Is this destiny?

Emma\'s eyes were locked on Charlie\'s while he fed her variety of bite-sized snacks and she thought that the each next one is sweeter than the previous. The way he licked his fingers after every bite which went into her mouth made her blush, because she remembered last Saturday and the way how he held her close while his flavor cast a spell on her… and she realized that whatever Charlie is feeding her, tastes like him.

Emma watched Charlie keep the plate on the side and wipe his hand in a wet towel which a statue-like server held for him.

"Can I interest you in a dance?", he extended his arm toward her, palm up.

\'Dance… right…\', Emma realized that they are at the party. Surrounded with people. She placed his hand in his.

He held her while they moved slowly at the beat of soft music and the world around them faded again.

Charlie had eyes only for Emma. And he used super-human will not to pull her closer and kiss her until they merge into one. The way she looked at him made his brain go numb and his right hand was already on her back… his fingers moved slightly over her soft skin… ready to pull her onto him and never let go.

"Let me know when you want to leave." He was hoping that she will say \'now\' because he craves for privacy. Just the two of them. But then… maybe it\'s better to stay at the party… he is not confident that he has enough willpower to keep his hands to himself when no one else is watching.

"Leave?", she asked. "Don\'t you need to talk to Dylan?"

Charlie frowned slightly. Emma can see that his mood dropped.

"You don\'t want to talk to him.", Emma observed.

Charlie smiled bitterly. "Am I that obvious?"

Emma tilted her head slightly and smiled in response.

"Dylan Davis.", Charlie said and paused before explaining: "I know him for many years, and we went to the same college. For some reason known only to him, he has a need to compete with me. In everything. I don\'t know what he wants but whatever it is, talking to him will not be pleasant. It never was."

Emma was surprised that Charlie said so much. They talk about many things, but Charlie never spoke about people who surround him. This was a first.

Emma\'s eyes lit up at the thought that Charlie trusts her to tell her so much. It made her feel important.

"Davis?", Emma asked. "Is he the host?"

"His parents are.", Charlie confirmed.

Emma remembered what Jarred said, how Dylan is trying to meet with Charlie for more than a week. "You can\'t avoid him. He is persistent. Why don\'t you talk to him and get over with it?"

Charlie exhaled. "I will. Later. Now I\'m dancing with the girl from my dreams."

Emma\'s heart fluttered and she was sure that her smile can\'t extend beyond what it already is. Charlie\'s gaze was too intense, and she lowered hers out of fear that she will forget herself and start kissing him. She noticed his legs.

"Let me know if your legs start aching, and we can sit. As much as you are feeling OK, you should not overdo it."

"Always taking care of me…" Charlie pulled her closer without thinking.

"This… is too close.", Emma said while nervously glancing around.

"Sorry." He relaxed his arm, allowing her to inch away. "I don\'t want to make you uncomfortable. Let me know what distance is OK."

"I don\'t mind the distance. It\'s about all the people staring.", Emma admitted.

Again, he wanted that privacy more than anything else. She said that she does not mind sticking to him, and the only thing preventing their bodies from touching are other people present! "You care about their opinion too much."

Emma can\'t deny that his words are true. But she does not care because of herself. If it\'s not for Charlie, she would stay home and ignore that these people exist. But she can\'t do that, they are part of his life in a way… and she wants to be part of his life as well. That is why she is here.

"I care only because it involves you. I don\'t want to give them a reason to look down on you or to think that you have a weakness."

"You see yourself as my weakness? Emma, I feel alive because of you…"

"Let\'s not talk about it now.", she interrupted him. "We are at the party… How about we get something to drink?"

…

While Emma and Charlie danced, many eyes were directed toward them.

People discussed in whispers the fact that Charles Smith, the young heir of Smithsonite corp. is walking again. When he ended up in the wheelchair after his accident (that was the official version), many thought that someone else will inherit Jarred\'s position. There were many speculations, who will be the next heir out of Charlie\'s several cousins who are all of age from mid-twenties to early-thirties and with good education. But now that Charlie is walking again, they see that Jarred didn\'t officially change his heir with a reason. It seems that Charlie\'s injuries were not so bad how the reports said.

Other people discussed the beautiful unknown woman by Charlie\'s side. Charlie was never distant from females. During parties and other social gatherings he always had ladies by his side. He is young and charming and with a bright future, it is normal that young women are attracted to a man like him. But all women by his side had a well-known background… and who is this woman? No one knows.

Three young women are standing together and holding champagne glasses while their eyes are not leaving Charlie and his mystery date on the dance floor. They are young misses from families: Lenihan, Thompson, Sparks. All three of them were frequenting Charlie\'s villa while he was there (before Emma moved out) and earlier, they had the honor to be his dates for some of the events.

For in-home visits, Miss Lenihan and Miss Sparks would come on Monday and Thursday afternoons respectively, while Miss Thompson would have lunch with Charlie on Sundays. They would try to get few more visits a week, but those few slots were guaranteed because they had an agreement not to intrude on each other\'s time with Charlie. However, last few weeks none of them had a chance to meet with him, and they all got as a reason that he is not at home.

Their fathers told them that Charlie started coming to office only this week, so what about previous few? Is it possible that he was not available because of this young woman who is dancing with him?

Three of them speculated, but they could not come to any conclusion.

They all met with Emma in Charlie\'s villa at least once, but they treated her as a house staff member at that time, so… Emma was invisible.

"Enjoying the party?", Miss Davis asked when she joined the sour trio.

Chelsea Davis the younger sister of Dylan Davis. She used to visit Charlie on Sunday mornings, at 10:30 AM.

"Chelsea, who is that woman with Charles?", Miss Thompson asked instead of answering the question. "As a host you should know, right?"

Chelsea narrowed her eyes at the couple who is dancing. She just joined the party and didn\'t have a chance to see Charlie, yet. Chelsea came down with a hope to snatch him for tonight, like several other women present. She scrutinized Emma while thinking how Emma is… familiar, but she could not remember from where.

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