Sang-Ook's P.O.V.

“It seems like fresh meat has made its way here.”

“Who do you think she is?”

“I am not sure but I'm interested.”

“Do you see who her eyes are? They are on Sang-ook Bin.”

“Meaning?”

“That she's not interested in you but him. The moment he lays eyes on anyone, no one else would have a chance with them.”

“Not interested? She's not interested until she says so.” 

The people were right. She is not interested in anyone until she says so. I made my way off the balcony and towards the walnut brown, average-height, curvy woman with radiant emerald green eyes favored by long eyelashes, plump plum-tinted lips with medium length bobbed purple hair parted to the side dressed in the eye-catching white ballgown. 

I walked down the stairs and brushed past the crowd of people coming up. The moment I got to the bottom floor she was gone. I stood in surprise. Where did she go?

Charley's P.O.V.

I stared at the handsome, tall, average-height, deep chocolate-colored man with deep brown eyes, short locs, and dressed in a black suit. “Brayden, that's you right?” I asked in astonishment. The man turned away from his phone and looked at me. His moodless face lightened up. 

“Charley?” I nodded my head. He chuckled. “I haven't seen you since high school. Where the hell have you been?”

“College then work. What about you?” I asked.

“College, then running my father's company. So, what do you do? Are you a fashion designer or something similar? I recall you designing all of these astonishing clothes. Even your everyday clothes. Not to mention my suit for prom,” I chuckled.

“Yeah well, actually I-” 

“Charley!” I looked in the direction of the voice to see an average-height and shape woman with sepia-skinned, long wavy brunette hair, hazel eyes, and dressed in a long blue ball gown. I gave the woman a look of confusion. 

Who is she? 

“It's me, Lara Parker.” My entire face brightened up.

“Lara!” She ran and hugged me. Lara and I were best friends in elementary and middle school. I moved away once we got to high school, but to know that she is here makes me feel so much better. Before then, I just felt like I had Brayden, which was okay, but knowing that I had two people I know here makes me feel so much better.

“How are you? Where have you been? Tell me everything?” I said.

“Well, I have been fine. I came here to take a small break from everyone at home.”

“Oh, it must be tough?” I am glad I am not the only one who needs a break from work.

“Yeah, the maids follow me everywhere. It totally sucks.”

The Garden, Two Hours Later

Everyone seems as though they have gone on a different path than I did. Brayden is a CEO and Lara is a CO-CEO with her husband in a business they started up and were successful. The funny part is that I use that exact facial moisturizer every morning from their brand. Not to mention my best friend Janie. She is a popular architect, but what am I? 

A senior data analyst at this point. One who didn't take heed to Janie's words to invest in my craft while in college. One who, despite drawing in large sales to the company, hardly gets any recognition for her accomplishments. At this point, should I just run away and start a new life? I know it's technically illegal. Plus, my family would miss me but I have a large load on my plate at this point. I started at my feet.

I'm selfish

To run away from my problems without talking to anyone else about it. I would be no more than selfish. 

From the left, the sound of shoes clicking against the pavement caught my ear. I looked in its direction to see, coming into my view, the man from earlier. Sang-ook Bin, The very businessman who had been standing on the balcony. Son of the CEO of New Bin Corp. He's been on TV a few times, modeled magazines when he was in his twenties, even had his own drama last year in the media. Everyone knew who he had been.

His now-confirmed purple eyes landed on me. He walked in my direction and sat on the bench beside mine.  I could smell his body and citrus cologne flooded my nose and tried its way to enter my mind. I slightly breathed through my nose to push the scent away. As nice as it would be to try to gain a relationship with a socialite, I feel dismal. No conversation would be great to make while having such a glum aura. 

“You know, they say that flowers can tell you a lot about a person. People may be drawn to jasmine flowers if they would like to rest and improve their emotions. A person attracted to sunflowers can either be happy and bubbly or attracted to the light they give. Then there are those who sit next to both colorful lilies and hydrangeas.” He said.

“And what does that mean?” I asked.

“You tell me.” He said.

“You're more of an expert in this than I am,” I said, looking at the slightly cloudy sky.

“They say that those people want to feel happy again. From the lily's light and warm scent to the fruity scent of a hydrangea, not to mention their beautiful colors, they are thought to bring happiness back to those who feel at their lowest.”

“And you feel that I am not happy?”

“Since running into your friends downstairs, you seem to have kept a frown on your face.” I looked at him.

“Were you watching me that long?”

“I have been watching you since you got here.”

I stood up. “Look, if you are going to tell me that I stuck out like a sore thumb in there, I know that already.” I started to leave down the path I came here on.

“You do, but in a good way,” Sang-ook called out. I stopped.

What does this man want?

“In all honesty, had you not been here, I would have left.” He finished.

“You originally came here for business reasons, huh?” I asked. Who hasn't? Besides, for amusement, why would someone who did not want to come come here?

“Being around spoiled brats is a mood killer. I should have left early on but yes you are right, it was business- and marriage.” I walked back into his view.

“Marriage?” I questioned.

“My father wants me to get married. The thing is that no one interests me.”

“You came here to make it seem as though you are trying to throw him off?” I asked. He nodded. “Why not hire someone to be your pretend fiance?” He laughed. I arched my brow. “What?”

“The funny thing is that I did that before. It worked for a few months until her boyfriend proposed. She dropped me seconds later.”

“Damn”

“Yeah, but it was fine. Since then, I realized that I only wanted to present someone I love to my father.”

“That hasn't happened yet?”

“It has.” Shock came to my face. Rich people's drama seems more interesting than I thought. Especially with a man who comes from a family like his.

“It has? Then why not present them to your father?”

“She doesn't know I love her and if I were to tell her now she would think I'm weird.”

From our conversation 

today she may think

that already

But then again, if she is still around  him, she may find interest in him already. “Confess to her. Think about it. It's better to tell her you have feelings for her now instead of waiting any longer. The worst she can do is say no. If she does deny you, it gives you a chance to move on and take the opportunity to find someone else who does like you.”

“Are you sure?” He asked. I nodded.

“I am. This is coming from someone who was rejected by men five times in her life.”

“Really?” He asked in surprise. I nodded.

“Really?” He nodded and stood up. His eyes gleamed almost amorously as a charming smile crossed his face.

“From the moment I laid eyes on you my heart has been taken by your being.” I froze.

Wait?! WHAT?!?

“My heart only wants to love, to cherish, to hold. I no longer think I can live life and forget your existence.”

“Wait, what exactly are you saying?” I asked.

“What I am saying is that you have fallen deeply in love with you at first sight.”