Chapter 1: The Wedding Party
Olivia adjusted her dress, smoothing down the fabric as she stood in front of the grand entrance to the ballroom. The elegant gold trim on the doors caught the light, making the entire scene look like something out of a movie. Guests were milling about inside, their laughter and chatter mixing with the soft background music. The smell of expensive perfume and fresh flowers wafted through the air, mingling with the rich scent of food.
Everything about this wedding screamed opulence—everything but Olivia's mood.
She wasn't a fan of weddings, especially ones that involved people she barely knew. But it wasn't the event itself that had her stomach in knots. It was the person she knew would be there, lurking in the shadows like some sort of unavoidable storm cloud.
Ethan Calloway.
She could feel the tension in her chest tighten as she thought about him. Their history wasn't a simple one, nor a pleasant one. What had started as a simple professional disagreement had turned into a full-blown rivalry, one that seemed to flare up every time they crossed paths. The worst part? It had all started with a misunderstanding, and despite how much Olivia tried to move on, Ethan's sharp words and mocking gaze still had the power to get under her skin.
Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the door and stepped into the ballroom. Her heels clicked on the marble floor, and for a moment, she wondered if she could simply slip past everyone unnoticed. But of course, that was wishful thinking. She hadn't even made it two steps before her eyes locked with his.
Across the room, Ethan stood talking with a group of guests, his posture confident, his smile charming. He was effortlessly magnetic, like some force of nature that commanded attention without even trying. Olivia, on the other hand, was just trying to blend in.
She tried to look away, but there was something about his gaze that always seemed to pull her back. "Great," she muttered under her breath. She had to get away from him. It was only a matter of time before they'd be forced to talk, and the last thing she wanted was another round of sarcastic remarks.
Unfortunately, fate had other plans.
As she turned to grab a glass of champagne from a nearby waiter, Ethan made his move, slipping through the crowd with a deliberate ease that made her heart skip a beat. When he reached her side, his presence felt like a wave crashing over her.
"I didn't expect to see you here." His voice was low and smooth, carrying that annoying confidence that seemed to drip from every word.
Olivia kept her eyes on the drink in her hand, refusing to meet his gaze. "You shouldn't be surprised, Ethan. People go to weddings all the time."
His lips curled into that familiar smirk, the one that made her blood boil. "True, but I'm sure you'd rather be anywhere but here. After all, you and I don't exactly get along."
The words stung, but Olivia wasn't about to show it. She straightened her back, meeting his gaze with a challenge in her eyes. "It's called being civil, Ethan. Something you might want to try sometime."
Ethan chuckled, his gaze scanning her face with a sharpness that felt almost too intense. "Civility is overrated. Besides, I thought you loved the tension between us."
Her stomach turned, but she refused to back down. "You're delusional if you think this is some kind of game to me."
For a brief moment, his eyes flickered with something that almost looked like regret—but it disappeared as quickly as it came. "Maybe. But let's be real, Olivia, neither of us are here for the wedding." He leaned in just slightly, his voice dropping lower. "We're both just looking for an excuse to argue."
Olivia's pulse quickened, but she wasn't about to let him get to her. "You must have a pretty high opinion of yourself if you think I want to spend my night fighting with you."
Ethan's smile widened, his eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and something deeper, something Olivia couldn't quite place. "Maybe I'm just hoping that you'll admit you don't hate me as much as you pretend to."
The air between them felt thick, charged. Olivia could feel her heartbeat racing, and for a split second, she almost wanted to believe him. But no. She refused to. They were enemies—nothing more.
Before she could say anything more, the sound of the wedding bells tolled, and the entire room turned their attention toward the newlyweds. The moment between Olivia and Ethan was interrupted, but the tension still lingered.
Olivia didn't dare look at him again. Instead, she took a sip of her champagne, hoping the cool liquid would steady her nerves. She was not about to let Ethan Calloway win. Not today.
But as she stood there, pretending to enjoy the evening, she couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get a whole lot more complicated.