Chapter 1 Bumping Into The Most Attractive Man!
September 19th, 2019.
Dear Diary,
Tonight feels like it’s going to be a really big night. I don’t know why, but I’m excited. I’m getting ready to go out, maybe make a little money, meet people, and just see what happens. It doesn’t feel like a regular night. It feels like something might change for me. I just want to make the most out of it and try to make a name for myself in this world.
Emmaline Facer sighed, pushed her long silky black hair back and placed her pen in the middle of her diary, and closed it gently. Tonight was the moment she had been waiting for. Her college graduation.
She looked at her reflection in the mirror, trying different kinds of smiles. Which one would fit an event like this? Her eyes were defined. It was a cat eye shape, and hazel in color, and her lips were plump with a cupid's bow mouth shape. She took a moment to fix the last bit of her lipstick.
She opened her closet. A long sleeved black dress caught her eye. Black had always been her go to color. For her, it showed strength and confidence.
She wore the dress and paired it with her favorite black heels. She was five feet eight inches tall and slim with long legs, and the heels raised her by four inches. She smiled, satisfied with her look.
Emma had a complicated relationship with money because of her past. Her mother’s words echoed in her mind, “Money always makes you a better person. A bigger person. People respect those with money. It can get you far in life. Whoever said money would not give you happiness lied.”
And Emma believed that.
The memory of her father’s death when she was just seven haunted her. She believed that if they had had enough money for his surgery, he might have survived the accident. The memory still stung.
Just as she was about to leave, her phone buzzed and cut her thoughts. With a sigh, she answered the call. “Hey Phoebs, are you there yet”
Phoebe’s voice came through, a little annoyed. “Yes, Jones and I are here and we are waiting for you. Where are you? The party has started.”
“I am on my way out now. Shit! Wait.”
“What?”
“You have not sent the address. How am I supposed to know where the party is?” She laughed as she tapped her head for even forgetting.
“Oh! My bad. I’ll send it now. Just make sure you are on time. You need to meet Scott Jones if you want to make some money. I heard the hotel hosting the party is owned by his dad and he comes from money. A lot of it. If you want tonight to be as amazing as you want it to be, you must be on time.”
Emma sighed. “I’ll be there soon.”
The address came moments later.
The two became inseparable since freshman year. Emma had gotten into the fashion program with a scholarship and she first met Phoebe at the freshman party.
She was drunk and was left alone at the bar, and Phoebe helped her to her own dorm to spend the night only to find out the next morning that they were roommates. It was the beginning of their friendship.
Wherever Phoebe went, Emma followed.
“Thank you.” Emma smiled politely at the taxi driver as she stepped out.
“Thank you ma’am. Have a nice night,” he replied.
The soft breeze brushed over her, and her eyes moved around the surroundings. “Is this the right place?” she wondered, then a luxurious hotel on the left caught her attention. “Looks like this is it. You can do this Emma,” she whispered to herself. “Let’s meet Scott Jones.” She fixed her dress as she walked to the building.
The hotel was decorated with elegant lighting that gave it a royal look, its golden front shining in the dark. She reached the entrance but stopped when a security guard asked for her pass. Emma gave him her invitation and he allowed her in.
Inside, she saw a lively crowd talking and enjoying the event.
She saw some people from her department and they were the rich kids. And it hit her the type of place she had stepped into.
She took out her phone to call Phoebe. No response, but knowing her friend, Emma knew she would be at the bar.
“I knew I’d find you here,” she said, walking toward the bar with her arms crossed. Phoebe turned with a bottle of champagne.
“So glad you made it on time,” she said, coming closer to check Emma’s outfit. “You look stunning in that dress. Better than I did.” She placed an arm around her shoulders with excitement. “Scott is going to fall in love with you. I heard any girl he chooses ends up with a lot of favors.”
“Emma,” a voice called behind her.
She froze. She recognized that voice and would recognize it anywhere. It belonged to Toby Hallway, her ex boyfriend.
She frowned and turned to Phoebe. “What is he doing here?”
Phoebe shrugged smugly. “I don’t know. Maybe he paid his way in to be with you.”
Emma scoffed. “Haha. Funny. If I remember correctly, he dumped me three weeks ago because I would not sleep with him. That bastard cheated on me and he is so toxic. Why can’t he leave me alone Phoebe? help me.”
Phoebe's lips narrowed. “I think I have a plan to get rid of him.”
Emma sat. A glass of liquor appeared in front of her. “What do you mean get rid of him?” she asked, taking a sip.
Phoebe smirked. “Just drink. He won't be hurt. He will just… be out of your life.” She made a call, poured Emma another shot, then disappeared for a moment. When she returned, she said with a satisfying sigh, “He has been taken away by Jones and his friends. Tonight, no one will bother you. We are getting wasted.”
Emma was relieved that he was finally gone, then she remembered why she was attending the party in the first place. “Wait, what about meeting Scott?”
“Don’t worry. You will meet Scott once he is done with his people. He will reach out to me.” Phoebe clinked her glass with hers.
Emma drank. The music started and Phoebe gasped, tapping her. “This is our song. Come on!” She dragged Emma to the dance floor.
Emma giggled and as they danced to the blasting music, she felt alive. In a few minutes or hours, her life would change if she was chosen by Scott Jones.
Moments later, Phoebe’s boyfriend, Jones joined.
“Hey Emma.” he stood in front of them.
“Hey Jones.”
His hand wrapped around Phoebe’s waist. “I'd like to borrow your friend for some time. I hope you don’t mind?”
“No. Not at all.”
“I love you,” Phoebe told Emma. “I’ll be back soon. Please, please find someone to talk to. You know what I mean.” She winked as Jones pulled her away.
Emma sighed and headed for another drink. As she reached the bar, she suddenly felt the ground shift under her and the room spin. She tried to stand straight but her heels slipped and she collided with a young man heading out of the party.
Both of them fell to the ground.
She groaned as she opened her eyes and she saw the man who had fallen on her. His hand caught the back of her head before it hit the floor.
He was breathtaking. Dark wavy hair, ocean blue eyes, a defined nose, a carved jaw, and perfect lips. Her stomach churned.
“You alright?” he groaned, standing before offering her his hand to help her up.
She took it. “I’m so sorry,” she yelled because of the loud music, lost in those eyes.
“Beautiful girls don’t apologize.” He smiled gently. “I should be the one apologizing. You seem a little drunk.”
Emma breathed in and tried to steady herself, smiling back at him. His face was the only thing that felt clear to her. At least, that was what she felt.
They were silent for a moment, then she spoke. “I don’t think I have seen you here before. Did you go to this school?”
“Yes,” he nodded. “ It is a big place. It is impossible to know everyone.”
“Yeah, true," she said with a nervous laugh. Why the heck would she ask that?
“I’m Ezra.” He held out his hand. She hesitated but placed hers in his.
“Emma.”
“That is a beautiful name for a pretty girl.” Then he added, “Want company? I’m heading out. To be honest, it is boring here.”
“Boring?” Emma raised a brow. “This music, the people…it is electrifying. You don’t like parties?”
He had been to a lot of parties all his life that this one didn’t faze him. He shrugged softly. “I am not just feeling it. I was told fewer people would be here. Too many people. I don’t like it.” She nodded and he slipped his hands into his pockets. “Want to get out of here? Drink? Talk?”
Emma laughed. “About what?”
“Anything. What brings a girl like you here all alone?”
That word halted her for a moment. “I am not alone. I came with my friends.”
He nodded slowly. “Alright. But it looks like you are the only one here. Come with me.”
He gently took her hand and led her to the bar. They sat. Emma’s heart thudded as she glanced at him. The dangerous part was that she was not sober, and he was dangerously attractive.
As he lifted the glass, she watched the drink slide down his throat. It was slow. It was effortless. It was mesmerizing.
And that was when she realised that if he wanted anything from her, she didn't trust herself to say no.
