Chapter 5: A Familiar Face
881 Words
The charity gala continued long into the evening, but Maya could no longer focus on her work.
As she moved gracefully between the tables with a silver tray balanced in her hands, her thoughts kept drifting back to the conversation she had accidentally overheard.
"Are you sure everything from twenty years ago stayed buried?"
The words echoed in her mind.
She didn't know what they meant.
She didn't know why Gerald Thompson's voice had sounded so cold.
But something about it made her uneasy.
"Maya!"
She quickly looked up.
Their supervisor stood near the service entrance with her hands on her hips.
"Table twelve is waiting."
"I'm sorry."
Maya hurried away, forcing herself to concentrate.
Tonight wasn't the time to think about mysterious conversations.
She had a job to do.
⸻
Across the ballroom, Bill had escaped another endless discussion about business investments.
He loosened his bow tie slightly and stepped onto the balcony overlooking the hotel's beautiful gardens.
The cool night breeze was a welcome escape.
"So this is where you've been hiding."
Bill turned around.
Steve Brown walked onto the balcony with two glasses of juice.
"I've been looking everywhere for you."
"You found me."
Steve handed him one of the glasses.
"I also found out you've ignored at least six important guests."
Bill laughed softly.
"I wasn't counting."
"I was."
The two friends stood quietly for a moment.
Steve studied Bill carefully.
"You seem different tonight."
"Different how?"
"Less... miserable."
Bill smiled without realizing it.
Steve noticed immediately.
"There it is."
"What?"
"That smile."
Bill frowned.
"I always smile."
"Not like that."
Steve folded his arms.
"Who is she?"
Bill nearly choked on his drink.
"What?"
"There has to be a reason."
"There isn't."
Steve raised an eyebrow.
"Bill Thompson, I've known you since we were ten years old."
Bill sighed.
"I met someone."
"I knew it."
"It's nothing."
Steve grinned.
"If it's nothing, why are you smiling?"
Before Bill could answer, movement inside the ballroom caught his attention.
Maya was collecting empty glasses from a nearby table.
Without thinking, he excused himself.
"I'll be right back."
Steve watched him disappear into the crowd.
Then he followed Bill's gaze.
A young woman in a server's uniform.
Steve smiled to himself.
"So that's the reason."
⸻
Maya was carefully arranging empty glasses onto her tray when a familiar voice spoke beside her.
"I hope tonight has been less dangerous than this morning."
She looked up.
Bill.
She couldn't stop herself from smiling.
"So far, no flying oranges."
"I'll take that as progress."
She laughed.
"I didn't expect to see you again."
"I was beginning to think you might."
Before Maya could reply, an elderly guest accidentally bumped into her shoulder.
The tray tilted dangerously.
Several glasses slid toward the edge.
Bill reacted instantly.
He caught the tray before it could crash onto the floor.
For a brief second, their hands held it together.
The nearby guests applauded politely, believing it had all been part of the service.
Maya let out a relieved breath.
"Thank you."
"I seem to have a habit of rescuing your groceries..."
He looked at the tray.
"...and your glasses."
She laughed.
"I'll try not to make it a habit."
"You don't have to."
Their eyes met.
Neither of them noticed the crowd around them.
"Bill."
Gerald's voice cut sharply through the moment.
Both of them turned.
Gerald approached with slow, measured steps.
His expression revealed nothing.
Yet his eyes lingered on Maya for a second longer than necessary.
"So this is the young lady from earlier."
Bill nodded.
"This is Maya Carter."
Maya offered a respectful smile.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Thompson."
Gerald acknowledged her with a brief nod.
"Thank you for your work this evening."
"You're welcome, sir."
He turned to Bill.
"Anthony is looking for you."
"I'll be there in a minute."
"No."
Gerald's tone remained calm.
"Now."
Bill hesitated.
He looked at Maya.
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay."
"I'll see you again."
Maya smiled politely.
"I hope so."
Bill walked away beside his father.
Neither spoke until they reached the opposite side of the ballroom.
Only then did Gerald stop.
"I don't know what game you're playing."
"It's not a game."
Gerald looked directly into his son's eyes.
"Good."
"Because it ends tonight."
⸻
The gala finally came to an end just before midnight.
Guests began leaving one by one while the catering staff cleaned the ballroom.
Gladys stretched her arms.
"My feet are officially protesting."
Maya laughed.
"Mine stopped protesting hours ago."
As they walked toward the staff exit, Maya glanced back one last time.
The ballroom was almost empty.
Bill was nowhere to be seen.
For reasons she couldn't explain...
She felt a small disappointment.
Outside, a cool breeze welcomed them.
The city lights shimmered beneath the night sky.
"What are you thinking about?" Gladys asked.
"Nothing."
Gladys smiled knowingly.
"You've been saying that a lot lately."
Maya looked down with a shy smile.
Maybe it really was nothing.
Or maybe...
The handsome stranger she'd met twice in two days was slowly becoming someone she wanted to know better.
Neither Bill nor Maya realized that fate had already begun weaving their lives together.
And somewhere in the darkness...
The past was quietly waiting to catch up with them.
- Writer
