
Vanessa beamed. “Well, I was nearby... and I thought we could talk about the charity gala. You haven’t confirmed who your date will be yet.”
Ethan blinked. “I haven’t given it much thought.”
Vanessa’s smile thinned just slightly. “Well, I suppose you’ll let us all know soon.”
Her gaze finally slid to Juliette. “Lovely to see you again... Miss?”
“Monroe,” Juliette replied, leaning forward slightly. “Juliette Monroe.”
Vanessa dipped her head slightly, then turned back to Ethan. “Let’s catch up soon, hmm?”
As she glided away, Lucas gave Ethan a look. “She’s still hoping you’ll show up with her, huh?”
Ethan blinked again, genuinely caught off guard. “Is she?”
Juliette rolled her eyes. “You can’t be serious.”
He looked at her. “What?”
“You’re either painfully unaware or willfully blind.”
Sienna changed the subject quickly, dragging Lucas into a conversation about wedding venues.
Juliette sighed. “Still collecting admirers, I see.”
Ethan’s voice dipped. “Vanessa doesn’t collect, She conquers.”
They ate in silence for several minutes, but the tension between them didn’t fade, it thickened. Every glance was a duel, every word an old wound.
“So,” he said, setting down his fork, “why didn’t you show up that night?”
Juliette blinked. “Excuse me?”
“Our last night in Santorini, you said you’d meet me at the docks and I waited.”
Her stomach dropped. “I was there. You never came.”
A silence fell so heavy, it made the candles flicker.
He leaned forward. “You’re lying.”
She met his eyes. “No. But I think someone wanted us to believe we were.”
Their eyes held. Just then, Vanessa could be seen near the exit again, this time behind a column, texting with a sharp smile, and at that moment, Juliette’s phone buzzed.
An anonymous number with a single message.
“Careful of who you trust.”
Juliette stared at the message, her hand tightened around the phone. She didn’t respond. She wouldn’t. Whoever it was, he didn’t deserve the satisfaction.
Across the table, Ethan was watching her. “Everything okay?”
She nodded slowly, slipping the phone into her purse. “Just spam.”
Untrue, she thought, she hated lying, but something told her she needed to keep this one close to her chest. Ethan leaned back in his chair, his gaze still resting on her face. There was something unnerving about the way he studied people, like he was always waiting for them to disappoint him, like he’d already decided they would.
“You’ve changed,” he said quietly.
Juliette raised a brow. “So have you.”
“I used to be an optimist,” he murmured, more to himself than to her. “That’s long gone.”
She didn’t answer. The waiter cleared their plates and refilled their glasses, oblivious to the tension lacing the air. Juliette folded her hands in her lap.
“Why did you agree to tonight? Surely you knew it was me before I walked in.”
Ethan gave a small shrug. I was told it was a blind date. I stayed out of curiosity.”
She tilted her head. “And now?”
His lips curved slightly, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes.
“Now I’m wondering if fate has a twisted sense of humor.”
She laughed dry and low. “That, or Lucas and Sienna are terrible matchmakers.”
His expression softened for a moment. “Lucas means well, he just doesn’t know the full history.”
Juliette hesitated. “Do you want him to?”
Ethan took a slow sip of wine. “No. What happened between us was… private and confusing. I don’t even know what really happened.”
Juliette exhaled, fingers tightening around her napkin. “Well put”
Ethan blinked, surprised. “For once, I would like to know what happened?”
“I don’t think digging up the past changes anything,” she said quickly.
"But by all means, go ahead. After all, closure is better than resentment. Isn’t it.”
He stared at her, then nodded once. “Agreed.”
The moment lingered. Then, out of nowhere, Vanessa returned to the table again.
“I forgot to mention,” she said sweetly, holding a glossy invitation between two manicured fingers, “the charity gala is black tie. You’ll need a tuxedo and a proper date.”
She set the card on the table, her eyes flicking to Juliette with theatrical concern.
“I hope you’re not too busy with… other things.”
Juliette didn’t flinch. “I own more than one dress, and I am not scared easily.”
Vanessa blinked. “That’s adorable.”
Ethan sat forward, voice flat. “Vanessa.”
She looked at him, surprised by his tone.
“That’s enough,” he said.
A silence stretched, Juliette held her breath and, for the first time all evening, Vanessa looked rattled. She pasted on a brittle smile.
“Of course, Enjoy your evening.”
As she walked away, Juliette reached across the table and flipped the invitation shut.
“Well,” she said, “that was dramatic.”
“I warned you,” Ethan muttered. “She doesn’t collect.”
Juliette gave him a long look. “Neither do I.”
- Writer
