Chapter 2 Going Sparks and Connections

In the busy halls of the City General Hospital, the sharp pings of Jessica's phone reverberated. As she scrubbed in for her next shift, she stole a glance at the screen and smiled. Alice had sent her a meme intended to lift her spirits - something about the struggles of adulthood. Her friends, though her rock, were also a reminder of just how different her life seemed next to Michael's glamorous world. With that, she sighed and locked away her phone, thinking of the billionaire who still haunted her dreams with those icy blue eyes.

He sat in the penthouse, alone and surrounded by the void of wealth. It was stylish and contemporary, a hallmark of his success, but lacking character or personal touch. His brother Jack had sped away hours ago, and Michael was left to ponder his havoc of a life. The recent JV and Jessica encounter hung over his head like a dark cloud, causing feelings he very rarely went through. Sure, he could charm some whoever with his coin, but Jessica's blue collar genuineness intrigued him like nobody else.

Their joint charity event was approaching, needing both creativity and teamwork. Day by day, yet they turned the tension into plain connection which resulted in stealing gorgeous looks at each other in the looking meetings. Jessica's blunt comments about his flamboyant ways made him chuckle, and he was mesmerized by her passion for the medical charity they were setting up together.

"You know, we could really make a difference in this city if we keep this up," Jessica mused as they examined the latest logistics in the hospital's conference room. It was cold and clinical, a far cry from the glitzy ballrooms Michael often went to.

"Change?" he leaned back in his chair and raised an eye brow, "What do you suggest? A celebrity bake-off?"

Jessica sighed, her eyes rolling in a way that Michael had always found charming. "No, not bake-offs. Real change. We can specify programs for service-desert communities. As one would say: "Access to healthcare shouldn't be a privilege, it should be a right."

For the first time, Michael realized the depth of her vision. But the familiar tension crept back, his world's weight looking in like an unwelcome ghost. "I understand that, but sometimes people just want to see the glam and glitter. It's... easier. You know?"

As the event continued to approach they did not only plan and collaborate. Each encounter peeled off the layers of Michael's meticulously burnished exterior, exposing an insecurity that few ever saw. And Jessica was surprised by how vulnerable he let himself get in those moments. They talked about everything from their childhood dreams to their family struggles, a bond developing despite the glaring contrasts in their lives.

But somewhere underneath mutual attraction was a rising queasiness. Michael could tell Jessica wasn't into his flashy lifestyle - a life she often led by herself - while Jessica felt out of place with someone whose livelihood was intertwined with celebrity and riches.

The spark for the night had been lit over half-eaten bread crumbs and half-empty coffee cups in boxes strewn with pages of their late-night brainstorm. They erupted into a fit of laughter over an inside joke, the air electric between them. They were warmed by the café, the opposite of the grand palaces that filled Michael's world.

She laughed, and before he had time to stop himself, Michael leaned over and let his fingers graze her hand. That simple connection sparked a current in both of them. But there was something holding them back - a fear written on their faces, a fear of what their worlds actually meant.

"Jessica," he said, interrupting the quietness after they had grazed fingers. "Why are you really interested in all of this? It's just another project for you?"

It was as though silence was the whole world as her attention strayed the window where city lights sparkled Cinderellas close to the sky. "No, it's not just a project. I want to make a difference. I want to help people. I'm part of the world. I need people to understand that real connection is possible when you don't have money and aren't popular."

With her words affecting the air between them, Michael saw just how much they differed-but the pull they had toward one another was undeniable. This knowledge only tightened their connection, yet the ghosts of their childhoods returned to point out that the future could contain difficulty for neither

her was fully prepared for.