The Girl in the Hoodie is Mine

Jason’s POV:

It’s official—the universe hates me. The waiter who spilled drinks all over me was now down on his knees, stammering out apologies while the press snapped away, their cameras practically firing like machine guns. I could already see the headlines for tomorrow: "Jason King Drowning in Champagne!" or "The King’s Royal Mess-Up." Just great. Great. Just what I needed.

"Forgive me, sir," the waiter pleaded, looking panicked. "I’m truly sorry; I lost my balance."

Lost his balance? This guy just made me the centerpiece of tomorrow’s humiliating tabloids with ridiculous captions. My first instinct was to fire him on the spot, but then I’d blow my cover, making this whole situation a thousand times worse. Before I could let my frustration slip, though, Ella stepped in. She bent down, lifting the guy off his knees and reassuring him, saying it was okay and that it was just an accident, no need to beat himself up.

I blinked, taken aback. Shouldn’t I be doing that? Somehow, Ella managed to show the kind of decency that felt so foreign to me—probably because, as a King, my upbringing didn’t exactly include a crash course in "humility." Seeing her handle the situation with such grace reminded me of that day at the diner. Guess I still have some lessons to learn about, you know, basic human decency. Maybe I have horrible manners, but can you blame me? I was raised by the Kings, after all.

Not wanting to look like an even bigger jerk than I already did, I joined in, assuring the waiter that it was no big deal and he shouldn’t worry. Taking a deep breath to avoid further humiliation, I joined Ella, managing to muster a forgiving smile. "Yeah, no big deal, really. Accidents happen."

I Then, making my escape, I pulled out my phone and called my assistant, instructing her to bring me a fresh suit. The last thing I needed was to look like a soaked champagne bottle all night. Trying to shake off the embarrassment, I couldn’t help but glance over at Ella, who was now cheerfully chatting with the waiter. Maybe the Universe wasn’t against me after all—at least not completely.

Within minutes, my assistant was by my side, holding a pristine, tailored suit—one even more expensive than the champagne-soaked one I was currently dripping in. Good. He knew exactly what was needed to salvage my image, almost as if he had some sixth sense for it.

As he handed me the suit, he leaned in with a sly smile. "You know, sir, the way you handled that situation... You’ve not only boosted your reputation but the company’s as well. People are already talking."

I raised an eyebrow, buttoning up the crisp jacket. So, the universe decided to cut me a little slack, huh? I glanced over at the crowd, where whispers were already buzzing, people exchanging glances, curious and hungry for the next big reveal. Every eye in the room flickered toward me, anticipation building.

"Fine," I said, a smirk playing on my lips. "Let’s give them what they want. Tell the master of ceremony to make the announcement—I’m ready to reveal myself as CEO."

My assistant nodded, disappearing into the crowd. Moments later, the room dimmed, and a hush fell over the crowd. The master of ceremony stepped up to the mic, voice carrying with a commanding authority. "Ladies and gentlemen, tonight, we have a special unveiling. Some of you may have wondered about the enigmatic figure who’s been quietly steering the helm of LBJ Enterprises. Well, wonder no more. It is my pleasure to introduce...the CEO himself, Mr. Jason King!"

A spotlight hit me, illuminating every angle, every facet of my sharp suit, and I felt the collective gasp ripple through the room. Cameras flashed like lightning, capturing every inch of my reappearance, now pristine and immaculate as if the champagne fiasco had been nothing more than an illusion.

I locked eyes with Ella across the room. Her expression was unreadable, but one thing was certain she was definitely not expecting it. Tonight was no longer about salvaging my reputation; it was about sealing it.

Ella’s POV:

I had seen it all—the stupid girl had tripped the waitress, and it was painfully clear the splash wasn’t meant for Jason. Too bad he wasn’t quick enough to dodge it. Watching the chaos unfold, I felt a surge of frustration. Come on, Jason, I thought. Don’t be such a brat.

I could tell Jason was about to blow a gasket. He was bratty and had a knack for making impulsive decisions when he was angry, and I knew he would fire the guy without a second thought. It wasn’t fair—this poor man didn’t deserve to lose his job over an accident.

"Hey," I said, to the waiter. "Don’t worry about it. It was just an accident." I shot Jason a look, silently urging him to calm down. "Really, it’s okay. Accidents happen to the best of us."

I knew I had to do something to help the waiter. After all, us waiters have to stick together. The poor guy was already on his knees, profusely apologizing. I quickly stepped in, reassuring him again, "It’s alright. Accidents happen all the time. You don’t need to worry about it."

The waiter nodded, still trembling, and I could see the relief wash over his face as I tried to reassure him. "You didn’t mean to spill anything. It’s not your fault." I could see Jason’s irritation simmering just beneath the surface, but I was determined to help this guy. He didn’t need to pay for someone else’s carelessness.

To my relief, Jason didn’t make a scene about it. He managed to keep his cool, which was surprisingly mature for him. He joined me in trying to calm the waiter, his expression softening just a bit. I could see he was trying not to escalate things, which made me grateful.

As he excused himself to deal with his drenched clothes, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride. Maybe he wasn’t as insufferable as I’d thought. Still, I felt a tug of anxiety for the waiter. I hoped this wouldn’t affect his job. Jason may have been able to brush it off, but I wasn’t so sure about the consequences for the man who had just made a mistake.

I decided to stick around and offer some support. After all, it wasn’t just a splash of champagne; it was about looking out for each other in this chaotic world.

As I stood there, assuring the waiter that he should stop worrying because the king didn’t mind, I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself. Okay, so that was a lie. After the way Jason had reacted to me at the diner, I wasn’t so sure he could let this incident slide without some sort of dramatic flair.

Just as I was about to offer the waiter some more comforting words, the MC grabbed the microphone and announced he had a special reveal. My heart raced with curiosity. "Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to present the CEO of LBJ Company, the man behind the magic!"

To my utter astonishment, he called out, "Jason King!"

I felt my jaw drop. Wait, what? I shot a glance back at Jason, who was now trying to play it cool despite the visible smugness on his face. The crowd erupted in applause, and suddenly, all eyes were on him. The waiter looked at me in disbelief, as if to say, Is that really the same guy?

"Wow," I whispered, half in admiration and half in shock. Here was this guy who had just been doused in champagne, and now he was about to step into the spotlight as the CEO of a major company. It was like a scene straight out of a movie—one minute he was just a guy trying to keep his head above water, and the next he was the king of the castle.

I couldn’t help but smile. Maybe there was more to him than I’d initially thought. This should be interesting, I mused, my heart racing with anticipation.

As the applause echoed around the room, it suddenly hit me that Jason wasn’t just some guy splashed with champagne not to forget the school arrogant jerk; he was the CEO of LBJ Company. My mind raced to the implications of this revelation. He wasn’t one of the competitors who had to impress the board with their projects; he was the man everyone else was vying to impress.

No wonder he had that air of confidence! The way he carried himself, the charm he exuded—it all made sense now. I glanced at the waiter, who seemed equally stunned. "I guess we’re not in the presence of just any royal," I murmured, half-amused, half-incredulous.

Jason stepped up to the microphone, his demeanor shifting from casual to authoritative in an instant. "Thank you, everyone," he began, his voice steady and commanding. "I appreciate the warm welcome." The crowd cheered again, and I could see the glimmer of ambition in his eyes. This was his domain, and he was in control.

As he continued to speak about the future of LBJ Company, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of admiration and curiosity. When had he built it, and how did he manage to keep it all so well hidden?

I leaned closer to the waiter, whispering, "So, is this what you expected?" He shook his head, still trying to wrap his mind around the fact that the guy he had just doused in champagne was now addressing the crowd as their esteemed leader.

Jason’s words flowed with conviction, and I found myself captivated. I’d seen earlier a royal brat but now the commanding CEO speaking about growth, innovation, and vision. It was like watching a transformation happen before my eyes.

As the crowd hung on his every word, I realized that the dynamics between us were shifting too. I was witnessing the unveiling of the man behind the title, and I couldn’t wait to see how this night would unfold.