Public Chaos

Lila had survived Ethan’s penthouse. She had survived the kitchen disasters, the chaotic cookie fiasco, and even the terrifying orchids. She was beginning to feel… invincible.

That confidence evaporated the second they stepped onto the red carpet for a charity gala.

“Remember,” Ethan said, adjusting her hand in his, “just follow my lead. Smile. Walk. Don’t trip. Don’t… spill anything.”

Lila’s eyes widened. “Don’t… spill anything? But what if something spills itself? That’s… totally out of my control!”

Ethan’s lips twitched. “Right. Sure. Keep telling yourself that.”

The moment they entered, flashing cameras went wild. Lila’s heart raced, her palms sweaty. She tried to hold Ethan’s hand like a professional, but in the process, she knocked over a decorative champagne tower.

“Oh nooooo!” she shrieked, flailing. The glasses wobbled precariously. Ethan’s expression froze but with lightning reflexes, he grabbed her just as the top glass teetered over.

The flashbulbs popped, capturing every embarrassing millisecond.

“Ma’am,” Ethan said, holding her tightly, “we are not part of the display.”

“I… I’m sorry! I swear, I didn’t mean to—”

“You’ve said that before,” he muttered dryly, though his eyes betrayed amusement.

A paparazzo snapped a photo. “Billionaire Ethan Drake saved by adorable woman!” the headline would read, no doubt.

Lila peeked up at him, cheeks pink. “Do… do you think people will like me?”

Ethan looked down at her, caught between exasperation and admiration. “They won’t know whether to laugh or be impressed. But… I like you.”

That confession almost made her trip again.

The rest of the evening was a chaotic blur. Lila tried small talk with high-society ladies and gentlemen, but she kept accidentally insulting them or mispronouncing names. At one point, she called an heiress’s diamond “sparkly but a little aggressive.” The heiress blinked, stunned, while Ethan subtly hid his amusement behind his hand.

Then came the hors d’oeuvres. Lila, trying to discreetly eat a canapé, ended up launching a tiny piece of smoked salmon onto a senator’s suit. She gasped, mortified. “Oh my gosh! I am so sorry!”

“You are… remarkable,” Ethan whispered, tugging her away from the scandalized politician.

Finally, the gala’s charity auction began. Ethan had planned to bid on a rare painting, but Lila, trying to be helpful, raised her paddle at the same time. The crowd gasped as “Lila Drake” was suddenly listed as the top bidder.

“Lila! What are you doing?!” Ethan hissed.

“I… I thought we were helping! Did I do something wrong?”

“You helped… financially ruin me,” he muttered, but there was no anger in his voice only a mixture of disbelief and amusement.

By the end of the night, Lila was exhausted, embarrassed, and convinced she had single-handedly caused at least three minor scandals.

Yet when Ethan held her hand as they exited, she realized something: despite the chaos, the humiliation, and the flashing cameras, she felt… alive. And strangely proud.

“You’re insane,” Ethan said, glancing at her with a rare smile.

“And you… love it,” she teased, nudging him.

He groaned dramatically. “Don’t push your luck.”

But his eyes lingered on her longer than necessary, and Lila caught the faintest glimmer of affection beneath his billionaire composure. For the first time, she realized that no matter how chaotic or messy life got, somehow, with Ethan by her side, it could also be thrilling, exciting… and a little bit magical.

And as they drove home, Lila couldn’t help thinking: maybe tripping into a billionaire wasn’t just dangerous it might be the start of her best story yet.

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