The gunshots reverberated through the air, punctuated by the occasional thud as a target was hit. The smell of gun powder hung heavy in the air almost obscuring the sharp tang of sweat and nerves.
In the midst of it all, Dahlia Sinclair fired shot after shot with practiced precision. Her focus was unbreakable, her aim unwavering. People said she only came to the shooting range when she was in a bad mood, and they were right. This was her outlet for her frustrations, her way of channeling her anger into something constructive.
Gael stood to the side, his hands over his ear to protect them from the deafening roar of gunfire. He watched as Dahlia's bullets struck the target, one after the other, never missing the bull's eye. Her aim was flawless, her concentration total. And yet, he couldn't help but wonder what was bothering her. She was a woman of few words, but he could read the tension in her shoulders, the slight frown on her lips. Something was weighing on her mind, and she was taking it out on the target in front of her.
"Why? Why has he not called her?" Dahlia wondered aloud, her frustration evident in her tone. She had been waiting for a call from William Anderson for three days now, and there had been no word from him. Had he forgotten about her? Was he playing some sort of game? Or was he simply not interested?
She tried to push the thoughts from her mind, focusing at the task at hand. But with each shot, her frustration only grew. Why couldn't he just pick up the phone and call her? It wasn't that hard, was it?
Dahlia's fingers tightened around the trigger, and she let off another shot, her frustration growing with each bullet that struck the target. It was a first for her, waiting desperately for someone, and she hated it. How long did she have to wait for him before he call her? She was beginning to lose patience. Surely, he hadn't forgotten about her. After all, she'd made quite an impression on him, hadn't she? Or was she wrong about that? Dahlia shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. She couldn't let herself get worked up like this.
She dropped the gun and turned to Gael, who had been watching from a safe distance. "Hand me my phone." She said, holding out her hand.
Gael reached into her bag and pulled out the phone, handing it to her.
Dahlia turned it on and immediately opened instagram, searching for William's account. He had 27 million followers - it was clear he was a man of some renown. As she scrolled through his feed, she realized he didn't have any events listed for the day. She sighed, wondering what she was going to do now.
"Is there something wrong?" Gael asked, noticing the tension on her face.
"No, i... do i have any events to attend today?" She asked instead, trying to sound nonchalant.
"Let me check." Gael answered, pulling out his tablet and tapping through the calendar. "Oh, you have one. The launch party for Go's Motors' new vehicle, Harlow sent an invitation."
"Who's Harlow?" She asked, the name unfamiliar to her.
Gael's eyes widened in surprise. "You don't remember Harlow? The Go's Motors heir? He's one of your flings."
"Ah." She let out. "That loser. I'm not going to the party." Dahlia uttered, starting to take her leave.
"I knew you'd say that." Gael was not surprised in the least. Dahlia had a reputation for not sticking around with her flings. "Too bad, though. I heard some notable people would be there, like CK fashions, the singer Miguel, and the so - called 'Wanted Bachelor', William Anderson."
At that, Dahlia stopped in her tracks. "Did you just say William Anderson would be there?"
Gael nodded. "Yes, he is friends with Harlow so he'll definitely be there. Why are you asking?"
"Well..." She began, doing her best to sound casual. "You know, it would be impolite to turn down an invitation from someone as notable as Harlow."
"Eh?" Gael blinked, wondering if he heard her clearly.
"It would reflect badly on the company if we did." She continued. "So, i think i should attend, even if it's just to be polite."
Gael looked at her, an eyebrow raised. "You'll attend the party to be polite?"
"Yes." She answered. "I'll be sure to attend for Harlow's sake." She added, the barest hint of a smile playing at the corner of her lips. And with that, she turned and left the shooting range, leaving Gael to wonder if she was truly as disinterested as she pretended to be. For some reasons, he had a feeling that there was more to her motivation than just politeness. And he couldn't help but be curious about what it was.
**********
The evening of the party came around. The venue of the event was filled with a mix of celebrities, socialites, and other notable figures. There was an air of excitement and anticipation as people chatted and mingled, sipping champagne and admiring the displays of the latest Go's Motors models.
William stood in a corner, swirling the wine in his glass and observing the crowd with a practiced air of disinterest. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy socializing - it was more that he didn't care for the social climbing and networking that seemed to be the main focus of these events. He was here only to greet his acquaintance, Harlow, and then make a hasty retreat.
But as he tried to avoid spotlight, he felt the familiar sensation of being watched. He turned to find a gaggle of marriage - minded mothers, their daughters in tow, staring at him with greedy, predatory eyes.
As William turned his gaze away from them, hoping to avoid an uncomfortable conversation, he heard a shrill voice calling out to him.
"Mr Anderson!" A woman exclaimed, approaching him with her daughter.
William did his best to look surprised, as if he hadn't noticed them until now. "Oh, hello." He said, mustering a smile. "Good evening to you."
The mother smiled back, but the daughter's face flushed a deep shade of red, her eyes downcast as she fidgeted with her hands.
"It's a pleasure to see you, Mr. Anderson." The mother said, ignoring the way he had stiffened at her proximity. "I am Mrs. Nicolas, and this is my daughter, Hyacinth."
William forced a polite smile onto his face, words were beyond him as Mrs. Nicolas had pressed in so close that he feared he might suffocate. "It's nice to see you." His tone neutral.
Mrs. Nicolas beamed at him, unaware of the boredom in his voice. "Mrs. Sullivan told me i might find you here." She said, oblivious to William's growing frustration. "She said i simply must introduce my daughter to you."
"Oh." William let out. He didn't remember who Mrs. Sullivan was but he thought he might like to strangle her. His eyes darted around the room, desperate for an escape from the conversation. But then, his gaze landed on a familiar face - Dahlia Sinclair.
The gown she wore was a deep shade of midnight blue, a colour so rich and deep, it was almost black. It clung to her figure in a way that was alluring but not too revealing. The fabric was shimmering and had a slight sheen to it, making it look luxurious and expensive. Her bob was perfectly styled with a glossy shine and just the right amount of curl at the end. A simple silver necklace hung around her neck, catching the light and adding a touch of sparkle. She wore a minimal makeup but her brows were perfectly arched and her eyelashes looked long and dark. Her lips were painted a deep shade of red, the colour bold and striking against her pale skin.
William couldn't help but stare - she was so beautiful. His jaws dropped as he stared on, taking in her appearance.
She met his gaze, and for a moment, time seemed to slow down, and the two of them were suspended in bubble of their own making. William could feel the tension in the air, the undeniable connection that seemed to draw them together. It was as if they were the only two people in the room, the only two people in the world.