Dacey and I, we work together in 'Palvin Clothing'. She is the Chief fashion designer who has the responsibility of New Arrivals designs in every season along with approving all the other designer's creations. 

She is fabulous at her job. To her, it's a piece of cake because she absolutely adores her job. 

She is 5'7 tall with dark brown eyes and hair, a perfect curvy figure and the epitome of kindness. She is very understanding, non-judgemental, and a sound of reason amongst us. 

I had obtained my master degree in software engineering. Though when I thought of getting a job, Dacey dragged me to the company she had already scored a job in. Now, I was the personal secretary of Liam Palvin, the owner of the Company. 

That man was more secretive and mysterious than James Bond himself. And the biggest thing, he rarely visited his office, maybe too busy in his strategies of decapitating half the population of the world. Or maybe he was planning an important mission where shreks and pokemon will be overtaking the Earth, and give superpowers to some special humans, including me, for the betterment of the universe. 

That's the only reason I could think of why anyone would leave their business to crumble down to grounds.

But that's the main and only reason why I loved this job so much because I never had an ounce of work to do aside from irritating Dacey all day long. The salary was very generous and who doesn't like getting paid for no work? 

However, my happy little lucky days came to a sad ending very soon. The company went bankrupt as expected and was purchased by some 'Madman'. 

He is going to organize a huge fashion show in New York which is apparently the talk of all the news channels and social sites. I wonder how that's such a big deal because our company isn't used to all that fame over a simple fashion show. 

All the employees are to be a part of it, but Dacey and I are on a holiday, courtesy of my years' long practice of 'Liam Palvin' signature. 

After this, all the major rank holding employees have to shift to Maine as the doofus 'Madman' is going to open the main branch over there. 

What an idiot? 

Leaving the perfect ideal 'big apple' New York to open the main branch in the middle of nowhere.

Dacey had already decided to resign because she is going to live an hour away from New York with Walter. She has it all figured out. She is going to open her own clothing business very soon. I am sure it will hit off very well. The girl is pure genius.

I don't want to go to Maine. That place was wild with forests and sparse civilization. I was going to be all alone without my parents, Dacey and Gabriel but I also didn't want to live in New York without my friends, all alone and gloomy. 

I also had to move on and try to show how happy and excited I was about this new 'adventurous' phase of my life. Never mind the probability of a wolf chewing my hand, neck, and bones was too high as the place had more wild animals than normal human beings. 

A shiver went down my spine, and goosebumps rose all over my body with that thought only. 

Sure, I had a black belt in kickboxing but I was not sure how well that worked on wolves and bears.

A sharp pain throbbed at the back of my head and I narrowed my eyes at Gabriel, the monster who was tugging my ponytail to get my attention. 

What an attention seeker!

He was looking at me all knowingly, with that creepy annoying smirk on the corner of his lips. He knew how much the thought of a bear eating me as the most delicious meal terrified me.

Somehow, he was hundred percent sure that I was going to back out at last minute and put my packed bags in his helicopter and make my way to London instead of Maine. 

As if that would ever happen as long as I am alive?

I am going to shatter all these dreams and fantasies of the overconfident brutish asshole. I would never go to London, even the thought was unfathomable and outrageous.

Okkkkhhhh, I admit that I have had teeeeenyyy meeeeenyyy thoughts about going to London instead of those goddamn forests.

But I am sure, these stupid thoughts won't change my decision. Ever.

My mini-me devil smirked and just shook her head at me while rolling her eyes. Okay, I admit my decision was already fluctuating but that doesn't mean I would give up so easily.

I had to fight until the last second and emerge out of this situation victorious.

By now, Dacey had managed to cheer up Aunt Em and she was talking excitedly about all the baked goods that were completely ready to be served to the guests. My mouth salivated at the thought, and I tried to walk out of the room inconspicuously.

After all, everything has to be perfect, and how could we serve the guests without checking the quality of the food first. It was a huge responsibility that I was ready to bear on my shoulders. 

Gabriel tried to call out my name but I just hushed him and signaled him to follow me. We sneaked out of there without being detected. 

I was such an awesome ninja and Gabe, he was an alright sidekick. 

I was on a mission to reach the kitchen as soon as possible, to devour that chocolaty goodness when Gabe's voice reached my ears,

"So, you know that Maine has a very significant population of wolves. Heck, it's one of the least human-populated areas."

Of course, I knew that. I had searched all about Maine weeks ago. And trust me, the place was full of horrors. According to me, it might be haunted as well.

"Oh! That's so cool. Anyways, I am way too awesome to live around normal human beings. I need some wilderness and thrill in my life." 

I replied smugly.

He had been 'subtly' trying to change my decision for weeks. But I, Alacris Valencia, would never fall for his games. You can put it on a damn paper and have my signature on it.

"Well, if you say so. I am going to be very busy for the next few months with a lot of projects. Foremost, I have to build a mansion for this annoying, demanding actor." He said.

"You didn't tell me about this one. Who?" I inquired, trying to remember if he had mentioned anything about it.

"Chris Evans" he said.

I could practically hear the smirk in his voice. Now, a day prior to me shifting to Maine, he had played his final card. 

And damn, I wish I could say, I was prepared for it. I wish I could say, I just shrugged and continued on my way, unaffected by his declaration.

Instead, I halted mid-step, my mouth opened in shock and my eyes widened. 

I turned around and looked at him. He had that smug look in his eyes where he knew he had played his cards right and he had already won this one. I tried to say something, anything to confirm this or to know about every single detail but no words escaped my throat. 

I was just standing there gaping at him like he had painted his whole body pink while running around screaming 'One Direction'.

For the very first time, I was speechless.

He smiled. He fucking smiled. I was pissed. He rarely smiles and that too, in a very rare situation. Means like, once every two years, that was the average of his smile. 

Now he was smiling because he knew, he fucking knew that he had won fair and square in a matter of seconds, with a single stroke. As if his ego needed to be more inflated.

I opened my mouth again to say something but he interrupted, 

"Yes, Aunt Em. I am coming."

He walked away to Aunt Em who was clearly nowhere to be seen and wasn't even asking for him. I didn't even have the mental awareness to comprehend that fact. I was gobsmacked. 

It took me minutes to come out of my state of shock and to finally fathom that I had to pack my bags which I had left for last minute. After all, I have a flight for London early in the morning. Chris Evans was waiting for me.

I was confused. And this was difficult. So fucking difficult. I was surrounded by all those Aunt Em's baked specialties, little bits of heaven decorated with utmost perfection ready to be devoured.

I was deliberating on which one to eat first and my time was running out. Soon, Aunt Em was going to be here and take away all this happiness, far away from me. 

I shuddered thinking about that and just decided to eat all of them. I picked up the choco lava cake ready to take a bite when the sound of someone moaning filled my ears. I narrowed my eyes and going around the counter, looked behind the refrigerator.

There he was, surrounded with double pieces of everything, swallowing them as if he was a starving man!

"Dad! What the heck are you doing?"

I shrieked.

He jumped up and turned around with his hands up in the air like he was a criminal surrendering to cops on his free will. 

He relaxed as soon he saw me, 

" You are not supposed to bere Alek. Don't you have to get ready for the wedding? Hey! Where did you get that one?" He asked while eyeing the cake in my hand with lustful eyes, licking his lips and simultaneously eating his apple pie.

"There is more than enough time to get ready, Dad. What I am asking is what are you doing over here? You do know that we are not supposed to eat before the guests arrive, don't you?"

He looked at me with a guilty expression, his lips forming a pout and said, "I was just checking if the food was good. It's a huge responsibility."

My little-me was looking at me and Dad over and over again with an understanding expression on her face. She just shook her head at me as if to say that it's not my fault.

My phone started ringing and I took it out of pocket glancing at the screen to see my friend from work Ariel calling. I answered the call quickly, "Hello Red hair"

"Thanks, Jesus, you answered the call. I need you to come to hotel Collision as soon as possible---"

I interrupted her in the middle of that sentence, "Are you crazy! It's Dacey's wedding in 2 hours and hotel Collision is at 1-hour distance from here. I can't make it Ariel. Dacey will kill me with her bare hands."

"Please, Alek! It is a very grave situation and I need you here. I can't tell you over the phone but it's about Dacey. I gotta go but please hurry!"

With that, she hung up. She sounded worried and out of breath. I had a bad feeling about this. 

Something told me to go and check the situation. It was what my instinct said. Maybe she was in trouble but she said it was about Dacey. 

She knew it was time for the wedding ceremony yet she still urged me to come. I am sure, whatever it is, it sure is serious. With that thought, I rushed out of the house. I definitely had to hurry, if not to reach Collision but to come back here on time. My father's voice resonated behind me asking what was wrong.

I simply lied that I had to get the cake as the van broke down on the way. I didn't want anyone to worry about the matter even I didn't know anything about. Maybe, it was trivial but a little voice in my head argued, reminding me of urgency in Ariel's voice.

Within 40 minutes, I was parking my car outside the hotel. It was one of the most expensive and large hotels in New York. I gazed at the banners and welcome signs that hung outside near the entry. It was the venue of 'Madman's fashion show'. 

I frowned but hurried inside while glancing at my watch. My phone was ringing non-stop for the last 15 minutes, the caller being Gabe. 

It was just a matter of finding Ariel around here and then I would message Gabe and be on my way to get back to my best friend's big day. One I had a major part to play in being the maid of honor.

I was rushing through the hotel's lobby trying to catch sight of the vibrant red hair of Ariel. I then hurried off to the side of fashion show thinking maybe she was busy over there, handling some last-minute affairs about the fashion show.

The fashion show had already started and media was present all around trying to snap best shots for their articles and magazines. It was a mess and there was no Ariel in this crowd.

I stomped my way backstage thinking how I should make my way back home and how stupid and impulsive it was of me to get here on such an important day. The thought of Dacey's face was actually terrifying to me right now. I had to hurry back.

Suddenly, an electric blue-haired man grabbed my arm and dragged me with impossible physical strength,

"Are you trying to ruin the show! I swear I am going to ruin your whole modeling carrier for reacting in such an irresponsible and aggravating manner. Don't you have a little sense of professionalism? And oh my Gawwwwd! What the heck are you wearing? It is a red-themed fashion show. Who the fuck gave you that peach dress? Not to mention that it's horrible. Where are your heels, woman? Wearing those ratty converses, you wanna commit carrier suicide? And what's wrong with your hair? I am going to die today. He is going to kill me. It's definite. But for now, you go and get up on that stage to make my death easy and quick."

With that, he pushed me on the ramp in front of all the audience without giving me a second's time to grasp the situation in hand, cameras flashing all around me.