Designed for his Heart

Eva tapped her foot impatiently against the chrome base of the bar stool, her gaze fixed on the fluorescently lit entrance of Cobalt Lounge. She checked her watch for the third time, letting out an exaggerated sigh.

"They're fifteen minutes late," she grumbled before taking a long sip of her lychee martini. "Some friends. I rearrange my whole design timeline to squeeze in birthday drinks and Gia and Noah can't even be bothered to show up on time."

As if on cue, laughter echoed from the lounge doorway as Gia stumbled in, her silken espresso-colored curls and amber colored eyes lighting up the room immediately. She nearly hip-checked the hostess stand with her curvaceous figure. Trailing in her wake was a slightly flustered Noah, attempting to smooth over the disruption. Lean, average height, with tousled dark blond hair and light green bespectacled eyes, Noah was eye candy, but it seemed the constant attention made him very shy and reserved.

"Party people in the house!" Gia announced brightly as she entered the lounge, giving the room a dazzling smile and ignoring the hostess's side-eye.Though her energy lit up the space, she moved gracefully across the floor in her curve-hugging dress

Eva grinned, shaking her head incredulously as Gia plopped onto the barstool beside her, nearly toppling over. Composed Noah took the other seat, nodding an apology to the people seated nearby.

"It's 4 pm Gia, and this is just my usual casual birthday hang," Eva said. "But I like your enthusiasm per usual."

Noah chuckled, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Please excuse Hurricane Gia. We were on time but she barged into the middle of an Academic Affairs council meeting to remind me about tonight. It was quite dramatic."

"Ugh Noah, don't tell me you were going to let our girl's thirtieth go uncelebrated!" Gia said, mock-shocked. "What kind of friends do you take us for?

Eva laughed as Noah raised his palms defensively under Gia's playful glare. She was used to her friends' playful dynamic after so many years together. She loved her small but mighty friend group-though they made an eclectic trio. Gia was polished but brought unpredictability, Noah brought grounding calm, and Eva felt like she connected them together.

After chatting for a few more minutes to allow Noah and Gia to settle in, Eva gestured to the bartender to come take their order. True to form, Gia ordered them a round of birthday shots along with a flamboyant cocktail for herself. Though Eva insisted on enjoying this lowkey hang, she knew Gia would find a way to coax the entire lounge into celebrating extravagantly with them somehow.

As they waited for their drinks, Noah regaled them with a story from his lecture that morning involving a student falling asleep and toppling right out of their seat. Eva grinned, happy to relax and let the stresses of her impending fashion deadline slip away, if only temporarily.

The drinks arrived promptly, tiny glasses of amber liquid Noah eyed warily, his studious nature making him less inclined to day drinking shenanigans. "I have early lectures tomorrow," he protested mildly even as Gia eagerly slid him a shot.

"Oh come on Noah, lighten up!" Gia cajoled.

"Though I guess professors do need to set a good example..." She trailed off with a dramatic sigh, as if lamenting his responsible streak.

Eva chuckled at their antics. After so many years together through undergrad and now faculty life, they were long past the point of peer pressure with Noah. But they still honored their tradition when they got together, no matter the occasion.

Eva lifted her own tiny glass.

"To chasing dreams," she proclaimed warmly. The phrase had become their special toast ever since college when Noah was on the grad school track, Gia was hustling her catering side business, and Eva burned candles at both ends cobbling together sewing machines and sketchpads trying to launch her fashion line.

They clinked glasses with a chorus of "cheers" and tossed back. The whiskey scalded Eva's throat but she embraced the burn, letting out a satisfied hiss, feeling it kindle a fire inside. Thirty was just another year to come out chasing dreams, hopes still intact.

As they waited for Gia's colorful cocktail to arrive, they chatted about milestones, goals and love lives-or lack thereof in Noah's case-Eva felt a glow spread through her that had little to do with the drinks or birthday candles.

With their unfailing support over the years, she had made it so far already...She just needed one crucial career breakthrough and her and her dreams would finally come to life.

The conversation flowed easily, and Eva was glad she had taken time out of her hectic schedule for this tradition. Moments like these were all too rare, though the strength of their bond endured the tests of busy lives and long gaps without contact.

Just as Gia headed to the bar to procure a champagne bucket "for proper birthday bubbles," Eva caught sight of an impeccably dressed stranger entering the lounge.

For a split second as he surveyed the dim interior, eyes obscured by dark rimmed glasses, she swore he stared right at her-a thrill of familiarity flashing through her.

Then a large group passed briefly between them, and when they moved aside, the mysterious stranger was scanning the rest of the room with his back turned. Eva took advantage of the moment to study him discreetly.

From his well-groomed salt and pepper hair to his leather shoes shiny enough to reflect the blue lounge lighting, he clearly emitted wealth.

Just then, Gia returned triumphantly displaying a bottle of Veuve. "Now let's get this party started!" she crowed, bending to wrap Eva in a clumsy but enthusiastic hug.

She returned the embrace, laughing. Trust Gia to turn everything into a spectacle. Caught up in the moment, she didn't notice one of the waitresses approaching from behind.

As she stood to hug Gia, she stepped right into the server's path. Locked in her friend's distracting embrace, Eva collided forcefully with the poor woman. With a tremendous crash that silenced the lounge, the waitress' heavy tray tipped, sending drinks, glasses and a bottle of champagne plummeting downward.

"Oh god!" Eva yelped as icy liquid doused her, grasping fruitlessly to catch the platter but it was too late...

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?"

The neon OPEN sign in the lounge window flickered off as Eva pushed through the heavy wooden door into the cool night, Gia and Noah's laughter surrounding her.

"Well, that was definitely a birthday I won't forget anytime soon," Eva chuckled, digging in her jacket pocket to ensure she hadn't lost their valet ticket.

"Right?" Gia crowed, looping her arm through Eva's affectionately. "I told you parties with me were definitely epic. Even if cocky Mr. Hayes didn't see the vision."

Noah pulled his keys from his pocket with a good-natured eye roll. "Well in his defense, I doubt many people anticipate impromptu champagne showers." He said with a chuckle. Keys jangled as he added, "But the night was certainly...unforgettable."

Eva shook her head incredulously recalling the arrogance of that man.

Soon they were piled into Noah's worn but reliable Land Rover. Backing slowly out of the cramped lot, he cranked the wheel towards the exit when the engine let out an unhappy grind.

Eva and Gia shared a worried look as Noah tried restarting. Her heart ached a bit, having teased him before about the car.

After so much trial, the engine finally roared to life, and Noah pulled out of the tight parking spot. They started slowly driving down the jam-packed street, on the lookout for a new space to temporarily park. After twenty minutes with no luck and Noah's forehead beading with sweat, Eva leaned forward sympathetically from the cramped backseat.

"Maybe if we just drive a bit further out from the busy club area?" she suggested hopefully.

Noah nodded, focused intently on scanning for spots. Just then Eva spotted brake lights ahead as a car pulled away from the curb.

Eva leaned forward sympathetically from the cramped back as Noah craned his neck left and right. Maybe if they just drove further...

Suddenly she spotted movement up ahead.

"Wait, someone's pulling out!" She exclaimed eagerly.

Sure enough, a sleek black sedan that had been parked a few cars ahead had its reverse lights on. The car slowly backed out of its tight spot along the crowded street.

"Oh thank goodness," Noah breathed, inching his car forward. Just as the sedan cleared the space, the loud roar of a motorcycle engine shattered their anticipation. Before anyone could react, a rider on a chrome bike shot backward into the space, blocking them.

"Hey! We were clearly waiting, man," Eva protested angrily. But without even a glance backward, the cyclist revved his engine and zoomed into the space.

Gia smacked Noah's arm wildly. "Did that jerk just swipe your spot??"

Fury mounting as Bike Guy casually climbed off and removed his sleek helmet, Eva threw open her door.

"Be right back. Who does the hell does he think he is? We clearly waited there first!" She said as she tossed over her shoulder, ignoring her friends' protests.

Storming down the sidewalk, she planted herself stiffly between the man and the road. Hands propped challengingly on her hips, she cleared her throat as he looked up. And up...Wow was this dude tall.

"Ahem, sorry to interrupt your very important night but you just stole a spot we patiently waited for first," she informed him pointedly.

Slowly removing his gloves,Tall and Rude paused then lifted one questioning brow. "Is that right?"

His bored tone made Eva bristle. Clearly she'd interrupted a far more important matter than proper parking protocol here.

"Yes, it is," she snapped. "My friend's car was clearly edging out waiting when you illegally swooped in."

"Hmm. Can't say I recall anything of the sort," the man murmured casually. "I simply pulled into the most available open space as soon as I got here. Anything beyond that is none of my concern."

He gazed indifferently up the street at Noah's rust-flecked vehicle trying to angle out of traffic. "Perhaps waiting mid-lane instead of fully pulling in shows how unsure your driver is from the start?"

She felt her eyes narrowing. Why was he being so dismissive? Was this jerk actually criticizing Noah's driving when he'd just openly stolen a spot??

As he made to brush past without another glance, her temper erupted. Eva stepped defiantly back in his path.

"How about you ditch the arrogance and just admit you deliberately cut us off? You could have simply gone just one street over instead of taking this route and being inconsiderate?"

Those dark eyes swiveled back slowly, skimming over her challenging stance. For a second she thought she felt cool consideration sharpening his features before the indifference returned.

The stranger looked Eva up and down, his expression utterly bored. "I don't have time for this," he said dismissively. "Excuse me."

He brushed past her, striding towards the restaurant entrance. Eva hurried after him, grabbing his arm.

"Hey! Don't you walk away from me," she said angrily. "We were clearly there first. You need to get your bike out of the way."

The man looked down at her hand on his arm with distaste.

"Don't touch me," he said coldly. Eva stepped back but didn't break her glare.

Just then, Noah jogged up. "Everything okay here?" he asked Eva, eyeing the man warily.

"No, it's not," she replied.

Noah turned to the man. "Look, I know parking is crazy around here, but we were clearly waiting for that spot before you took it. Do you think you could move your bike so we can park there?" he asked reasonably.

The man looked at them impatiently.

"Feel free to call the authorities if you insist, but I won't be wasting any more time discussing this."

With that, he turned and strode quickly into the nearby restaurant, the door swinging shut behind him, leaving Eva and Noah stood staring in disbelief.

"Can you believe that guy?" Eva fumed, throwing up her hands.

Noah just shook his head, irritation etched on his face. "What a piece of work," he muttered. "Come on, let's get back in the car."

Just then Gia poked her head out of the Land Rover window. "What's going on? Did you tell that creep off?" she called out.

Eva stomped back to the car. "That arrogant dude completely brushed us off!" she vented, getting into the back seat and slamming the door.

"Ugh, I can't believe this night," Gia groaned.

"First that lame party pooper, now parking spot stealers. These obnoxious men are really out in full force today!"

Noah sighed, putting the car in drive.

"Well, nothing we can do about it now. Let's just get out of here." He says as he pulls the Land Rover away from the curb, the stolen spot disappearing from view as they headed into the night.