The night of the gala came quicker than Quinn anticipated. As she stood in front of her full-length mirror, adjusting the delicate clasp of her necklace, she felt a strange mix of nerves and excitement bubbling up. Normally, events like this didn't faze her—she attended galas, fundraisers, and industry events all the time. But this one felt different, and she knew exactly why.
Ava had dropped by earlier, armed with makeup tips, an impressive selection of dresses, and endless pep talks. Now, in a sleek, elegant outfit that managed to blend her CEO confidence with a dash of glam, Quinn felt undeniably out of her comfort zone. She was going all out tonight, and, surprisingly, she didn't mind.
"Alright, Quinn, you got this," she murmured to herself, forcing her nerves down as she grabbed her clutch and headed for the elevator.
---
When she stepped onto the rooftop lounge, she was immediately swept into a world of soft lights, classy music, and elegantly dressed neighbors mingling over drinks. She greeted a few familiar faces as she made her way to the refreshment table, scanning the crowd discreetly—more out of curiosity than anything, or so she told herself.
And then, she spotted him.
Ethan was standing across the room, effortlessly dashing in a tailored suit that only highlighted his broad shoulders and impossibly cool aura. He was chatting with someone, a polite smile on his face, but the moment he noticed her, his eyes sharpened with unmistakable recognition.
He looked like he wanted to laugh, and that did nothing to ease the twist in her stomach.
"Oh no," Quinn muttered to herself, pretending to be very interested in the drink options.
But, naturally, that didn't work.
"Miss Quinn," came a familiar, deep voice from beside her. She looked up to find Ethan standing there, holding two glasses of champagne, his smirk both charming and infuriating.
"Ethan," she replied, managing to keep her tone neutral, even though her mind was racing.
"Didn't expect to see you here," he said, offering her a glass.
She accepted it, careful to keep her expression cool. "Neither did I."
There was a short pause, the kind of comfortable silence that Quinn never expected she'd have with a stranger she'd just met in the most bizarre way possible. But Ethan seemed relaxed, glancing around the room with that unreadable look in his eyes.
"I have to say," he continued, his voice teasing, "I'm glad you didn't come at me with another low rating review. This is progress."
Quinn couldn't help it; she burst into laughter. "I only reserve those for delivery services that fail miserably," she replied, her grin slipping out before she could contain it.
"Good to know," Ethan said, and his smirk softened into a genuine smile. "But just for the record, if I had known what was in that package, I wouldn't have opened it."
"Likely story," she scoffed, but her voice held no bite. "Honestly, I'm just here to avoid Ava's wrath."
Ethan chuckled. "Ah, a friend intervention. The ultimate motivation."
They both sipped their drinks, the humor lightening the mood. Before long, Quinn found herself genuinely enjoying Ethan's company. They shared funny stories about condo life, the weird quirks of their building, and eventually even the crazy hours they worked in their demanding careers.
"You know," Ethan said, glancing at her over the rim of his glass, "I'm actually surprised. The tabloids make you out to be some kind of serious, untouchable powerhouse. But here you are, laughing at gala events and giving delivery men a hard time."
Quinn rolled her eyes. "The tabloids are ridiculous. They only see what they want to see. Just because I'm a CEO doesn't mean I can't have a sense of humor."
"I'll admit, it's refreshing," he said, his tone softening. "Most people don't get the balance right."
For a moment, they held each other's gaze, the banter slipping into something quieter, more real. Quinn felt a small flutter in her chest, and, suddenly, she was aware of just how close he was standing.
Realizing she was getting far too comfortable, Quinn cleared her throat and stepped back slightly. "Well, thanks for the drink… and the laugh."
Ethan seemed to notice the shift too, his cool expression returning. "Anytime. And Quinn," he added, his smirk making a comeback, "if you ever need another package 'delivered'—you know where I am."
She rolled her eyes, barely managing to stifle a laugh. "Goodnight, Ethan."
With one last look at his amused face, Quinn turned on her heel and walked away, doing her best to ignore the blush creeping up her cheeks. The rest of the night was a blur of polite conversations and forced smiles, her mind replaying their exchange in frustrating detail.
As she finally made her way back to her condo, she let out a long breath. This had been nothing more than a silly, chance encounter with her neighbor. She was not about to get distracted by a charming smile and witty banter.
But somehow, as she closed the door behind her, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning.