"Hello, miss. Would you like to have another drink?"
"Oh! No, thank you," she turned to the side where the voice was coming from and replied politely, with a smile. "I'm fine for now."
The waiter nodded to show he heard her correctly. But as he tried to rearrange the glasses of champagne, the tray tilted and the glasses inside the tray were tumbling. Champagne splashed all over the floor, and the waiter was afraid and lost control. He stumbled backward, knocking into a table nearby.
Amara quickly rushed to help him so he didn't injure himself.
"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice soft but concerned.
The waiter nodded sheepishly. "I'm so sorry, it wasn't intentional, I am sorry ma'am"
"It's okay," Amara said gently, she knelt to help him pick up the fallen glasses. She carefully gathered the pieces of broken glass. "Don't worry about it. Accidents happen."
Dennis, who had been standing across the room speaking with a group of guests, watched as the scene unfolded with quiet interest.
The commotion distracted him from the conversation he was having with the guests, and just not to lose in the two events, he carefully observed how the young lady had helped the waiter.
"You're fine; Just relax. I'll clean up the rest, okay?" Amara assured the waiter in a calm voice.
The waiter seemed relieved, offering her a grateful smile before retreating to get a new tray.
Amara stood up slowly, glancing around as the guests started to return to their conversations, some still whispering about the incident.
"That was very kind of you."
Amara's head snapped toward the voice, her heart skipping a beat when she saw Dennis standing just a few feet away.
"Oh!" she said. Are you surprised? "I didn't mean to make a scene. It just... seemed like the right thing to do."
Dennis chuckled softly, still maintaining his gaze on her. "You handled it well. Not many people would have done that, you know?"
"It wasn't a big deal. He was just... overwhelmed." Amara responded.
"These little things you have done say a lot about the personality of a person. An average person would have ignored and, to worsen the situation, got angry at the waiter and blamed him for everything that had happened. But you didn't, you just helped without any hesitation." Dennis said softly.
Amara was caught off guard by his words. She hadn't expected him to be so... observant. "Well, I just don't like seeing people in trouble. As much as it's in my capacity I help people to get out of their mess or trouble ".
Amara paused, she wasn't sure of what to say next. She wasn't used to being noticed by someone of such status.
Dennis broke the silence, his tone lighter this time. "I'm Dennis, by the way."
Amara's heart beat faster; She hadn't expected to run into him the way she did, especially not in such an informal way.
"I'm Amara," she said, her voice shaking as she spoke.
"I am very happy to meet you, Amara," Dennis said with a smile; he offered to shake her. " I have seen you around, but I don't think we will have a chance to talk so quickly"
Amara hesitated, then shook his hand briefly. "I'm invited by a friend," she said, trying to sound more informal.
Dennis becomes curious to know who the friend is, but he restrains himself from asking her. "Trust you are having fun." He said jokingly.
Amara laughed, "I am trying to. The truth is I'm not used to these kinds of parties."
"I am glad you are here; it's refreshing to see someone who still cares about others, who doesn't look down on people like they are nothing," Dennis said genuinely.
"I am flattered". Amara said softly.
"If I am honest with you, most people here are more interested in networking than actually talking to each other, talkless of helping a waiter."
Amara smiled, feeling a little more at ease. "I'm not good at networking, to be honest."
Dennis raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Neither am I. But I think we could both survive a few more minutes of small talk."
Amara couldn't help but smile at that, her heart beginning to calm.
Before she could say anything else, a waiter came to them; he stopped a few feet away from them with a tray of drinks. Dennis turned to the waiter with a polite smile. "We are very much ok for now, thanks."
Immediately after the waiter left, Dennis returned to the discussion between himself and Amara. "Well, I don't mean any offense, but I don't expect to see someone like you at this party. Maybe because I signed the invitations that were sent to people".
"Yes, you are right," Amara smiled as she responded.
"I am feeling a bit uncomfortable seeing many people of high class, but thank God for my friend; she has been encouraging me and boosting my morale ever since we stepped into this place," Amara spoke affirmatively.
Dennis smiled, " That's what makes you stand out, and if someone will be awarded today as a special guest of honor, it will be you. You are a special person here today" Dennis spoke with a voice of encouragement.
"Thank you, sir; I am encouraged. " Amara smiles as she shows appreciation to Dennis.
"You are most welcome," Dennis responded with a softer voice, and he excused Amara to attend to some other things.
The words of Dennis kept echoing in Amara's mind. Those words boosted her energy, and she started seeing the party as a place she could explore. Her hope and expectations were revived.
"Oh, I am feeling more comfortable now", Amara whispered to herself.
Some guests were surprised at how much time Dennis spent with her. They begin to wonder if she is a special guest or if she is representing someone at that party.
Some ridicule and envy her for getting much attention from a personality like Dennis.