New Face

Ignoring the intense gaze, Ellen still felt guilty and responsible for the little incident. Ellen quickly grabbed a napkin from a nearby table and began dabbing at his shirt, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"I'm truly sorry," she said, her voice earnest. "I should have been more careful."

The man let out a soft laugh that seemed to hang in the air between them. "It's okay, no harm done."

Ellen looked up, and at this distance, she could clearly see his face. He was undeniably handsome, with chiseled features that rivaled Mason's.

He took the napkin from her hand gently, his fingers brushing against hers. "I know you didn't do it on purpose," he said, his voice calm and reassuring.

Ellen stepped back, still feeling shy. "I'm really sorry," she repeated, her eyes dropping to the floor.