The entrance in front of the Royal Club was lit with bright lights. Red carpet, solemn music, many journalists who were greeting guests with photo and video cameras. John Barton, a respected Secretary of Defence, was hosting a large celebration devoted to his beloved son's birthday. This party could be compared to a major cultural event, like a Grammy or an Oscar.

The black limousine pulled up in front of the main entrance. A mature man with oriental facial features got out of the car and gave his hand to a young girl who appeared next.

"Mr. Lee! It's Mr. Lee with his daughter!"

"Mr. Lee, did you persuade your daughter to attend the celebration?"

"Elena, what do you think about today's event? They say you are in a close relationship with Jason Barton. Do you only have friendly feelings or can we count on something more?"

Shouts of journalists and flashes of cameras for a moment made the girl confused.

"No comments," Chen Lee cast a cold glance at a nearby journalist. The man put his hand on his daughter's waist, pulled her to him, and whispered in her ear, "Don't listen or look at them. Let's go."

Elena nodded and followed her father to the entrance to the hotel, where they were already met by the organizer of the magnificent party.

"Oh, my friend Chen! Long time no see!" John Barton threw out his arms in a gleeful greeting to his old friend. "And don't change at all. A stern dragon that does not allow any knight to approach his princess," the man grinned and hugged Chen Lee tightly.

"Don't compare greedy hyenas with noble knights, John," Mr. Lee laughed in response. The nickname "dragon" stuck with him for a long time, which the man did not care at all. "Moreover, Elena herself can distinguish one from the other."

"I don't even doubt it," Barton nodded his head and winked at the girl, "Elena, how about becoming my daughter? Jason, of course, is far from the image of a knight, but I can take up his education."

"Thank you, Mr. Barton," Elena smiled politely, "Your son is a wonderful friend. I really appreciate him."

"Oh, it looks like my dream is not destined to come true," the man sighed, a deliberate doom was heard in his voice.

Elena knew that John Barton liked to show himself as a friendly and open conversationalist, but the Defence Secretary's eyes were always tenacious and noticed even the smallest details.

"By the way, would you like to participate in an experiment? The Pentagon has started a new development, your skills might come in handy. Everything is strictly confidential," he suggested to Elena.

"No," snapped Mr. Lee.

"Chen, your daughter is old enough to handle these issues on her own."

"Mr. Barton, thanks for the interesting offer, but I prefer a calm and quiet life. So I have to refuse," Elena bowed, trying to sound as polite as possible.

"Well, so be it," John Barton smiled, returning the dialogue to its former course, "I wish you a pleasant evening. Jason and Corey are already inside, waiting for you."

Elena glanced at her father. He nodded, hinting that she could go. The two were definitely going to discuss something that her ears were not supposed to hear. It was a common tradition in such circles. It is not surprising that the organizer of the event personally came out to meet them.

"Then I will leave you. Congratulations on your son's birthday, Mr. Barton."

"Thank you, Elena," the man said.

"See you in the hall, dear," Mr. Lee added with a caring smile. He watched his daughter go until she disappeared behind the tall glass doors, and then turned to John Barton. There was not even a shadow of the recent warmth on Chen's face.

.

The hall was full of guests. Actors, musicians and other celebrities, famous politicians with their young offsprings, businessmen with their girlfriends... Such events were an ideal place for those who wanted to show off their new acquisitions, be it a new yacht or a new fancy lady.

John Barton, due to his high position, had many connections that would play into the hands of any ambitious person. That is why everyone was trying so desperately to get to the celebration of the birthday of his adored son.

The girl entered the hall. Dark brown hair fell in curls below the shoulders, reaching the middle of the shoulder blades. A light peach-colored cocktail dress refreshed the girl's light and flawless skin and seemed to make her even more delicate. Emphasizing her youthful, but already very attractive curves, this peach color awakened the desire to touch its owner in order to breathe in the scent of this flower.

Several men who stood nearby froze in a daze. Elena, not paying attention to this, calmly walked past them and began to look for her best friend with her eyes.

'Elena...'

The girl froze, seized with strange sensations. Goosebumps ran down her skin as if someone's gaze was touching her like strings of cobwebs, sticking to the wings of a butterfly and slowly capturing her.

"Elena! Well, finally you showed up! I really thought you decided not to come!" Corey's shout brought Elena out of a mild trance. A bright blonde in a blue dress gracefully flew up to her friend and hugged her, "What happened? Why did you stop in the middle of the hall?"

"I… It seemed to me that someone was calling me," the girl answered in confusion. She could not explain the sensation, but she was sure that she heard someone's voice... in her head.

"Who do we have here? Is it really Elena Lee herself? Even if tomorrow is the end of the world, I will die happy!" a contented guy appeared behind Corey, showing off a stunning Hollywood smile.

He gave Elena an appraising glance and whistled loudly, "Just look at her! This is a beauty! Now that's what I'm calling a real gift! Come to me, darling, the arms of tonight's number one guy are waiting for you! Move over, baby," he pushed Corey aside, grabbed Elena by the waist and lifted her up.

"Jason Barton, what are you doing?! People are watching!" the girl hissed through her teeth, outwardly showing the most joyful smile. It would be too much to give a public slap on the birthday boy's face, although she really wanted to.

Jason laughed, lifted Elena to her feet, and hugged her tightly, "El, save me! Daddy decided to set me up with the daughter of some general," he whispered in the girl's ear, "Look at three o'clock on the right."

Elena looked over Jason's shoulder. A small group of girls stood a few meters away. One of them, with bright red hair, threw the same fiery glances in their direction and pursed her lips in displeasure.

The guy pleaded with his friend with a plaintive look. Elena sighed, playfully patted her eyelashes, and kissed him on the cheek, savoring the kiss slowly. "You will owe me a big one. The paparazzi are already getting to the bottom of the status of our relationship," she whispered back.

"Baby, you are the best," Jason broke into a breathtaking smile as if a real Santa Claus had given him a present.

"Have you finished your show yet?" the blonde's displeased face wedged in between the two.

"Tsk, you're not my friend at all, you didn't even kiss me," the guy grumbled at Corey, but his face was shining with sincere joy.

Elena smiled when she saw the two. This couple often argued among themselves, but in case of any problems, they stood up for each other with all their might.

"Why didn't you use Corey? She would play the role of a loving girlfriend very well," she asked.

Jason chuckled, "She has another amorous quirk."

"I am in love! Guys, it's really love at the first sight! This time everything is serious!" objected the blonde.

The guy rolled his eyes. Corey has had so many of these "love at first sight", starting from unfamiliar boys and English princes in her childhood, to famous football players and bus drivers, that he stopped taking such manifestations seriously.

"Jason, where is he?" Corey asked and fixed her blue eyes at the guy.

"Who?" he blinked back.

Corey grabbed Elena and Jason by the arms, pulled them to her and, as if for the sake of conspiracy, repeated in a whisper, "Don't you dare to who me here! Who can I ask about? Rick, Rick Stein!"

"Who?" Elena asked now. This was the name she had heard for the first time.

Corey exhaled resignedly. What silly friends she has, one always has to explain everything!

"Rick Stein is the brightest star in the sky of hot and free guys! The genius of marketing and advertising. In three years, he rose from the position of a simple manager to the CEO of the Berne Group, an American-German company, which is now actively developing in our market," the girl said with an important air as if she was the personal representative of this very Stein. "By the way, last week they signed a major contract with your father's company."

"Hmm, I've never heard of that," Elena shrugged.

"How can you hear it! All you are doing is sitting in the library and working in your professor's office. It makes my heart squeeze, seeing how such beauty is leading the life of a bookworm!"

"Oh, I guess you don't need my help with the history report? I'll take care of your fragile heart," Elena held out with a feigned resentment in her voice and looked away.

Corey blinked a couple of times, digesting her friend's remark. "I need it! I really need it! You are my favorite and most beautiful bookworm, little Elenita."

"I also want help with the report. I didn't even start it," Jason cut into the conversation.

"Find us Rick Stein, then we'll discuss it," snapped the blonde.

The guy shook his head. It was not worth the effort to argue with this lady. Let her get to know this Stein guy. Anyway, a new love will overtake her in a week.

He looked around, considering the many guests. The girls, catching his eye, began to smile sweetly, but Jason did not notice their attempts to flirt. For many years there has been room in his heart for only two girls, and one of them was in the very center of it.

"There he is," Barton nodded towards the group of guys standing in the far corner of the hall.

Corey immediately stretched out her neck, peeking out from behind the broad back of her friend, "Ahh, this is him! Him! Elena, look, look!" the blonde squeezed Elena's hand and almost screamed with joy,

"Here he is, my number one in the list of potential husbands! Appearance, charisma, achievements. This guy has it all! In life, he is even cooler than in the photo! To achieve so much at the age of 27! Tell me, is he cool or what?!"

Elena hadn't seen Corey so excited in a long time. Apparently, this guy was really worth her attention. She directed her gaze to follow Corey's and froze.

The feeling of an invisible cobweb touched her skin, like a strong cocoon that tightly captured her. Her heart skipped a beat. It seemed, for a moment, the noisy hall was filled with deathly silence.

A man stood in front, across the room. The man she never expected to meet.

It was him. The man from her dream.