Forbidden romance

CHAPTER THREE: PATHS CROSSING AGAIN

Every so often, her eyes flicked toward the corner booth where Aiden Blackwood sat, a look of concentration on his face as he reviewed something on his tablet.

She tried not to stare, tried not to let her curiosity get the better of her, but it was hard to ignore his presence. Aiden had an air about him that commanded attention, even when he was alone and silent. Most of the hotel staff knew to stay clear of him, respecting his space and his reputation. But after their brief encounter the night before, Emma felt a strange pull. She knew it was ridiculous; she was nothing more than a waitress, and he was one of the most powerful men in the city. There was no reason for her to dwell on him.

Yet, she found herself stealing glances. What was he thinking about? Was he still bothered by the argument he’d had with Jack Kingston the night before? She couldn’t help but wonder if the tension in his eyes had something to do with it.

“Hey, Emma, table five needs a refill,” Clara called, breaking her thoughts.

Emma blinked and snapped back to the present. “Right, on it.”

She forced herself to focus, pushing thoughts of Aiden aside. She moved quickly through the dining area, refilling glasses, clearing plates, and making sure everything was perfect. The last thing she needed was to get distracted. She couldn’t afford to let her mind wander when she had a job to do. But as she served a table near the kitchen, she caught a glimpse of someone familiar entering the restaurant.

Her heart dropped. It was her ex-boyfriend, Luke. Tall, with messy blond hair and an easy smile, he was the kind of person who drew people in effortlessly. For a moment, Emma felt the old emotions stir;disappointment, hurt, and a touch of anger. They had broken up a year ago after a series of arguments, mostly about his lack of ambition and his habit of spending money they didn’t have. It had been a painful decision, but she had needed to focus on taking care of Ethan and building a stable life for them.

Luke spotted her, and his eyes lit up as he approached. “Hey, Em. Long time no see.”

Emma’s smile was tight. “Hey, Luke. What brings you here?”

“Just meeting some friends for dinner,” he said, his gaze lingering on her. “It’s been a while. You look good.”

She forced herself to stay polite. “Thanks. I’ve been busy.”

He leaned in a little, lowering his voice. “You know, I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately. Maybe we could catch up sometime?”

Emma stiffened. She had no interest in revisiting their past. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Luke. I’ve moved on.”

His smile faded, and he sighed. “Come on, Em. We had something good, didn’t we?”

Before Emma could respond, she felt a presence behind her. She turned and found herself staring into the eyes of Aiden Blackwoodl. Her breath caught in her throat. She hadn’t even noticed him standing there, and she felt her cheeks flush under his intense gaze.

“Is everything all right here?” Aiden’s voice was calm, but there was a firmness to it, a quiet authority that made Luke shift uncomfortably.

Emma forced a smile, trying to hide her surprise. “Yes, everything’s fine. Just talking with an old friend.”

Luke glanced between them, and for a moment, Emma could see the gears turning in his head. He clearly recognized Aiden, but he also knew enough to back off. “Right, well, maybe another time, Em. Take care.”

As Luke walked away, Emma let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She turned back to Aiden, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks again. “Thank you for that.”

“You didn’t seem like you wanted to talk to him,” Aiden said, his eyes not leaving hers. “I thought I’d step in.”

Emma’s smile was genuine this time. “I appreciate it. He’s just someone from the past.”

Aiden’s expression remained serious, but there was a hint of curiosity in his eyes. “Sometimes the past has a way of finding us when we least want it to.”

Emma felt a flicker of connection in his words, as if he understood her situation better than she expected. “Yeah, I guess so.”

For a moment, there was a comfortable silence between them, and Emma felt herself relax. It was strange, but standing there with him, she didn’t feel the same tension she usually did around the guests. Aiden wasn’t looking at her like she was just another employee. He was looking at her like she was a person,a real person.

“Emma, right?” he asked, breaking the silence.

She nodded. “Yes.”

“Thank you for yesterday,” he said. “Most people would have ignored the situation, but you stepped in.”

Emma shrugged, feeling a little embarrassed. “It’s part of my job to make sure everything runs smoothly. I just didn’t want any trouble.”

“You did more than that,” Aiden replied. “You showed courage.”

Emma’s cheeks warmed at the compliment. “Thank you. I guess I’m just used to handling things on my own.”

Aiden’s eyes softened, and for a moment, she thought she saw something vulnerable there. “I understand that.”

She wanted to ask what he meant, but before she could, one of the other waiters called her name, and she knew she had to get back to work. “I should get going. Thanks again for stepping in.”

He nodded. “Anytime.”

As she walked away, she couldn’t help but glance back. Aiden was watching her, and for the first time, she wondered if their worlds weren’t as far apart as they seemed.

As Aiden returned to his table, his thoughts shifted to the problem at hand: Jack Kingston. Aiden’s jaw tightened. Jack’s presence at the hotel last night had been a warning. He was determined to gain control over Aiden’s new property development project, and he was willing to play dirty. Aiden had been aware of Jack’s tactics for years, but this time, it felt personal. There were rumors that Jack had connections to bad individuals, and if he decided to use them, things could get messy.

Aiden’s phone buzzed, and he glanced at the screen. It was a message from Julia, his assistant, informing him of another meeting he had scheduled later in the day. He sighed, feeling the weight of his responsibilities pressing down on him. There was always something,another meeting, another deal, another problem to solve. It was the price of power, and sometimes, it felt suffocating.

His gaze drifted to where Emma was working. She moved with a practiced ease, her smile bright as she attended to the guests. For a moment, he found himself wishing he could trade places with her just for a day. He wondered what it would be like to have a simpler life, one where people weren’t constantly trying to take advantage of you, one where you could trust those around you.

He shook his head, pushing the thought aside. That wasn’t his reality. He had built an empire, and he couldn’t afford to step away from it. The business world was brutal, and only the strongest survived. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t protect those who showed loyalty and courage. And for some reason, he felt a strong desire to protect Emma.

As he finished his coffee, an idea formed in his mind. If Jack was going to play dirty, Aiden needed to have allies he could trust,people who weren’t involved in the business world but could offer a different perspective. And perhaps Emma, with her grounded approach and genuine nature, was exactly the kind of person he needed.

He stood, leaving a generous tip on the table, and made his way out of the restaurant. But as he left, he glanced back one more time, watching Emma as she laughed with her co-worker. There was something about her that made him feel hopeful, like maybe, just maybe, he could find a way to connect with someone who didn’t care about his money or power.

The rest of Emma’s shift flew by, but her mind kept drifting back to her brief conversation with Aiden. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was different about him. She had always seen him as a distant figure, a powerful man she’d never have a reason to know. But now, after their two encounters, she was starting to see another side of him,one that was more human.