Fated Encounter

Chapter 5: Reignited

-8 Years Later-

Ella

I smirked at my reflection, adjusting the black mask over my eyes and the cat ear headband I wore.

Halloween.

Even though I tried to not think about him, the season always reignited those memories. I tried not to think about the fact that the man had dropped off the face of the earth eight years ago, never to be seen again after so easily charming the pants off me— not that I had minded being without pants with the man I still foolishly called Oberon in my memories.

Oberon, King of the Fairies, my ass.

Still, despite the inevitable irritation brought on by the memories, I grinned as I leaned over and adjusted the hem of the dress, which was far more scandalous than the outfit I'd worn all those years ago at that Halloween party. Back then I'd been a rather prudish 19-year-old baby mesmerized by the hot older lit major at a frat party.

My taste had matured... and grown.

But I still was a sucker for a good Halloween party, even if this one was for our clients, most of whom had been featured in Forbes, rather than a bunch of drunk frat boys majoring in anatomy and physiology.

"You look hot, Ellie. Stop primping. You're gorgeous."

I rolled my eyes at Max's half-teasing, half-serious admonishment. I wouldn't go so far as to say Max and I were friends. Acquaintances? Maybe that was a better word for what the two of us were. Max and I had started at the firm at the same time, though she was too mean-spirited for me to consider her a good friend.

Her brutal honesty was jarring, but those perception skills of her's were usually spot-on. As I took in the woman about my age with reddish-brown hair and a light complexion, I counted myself lucky that we worked for the same law firm. I'd hate to find myself on the receiving end of Maxine's irritability.

It was fitting that she was dressed as a devil tonight.

"Just trying to look half as hot as you, Max."

The woman scrunched her nose in mock distaste over my compliment but reached into her purse and produced an eyeliner pencil then held it out to me.

"Then fix your cat eyes, counselor."

I smirked, removing my mask and taking the pencil and adjusting my eyeliner where it had smudged under the satin fabric.

"Any prospects?" As I spoke, I returned the pencil to her and adjusted the mask over my face once more.

In response, the woman laughed, returning the eyeliner to her purse then turning to face the mirror in front of her where she looked as she fluffed her curled hair.

"What? Like client leads?"

"Dates." I snorted, washing my hands in the sink then drying them on the most luxurious paper towels I'd ever touched. Max was a notorious serial romantic.

"Oh," She pouted to her reflection before turning to me and giving me a smile. "A few prospects, but I'm keeping my options open. There's something... sinful about playing the field at a party like this. Hard to find women at a gig like this, though. Too many white male egos about..."

I chuckled, casting my eyes to her costume then back to her face. "Well, have fun, Max. Be safe."

"You, too." She winked then turned from me, sending me stepping stepping out of the restroom for the opulent hotel our company had booked for this Halloween gathering.

Wealthy people in ridiculously expensive costumes milled about outside the ballroom. I bit back my anxiety and smiled and nodded as I dodged bodies then snatched a champagne flute off the tray of a passing server.