"Corey, don't you think that when a man is half hour late it is an absolute height of bad manners?"

"Sorry, El. I understand everything, but Rick said that he had very urgent business and he would try to fix everything up as soon as possible. Let's wait, shall we? You know how much I like him. And besides, we wouldn't get inside without him."

Corey made a guilty face, and with a look of a sad puppy, she clung to her friend.

"Okay, okay," Elena smiled and hugged her friend back. "Waiting is not such a problem. Especially when it is still warm outside. The only thing that pisses me off a bit is these men who keep staring at us. But do not worry. You know, I'm definitely not going to let anyone hurt you."

"Of course I know! Now that's my Elena! With your skills, I would give up anything just to look at an idiot that would risk talking you back. He-he."

"Wow, look who's here! Girls, don't you think that you actually came to the wrong door?"

The friends turned to the sound of a familiar voice and saw Melinda and her two minions.

"Huh, Matthews, it's you. Wanted something? If not just keep on going," Corey replied in her manner.

"Hey, Williams, aren't you taking a lot of yourself? There is no Academy here and no one will cover your back. Moreover, it does not seem that you are going to get in. What, your dates decided to ditch you, even before coming here? Poor little things, they didn't even care much to give you invitations."

"Melinda, why do you care so much about our dates? You yourself came here with your standard 'crew'. I hope you didn't forget YOUR invitations?"

Melinda was ready to cling to Corey's hair, seeing how she acted boldly on the public.

"My partner should already expect me inside. And he certainly doesn't compare with yours, I don't know who you found there."

Cory raised one eyebrow and looked skeptically at the girl, "I wonder who that person who can be so cool is. Somehow I doubt it."

"Ha, this is Rick Stein! Heard about him?" Melinda immediately realized that she blurted out the first thing that came to mind. But there was nowhere to retreat, especially since she definitely wanted this man to lure into her nest.

Corey and Elena looked at each other in bewilderment when they heard the familiar name. Then, as if understanding each other's thoughts, they smiled.

"Nope, that name doesn't ring any bells. Is he that cool?" Corey asked, displaying an honest interest.

"You bet! You have no idea what a cool guy he is. Such a high flier will not even look at you, you worms!" Melinda answered triumphantly, plunging into her lies even more. "Well, it's time for us to go inside. As for you girls, you just wait here, get some fresh air." The girl and her friends turned and headed towards the club entrance.

There were security officers at the entrance, and it was only possible to get inside with two ways. Either through the VIP corridor by special invitation, and through a public queue showing a standard invitation to the security guard. Melinda and her 'crew' approached the security personnel and showed their invitations. The guard looked at them and said, "Sorry, Miss, but your invitation cards are of standard type. You have to stand in the general queue. This is the entrance for VIPs."

"There has to be a mistake! Sir, are you sure about this?"

"Of course, Miss. I am absolutely sure about this. If you do not want to create problems, please go back and stand in the general queue."

Melinda looked utterly displeased. She took the invitation from the hands of the guard, and the girls returned to the end of the public queue, just near the spot where Elena and Corey were standing.

At this moment a black Maybach drove up to the club. Everyone at the entrance stared at the car, eagerly waiting for who would get out of it. The door of the car opened, and a tall man appeared from there.

He was wearing a snow-white shirt and a light blue vest and trousers. Golden hair and blue eyes attracted everyone's attention to the beauty of his face. The crowd began to whisper. The rumble grew with each step as the man approached the entrance to the club.

"Isn't that Rick Stein by any chance?"

"Yes exactly! It's him! I saw his photo in a magazine recently."

"In reality, this peace of hunk is even more attractive! We stood so much time in this queue for a good reason. Now knowing that he will also be here, I am ready to stand here at least until the morning!"

Melinda listened to the conversations of the girls in the crowd and realized that this chance had to be used immediately. She stepped forward and stopped right in front of Rick. The man looked at the girl in bewilderment and was ready to take a step to the side, but she did not give up.

"Good evening, Mr. Stein! My name is Melinda Matthews. My father from Global Engineering met you in Berlin. If you agree, I will be glad to join you tonight. I'm sure we will find something to discuss." Melinda smiled slyly and looked at Rick in the eyes.

The man was looking for someone in the crowd and when he saw Corey waving to him, he smiled at her, and then looked at Melinda. "Miss, I am very happy. But my date is waiting for me for a long time. Here is my secretary's business card. For all business matters, contact him. Have a nice evening."

Rick walked past Melinda and headed towards Corey and Elena.

"My dear Corey, please forgive me for waiting for me for so long. I am at your disposal for the whole evening!" Rick kissed Corey on the cheek, then smiled at Elena.

"Elena, good evening! Good to see you again!"

"Good evening, Mr. Stein. Likewise."

"Well, what's with this official tone? We are friends now. Just call me Rick."

"All right, Rick. As you say," Elena smiled back.

"By the way, Rick, do you know this girl?" Corey asked and pointed to Melinda.

"No, dear, I see her for the first time in my life. All right, let's go inside. David should already be there."

Melinda was standing with her mouth open all this time and did not believe that this was happening in reality. The man who these girls were waiting for was Rick Stein himself!

Rick led the girls to the VIP entrance. The guard, seeing him, kindly greeted him and let them all in, without even checking the invitation cards. The whole company went to the club together.