“He’s freaking gorgeous!” Stacey screeched.

“He’s okay.” Kasey whispered to her assistant.

“And I suppose you’re only saying this because you work in fashion and you always see fine men. Like, are you kidding me? He looks like a Prince Charming, right off a Victorian era portrait.” Stacey whispered back and quickly.

“Hi. You must be Kasey Jones. You’re more beautiful than Cindy described.” Jeremey Fox said with an appealing smile.

Jeremey Fox was truly the embodiment of the words ‘Prince Charming’. His blonde hair was slicked back and while the golden strands on his hair submitted to dozens of hair treatments, his dazzling blue eyes were the cherry on top.

Six feet tall Jeremey was all dressed up in an expensive tailored suit. The gold buttons on the finely crafted suit glimmered under the rays of the bulbs in Kasey Jones’ home. The shoes on Jeremey’s feet complimented a gold watch on his left wrist.

His cologne, an appreciation to spices and wood, engulfed the room in a whiff of intoxicating warmth and filled the mind with thoughts. Thoughts left unspoken.

Weak in the knees, Stacey thought of every ‘bad-boy-millionaire-CEO’ book she’d ever read. Jeremey Fox was the reality of the characters she desired.
Cindy smiled at Jeremey like a proud mother, and Jeremey smiled back with the perfect set of white teeth.

Kasey was mesmerized by the gentle man in front of her. Who wouldn’t?
But something felt off. A hole in her heart perhaps? A crush denied?

Whatever it was, Kasey Jones needed it sorted out and quickly. There was no way she was in love with a stranger she’d kissed under a mistletoe a week ago. There was no way the bright emerald in a stranger’s eyes haunted her dreams and in the most dangerously desirable way. There was no way the baby curls of a stranger’s black hair remained vivid in her memories. There was no way she still felt a stranger’s kiss.
There was no way Luca Brandon remained in her memories.

Kasey caressed the only ring in her hands and smiled sheepishly. She was sent back to reality’s cruelty by Jeremey’s voice.

Jeremey’s voice was nice to hear, but it wasn’t as soothing as Luca’s.

“Snap out of it Kasey!” Kasey Jones commanded her thoughts.

“I might never see him again.” The words rolled off Kasey’s tongue and loudly.

“See who?” Jeremey asked, now a single step away from Kasey.

“Yeah, Kasey. See who?” Cindy Lee asked with smug smile.

Stacey remained silent, still dazed by Jeremey Fox.

“Um…nothing. I’m just saying the lyrics of a song out loud.” Kasey said.

“Oh…I’m sorry. You do seem quite distracted. If today doesn’t work out for you then…”

“No. No. Now is totally fine. I just sing in my head when I’m nervous. It’s been a while since I’ve done this, so I’m a bit nervous.” Kasey made up more excuses when she noticed a hint of disappointment in Jeremey’s voice.

“That’s okay. It’s been a while for me too. It’s been ages for me actually. I think I’m more nervous now…What I mean is you’re beautiful so I…”

“Lord! It’s like waiting in line for days to get a limited-edition dress at 50% discount sales. Would you two leave already? Save the awkward conversation for the actual date. What is this? Prom with your crush?” Cindy shoved Kasey and Jeremey to the door and with a bang, she bid both adults a good night.

Jeremey Fox and Kasey Jones rode into New York’s busy night in Jeremey’s Rolls-Royce Ghost.

Astonished by the golden ambiance of bright yellow bulbs hidden within the perfect wooden work for a ceiling, and the lively brown of spleen clean walls. Square shaped tables covered by snow-white cloth were surrounded by leather chairs, soft to the touch. The greens of perfect flowers, hosting white petals sat in rather tall vases at corners of the building. They stood straight and of course perfect.

The restaurant 'Bien Notte' in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, was in one word, ‘perfect’.

Aquatic blue resonated from one side of the room, where Kasey Jones was seated. A beautiful rectangular portrait of what seemed to be the sea in its rushing waves on a bright day, stuck on one end of the restaurant. It was art.

The thought of the word ‘art’ made Kasey smile.

“You have a beautiful smile.” Jeremey Fox said. His eyes were on her, but his gaze seemed distant.

“Thank you. You have a great smile too.” Kasey replied. “It’s quite difficult to get a reservation here. How’d you do it?”

“I just pulled a few strings with my dad’s connections…and of course my own connections as well.” Jeremey stuttered. Kasey laughed.

“It’s alright. I don’t think you’re a daddy’s boy or a spoiled brat. Cindy’s made sure I understand that fact and she’s done so properly.”

“Then I should probably thank her then.” His eyes glowed.

“Yeah, you should. You really should.” Kasey said.

“The chef’s one of the best. Since we both ordered the same thing on the menu, our meals would be here soon. It’s a light cooked meal anyway. Seared hiramasa is delicious, I must tell you that. And don’t even get me started on the lemon grass-infused bouillon. It’s perfection. Maybe for dessert, we could have the Corn-Hibiscus and…” Jeremey paused after he saw a wide smile on Kasey’s face. A strand of curly hair fell off her imperfect bun and kissed her right cheek. Cindy was right. Kasey was truly beautiful.

“I’m so sorry. I’m not laughing at you or anything. It’s just that, hearing you right now…you sound like such a gourmet. If I close my eyes, I can swear I’m talking to Cindy.” Kasey said. Her heart warmed up by the thoughts of her best friend.

“Oh, and you hate it?”

“No. No, I don’t. If I hated that way of talking, she wouldn’t be my best friend, would she?”

“True. True.”

“Besides, I like it when she talks like that. You guys give off this aura of unique edification. It’s like a refreshing outlook on life. It shows appreciation for every little thing. Call me bookworm, but I do believe that’s the kind of optimism millennials need in this cruel world.” Kasey explained.

“I won’t say you’re a bookworm Kasey Jones. Actually, from what Cindy’s told me, yeah you are. However, you’re more than that. If I were to describe you, I’d say you’re an intelligent woman. Beauty and Brains. The exact kind of woman, millennial men need in this cruel world.” Jeremey said. They both laughed.

Kasey placed her hand over her mouth and a jewel shimmered in Jeremey’s eyes.

“I’ve been seeing too much of that jewelry these days. So much for being limited-edition.” Jeremey said in what was meant to be a whisper.

“What did you say?”

“It’s nothing. Actually, I couldn’t help but notice that GOG ring on your finger. It’s a limited edition I believe. It looks good on you.” Jeremey said, trying not to sound like he was measuring Kasey’s worth with the ring she wore.

“Oh…Oh…I…This is a gift…I actually won it in some silly game hosted by the company. It’s a really long story. You don’t want to hear about it.” Kasey stammered badly.

“With all that stuttering? Now I want to hear that silly story.”

“It’s a really long story and I don’t want to bore you.”

“We’ve got all night Kasey Jones.” Jeremey squinted. Something felt off about his date with Kasey. That Game of Gold ring was getting to him and in a bad way. He felt a log in his chest and his investigative instincts just had to clear it out. He needed to hear Kasey’s story.

“In summary I won it at an event hosted by GOG.” Kasey said.

“An event hosted by GOG.” Jeremy repeated the words that seemed like déjà vu.

“Yes, a game of some sort…It was a silly game and I don’t feel comfortable talking about it.” Kasey pinched her dress, as images of Luca Brandon’s face teased her thoughts.

“It’s a really long and really embarrassing story Jeremey.”

“I’m so sorry for being nosy. Lawyer’s intuition I guess.” Jeremey said, aware of how close he was to ruining his date with a beautiful woman.

“It’s fine. Why are you so suspicious of the ring though? You don’t think I’m a thief or something, do you?”

“Kasey I’d never think that. You’re a successful business woman. You run your own magazine and clothing line and you’re one of the biggest names in New York Fashion. If you wanted to buy ten of these you will. Well, considering the fact that you started over recently for the sake of your magazine, I’d say you’d be able to buy ten Game of Gold rings in a year or two. However, mathematically if I take your financial…” Jeremey paused, when he heard Kasey laugh for the first time that evening.

“And here you thought I was the bookworm. How are you and Cindy close friends?” Kasey asked.

“How are you and Cindy, best friends?” Jeremey asked. They both laughed and they did so loudly. A quiet couple, a few feet from them turned their necks. Jealousy flared in their eyes. Jeremey and Kasey laughed again at the couple’s cold gaze.

“Your meal, Sir and Ma’am. Do enjoy.” A waiter interrupted.

“This looks delicious.” Kasey said. A perfect mix of lemon and marinated flesh engulfed her nostrils. Her olfactory nerves went crazy and her mouth watered.

“Believe me Kasey Jones, it is.” Jeremey said with his perfect smile.

While they dug into expensive dishes and desserts, the night went on with laughter and warmth.

Kasey Jones’ worries eluded her that night and she found her eyes focused on the brilliant blues of Jeremey’s.

Maybe, just maybe a relationship with Mr. Fox would work out. Maybe, just maybe she’d fall in love. Maybe, just maybe for a few months, she’d forget the darkest secret she hid from even Cindy.

Maybe, just maybe she’d be able to breathe again and freely. Just like she did the night she kissed a stranger under the mistletoe.

It was the twenty first hour of the day and Kasey Jones was famished.

After a perfect date with Jeremey Fox, he’d invited her to his home less than a mile away from the restaurant.

“If this was a month ago, I’d have rejected your offer. But I’ve decided to live in a new way. After all, we only live once.” Kasey said that night.

Jeremey Fox’s house was built to please the Modern Contemporary design and style. On a huge compound padded by the lush of green carpet grass and flower beds, a modern rectangular house with sleek wooden walls and multi-level complexes, stood tall. Lights glowed through floor-to-ceiling windows.

Jeremey punched some numbers on a modern digital lock. While he tried to open his front door without an inkling of caution, Kasey stared at the building in awe. She’d always seen the interior and exterior décor of contemporary houses in magazines and she’d desired one for herself.

She could buy one if she wanted to, but she thought it too early to use up her savings and investments on Size-able. She also thought such investment irrelevant at the time.

“Hey, buddy! I see a lady behind you. I guess you both had a nice date.” A stranger called from one of the huge sofas in a large living room arrayed in finely polished wood.

“That’s just my roommate. Come in.” Jeremey told Kasey and turned to the stranger on the sofa.

“And if my roommate would be kind enough to give us some space, I would appreciate it!” Jeremey yelled with a wide smile.

“Yeah, get rid of me already.” The roommate called back and jumped off the sofa.

Kasey walked into Jeremey’s exquisite luxury-intended bachelor pad. She squinted and tried to make out the silhouette of the stranger. His stature looked quite familiar.

She walked further into the building, completely ignoring the intricate designs in the house. Her focus, inclined by the stranger’s voice. He sounded familiar.

The stranger walked closer to Kasey and Jeremey until he was two steps from the pretty couple. His eyes grew wider at the site of Jeremey’s date.

Jeremey smiled with pride. Perhaps his roommate thought Kasey truly beautiful. He cleared his throat and smiled at Kasey.

“Kasey, meet my roomie…”

“Kasey? Kasey Jones?” The stranger asked with a wide smile.

Kasey was almost brought to tears at the sight of familiar emerald green eyes that set her heart on fire. Warmth engulfed her heart at the sight of a dashing face she’d thought she’d never seen again. She took in a deep breath at the sight of someone she thought unlike any other.

Words escaped her brain and at that moment, only three words rolled off her lips.

“Oh, my God!”