Episode 1: The Encounter

The grand ballroom of the Hale family estate shimmered with golden chandeliers and polished marble floors. It was an exclusive charity gala, filled with high society’s elite—business moguls, celebrities, and politicians. Dressed in an expensive black suit, Sebastian “Seb” Hale moved through the crowd with ease, offering charming smiles and brief nods to familiar faces.

On the other side of the room, Adrian Cole carefully balanced a tray of champagne flutes. Unlike the guests, he wasn’t here to enjoy the luxury—he was working. With his part-time catering job, he had spent the last three hours serving drinks and weaving through self-important socialites who barely acknowledged his presence.

Just as Adrian turned to serve another guest, someone stepped back abruptly. Before he could react, a full glass of red wine tipped over, spilling directly onto the pristine white shirt beneath Sebastian’s suit jacket.

Gasps rippled through the nearby guests. Adrian froze, eyes wide as he took in the deep stain spreading across Sebastian’s chest.

For a long moment, Sebastian simply stared at him. The usual reaction would be outrage—a sharp demand for the server’s dismissal, a show of anger to remind everyone of his status. But instead, he found himself speechless.

Then Adrian, regaining his composure, let out a breath. “Huh,” he muttered. “Guess even the rich aren’t immune to gravity.”

A stunned silence followed. Someone nearby stifled a laugh. Sebastian narrowed his eyes.

“Do you have any idea who I am?” he asked, his voice calm but firm.

Adrian tilted his head, pretending to think. “A guy who can afford dry cleaning?”

Sebastian’s lips twitched as if he wanted to smile but wouldn’t allow himself. No one ever spoke to him like that. Usually, people either feared him or tried to impress him.

But this guy? He looked unimpressed, almost amused.

Before Sebastian could say anything else, the catering manager rushed over, pale and apologetic. “Mr. Hale, I deeply apologize for this. Adrian, what were you thinking?”

Adrian rolled his eyes but kept his mouth shut. He wasn’t about to beg for forgiveness.

Sebastian glanced at Adrian, then back at the frantic manager. “Relax. It’s just a shirt,” he said coolly. “No need to fire anyone over spilled wine.”

The manager nodded frantically. “Of course, of course! Adrian, get back to work.”

As Adrian turned to leave, Sebastian called after him. “What’s your name?”

Adrian hesitated before answering, “Adrian.”

Sebastian nodded slowly, watching him disappear into the crowd.

The rest of the night passed in a blur, but Sebastian couldn’t shake the memory of Adrian’s sharp gaze and the way he hadn’t backed down.

Across the city, Adrian returned home exhausted. He flopped onto his bed, recounting the night to his best friend, Riley Bennett, over the phone.

“So let me get this straight,” Riley said between laughs. “You basically told one of the richest guys in the country to get over himself?”

Adrian smirked. “Pretty much.”

Riley hummed. “You think he’ll let it go?”

Adrian rolled onto his side, staring at the ceiling. “People like him forget guys like me in seconds.”

But Adrian was wrong.

Because at that very moment, Sebastian Hale was lying in his own massive bed, staring at the ceiling, thinking about the bold server who hadn’t treated him like a king.

And for the first time in years, someone had genuinely caught his interest.

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