The glittering chandeliers above, the hushed murmurs of polished voices, and the scent of expensive cologne—nothing about it felt like home. She shifted awkwardly on her heels, adjusting the strap of her red dress. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate the opportunity to be there; as a junior architect at one of the city's top firms, she had to attend these kinds of events. But she had always been more at ease in blueprints and concrete than in ballrooms and gowns.

Her best friend, Mia, had dragged her into the event under the guise of it being a "networking opportunity." In reality, Mia was just looking for an excuse to be in the spotlight, mingling with the city's elite. Ava, on the other hand, wasn't interested in rubbing shoulders with millionaires or making small talk with their equally well-dressed offspring.

But then she saw him.

Ethan Blackwood.

He stood at the edge of the room, his tall frame dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, effortlessly commanding attention without even trying. His dark hair was slightly tousled, and his piercing blue eyes seemed to be scanning the room—until they landed on her. For a brief moment, time seemed to slow as their gazes locked across the crowded room.

She quickly looked away, shaking her head in disbelief. Why on earth would someone like him notice her? Sure, she was attractive, but there was no mistaking it: Ethan Blackwood was the heir to a fortune, a man with a life planned out for him, and a future surrounded by other people who were more in his league.

But when he started walking toward her, there was no denying the pull she felt in the pit of her stomach.

"Ava Montgomery, right?" His voice was smooth, with an undertone of genuine curiosity. It was almost as if he'd been expecting her.

She blinked, caught off guard. "Yes. And you are...?"

"Ethan Blackwood," he said, offering a hand. "I don't usually attend events like this, but my mother insisted."

Ava raised an eyebrow, resisting the urge to laugh. "I can't imagine you're here for the charity event, then."

His lips curled into a half-smile, and for a moment, she saw a glimmer of something deeper—something beyond the polished exterior. "Not exactly. But I do try to make an appearance when my mother asks. She's rather persistent."

Ava laughed, feeling the tension ease a little. "I get that. My boss is the same way. I'm only here because it's a 'networking opportunity.'"

His smile widened, and for the first time that night, Ava felt her nerves begin to settle. They talked briefly about work, about architecture, and about the charity, but the conversation was so easy, so natural, that she couldn't help but be drawn in by his presence. There was something about him—something real—that made her want to know more.

But, as the evening wore on, reality settled in. She was a regular woman from a middle-class background, and he was the heir to a tech empire, surrounded by people who would never understand her world.

And so, as the night went on, she tried her best to ignore the fluttering in her chest when he was near, convincing herself that this was just a fleeting moment in a world that wasn't hers.

Could this be the set stage for their eventual relationship, filled with obstacles from both their worlds.