Chapter 1 The Fine Line
I met him at a friend's party. I wasn't looking for anything, because I never am.I just wanted to party and have a good time. But then he walked in, all casual charm,wearing a smile that could make someone forget their own name. The moment he looked my way, I felt a spark I couldn't explain and I definitely couldn't resist.
"Hi," he said, voice smooth like whiskey, eyes scanning me like he'd been waiting for this moment.
"Hi ," I said, smiling.
I'm William," he replied, holding out his hand. I'm Olivia, I replied. "Nice to meet you, Olivia… or should I say, my Olive?"
I laughed at the nickname, feeling a flutter I couldn't explain.
Everyone else was talking and laughing, but I only saw him. He moved through the room effortlessly, like people gravitated toward him without even realizing it. I didn't know it yet, but he had a habit of making hearts flutter. Mine was just next.
I was usually smart, careful. I didn't fall for looks or charm that easily. But with William? My brain short-circuited.
"Let me go get a drink" he said and left to go get one in the bar section. As he walked to the bar my eyes were really fixated on him. I loved his build and the outfit he put on, looked really good on him like it was made just for him.
He came back holding two glasses of whiskey and offered one to me. Here's yours my olive.. I gave out the biggest smile ever. It was slightly embarrassing but it was just out of my control.
As we sipped the whiskey in silence, my mind was restless, I wanted to break the silence and say something. I wanted to hear the fine gentleman talk some more. "You enjoy partying?" I asked, breaking the silence.
"Not always," he said, his grin widening. "I do it once in a while to relieve the stress from work since I'm always buried with work."
Something about that made me smile. I was nervous and excited at the same time.
We don't know each other yet," I added. "So, what do you do?"
"I'm a project manager," he said, casually, like it was nothing, but I could see the pride in his tone. "Keeps me busy. And you?"
"I'm an accountant," I said, shrugging. "Mostly numbers and deadlines. Not exactly thrilling, but it pays the bills."
He nodded thoughtfully. "Numbers, deadlines… That's really nice, he said. I love hardworking people who have a solid grasp on life."
I smiled, feeling strangely seen.And mostly because of the love word he used.
"So, where do you live?" he asked after a pause, his curiosity genuine, not invasive.
I hesitated for a second, then said, "Aldoria… not too far from here."
He raised an eyebrow, surprised. "No way. I live there too. Well… about twenty minutes on foot from you, I'd say."
I blinked. "Seriously? That's… not far at all."
"Nope," he said with that calm ease that made everything feel effortless. "Seems we're neighbors without even knowing it."
We laughed, and it didn't feel forced. It felt… right.
The night went on, and we drifted through the party in little bursts of conversation. At one point, we stepped onto the balcony for some air. The city lights below were blurred, and the music behind us faded. For a moment, it felt like it was just us.
"You're fun," I whispered, leaning on the railing.
"And you," he said, eyes locked on mine, "I really enjoy talking to you."
He pulled out his phone. "We should keep talking. But just so you know, I don't do this often."
He handed me the phone, and I typed in my number. My hands trembled slightly. Something was definitely wrong because I was always so composed.
"I'll text you my olive," he said with a wink.
When the party ended, we didn't leave together, but we walked in the same direction for a few blocks, talking about music, books, and the little quirks people have at parties. The connection felt electric yet subtle, like a thread quietly being pulled between us.
By the time we parted, there was a promise in the air, a silent acknowledgment that this was far from over. I went home, heart pounding, replaying everything. His smile. The way he listened. The spark in his eyes.
And just like that, William had my number and I'd already given him a piece of my heart.