FALLING FOR FOREVER

Chapter 1: The Encounter

The glitzy ballroom was packed with Hollywood's elite. Olivia Hart could feel the weight of a thousand eyes, even if none were directly on her. She leaned against the marble railing of the outdoor terrace, letting the cool breeze soothe her nerves. Inside, the sounds of laughter, clinking glasses, and upbeat music created a world that felt light years away from the one she'd grown up in.

"I swear, if one more person tells me I'm the next big thing, I might lose it," Olivia mumbled, glancing at her phone. Lily, her assistant and younger sister, had sent a text that read: "Don't freak out. Just breathe. You're already amazing".

Olivia smiled to herself. "Breathe," she muttered, as if it were that simple. She had only recently risen to fame with a breakout role, and already she felt like she was being pulled in a dozen directions, each more overwhelming than the last.

From inside the ballroom, Lily's voice echoed through the terrace doors. "Olivia! You're not hiding out here, are you? You're supposed to be mingling!".

Olivia sighed, slipping her phone into her purse. Lily, ever the professional, treated Olivia's career like a personal mission, making sure her older sister didn't skip a beat. "I'm not hiding," Olivia called back. "Just getting some air."

"You don't need air," Lily said as she stepped onto the terrace, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "You need to be seen."

Before Olivia could reply, Lily nudged her playfully. "Seriously, Liv. It's your night. Your career is on fire. You've got the talent and the looks to be a household name."

"Thanks, but it's a lot to take in. Sometimes I feel like I'm pretending to be someone else," Olivia admitted, tugging nervously at her silver gown.

Lily gave her a sympathetic look.

"You're not pretending. You deserve this. Just... give it a chance."

Olivia knew Lily was right. Taking a deep breath, she nodded. "Okay, okay. I'll go back inside."

Just as they turned to head back into the ballroom, the terrace doors opened again. This time, the figure who stepped through was tall, dressed in an impeccably tailored black suit, and oozed an air of quiet authority. Olivia didn't need an introduction to know who he was. Ethan Cole.

His presence alone was enough to silence the ambient noise from inside. Everyone knew Ethan. He was the billionaire CEO who owned half of Silicon Valley. Olivia had heard rumors about him, whispered at parties and award shows. Charming, mysterious, and ruthlessly successful.

Lily gave her a wide-eyed look and whispered, "That's Ethan Cole. Don't freak out."

Olivia's pulse quickened, though she couldn't explain why. He was just another wealthy figure in a sea of powerful men. Yet something about the way he carried himself-calm, in control, yet somehow distant-caught her attention.

Ethan scanned the terrace and, as if drawn by some invisible force, his eyes landed on Olivia. Their gazes locked for a second too long before a slight smile curved his lips. He walked toward them, his movements deliberate, like he had all the time in the world.

Lily straightened, ready to do her job.

"Mr. Cole, it's a pleasure to meet you," she chirped.

Ethan's eyes flickered briefly to Lily, but his attention remained fixed on Olivia.

"The pleasure's mine," he said smoothly, his voice low and velvety. "Olivia Hart, right?"

Olivia was momentarily taken aback. How did he know her? Wasn't he too wrapped up in his billionaire empire to care about actresses?

She quickly composed herself. "Yes, that's right. And you're Ethan Cole."

He raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Good memory."

Lily, ever the professional, leaned in. "Olivia, I'll leave you to it. Looks like you're in good hands." With a knowing wink, she disappeared back inside, leaving Olivia alone with Ethan.

There was a moment of silence, and then Olivia, trying to regain her footing, said, "So, what brings you to a place like this? I didn't think parties like these were your scene."

Ethan chuckled. "They're not. But it's good for business, so I make an appearance. And you?"

"I'm still figuring out if this is my scene or not," Olivia admitted.

"Sometimes it feels like a dream, other times like I'm on a different planet."

He nodded, leaning against the railing next to her, their arms almost brushing. "I get that. Everyone here is wearing a mask, pretending to be something they're not."

Olivia was surprised at the honesty in his voice. It wasn't what she expected from someone like him.

"And you? Are you wearing a mask too?"