Wooing The Ex-Wife
Chapter 16: The Ballroom Meet And Greet - 2

Alex stared at the girl in front of him, she was wearing a rose gold colored gown, her auburn hair fell perfectly on her one shoulder, leaving the creamy skin of her other shoulder exposed. He couldn't believe that he was finally meeting the girl he had dreamt about since he had met her in Paris. It was fate, he knew it. Their eyes met and he was at a loss of words. He was speechless and that had never happened to him, not since he had gotten over his crush on Liza. He saw as she smiled shyly at him, her blush making her glow even more. He was about to say something when her smile dropped from her face and her eyes held a look akin to pain. He was confused. Why would Alice be pained to see him? He thought that she had enjoyed his company at the restaurant. No, it had to be something else.

"Hello, it's nice to meet you," Alex said extending his hand. "Hi" Alice spoke giving him a nod and ignoring his hand. "I can't believe that we are meeting here. I mean what are the odds that we would end up meeting here in an altogether different continent" Alex said still attempting to make a conversation. "I am sorry but it seems like you have mistaken me for someone else. I have never met you before" she said her voice monotonous. "Uh no I am sure that we have met before" he insisted. From the way she had looked at him before he had been sure that she had recognized him, then why was she acting as if she didn't know him?

"Hey Liz, I think I need to go to the washroom. I will be back in a minute." Said Alice and dashed to the washroom leaving a confused Liza and Alex in her wake. She couldn't believe that she had finally met him and now that she had met him, she realized that he already belonged to someone else, that someone else being her best friend. She had seen the happy look on Liza's face when she had introduced him. It was difficult for her to process this, out of millions of guys in the world it had to be the one guy she liked. When Alex had hinted about their brief meeting in Paris, she had instinctually denied it. She didn't want to be jealous of Liza and liking Alex felt like she was betraying Liza, so Alice attempted to push the pain of knowing that Alex was already committed to Liza in the back of her mind and mustered up her brightest smile. She was happy that she had met and she believed that she would be able to get over Alex quickly, wouldn't she?

Alex stood there confused. "Is she always like this?" Alex asked Liza. Liza frowned and said "No. usually she is chirpy and outgoing. Always the first one to make friends with new people but why are you so much interested in her? Weren't you hoping to replace that girl you met in Paris? "Liza questioned. "She is the girl I met in Paris" Alex replied. "What!!!!" Liza exclaimed. "So the girl you have been so smitten with was Alice" Liza asked. "Yeah and now I don't know why she is avoiding me" Alex replied sadly. "Just wait, I will help you get through t Alice. Oh My God!! You guys would be so cute together!!" Liza all but squealed. "Shh... Calm down, Liz!! If you haven't noticed she doesn't like me like that." Alex said shushing her. "Pff, details. She will surely like you. Don't worry. I saw how she looked at you when I introduced you guys. I could see her eyes sparkling" Liza replied her face lit like that of a child on Christmas. "I hope that you are right Liz because I think that I have already fallen for her," Alex said with a small smile. Barely a minute later Alice returned, with a smile as bright as the sun itself and all the traces of previous sadness gone. "Alex, why don't you give Alice some company while I go and meet the host of the part?" Liza all but ordered. And winking once at Jonathan, Liza left to replace the host before any of them could say a word. Suddenly keeping her smile in place seemed too difficult for Alice. She had believed that it would be easier to get over Alex since he was with her best friend but as she looked into his eyes she realized that maybe it will be the most difficult thing she might have to do. "So you don't remember me?" Alex asked her "Sorry but I really don't" Alice replied trying not to let sadness leak into her voice as she lied through her teeth. She most definitely remembered him, she remembered his laugh, his smile, his scent, she remembered everything about him, she had dreamt about him ever since their fateful meeting but now as she stood in front of the man she had dreamt so many times about, she was pretending not to know him. Alex's face turned sad before he said with the same smile which had pulled her in "oh Well, this time I will make sure you that you never forget me."