One Night with the Billionaire

#4 Encounter

"Get up, girl!" Rosie screamed at the top of her voice.

Evelyn scrunched as she woke up, seeing the time. How could she forget to put the alarm clock? She was supposed to graduate today, and she can't be late! Rosie has promised to make her meet with someone who can help her with a job. Now it is not a favor from Rosie, honestly. Evelyn has topped her class and managed to retain her full scholarship every year. She has a pretty perfect fashion sense despite her financial issues.

Evelyn looked at her roommate of three years, Rosie. She was thankful that Rosie was her roommate. Evelyn has already faced the burns of having a wealthy friend. So she tried to stay calm, invisible, and hostile for an entire semester until she started trusting her. The night before her first project submission, she fell sick and had difficulty doing anything. Rosie cared for her and even helped her finish the look despite her project. Rosie was even into interior design and not clothes. That day she finally loosened herself, and she was happy she did that.

"Are your drafts ready?" Lydia groaned as she dressed up.

"Yes. And thank you again." Evelyn tittered. She was happy. Rosie's friend's brother and his best friend were opening a new clothing line, and they were hiring some fresh graduates to work under more recognized designers. Rosie managed to set up a small interview after the graduation ceremony. She wanted that job. Her parents have struggled a lot, and now it was her time to help them. And also secure her future.

And just like that, the graduation ceremony followed by the photo session was over. Everyone was busy celebrating and planning for an after-party while Evelyn rushed to get ready for her interview. She needed that job. The best thing was the job was back in Philadelphia. She wished Rosie too joined her. But Rosie was an interior designer, unlike her, and she was going to join her mother's firm. She was going to stay back in New York.

Rosie chauffeured her to the location of the meeting. A handsome man was waiting for her with a pretty big smile with one of the most beautiful girls. Even though Evelyn got cold vibes from her, she knew better not to get demoralized because of it.

"Hello, I am Evelyn, Rosie's friend." Evelyn introduced herself politely.

"Sam Miller, and with me, I have my sister Daniella." He said with a warm smile while the lady was not even paying attention to her. Evelyn did not let that affect her. She has seen all those kinds of behaviors a lot and knew how not to let them trouble her.

"I hope you brought the drafts. That will decide your future. We are very particular about whom we place. But Rosie wore that breathtaking dress at Lydia's birthday party, and I bet that dress is still in everyone's mind. She said you were the designer. So I am curious." Sam spoke highly of her previous work. She had made that dress for her last assignment and then gifted Rosie. It was one of her most beautiful creations.

Evelyn flashed a small smile and handed over her designs. Sam was busy looking at her drafts while she could see the tension washing over Daniella's face. She was looking for someone.

"Sam, I am going to check on him. He was supposed to be here with us." Daniella spoke and left without waiting for Sam's answer.

"Don't mind her. She is looking for her fiancee. It is also him for whom you would be working. He was supposed to be here with me." Sam explained to Evelyn, even if it was unnecessary. Evelyn was a bit disappointed she won't be working for Sam only. He seemed like a fine gentleman with a big heart. She hoped her other boss was half nice as Sam.

"You are selected. That is too good to reject." Sam politely explained to her the job details and expectations before leaving her. She felt relieved the moment he left. She was feeling ecstatic.

The day was so good so far for Evelyn. The meeting with Sam was great. She graduated. And she got a job in Philadelphia. She was humming and giggling while lost in her dreams.

She wasn't even paying attention while walking and bumped into a tall figure with an expensive suit. The man was carrying some coffee, and it spilled all over their dresses. For a flash of a second, it reminded her of the day she was running away from Nate.

She looked up, apologizing for her mistake. The man seemed to be pissed as he was muttering something under his breath. It was entirely her fault. She should not get lost in her dreams and paid more attention while walking.

"I am extremely sorry. I didn't mean to..." Evelyn paused as she finally saw the face of the man she bumped into while daydreaming and walking. It was him. After all these years, why him? She swallowed a chunk of saliva that she was not aware of when it formed. She looked petrified. It was as if she saw a ghost.

The only thing she could think or do at that time was to run. And she did exactly that. She ran like her dear life depended on it.

"Wait! Please, wait." The man chased behind him. Why was he chasing behind her? Again, what was his name? Evelyn could feel the tension building up inside her. He popped in front of her out-of-blue, and now she could not even remember his name. But she will never forget that charming face. It was too good to slip it off. And also, she was sore for days after that night. He was the stranger.

The more Liam chased behind her, the more she ran frantically. She was worried if he remembered her. Why would he remember a nobody?

Liam had not seen the face of that woman. She ran away, leaving her file. Why was she running away from him? Why was she so scared that she even forgot her belonging? He could not fathom any reason. But he felt the need to return them and was chasing her desperately. But the girl hopped in a car and left. She didn't even turn for a split second.

It reminded him of Evelyn. She had run away just like that when they first bumped into each other all those years ago. It was the same, the coffee, the girl with the most beautiful chocolate brown hair.

He could not help but think, what if it was Evelyn, and she ran away because she recognized him? Did he lose his chance to find her finally? He has searched her everywhere in Philadelphia. Her old friends did not know about her whereabouts. She vanished like a ghost. Was he searching for her in the wrong city all these years? Was she still back in New York? He cursed. He could feel his body getting tensed. It remembered Evelyn's sweet smell and her cheerful smile. She was the perfect woman.

Elsewhere, inside the car, Evelyn profuse and panted. She ran like a crazy woman, and now she was exhausted.

"What happened back there? What happened to that dress?" Rosie was shooting too many questions for her comfort! What did Rosie want from her? She still needed some time to recover from that. Why did he bump into Liam? Yes, his name. Liam. Evelyn could not help but blush. She still has no memory of that night, but she knows what happened.

"Eve, you are freaking me out. Where is your file?" Rosie parked the car at the side of the road as she interrogated Evelyn.

But that's when Evelyn freaked out. She has left her file containing her drafts! How could she leave it there? She needed them, or else she will have to work a lot again. Some of them were there on her laptop, but there were a few she did draw with her hands. Guess! She will merely go back later and check at the front desk later.

"I must have left it in the hotel," Evelyn whispered.

"Are you nut? Let's go back and get it." Rosie almost started the car to drive back when Evelyn stopped her.

"No, I will get it before leaving for the airport. Let's have the treat that I owe you." Evelyn jeered. Rosie jumped in that little place and hugged her. So all this excitement was because she got the job? Rosie knew Evelyn would get it. Everyone's eyes had popped out the day she had walked in Lydia's party wearing that gorgeous dress. Wilsons were not mad to let go of such an asset!

Rosie nodded her head as they drove off to their favorite restaurant for one last time as roommates. All these years it was mostly Rosie who paid the bills. But Evelyn has been saving for this day. She owed this to her dear friend.

-

"What are you looking at?" Sam asked Liam as he entered the room.

"Some designs. I have to tell you I am finding this girl and hiring her. She is so good. I bet better than the one you met today." Liam smirked. Of course, he needed to find this file's owner. There was a high chance it was Evelyn's. He felt as if it was Cinderella's missing shoe and Cinderella has been hiding from prince charming.

"Let me have a look. I doubt it. She is gifted." Sam snatched the file from Liam's hand, earning him a groan. But he ignored it anyway.

"From where did you get this?" Sam gushed.

"It is better. Accept it." Liam tittered.

"It is the same one, Liam. It's the same girl." Sam rolled his eyes as he dropped the file on the table and sat on a chair.

Liam jumped from his place with excitement. He could not hide his amusement with that news. So he doesn't need to roam around to find her? She was going to walk to him. It was a pleasant thing that he was late for the meeting. What if she had run away without even meeting them?

"Sam, you are not telling this girl about me. Lydia, you or Daniella, whoever you seem fit, deal with her." Liam ran his hand over his hair several times as he paced across the room.

"You are behaving weird. For a second, I thought you are happy more than you should, but now you look nervous. And the Liam I know, don't do nervous." Sam c****d his eyes, seeing his restlessness.

"Yes, I liked her work. But she spilled coffee over me and ran away without apologizing. So I am wondering how to deal with that later. Till I figure it out, I don't want you to mention my name as well." Liam looked dead into his eyes and made his point. Sam found it odd, but Liam had a forte for doing them. He rolled his eyes but agreed to it.

As soon as Sam left the room, Liam did not feel the need to hide his emotions. He opened the small box he carried almost everywhere he went. It contained the note, ten dollars, and her bra. One could say it was a fetish action. But it was all that stayed of her, and he kept them close to his heart.

He picked up her bra and breathed in. Her scent was long gone, but it was enough to remind Liam of that beautiful night that he will never forget. His heart skipped a beat, thinking it was time he will see her again!