Kiss Me Before New Year

Sophia Bennett pressed a palm to the frosted window of the hotel’s top floor, watching thick flakes swirl like tiny white secrets. The city below looked quiet, muffled, as if even time was holding its breath. It was supposed to be a simple night. A walk-through of the ballroom. Final checks for the biggest New Year’s Eve Gala she’d been preparing for months. No surprises. No disasters. No Ethan. Her jaw tensed the moment she heard his voice echo through the hallway behind her — warm, amused, dangerously familiar. “Sophia? Let me guess. You’re already working.” She closed her eyes. Of course he was here. She turned slowly, finding him leaning against the door with that infuriating half-smile. Black coat dusted with snow. Tie slightly loosened. Eyes glimmering like he knew something she didn’t. Ethan Cole always looked like trouble dressed in confidence. “I work,” she said coolly, “because someone has to.” He stepped inside, shrugging out of his coat. “And here I was thinking you missed me.” “I didn’t,” she snapped too quickly. His grin widened — annoyingly beautiful. God, why did the universe give him a face like that? The ballroom lights flickered overhead. The temperature dipped. A low rumble of wind shook the windows. “You feel that?” Ethan murmured, glancing at the storm outside. “We might be stuck here for a while.” Sophia’s heart stumbled. No. No, no, no. Being trapped with him was not in her plan. “We’re not trapped,” she insisted. “The storm will pass.” But as the hotel doors below slammed shut against the rising wind, they both knew— it wouldn’t. Not tonight. Ethan moved closer, hands tucked in his pockets, voice softer than she expected. “Relax, princess. I’m not that bad to be stuck with.” Sophia swallowed. Her pulse disagreed. Outside, the snow thickened. Inside, the distance between them thinned. Neither of them realized it yet, but this storm was about to change everything— their rivalry, their routines, their carefully guarded hearts. And as flakes danced against the glass, a quiet truth settled between them: The countdown had already begun. Dedication For the ones who love quietly, who argue loudly, and who feel more deeply than they ever admit. For every heart that rebuilt itself after being broken. For every dream waiting for its moment. And for you, dear reader — thank you for stepping into this winter world with me. May love find you before the clock strikes midnight. Sophia Bennett Ambitious event planner. Organized, guarded, perfectionist. Believes love is a distraction — until Ethan tests every rule she lives by. Ethan Cole Charming, infuriating, secretly soft-hearted. Her rival at work… and the storm she never saw coming. Lena Thompson Sophia’s best friend and co-worker. Funny, loud, and always ready to give unsolicited love advice. Marco Ramirez Head of logistics for the New Year’s Eve Gala. Calm, reliable, and secretly rooting for Sophia and Ethan to get together. Clara Whitmore Hotel manager. Elegant, efficient, and under pressure as the blizzard complicates everything. The Hotel Staff A chaotic mix of waiters, decorators, and technicians — the accidental witnesses to Sophia and Ethan’s growing tension.