Amelia tugged at the hem of her dress, feeling out of place the moment she walked into the sleek, modern hall. The clink of champagne glasses, the low hum of polite conversation, and the bright lights from the chandeliers overhead all felt far too extravagant for where she was in life. This networking event was supposed to be an opportunity to reconnect with old colleagues and explore career possibilities, but already she was questioning why she had come.
She took a deep breath, smoothing down her dress one more time. You belong here, she told herself, but the words felt hollow. She was still piecing her life together—David had been the face of their success, the social one, the one with the connections. Now, she had to start from scratch.
Amelia made her way through the crowd, politely nodding at familiar faces but avoiding deeper conversation. She wasn't ready for the inevitable questions—Where's David? What are you up to now? She could almost hear the pity in their voices before they even spoke.
Gripping her glass of sparkling water, she moved toward a quieter corner, scanning the room for a familiar, friendly face. That's when she noticed him.
Ethan Blackwell.
He stood at the far end of the room, surrounded by a small group of people, but he might as well have been alone. Even in a crowd, he commanded attention. His height—towering above most—was the first thing people noticed, but it was his presence that truly dominated the space. His sharp, angular features were striking, giving him an almost sculpted appearance, as if he belonged on a magazine cover or in the halls of an ancient aristocratic family.
There was a quiet authority in his posture—shoulders back, chin slightly raised, a man who knew his place in the world and didn't need to prove it. His dark hair, neatly styled, hinted at the precision and control he likely exercised in all aspects of his life. It was never just about his wealth or status; it was the way he carried those things, as if they were natural extensions of him, not things he had to flaunt.
His eyes, a piercing shade of dark brown, were both intense and distant. They seemed to scan the room as if absorbing every detail, calculating, but not fully engaging. He didn't speak often, but when he did, his words carried weight, making people lean in to catch every syllable. His voice was smooth, deep, and deliberate, a contrast to the usual chatter around him.
Yet, despite the crowd, there was an aloofness about him. The way he held himself—reserved, almost untouchable—made it clear that while people flocked to him, they rarely got too close. It wasn't just physical distance he maintained but an emotional one. The kind that made others wonder what secrets lay beneath that polished exterior. Power, confidence, and control defined him, but there was an undercurrent of something darker, something far more complex, that made him both intriguing and intimidating.
Amelia had heard of him, of course. Everyone had. Ethan was the CEO of Blackwell Enterprises, the most powerful corporation in the city. His reputation as a ruthless businessman preceded him, but there were whispers of another side to him—one that few people ever saw.
Amelia watched as the people around him hung on his every word. He didn't seem fazed by the attention, but there was something in his expression—something she couldn't quite place. She tore her gaze away, feeling suddenly self-conscious. Why am I staring at him? she thought.
"Amelia?"
She turned quickly, startled, to see an old colleague from one of her earlier jobs, Marcus, approaching her. "Marcus, hi!" she greeted him, grateful for the distraction.
"I didn't expect to see you here," Marcus said, smiling. "It's been a while. How've you been?"
Amelia hesitated. How much should I share? "It's been… a transition," she said, offering a tight smile. "I'm here trying to get back into the swing of things. New opportunities, you know?"
Marcus nodded sympathetically, clearly reading between the lines. "Well, you're in the right place. I've seen a few good leads here tonight. You should make some connections. I know a few people who'd love to talk to you."
"Thanks, I'll try," she replied, though the thought of networking right now made her stomach twist.
Marcus excused himself after a few more pleasantries, leaving Amelia alone once again. She exhaled, trying to regain her composure. She scanned the room one more time, and her gaze landed on Ethan again—only this time, he was looking right at her.
Her breath caught in her throat as their eyes met across the room. His gaze was intense, unwavering, and for a moment, the noise around them seemed to fade. There was something about the way he looked at her, as if he saw right through her guarded exterior. Amelia felt a spark—brief, but undeniable.
She looked away quickly, pretending to check her phone, but when she glanced up again, Ethan was walking toward her.
Oh no.
In a matter of seconds, he was standing in front of her. Up close, he was even more striking than she had expected. His dark eyes were sharp but warm, like they held secrets he wasn't ready to share. The confidence he radiated wasn't just from his power—it was something deeper.
"Amelia, isn't it?" His voice was smooth, with just a hint of curiosity.
Amelia blinked, surprised that he knew her name. "Yes… you're Ethan Blackwell."
He smiled, a small, almost amused smile. "Guilty as charged. I've seen you at a few of these events before, though we've never formally met."
"Right," she said, feeling slightly off balance. She had always been the one with David by her side, the one in the background. Now, standing alone in front of someone like Ethan, she felt vulnerable. "I wasn't sure if I'd make it tonight."
"Well, I'm glad you did," he said, his eyes studying her. "You don't seem like the networking type."
Amelia raised an eyebrow, surprised by his bluntness. "Is it that obvious?"
"Just an observation," Ethan said, still holding her gaze. "But I could be wrong."
Amelia smiled despite herself. There was something about his directness that caught her off guard, but in a good way. It was refreshing, different from the polished niceties she was used to at these events.
"So, what brings you here, Mr. Blackwell?" she asked, trying to match his tone.
"Ethan, please," he corrected, smiling slightly. "I try to make an appearance at these things. Keeps people talking. Keeps the business connections alive."
"And you enjoy that?" Amelia asked, her curiosity piqued.
Ethan tilted his head slightly, considering her question. "Enjoy might be a strong word," he admitted. "But it's necessary. Besides, you never know who you'll meet."
"True," Amelia said, nodding. She felt the need to fill the silence, but before she could say anything else, Ethan spoke again.
"Though I'm more interested in what brought you here tonight," he said, his eyes narrowing slightly, as if he could already tell she didn't quite fit into the glitzy scene. "You don't seem like someone who's here for the usual schmoozing."
Amelia's guard went up, her instinct to protect herself kicking in. "I'm… rebuilding," she said simply, unwilling to go into detail about her messy divorce or the uncertainty she felt about her future.
Ethan studied her for a moment longer, as if weighing whether to push for more information, but then he nodded. "Rebuilding. That's a good place to start."
She nodded, suddenly feeling self-conscious under his gaze. There was something disarming about him, something that made her feel exposed in a way she wasn't used to. "Yeah, well, it's a process," she said lightly, trying to keep the conversation from getting too personal.
"I imagine it is," he replied, his tone thoughtful. "But from what I can tell, you're doing just fine."
Amelia's eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by the sincerity in his voice. "You don't even know me," she said, laughing softly.
Ethan's smile was small, but genuine. "Maybe not yet."
Before she could respond, someone from the crowd called Ethan's name, pulling him away from their conversation. He glanced over his shoulder briefly, then looked back at Amelia.
"It was nice meeting you, Amelia," he said. "Hopefully, we'll run into each other again soon."
Amelia watched as he walked away, disappearing back into the crowd of people. She exhaled slowly, realizing she had been holding her breath.
What just happened?
There was something about Ethan—his presence, his confidence—that unsettled her, but at the same time, intrigued her. He was powerful, no doubt, but there was more to him. Something she couldn't quite place.
As she left the event that night, she couldn't shake the feeling that their paths would cross again.