Chapter Two : Cold Sparks
1325 Words
Three days after the awkward double date, Ethan Whitmore still hadn’t shaken the feeling Juliette Monroe stirred in him, equal parts curiosity and discomfort. Now, as he stepped into the lavishly lit ballroom of the Whitmore Foundation’s annual spring gala, the scent of jasmine and money filled the air. Glittering chandeliers hung over silk-draped tables, and a string quartet played softly near the raised platform.
Guests in gowns and tailored suits mingled with glasses of champagne. Lucas Radcliffe, ever the social animal, was already making his rounds, arm-in-arm with Sienna, who glowed in a shimmering gold dress.
“Ah, the ghost of Santorini arrives,” Lucas teased, offering Ethan a flute of champagne.
“Careful,” Ethan said, accepting it, “I might actually start enjoying myself.”
Sienna gave him a playful wink. “Not too much. Your mother’s already looking for you. And she’s holding court by the dessert table.”
Ethan sighed. “Of course she is.”
He scanned the room and found her; Eloise Whitmore, regal in navy velvet, her silver hair pinned into an elegant twist. She stood with Vanessa, her voice low and composed.
Lucas followed Ethan’s gaze. “She’s been speaking highly of Vanessa all evening, said she reminded her of herself in her younger years.”
“That’s either a compliment or a curse,” Ethan muttered.
Sienna nudged Lucas. “Come, darling. Let’s greet the donors before someone else steals their attention.”
As they drifted off, Ethan moved toward the back garden, hoping for a few moments of quiet. Instead, he found Juliette. She stood beneath the pergola, dressed in midnight blue, her hair swept up with a few rebellious curls kissing her neck. The garden lights bathed her in a soft golden hue.
He paused. “We have to stop meeting like this.”
Juliette turned. “If it were up to me, we wouldn’t be meeting at all.”
Ethan stepped closer. “Still upset about the other night?”
“I’m not upset,” she said, though her tone was stiff. “I just don’t enjoy reruns of the past with added complications.”
They stood in silence, the murmurs of the gala fading behind them.
“I didn’t know you’d be here,” Ethan said. “Lucas didn’t mention……”
“He didn’t need to. I’m a plus-one. I have no illusions about my status in this crowd.”
He frowned. “That’s not what I meant.”
She gave a small shrug, folding her arms. “Doesn’t matter, it’s not like I’m here to impress anyone.”
Inside, laughter rose as Lucas toasted something. A ripple of applause followed.
Juliette’s eyes flicked toward the ballroom. “Your mother looks like she’s enjoying herself.”
“I’m sure she is. Galas are her battlefield of choice.”
“And her general is standing beside her,” Juliette added as Vanessa’s laughter echoed out.
“I didn’t know Vanessa would be here either,” Ethan said, genuinely puzzled.
Juliette gave him a long look. “You really don’t see it, do you?”
“See what?”
“Never mind.”
Just then, Eloise Whitmore herself stepped into the garden, flanked by Vanessa. Her eyes immediately landed on Juliette.
“Oh,” she said, in a voice as smooth as cut glass.
“You must be Lucas’s guest. Miss Monroe, is it?”
Juliette turned, posture straight. “Yes, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Whitmore.”
“Hm.” Eloise’s eyes skimmed her dress, her tone polite but cool.
“Unusual choice. But I suppose it’s modern.”
Before Juliette could respond, Vanessa stepped in smoothly.
“Juliette and I actually met a few days ago. She’s very… spirited.”
“Is that what they’re calling it now?” Eloise murmured with a small smile.
Ethan’s father, Charles Whitmore, appeared behind them just then. “Well, she’s certainly more interesting than half the guests here. Nice to meet you, Miss Monroe.”
Juliette smiled. “Likewise, sir.”
Charles nodded to Ethan. “Your mother’s holding the attention of Parliament. Save me, would you?”
Ethan smirked. “In a bit.”
As Charles and Eloise returned inside, Vanessa lingered.
“I hope you’re enjoying the party,” she said sweetly.
“I was,” Juliette said, her expression unreadable.
Vanessa’s smile tightened. “Try not to lose yourself in a crowd like this. It’s easy to fade into the background.”
Juliette took a step forward. “I won’t fade, Vanessa. I decide when I want to be seen.”
Vanessa opened her mouth to say something else, but Ethan spoke first.
“Vanessa,” he said, tone patient but firm. “I’ll find you in a bit, alright?”
She hesitated, clearly not used to being dismissed, especially not in front of someone like Juliette. With a brittle smile, she turned toward him. “Of course, just thought you might need rescuing.”
Juliette’s brows lifted slightly. “He seems fine to me.”
“Mm,” Vanessa hummed. “He was always good at hiding discomfort. It comes from years of etiquette training.”
Ethan gave her a look. “Vanessa?..”
She pressed a hand lightly to her chest, then offered Juliette a little wave. “Lovely to see you again, Miss Monroe. I’ll be sure to let your friend know where you are.”
With a faint swish of satin, she disappeared back into the ballroom.
Silence settled in the garden again.
Juliette let out a breath and glanced toward the string lights above them. “Does she always talk in riddles or was that special for me?”
Ethan chuckled under his breath. “She’s… a lot of things.”
“That’s vague.”
“She’s complicated,” he replied.
Juliette folded her arms. “So am I but I don’t speak like I’m casting a spell.”
Ethan turned toward her slightly. “She’s just used to being part of my family’s social world. My mother adores her, Has since we were kids.”
“I can tell.” Juliette’s voice thinned.
Ethan frowned. “Did something happen?”
“No,” she said too quickly. “Not exactly, but it’s clear I don’t fit the mold.”
He shook his head. “You’ve only met my mother once. You can’t possibly think she makes judgments that fast.”
Juliette gave a soft, humorless laugh. “Ethan… I’ve been in enough rooms to know when I’ve been measured and found wanting.”
He didn’t answer.
She shifted, smoothing the side of her dress. “But it’s fine. I didn’t come here to impress anyone.”
“You don’t have to try, you already did.”
That gave her pause, her eyes flicked to his, uncertainty in them. “Was that a compliment?”
He shrugged one shoulder. “Don’t get used to it.”
She almost smiled, but then caught herself. Her defenses came back up with a breath.
“Do you always deflect like this,” she said.
“I didn’t always have to.”
Another silence. This one is heavier than before.
“You know,” she said, her voice gentler, “you don’t have to keep performing for everyone. You can just… be yourself.”
Ethan looked down at the ring on his little finger, an heirloom from his father, then back at her. “Maybe I forgot how.”
Juliette stared at him a beat longer, searching, then exhaled. “I should probably rejoin Sienna before she starts a search party.”
Ethan nodded, watching her walk away. “Juliette…..”
She turned. “What?”
“Never mind.”
She walked away without another word.
Only after she left did he notice the faint buzz in her abandoned clutch on the garden bench. He pulled out the phone and saw a text.
“You were warned.”
- Writer
