The Unexpected Reunion
1122 Words
Asher's point of view
I wove through the sea of elegantly dressed guests gathered in the hall for the children's charity event, exchanging pleasantries with fellow donors and business partners.
A familiar laughter reached my ears, making my head turn instinctively. My gaze landed on a woman with black hair, her back to me, but something about her felt achingly familiar. I squinted, trying to catch a glimpse of her face, but all I could see was the graceful curve of her shoulders.
“Get a grip, Blackwood,” I muttered to myself. After all, I knew many women. It was probably just my imagination playing tricks on me.
“Blackwood!” A voice called out, cutting through my thoughts like a knife. I turned to find Grayson Carpenter—one of my fiercest rivals—standing there with a smug grin plastered across his face.
At five feet tall, he stretched his neck and looked up at me. “Fancy seeing you here,” he taunted, his eyes glinting with mischief. “I hear there’s a deal still hanging in the balance that I could help you seal.”
I raised an eyebrow, my expression icy. “I don’t take charity from paupers, Grayson. Save it for the event.”
His face went white in shock, and for a moment, I relished the look of disbelief on his features. It was always satisfying to remind him of his place.
Without breaking eye contact, I grabbed a drink from a passing waiter and tipped the glass in his direction. “Cheers,” I said coolly.
“You should consider my offer,” he insisted, walking faster to keep up with me as he tried to regain control of the conversation.
As Grayson continued to prattle on about potential deals and partnerships, I found myself glancing back at that woman again. I watched her as she chatted with two others, both dressed in the same red and white checkered uniforms that signified they were part of the event staff. They laughed together, and for a moment, I was captivated by the way her smile lit up her face, even from a distance.
Just as quickly as she had caught my attention, she turned away and walked out of sight. Why is my mind fixated on women these days? Well, not all women. There was one that had taken permanent residence in my mind in the last few months, no matter how hard I'd tried to forget her. If only I'd gotten her name.
“There's no time for that now, Asher,” I muttered to myself, shaking off the distraction. I made my way to a table set for the auction, forcing my mind back to the business at hand. The bidding began, and I found myself immersed in the competitive atmosphere, raising my paddle at all the right moments.
After what felt like hours, I excused myself for a bathroom break. As I stepped out of the restroom, I collided with someone unexpectedly.
“Oh! I’m so sorry!” The voice was familiar and soft, sending a jolt through me. My eyes fell to her midsection, and my breath caught in my throat as I registered the baby bump beneath her fitted uniform.
What the hell? I berated myself internally. I'd been admiring a pregnant woman all along? Damn, Asher!
She raised her head to meet my gaze, and recognition washed over me like ice water. It was her—the woman from the masquerade ball.
My heart raced with a mix of surprise and anger. “You,” I spat, venom lacing my words.
Her expression shifted from surprise to something resembling fear. “I—um…” She stammered, clearly flustered. “I have to go—”
Before I could say another word, she turned on her heel and hurried away, her footsteps echoing down the corridor.
I stood there for a moment, stunned by her abrupt exit. What just happened? My mind raced with questions. “Damn it,” I muttered under my breath, my resolve hardening. I can’t let this go. I needed answers—and I would find her later. There was no way I was letting this slip through my fingers again. Not after torturing me all these months.
***
The event had come to a close, so I went in search of her. I managed to elude some guests on their way out. I checked the gardens and other rooms in the event hall but couldn't find her.
“Excuse me,” I called out to one of the staff members as she passed by. “Have you seen the pregnant staff? The one with brown eyes and black hair?” That was a sketchy description, but it'd have to do.
She glanced at me, her expression shifting from polite curiosity to recognition. “Oh, you mean Emilia? She left early.”
“Emilia?” The name rolled off my tongue, a revelation that made me smile momentarily.
So that was her name.
“Why did she leave? Did she say anything?”
“She just mentioned she had to go,” the staff member replied, shrugging slightly. “I didn’t ask why.”
I cursed silently under my breath. She was running from me again—just like that night. The thought gnawed at me as I made my way out of the venue, my mind racing with questions. Why would she leave so abruptly if she wasn't hiding anything?”
As I settled into the backseat of my car, I stared out the window, lost in thought. The city lights blurred past, but all I could see was her face—the way her brown eyes widened in surprise earlier as she saw me; the way her pink lips tried to form words as she attempted to defend herself.
I recall vividly those same lips on mine that night. Then it hit me - we hadn't used protection that night. Could it be? My heart raced as I began piecing together the timeline of our encounter.
“I pulled out my phone and dialed Troy, my assistant.
“Yeah?” he answered.
“Troy, I need you to look into someone for me—Emilia. Find out everything you can,” I ordered.
“Emilia? Is there a surname or something to go along with that?”
“No. She was one of the staff at the auction. She’s pregnant, I think. Just find everything you can and let me know when you do.”
If Emilia was indeed carrying my child and had chosen to keep that from me. I swore I’d never forgiv
E her for hiding something like that.
- Writer
