Only the sound of the pen colliding the paper echoed in Elyse's office. Her entire desk was piled high with contracts that needed to be reviewed or signed. Even if she wanted to stop and rest, it appears that the paperwork in front of her will not allow it. 

She had stopped signing and was holding some paper to read when she became distracted by the scene on her side. Which is the large window in her office that allows her to see the shining city lights. She felt at ease. The view was so nice. 

Her relaxation time was interrupted when her phone rang and echoed in her office. Her brows twitched but returned to normal when she realized it was her best friend who was calling. 

"Bonjour! Elyse babe! Do you want to hang out tonight?" Elyse answered the phone and heard her best friend, Allison, on the other end of the line. Her friend's voice sounded ecstatic, and Elyse really wondered why.  

"Wait a second, let me double-check my schedule for tonight." Elyse responded and then leaning back in her swivel chair. She dialed her secretary's number from within her office telephone and inquired about her schedule.  

"Do I still have any appointments for tonight?" Elyse asked right away her secretary over the telephone call.  

"No, Director. You don't have any appointments for tonight and you can also go home if you wish to. " The secretary answered.  

The call ended after that, and Elyse put her phone in her ear again to answer Allison after she put her on hold.  

She easily agreed with Allison after speaking with her secretary and learning that she had no appointments for tonight.  

"Okay, I'll join in. So, how are you today? You seem pretty happy. What's up?" She began quickly signing the remaining contracts and paperwork. It's already time for her to leave work, but she still has to drive to the place where we will hang out tonight. 

Allison excitedly screamed on the other end of the line. "Today is Brett's birthday, so we're celebrating right now at a private resort with his family! And, of course, our fellas will join us later on! I'm still with them right now, but Brett's family is leaving soon. So come, okay?" Allison's was full of excitement that she's really expecting positive answer from Elyse. 

'Is that why you are very happy today? Oh, I really forgot Brett's birthday.' 

Elyse sighed because of the pile of paperwork in front of her, but finally smiled after hearing her best friend's happy voice. 

"Of course, I'm not going to miss it. But I have to leave now. I still have some work to do. So I'll see you later! " She said goodbye to her friend and ended the call and decided to continued what she's doing. 

After some time, Elyse finally decided to end her working time and  began to fix her appearance and her table. Elyse can just continue her work tomorrow. No one would say anything. 

She quickly applied retouch make-up because she was really looking tired after a long day of signing and doing her tiring job. She's quite look haggard and the stress were visible in her face. 

After Elyse finished everything, she went outside, where her secretary awaited her. 'Oh, it's still early, but it's fine,' she thinks as she glances at her wrist clock.  

She turned to her secretary and said, "Ms. Millie, you may now leave. Have a good night." "Yes, Director," her secretary replied. Elyse walked away with a small smile on her face. She went home right away after picking up her car from the valet in her company's basement.  

When she entered her condo unit, she was greeted by eerie silence. Her unit has a white and black theme and even if it's really big no one lives with it aside from her. It might seem strange to others, but it was fine with her. She feels more at ease when she is alone. She wants no one else to stay at her house and doesn't require the services of anyone else.  

Elyse still needs to get some swimwear ready since the party will be held at a resort, so obviously she will really need swimwear. Elyse open her closer and grab whatever she can find that will fit to the beach theme because she doesn't have enough time to choose. She didn't bother changing her office clothes since she could change them at the resort, anyways. The clock was ticking and gosh, she forgot, she needed to go to the mall to get a gift for Brett.  

She got into her car after packing her clothes and other personal belongings, and began driving to the nearest mall for Brett's birthday gift. She just bought a nice watch and start driving again to the resort. She glanced at her wrist clock to check the time and faster. 

While on her way, Elyse's phone rang. She looked down only to see her mother's name on the phone call. She wouldn't want to answer the call since it's probably not really an important call, but her phone just kept on ringing. That made her annoyed. "So bothersome." She murmured, then pressed the answer button.  

She frowned, "What do you want?" She abruptly asked while focusing on driving.  

"Is that how you greet your mother?" Her mother, on the other line, said. Even if her mother said that, Elyse can't even sense an expression. 

"Make it fast. I'm trying to focus on driving right now." There's no need to feel guilty about what she's saying to her mother right now, because they are clearly not in a close relationship wherein they can greet each other.  

"Listen. The heir of the NBG Company wants to meet you tomorrow. He had some proposals to talk about. You know what I mean, right? Meet him and do not be late." Her 'mother' said, like she was just ordering a servant around.  

"Where? And what time?"  

"He'll contact you later. I gave him your contact number. Go out there and make some connections. "And what her mother most likely means by 'connections' is finding someone Elyse can marry and who has a lot of connections so she can be useful to  the company.  

"Alright." Without a second thought, Elyse hung up the phone. She should probably change her phone number again! What's the point of having a business phone number if her good-for-nothing mother always gave her personal phone number to everyone? Ugh.  

She sighed and touched her head; this was hurting her head. God, having a mother who is uninterested in anything other than the company is making her head hurt even more.  

'This is stressing me out! I really need to have fun tonight!'  

Elyse arrived at the resort after only a 30-minute drive. Even though the night is still young, she notices a large number of people having a good time on the seashore. The resort was basically on the beach, but she also knew that there was a pool with a waterpark beside the hotel. 

She simply waved her hands or smiled a little if she saw someone she recognized and immediately started to look for Allison.  

She saw Allison in the lobby of the hotel, welcoming (?) her while having a hot kiss with her boyfriend.  

'What a bitch! Kissing in front of her best friend!'  

Oh, it's probably fine because it's their day today and the scene is also somewhat amusing and hot!  

Elyse waited until the two of them had finished kissing. 

'Watching my bestfriend having a hot time kissing her boyfriend. #LOL.' 

'Now I know what I will post later in my twitter.' 

"Are you done?" Elyse just playfully rolled her eyes as she said it flatly.  

"I already saw you when you came in, but I know you won't bother us," Allison answered as she stood up and hugged Elyse. Hiding the fact that she's just embarrassed that someone, even if it's her own bestfriend, saw her making out. 

Elyse whispered something into her ears. "Oh, so bold and daring, aren't we?" Elyse gave Brett a smirking like she was teasing him. She laughed as she teased Allison and Brett. Elyse could tell her best friend was embarrassed by the look on her face.  

Allison may have appeared bold or daring while saying that, but Elyse knew she was just embarrassed. Allison doesn't want people to see her doing naughty things, so she hides them all the time.  

She sat on one of the sofas in the resort's lounge, just in front of her best friend, Allison, and her boyfriend, Brett, and then she gave Brett her gift. "I don't have time to buy you a gift, so this is just my humble but here you go. Congratulations on your birthday! "  

He received her gift. "Oh yeah, I appreciate it," Brett said with a smile.  

They didn't have time to waste because the party had already begun. Elyse changed her swimsuit right away. It's a moss-colored two-piece swimsuit with a see-through dress as a partner. She smiled at herself in the mirror. Okay, perfect! She's extremely attractive! Her natural wavy grayish hair, ocean blue eyes, and pointed nose. Without a doubt, she is really stunning. Self praise is indeed the best praise in the world. Only in terms of her physical appearance would she be truly grateful to her parents.  

When she went out, everyone was already dancing under the disco lights, while others were doing 'what who knows what' in the cottage and others were having fun in the ocean under the full moon. They even started a bonfire!  

Elyse grabbed an liquor, walked to the center of the dance floor, holding her cup. She jumped on every beat, sway her hips and just dance the night away. They were all having a good time. Some are already inebriated, and some are making out in the side. 

It didn't bother her in the least. Elyse's life revolves around partying, dancing, and drinking. She requires all of these whenever she is stressed. She just wishes to be free from her life! Her life was suffocating her right now!  

Elyse spent the night dancing and drinking until someone whispered on her right ear, "Hey babe, you know some sexy moves huh?" A voice called out from behind her. It's a man. She smirked before swaying her hips slightly. The guy reacts quickly and grabs her waist from behind.  

Elyse was having a good time flirting, so she turned around and kissed him on the lips. Because the man's response was quick, they began kissing in the middle of the dance floor without wasting time. If they weren't interrupted, the kiss would have gotten even hotter.  

"I know you want to eat each other right now, but I really need her for a moment." Allison was the one who interrupted them.  

Allison apologizes to the man whose name Elyse didn't even know and pulls Elyse out of the crowd. Allison took Elyse to a quiet location. Elsye didn't know why but has a hunch, and just let Allison be.  

Allison was on the phone for a minute before handing the phone to Elyse and saying, 'Your mother wants to talk to you.'  

Elyse already had a suspicion that this happened every time her mother was unable to contact her. Aside from Elyse's best friend, Allison, who else would Elyse's mother call to find her?  

Elyse gestures that everything is fine and immediately picks up the phone.  

Allison nodded, "Is it okay if I go inside? Allow yourself plenty of time." Allison gave a bright smile. Allison was aware of her situation and always understood Elyse, which Elyse appreciated.  

"Why are you still out partying? You know you'll be busy the next day and you also know that it's important, so why are you getting drunk?" Her mother refused to let her speak and began nagging her.  

'Oh god, she didn't even ask if I was fine or whatever. She never did. How funny to call her my mother. ' 

Elyse's mother was only concerned with the company. She didn't mind Elyse as long as she was taking care of the business.  

She brushes her hair with her fingers, slowly calming herself. Her hair is still dry because she never went swimming when she first started dancing.  

"I know! You don't have to call Allison every time I'm out to party. How many times do I have to say it?! " Elyse stated angrily. "I'm already an adult! Do I need to follow everything you say? And don't worry, I'll be there tomorrow, so don't ever think of calling Allsion again!" 

She wasn't sure if it was because of the alcohol, but she was getting irritated and angry. When she speaks to her mother, she is usually silent or calm, but she is now enraged.  

She hung up the phone and looked up at the sky. 'What a fucked up life.'  

She is constantly envious of the stars in the night sky. How could they have the freedom that she can't have while she's a bird in a cage? She felt as if the stars themselves were mocking her. 

"How dare you make fun of my life, stars? Do you feel sorry for me because you're free and I'm not?" Swearing at the innocent stars, she said. 

Elyse start walking along the beach to relieve her mental stress. And, thankfully, the cool breeze helped her mind relax. She isn't drunk, just a little tipsy, and her mind is clear.  

She looked around and realized she was far away from the many people who were having a good time. She looks out at the enticing sea. If the sea could talk, it would probably say, 'Come on, let's get you wet.'  

She was tempted to swim right now because she hadn't gone swimming earlier. So Elyse didn't hesitate and just slowly walked towards the calm sea.  

She shivered when the water touched her two feet. It's so cold that it's causing her tipsyness to fade away.  

She kept walking until the cold sea was on her shoulder. Oh my goodness, it's so nice. She is having some thoughts right now, and she is deeply concerned that she has not taken a single vacation since she began working. She will undoubtedly travel the world after she resigns.  

She began to swim faster. She's completely awake right now, so she won't drown.  

She took a dive and began to feel good. She had the impression that her body was having a good time in the sea.  

After a while, she decides enough is enough and begins to dive up.  

She opened her eyes slightly and was greeted by the sunrise.  

'Wait, isn't it already morning? I've still got a meeting! " 

'I thought it was only midnight when I got a call from my mother!' 

'Did I fall asleep without knowing? But dude, I'm in the sea, not in a pool! I would be drowned by now if I fell asleep on the sea!'  

She looked around and realized she wasn't in the sea, but in a lake! 'Where the hell am I?!' 

'This is obviously not the sea!' 

She's in the middle of a lake in the middle of nowhere!