Chapter 2 A Chanced Collision

The tray clanged sharply as champagne splattered like raindrops across the polished wood.

"I'm so sorry!" Eva flushed as she helped the flustered waitress gather fallen glasses.

Thank goodness none appeared broken. Gia leaned to help while Noah was already on his feet assisting.

"It's okay. Accidents happen," the waitress said kindly over Eva's profuse apologies. After ensuring the woman was unhurt, Eva spun back towards her friends, face burning. So much for a lowkey celebration.

"What I tell you Eves? Partying with me always makes a scene!" Gia crowed.

Eva opened her mouth to retort wryly when she felt something icy splash down the side of her favorite Kate Spade blouse.

"Ugh seriously?" She grimaced, swiping at the champagne dripping down the floral cotton. Lunging for empty glasses was apparently not the smartest in an ivory silk top. She dabbed hopelessly at growing wet splotches.

At that moment, she heard a horrified gasp behind her. Whirling around, she came face to face with the dark-suited stranger-now sporting a dripping wet tie and ruin seeping across his crisp white shirt.

Eva's jaw dropped as his stony gaze lifted from the stain to lock with hers. Swallowing hard, she somehow found her voice.

"Oh no oh God...your shirt! I'm so incredibly sorry sir, I had no idea you were standing right there-"

"Sorry doesn't quite cut it right now," the man interrupted, his tone clipped. Through shaderized glasses, Eva saw his eyes narrow.

Who did this careless woman think she was?

Oscar Hayes did not appreciate fine tailored suits ruined without consequence. As her blurting apologies continued, he felt his jaw tighten.

Luxury five-star hospitality may thrive on graceful service recovery, but he preferred isolation from such kind of people who always seemed to create chaos in nice establishments.

"It was purely an accident, I assure you," Eva said, feeling increasingly flustered at his stern silence. She couldn't read his shaded eyes but sensed growing annoyance in his impassive face.

Gia looked equally stunned. But she quickly regained composure and stepped forward to assist the waitress with cleaning up the accident.

"Terribly sorry about this sir, let us help fix the damage," Gia said smoothly to the man.

Great. Ruining some elite businessman's evening was really how she wanted to celebrate turning 30.

"Let me at least pay for the dry cleaning," Eva offered in a rush. "I can't imagine how much the suit must have cost, but-"

"Five thousand dollars. Giorgio Armani limited edition," the man cut in crisply, lifting one darkened brow. Ice tingled down Eva's spine.

"Five grand for a suit? Who pays that much for threads?" Gia suddenly blurted out.

A muscle in the man's angular jaw twitched at the word "threads." Behind those obscure glasses, his gaze remained trained on Eva like targeting lasers. Feeling pinned, hot defiance rose in her throat.

"Again, I'm very sorry for the accident," she repeated pointedly. "But there's no need for that tone. I offered to cover damages-"

"And I have no interest in your financial contributions." The words sliced out as sharp as the creases in his pants. "How else do you plan to compensate?"

Eva's eyes flared at the borderline rude remark. Attractive or not, the arrogance emanating off this guy in his precious ruined suit was unbelievable.

She crossed her champagne-flecked arms. "Well I'm so sorry if my solutions aren't up to your standards," she retorted, irked. "But unless I happen to have a spare $5,000 Armani ensemble hidden in my clutch, I'm all out of ideas."

One dark brow ticked up again. "I wasn't referring to additional money. I'm curious what else you intend to offer for aggravation caused."

Eva scoffed in disbelief.

"Eva, it's fine. Here's a thought-let the birthday girl buy you a drink and call it even?" Gia interjected breezily.

Eva's eyes bugged out. Was Gia actually suggesting she somehow smooth things over with this arrogant stranger? Before she could protest, the man angled his head considering.

"That does strike me as rather fair," he acknowledged after an interminable pause. "Very well then." His gaze cut smoothly back to Eva's. "Shall we?"

What the actual...Eva's head spun. Who was this infuriating man in his expensive suit and amber sunglasses indoors? The urge to tell him exactly where he could shove his condescending attitude wrestled wildly with her natural conciliatory instincts.

As the tense standoff stretched, Noah gently touched her wrist.

"Gia's right, Evss. Let's just grab this guy a quick drink and get on with celebrating your birthday, yeah?" he murmured out the side of his mouth.

She exhaled grudgingly.

"Fine," Eva muttered. She shot the impassive stranger her best plastic smile. "One complimentary beverage coming right up."

They relocated to the sleek black granite-topped bar. The man smoothly gave his order-a 25 year aged Glennfiddich neat-because obviously pretentious suits wouldn't just order normal beer. As Eva dug in her wallet grumbling for her credit card, she caught him silently assessing her stained blouse again.

"Really loving your ensemble. The champagne splatter motif is so delightfully avant garde," he remarked casually.

Eva froze, card hovering above the bar top. Slowly she rotated to face him, brow cocked. Two outrageously expensive drinks and now the eccentric billionaire was mocking her wardrobe? Oh it was on.

"I'll take that as an immensely flattering compliment coming from a man clearly accustomed to regularly blowing my entire month's rent on a single article of clothing," she volleyed back breezily.

One dark brow ticked up as his lips curved into a subtly dangerous smile. He extended a large hand bearing an ornately carved platinum ring.

"Oscar Hayes. And your name is...?

That sounded a bit familiar. Eva eyed Oscar's extended hand warily, as if it might bite. Or possibly judo flip her to the ground for further bespoke suit compensation.

"Eva Thornfield ," she replied evenly. His grip was cool and firm, the platinum ring bearing an etched HD crest that likely cost more than her car. Clearly this Oscar Hayes was someone important. Or at least, his wallet and ego were.

As their hands detached, Eva fought the urge to pull hers back quickly and wipe off the residual chill.

"Charmed," Oscar murmured, the barest mocking lilt to his tone. Before Eva could bristle, the bartender slid over his obnoxiously expensive Scotch.

"Well drink up," Eva prompted tightly when he made no move towards the glass, still studying her.

His stare remained inscrutable behind darkened frames. "Aren't you going to join me?"

Eva paused in digging for cash. Was he implying...?

"Oh I'm not really into brown liquor," she hedged quickly. The last thing she wanted was to prolong this strange hostility-laced encounter.

"Come now Eva, I insist." He motioned languidly for another Glennfiddich glass to appear before her. "Consider it a birthday toast...new connections and all."

Eva fought an eye roll at the thinly veiled command. She wasn't some business rival to casually manipulate. Temper simmering, she was on the verge of making an excuse to duck out when Gia abruptly elbowed into their space.

"Hell yes to birthday libations!" She crowed, clinking her glass enthusiastically to theirs before Eva could object. Scowling, Eva raised the unwanted drink as Oscar smoothly followed suit.

Their eyes caught and clung challengingly over the rims as all three sipped.

The Scotch burned like liquid fire down Eva's throat and she fought not to embarrassingly splutter. Eyes watering, she glimpsed him watching her closely.

"Smooth finish on this one, no?" he inquired mildly, clearly noting her struggle to remain impassive over the drink only world players like himself could casually enjoy.

Eva managed a taut smile. "Guess I'm just more a bubbly and floral cocktail person. But hey, to each their poison, right?" She consciously set the near full glass down with decided finality. Message delivered: she refused to be rattled or indulge his attempts at condescension.

One side of Oscar's mouth lifted slightly. "Indeed." He tossed back the rest of his glass smoothly. Setting it empty on the bar with a definitive click, he then turned fully to Eva once more.

"Well Ms. Thornfield , I thank you graciously for the drink. And I assure you, next time we meet, I will be sure to stand clear of any moving trays."

Despite the conciliatory statement, Eva bristled at his subtly smug tone. Next time they meet? Was this Oscar Hayes actually threatening to insert himself into her life again after this disastrous encounter?

She forced herself to smile thinly. "Yeah, sounds like a solid plan."

As they stared at each other unblinkingly, Gia chuckled nervously next to them.

"Soooo, who wants birthday cake?"