Dear Journal,

Tonight, the city was alive with another grand event, a gathering of the fashion elite. I attended, hoping to network and perhaps find a spark of attraction amidst the glamour and glitter to take home tonight. I didn't expect much, just a bout of flirting with a pretty face and some decent drinks.

Little did I know how the evening would unfold.

As I moved through the crowd, I spotted the familiar figure of May.

She looked as enchanting as ever, her presence a light in the room. She wore a sage green dress, timid and modest compared to the glittering dress she wore on New Year's. But something was off tonight. Her expression was tense, her posture rigid. It didn't take long to see why.

Her boss, a notoriously cut figure in a black silk three-piece suit, James was standing right there.

The image left a sour taste in my mouth. I was displeased. I don't know why. May was a bright being, her eyes always glowing. But now she was meek and uncomfortable. I tightened my grip on my glass as James slid his arm across her waist and he introduced her to a group of people. I could tell that whatever they were discussing wasn't business.

She pushed his arm away and plastered on a smile. I could see the smile slip from his face before it returned brighter than ever, clearly displeased by her behaviour.

I waited near the wall, watching. Emily was also here in a well-put-together red dress. The ruby earring on her ear glittered as she was surrounded by a group of people, mostly men. She was dazzling like the sun—as in it was difficult to look at her without wincing. If it weren't for her outstanding beauty she would've been making a fool of herself. She tried to catch my attention but I looked away.

James and May left the venue and I followed them into a quiet alcove. He was scolding her, His manner too aggressive. May's discomfort was evident, and without thinking, I intervened.

Allow me to set the scene.

"Is everything alright here?" I asked, my voice steady.

May's eyes widened with a mix of surprise and anxiety. She was relieved to see me.

James was the first the answer, displeased that I had found them. It made me uncomfortable thinking about what he would do to her if they were alone. "This is none of your business, Alexander."

I called bullshit. May was quicker, she grabbed my arm before I could punch James in the face. "Alexander, please, it's fine. Don't," she whispered urgently.

Ignoring her plea, I turned to her boss. "May and I have something we'd like to discuss," I said, trying to remain diplomatic. "You should find Emily before she leaves with someone else."

Her boss glared at me but stepped back, muttering something under his breath. It gave me immense satisfaction to see his face go red.

May, however, was furious.

Let me set the scene.

"Why did you do that?" she snapped, her voice shaking with anger. "You've just put my job at risk! Mr Perez--!"

"Is using you," I stated oh-so-obviously.

As expected, she didn't like that. She got in my space, both of us chest to chest as we tried to reign in our emotions.

"I know that, Alexander," she said. "I fucking know that."

"I was just trying to protect you," I began, but she cut me off.

"I don't need you to protect me, Alexander. You can't just step in and fix things." Her words were harsh but deserved. "James can make and break my career."

I didn't understand why she was angry. James was using her as his arm candy. He showed clear disrespect without regard for her.

"You deserve better," I said. "Come to Lyon, you'll never have to go through something like that ever again."

Now this is where I fumbled terribly.

My chest felt tight as disbelief and anger flashed across her face. "Why are you like this?" she asked. "Am I worth anything if I don't work for you?"

With one last angry look, she turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, stunned and helpless.

Watching her go, a knot formed in my stomach. I felt a mix of regret and a deeper, more unsettling feeling—a realization of how much she meant to me and how powerless I was to help her. Her independence, her strength, were qualities I admired, yet they also created a barrier I couldn't cross.

Needing to clear my head, I left the event and walked through the city streets. The cool night air helped to calm my thoughts, but the encounter with May lingered in my mind. Her anger, her fear of losing her job, her fierce independence—they were unexpected nuances in my plan.

I see a little bit of myself in her, a person with her struggles and strengths.

Was my desire to help May truly selfless, or was it tied to my ambitions and need for validation? The lines were blurred, and I realized that my actions, though well-intentioned, had crossed a boundary.

The city's lights flickered around me, and I felt a deep sense of longing and uncertainty. May's departure had left a void, a reminder that some things can't be forced or controlled.

I needed to approach this more carefully.

I resolved to find a way to get May, I didn't have time to be anything. I could be a friend and ally rather than a protector.

It wouldn't be easy, but it felt like the right path—the only path.

Much to do,

- Alexander