Is this destiny?

Dylan observed Emma's face for some time and then broke into a smile. "How rude of me, to ask a lady's name without introducing myself first. My name is Dylan Davis, and you are…?"

"Davis? Host of the party?", Emma asked.

He smiled brightly, happy that she recognized his last name. Now she knows that he is the host, so she should be friendlier toward him. Or so he thought.

"Yes. And you are…?", he persisted.

"I am here with Charlie.", Emma responded.

Dylan frowned slightly. "Is there a reason why you are not telling me your name?"

Emma was entertained seeing how quickly he is losing his patience. "Is there a reason why you want to know my name?"

Dylan shrugged. "You are a beautiful young lady. At my party. It's not too much to ask for a name, isn't it?"

"No, it's not.", Emma responded and thought how she should not cause problems for Charlie. This man has a conflict with Charlie, and she does not want to add to it. How much harm can a name do?

"My name is Emma."

Dylan broke into a smile again. She told him her name, but that does not mean much. He needs to know her last name so that he can find out about her background.

Dylan inched toward Emma. "Emma, what?"

"Emma, none of your business. That's what.", Charlie's unfriendly voice came from the side.

Charlie wondered why those two women persisted talking to him even though he clearly said: "Sorry, but I need to join my date." But then he saw Dylan in his chair, and he abandoned the drinks and rushed back to Emma's side.

Charlie understood that those two women distracted him with a purpose to provide more time for Dylan with Emma.

"I'm sorry I took so long.", Charlie told Emma in a soft voice while ignoring Dylan's glare. "How about a walk outside?"

Emma nodded and stood up. She understood that Charlie wants them to get away from Dylan. The hostility between the two of them is obvious.

"Why are you so unfriendly?", Dylan asked Charlie. "I only wanted to find out who the pretty lady is."

"Her name is Emma and she is with me. And out of those two, you need to remember that she is with me.", Charlie responded curtly.

"I want to talk to you, Charlie.", Dylan said while looking at the Charlie's departing back.

"Later.", Charlie didn't turn around when responding.

…

Charlie and Emma walked to the outside terrace which is facing the garden. The paths of the garden are lit up with dim lights and focus lights are pointing at the centerpieces of the manicured landscape. It looks like something that came out of a fairytale. Emma took a deep breath and sweet scent of flowers filled her nostrils.

She knows that it's the scent of flowers from the garden, but somehow… it smells like Charlie. Everything tonight is like Charlie. He took over all her senses.

"I shouldn't have left you by yourself.", Charlie said.

"It's OK. Don't worry about that. I am a grownup and I know how to take care of myself.", Emma responded. She can see that Charlie is troubled and decided to say more. "Dylan only wanted to know who I am. And I would not drink what he gave me."

Charlie's lips curved into a smile.

…

Inside…

Miss Thompson and Miss Davis are mocking Miss Sparks and Miss Lenihan because of their failure to delay Charlie.

"You can't even interest him in a casual chat which is longer than ten seconds?", Miss Thompson teased.

Miss Sparks lifted her nose angrily. "What ten seconds? The moment he saw Dylan next to that redhead, he left everything without bothering to excuse himself…"

"Talk about the mystery redhead... Did anyone find out who she is?", Miss Lenihan frowned.

"She said her name is Emma.", Dylan said when he approached the four women.

"Emma?", Miss Davis (aka Chelsea) pondered. "Why does that sound so familiar? I've met her… I'm sure of that."

"I never saw her at any party.", Miss Thompson chimed in.

"She is not from our circle… So, it's not at our outings… or parties…", Chelsea thought at loud and was quiet for few seconds when her eyes lit up. "Charles' villa!"

"You met her there?", Miss Sparks asked.

"You are going there at least once a week. You didn't meet her? She is Emma, the nurse who stayed with Charles after his surgery.", Chelsea said victoriously. She was happy that she remembered, and also that she found out how Emma is of low standing. She is not a threat at all. Just a lowly nurse. Other than being pretty, she has nothing else going for her.

"A nurse?", Miss Thompson pursed her lips while thinking. "I remember Charles talking about his nurse Emma, but I don't remember meeting with her."

Miss Sparks and Miss Lenihan nodded in agreement. They don't remember meeting Emma either.

"But I am confident that is her.", Chelsea said.

"A nurse dares to come here and show off with Charles?", Miss Thompson sneered.

Miss Sparks shook her head in disbelief. "When I saw her with Mrs. White, I thought that she is someone important, but now… just a nurse."

"Didn't Mrs. White operate on Charles' legs?", Miss Thompson asked while giving a knowing glance.

"Right!", Miss Sparks confirmed. "I'm sure that is how this nurse got to know Mrs. White."

"Hmph… and I thought that she is an heiress with all that glamorous appearance. I admit... I was fooled by her gown.", Miss Lenihan added.

"Her outfit?", Chelsea narrowed her eyes. "I'm confident that Charles bought her that. A nurse can't afford such a quality, and I can tell that her gown is custom made…"

Four ladies were badmouthing Emma and Dylan listened for some time before walking away. Other than Emma being a nurse, everything else was a useless gossip.

…

Outside…

A sudden evening breeze made Emma shiver, and Charlie started removing his suit jacket.

"Don't.", she stopped him. "You will spoil your outfit."

Charlie smiled and pulled her into his embrace.

"I will keep you warm like this." His husky voice combined with his proximity made her tremble. But she was not feeling cold. Quite the opposite, her insides were burning.

Charlie's jacket was unbuttoned, so her arms ended up under it and after a second of hesitation, she wrapped them around him.

Few minutes later...

"Let's go back inside…", Emma said with a small voice.

It's not that she didn't want to stay in his embrace, but she thought how even though there are other people on the terrace, this atmosphere is more intimate than inside, and she caught herself thinking about the kiss again.

"Let me know when you want us to leave.", Charlie said as if he can read her mind while putting his arm around her shoulders.

Emma wanted to leave right now, but she remembered that he should talk with Dylan and maybe few other people.

---

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