AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter One
MIA
“You can do it,” I tell myself in the mirror. “You’re the best at what you do!”
The bathroom door swings open, and Sheena from catering walks in, an amused smile spreading across her face as she catches me talking to myself.
“What are you doing, Mia?” she asks lightly, moving to my side by the sink.
“Just giving myself a little pep talk,” I admit, an awkward smile spreading over my face as I feel my cheeks heat up. “Are people eating already?”
“Yup,” she nods. “Voraciously. Those NHL players and their families can really pack it away.”
“Please tell me we won’t run out of food. I really can’t mess up this huge opportunity,” I say, frowning and placing a hand over my chest.
“Don’t worry,” she quickly reassures me, shaking her head. “Those people could eat as much as they wanted, and we’d still have leftovers. But tell me…” Sheena lightly elbows me in the ribs. With kind eyes, she asks, “Why aren’t you out there bossing everyone around?”
I glance at myself in the mirror, seeing uncertainty in my eyes. I let out a heavy sigh. “My ex and his older brother are out there.”
“That’s tough,” Sheena frowns, gently touching my arm. “But can’t you avoid them?”
I sigh again, rolling my eyes. “My ex is Ryan Matthews, CEO of Traveler’s Investment, one of the sponsors of the Iron Huskies this year.”
Sheena’s eyes widen. “And his older brother?” she inquires.
“None other than the Iron Huskies’ star center player Ethan Matthews. He’s a billionaire too. Ryan helped him invest his money. I remember him always talking about that.”
Taking a deep breath, I continue, “Despite his own success, Ryan felt overshadowed by Ethan’s fame, which strained our relationship. When he moved to New York and I stayed in Detroit, that was officially the end of our eight-year relationship. It was amicable in the end, but I’m afraid a bomb will explode if the three of us get together.”
Sheena winces sympathetically. She rubs my shoulder for encouragement before giving me a gentle nudge. “We need to work, Mia,” she announces, full of energy. “I’m going to use the restroom, then head back out there before the waiters turn feral.”
She rushes into a bathroom stall, and I call out, “See you out there!” before giving myself one last look in the mirror. Nodding with determination, I walk out.
The employee bathroom is inside the employee lounge, which is empty right now except for a security guard flirting with one of the waitresses. They disperse as soon as they see me.
I walk over to the entrance of the huge banquet hall we have booked at the stadium and take a deep breath. I give myself a moment to remember how far I’ve come since starting my event planning business after college. I soak it up, allowing myself to feel a sense of pride before taking a deep breath and heading back into the banquet hall.
As I head over to check on the bar, I find myself facing my biggest fear: my ex, Ryan, and his older brother Ethan are there talking to each other.
At least I can get this awkward encounter over with.
We all spot each other at the same time.
Ryan stands tall and slender, his brown hair neatly styled and his eyes carrying a hint of warmth and surprise. He’s dressed in a sharp, tailored suit, exuding the confidence of a successful CEO.
His brother, Ethan Matthews, towers over him with a more muscular build. His dark hair is slightly tousled, giving him a rugged charm, and his piercing blue eyes lock onto mine with an intensity that sends a shiver down my spine. He's dressed in a more casual, yet equally stylish attire that reflects his status as an NHL star.
Ryan and I are both twenty-six, and Ethan is two years older.
“Hello, Mia,” Ryan says, trying to look cheerful.
“Looking pretty today, Mia. I must say, you are looking happier than ever,” Ethan offers with a smug smile, clearly trying to get under Ryan’s skin.
Why did I accept the task of organizing this year’s Iron Huskies Stanley Cup playoff events knowing I’d have to deal with this?
It’s a huge opportunity for my company, but also comes with major challenges.
“Your company got hired to work with us?” Ethan asks, taking a sip from a large energy drink.
