They were getting nearer to San Francisco, having gone down the freeway to 19th Avenue to the Golden Gate Bridge. They made the turn towards downtown with the radio tuned to the local pop station. An Ed Sheeran song played in the background as they turned by the Presidio heading towards the marina.

"So, that's the plan. We get rooms at a hotel nearby, get ready, and go do this reunion." Trish clapped her hands, and rubbed them together. "Fighting!"

In-ho looked at her, raising his eyebrow. "Where did you hear that?"

"They kept saying that as a rallying cry in the K-dramas last night."

He didn't even look her way, but a smile crossed his face. "Say it again."

"Fighting!" She emphasized it with an arm pump and the second syllable with the "T".

"What else did you learn?" There was laughter in his voice when he spoke.

"That I'd love to visit Seoul and walk along the Han River. Maybe even see fireworks there."

In-ho laughed harder. "Korea isn't always the way it is in a K-drama."

Trish thought for a moment. "The US isn't always how it looks in Friends either."

"Where did that come from?" In- ho looked at her while they were stuck at a light.

"One of the members of BTS learned English watching Friends."

In-ho answered, "But Friends is a good show."

"I know." Trish slid in her seat, getting comfortable as they waited for the light to change. "But TV just shows a lot of stereotypes. You got to go to that place to really learn a culture. It's more than what is on YouTube. Like for instance, I took a semester abroad in Paris. Best thing I ever did. Really improved my French too." Trish waited for a response, but noticed him looking at the GPS directions and tapping the dash's touchscreen to get the directions. Then, the light changed.

The car gave a little jolt that made Trish sit up again. "You know, I was in Paris studying abroad for a semester my junior year in college. Had to live the dream at least once. Travel is such an important teacher."

He tapped the dash, finishing the GPS input, and replied, "You just graduated university, right?"

"Yes. That's how I got this job. Felicia liked the fact I've traveled and lived abroad. Learning another language seemed to help too."

"I can see why. You are a force to reckon with." He turned to flash his grin at her. It had an energy to keep her from looking away. The spell was broken when he looked back at the road.

"You think so?" She took a moment to think it over, making sure she'd breath. She didn't think he knew how gorgeous he could look at times. "You know, maybe I am. I do have an awesome job and finally got my degree out of the way. Maybe I should stop looking at the glass half full." She whistled. "Wait, that's it. Have I been too depressing?"

"No. Just be you." He patted her hand sitting on the center console. "That's all I ask. And of course, when you get all dressed up in the formal wear, I know you'll look kick ass."

"The reunion is formal?" She tried to hide her shock. But then, maybe she should have known. Her five year had been casual. She'd thought his would be too.

"More dressed up than casual. Did you bring a fancy dress?"

"No." She felt inadequate already for the situation, and took a deep breath. Maybe a little chagrin for agreeing. Could she pull this off? Like in Pretty in Pink? She'd watched that movie way too much as a kid.

He seemed to pick up on her anxiety. "Don't worry. I'll take care of everything."

He hit the phone button on the car's steering wheel and called someone. When the phone rang, the person started talking in Korean, and he answered back. Where were those subtitles when you needed them? Trish couldn't do much except look out the window as they got closer to the center of the city. She started to recognize the streets and realized they were getting near Union Square, the shopping district of San Francisco.

He hung up and then spoke to Trish. "I've set up a personal shopper to help you get an outfit for tonight. She's also going to set you up with a stylist to get you ready. I'll drop you off and get the hotel settled."

"Wow, when you do something, it's full out."

"I take care of my friends, Trish." His voice had a lower, sexy undertone that went down her spine to places she didn't notice could be reached before.

Plus, the fact that he called her a friend had to settle in. She leaned into the leather seat of the Ferrari and watched the people on the street as they progressed up one of San Francisco's monstrously steep hill. She was back on the roller coaster of emotions again. Down girl. Get control of yourself. She masked her feelings again by saying, "I wonder how all these people manage these hills."

"They must get used to it." In-ho navigated the streets, using the GPS on the dash. It was a maze of one way streets to Union Square.

Trish kept the conversation going. She was his friend. Nothing more. "Probably. I've never wanted to live in San Francisco. Rent was always too high, and I loved the fresh air and redwoods too much in the mountains. Being near the beach was too irresistible." She hoped her conversation babble didn't sound too strained.

He stopped as the light ahead changed to red. Pedestrians rushed in front as the light allowed them to cross the street. In-ho continued, "I liked being in San Francisco. It was close to Berkeley, and I liked the vibe there. I remember some trips to there. It was something I missed when I had to move back to Korea. But Seoul is beautiful, too."

"I'd love to see Seoul some day." Gazing for a moment at the people in front, she got lost in the thought, thinking about what she had seen in K-dramas and what it would be like to actually walk the streets of Seoul.

He turned to her saying, "Maybe you will travel there. Some day."

She didn't catch his look, and kept looking out the window. "Traveling is a way to get to know yourself in different situations."

"That's a good way to view it." The light changed, and he turned onto one of the busy streets near Union Square and went into one of the underground parking garages. "I'll drop you off here. Go across to Macy's and they'll get you all taken care of. They said to meet on the second floor, and ask any sales person where the personal shopper reception is located. They tell you where to go. I'll come back for you at five o'clock."

She got out of the car, and remembered to grab her purse. He drove off and went back into traffic. She noticed some people looking at her. Was it because she just got out of a Ferrari? She got onto the walkway, and headed out of the garage to the sidewalk, getting to the corner in time to cross the street to the opening of the department store. She walked into the store, and found a sales clerk at the perfume counter to ask where the reception was for personal shoppers. They gave her instructions, and she easily found herself at the desk.

She waited for her appointment, drinking tea in the reception area. An hour whirlwind of shopping found her trying on fantastic formal dresses. She felt like she was going to prom. Trish picked an A-line deep-blue cocktail dress that accented her blue eyes and looked flattering with her blonde hair. The next stop was the salon where she got her hair and makeup done.

The shopper brought up shoes for her to try on as the stylist finished curling her hair in soft curls to frame her face. She felt like she was ready for a modeling shoot. As it neared five, they escorted her back to the reception area, where In-ho was waiting for her.

His eyes widened as she walked towards him. She did a slow spin for him, and said, "I think I just had the Cinderella experience."

"You look so beautiful. I might be getting an idea for a song."

"Just doing my job." She winked and looked him over. He'd transformed into his more model looking self, complete with a designer black suit, burgundy dress shirt and a black and burgundy tie. He'd gelled his hair, and you could see his eyes. He looked like he'd walked straight out of a GQ magazine.

He reached out his hand, and she took it, turning for a quick moment to say thank you to all of the staff that had helped her get ready.

"The car is parked in a nearby parking garage," mentioned In-ho. "It will be easier to walk around the city or take a Lyft if needed."

He led them both through Union Square, dodging a cable car as it went up California Street to cross the street. They entered one of the swanky hotels, and went up an elevator to the top. On the forty-sixth floor, they were treated to a spectacular table that had a view of the Bay Bridge and a good portion of San Francisco Bay.

She was living a dream. If Trish didn't pinch herself, she could stay asleep looking across the table at this beautiful, awesome man she'd been spending the last few days with. But steady. She was not going to let her heart get too attached. Bonding and helping someone for work was one thing. But getting involved? That could be a bit hard to manage. She was going to have to let her mind rule her heart right now.

But her heart kept bugging her during the meal. They went through the steps, ordering, small talk. This perfect guy seemed to just want to be seen and heard as someone, to be just a real human being. To hang out and dodge cable cars. She shook her head shaking off the feeling of a dream. It was real. He was real. This whole situation might never happen again, and she had to make it work for her boss. Keep him happy. Don't get involved.

Distraction. That's what she needed. She concentrated on the wine she'd gotten. The sweet and smooth taste went down her throat. Trish tried to imagine what he was like when he was sixteen. His awkward teenage self would have been a lot different than this well-built pop god.

In-ho spoke, bringing her back to the now. "You've got a funny look on your face. What are you thinking?"

"I'm trying to imagine you as an awkward teenager. I don't think it's possible." She took a bite of her Caesar salad. "I mean, you have a very quiet side, but you are such a sensitive person that changes when you perform. You have a presence onscreen."

He took a sip of his wine, and asked, "I actually was kind of awkward. I was more of a geek, really. I even used to wear glasses."

Trish's jaw dropped. "No way. What, you have contacts on now?" She took a bite of her salad.

He nodded. "Yeah. I was studying so much, I only talked to people in class." He stopped for a moment. He looked at his plate as if he was struggling for the words. "I had a crush on a girl in class. It took me half the semester to work up the courage to talk to her."

Trish finished chewing before asking, "But you did, right?"

"Yeah. And we got to talking and finally to know each other a little." He ate some of his salad, and continued. "But then, at the time, she had a boyfriend. He was one of the more popular guys at school." He looked away for a second. "Sometimes I'd write a song to deal with my feelings. I wrote some songs about her."

Trish started to catch on. She stopped eating. "So, you never told her how you feel. Not even playing one song?"

"Something like that." He regarded his plate, holding his fork aloft before speaking again. "I'm going to try to tell her at the reunion."