"Look at this. My friend has two splendid women with him while I am here alone," said Kaji, joking while getting up from his seat.

The parlor had a lovely table adorned with drinks and snacks in the middle of the room. The table stood before a giant window exposing a terrace overlooking the vineyard.

He looked at Maria, who was so beautiful standing there. "We meet again! Miss. Mary," she was baffled. Mary? Who's Mary? Director K was disgusted. "Maria, my secretary," Kaji looked at him, giggling, then he looked at the other woman. "You are also beautiful, Miss. " He stopped in one instant; Helena was smiling brightly at him. "Director Kaji, it is a pleasure to meet you again," said her, letting the other throw baffled. 

"Helena, you're splendid this evening," he said, grounding himself in his sweet. He would never have thought she would go there with director K; it was a surprise.

"Please have a sit," said he, returning to his original place at the left of the table. Maria thought he was a stunning man, but putting Director K near him, you could see that even that stunning man would appear less.

Director K had everything—power, beauty, and an outstanding figure—but she was remarkable because of who she was.

Maria sat near Kilee and Helena, leaving Kaji alone at the other part of the table. He was a bit bitter seeing "K" with two splendid women by his side.

The music downstairs was loud enough to be heard even in their parlor, not because the isolation was terrible but because the balcony door was open. 

Kaji and Kilee were discussing between them, but Kaji's curious eyes were on Maria; he noticed that she was looking proudly at Director K while Helena was glancing at him.

"Girls, after dinner, how about you go have fun?" said Kaji, smiling. He was right; that was a great party that only some could attend.

"That's great," said Helena, looking at Maria, who nodded excitedly. Kilee smiled brightly at the two girls, who looked at him for approval. "Alright, you can go," she said, sighing.

Kaji looked at them, envious of their relationship. In fact, he did not have someone to call a true friend; his status and family always made decisions for him. Director K was different. He had no status and no influential family. He grew up alone and reached the top. He was free to live his life as he wanted, thought Kaji. He met him at university, and from that moment on, he always had his eyes on him. He admired him and envied his determination.

---

Portia, an Ioan, was socializing with other influential people in the party hall while looking for Director Kaji.

"Sir, it's a pleasure seeing you again." She was a sweet talker; men usually scored her for her beauty. She was a single hot manager in B-corp marketing and an excellent catch to get information about that company.

Ioan was talking with other influential people when he got to the window and looked outside, staring at that vineyard with nostalgia. His parents had a small vineyard in the countryside, and he had grown up on a farm, but that was something no one else knew, only Maria.

He stood there for a bit, looking at the beautiful moon illuminating everything, then noticed that beautiful balcony on the upper floor. There was an attractive woman in a red dress; she gave off a refined, lovely vibe.

With her was another woman in a black sparkle dress and two men; it was hard to see who they were exactly, but the woman in red had a strong presence.

"What are you looking at?" asked Portia, who got near him at that moment.

"Up there is someone," she looked up to see who it was. They're VIP," she said, indicating that balcony. Over there, only super influential people can go." She wanted to achieve that place, so she was trying to get into Director's Grace.

Ioan stared at that woman in red with dreamy eyes. He couldn't even see her face or know who that person was, but she made his heart flutter.

---

Helena stayed inside with Kaji while Maria went outside, followed by Kilee. The breeze was cold, but it was so beautiful out there.

"Director K does really care about his secretaries," said Kaji, looking at them outside. Helena looked at them with her eyes in a heart shape. Her ship was just fabulous, like fairytales. 

"Are you lonely?" Helena asked, looking at him while watching Maria and Kilee outside getting along.

"Why are you even here?" asked Kaji. He knew Helena worked in that company but did not know that she knew the Director.

"I'm Maria's friend, why?" she asked. She had a point; Maria was friendly with her, as he noticed.

Helena turned back toward him after taking pictures of her ship. "What was the invitation for?" she asked, letting him without words.

He stayed silent for a moment. "I wronged that man," he seemed really regretful. She knew exactly what he was referring to. There was a big problem back in university, and that was when the two of them got on bad terms, but Kaji wanted just to have him as his friend.

"Shall we go out, too?" Helena asked, taking him out to get some air and interact more. She did not hate him; she knew that he, like her, had a life where they couldn't do anything they wanted because their families would not give them the chance.

"Wow, this place is awesome!" exclaimed Helena once outside. The view was splendid. It was not new for her, as she often went with her parents while they tried to set her up with different suitors. But this evening was different. She was there because she wanted to.

Maria smiled brightly. She truly loved that place, and with her was Kilee. The breeze was waving her hair slowly. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Maria, and her ears were reddish. She found herself looking at Maria's lips, wanting to taste them.