"She had only come to see him because he was leaving and he stupidly scared her away. She was so scared that she had ran into the road and was hit by a car. He killed her. It was the worst mistake he had made, but it was too late to realize it. He lost her before he could apologize and tell her how much he loved her. She was one of the most important person to him after he lost his mom." He shook his head. "It was really painful. He was the cause of her death because he broke his promise that he would never leave her." Ryan blinked his eyes. He was telling the story that he forgot there were people listening.

    After a while of silence, Bee spoke. "That's sad." She said quietly. "That's a story from the heart."

   Ryan looked up at her with a weak smile. "It is."

    "What happened to Eric?" Dony asked.

     "Eric?" Ryan frowned.

"Yes, Eric. The boy in the story." Dony said to him.

   "Oh. He umm.. He should be fine." Ryan noddded... "We didn't really see after highschool." Ryan lied plainly.

  "Why do you think he didn't trust her enough to believe her?" Layla asked Ryan.  

    "He was tricked and fooled. Someone wanted to sabotage their relationship and it worked perfectly."

    "Did he find out who tried to ruin their relationship?" Dony asked.

    "No, he didn't."

   "The story is like those romance novels and movies Dony loves, exactly like them. But the tragic ending sucks. I was expecting them to having a nice happy ending." Bee said to Ryan.

     "Yeah, like Alex and Natalie." Dony grinned. 

    "No. They are not married yet so that doesn't count at all." Bee shook her head.

    "But I must give it to them! Ten years of being together is crazy. They are my best couple idol." Dony smiled and Ryan laughed.

       Layla remained quiet, resting her head on Ryan's shoulder. She was thinking about the weird story Ryan had told them. She had a feeling that the story wasn't just a story but it meant something deeper to Ryan.

     Layla laid on the bed with Ryan, cuddled in his arms...

     "Babe?" Layla called him.

         "Mhmm."

     "I didn't get to comment on your story. Can I?" Layla asked.

   "Go ahead." He said. He wasn't sure why she wanted to comment.

    "Is Eric a figment of your imagination or he's real?" Layla asked him.

    Ryan furrowed... "He's real." Where was she getting at.

    "Were you friends with him?" She asked again.

    "No." Ryan answered.

       "Then how do know all the details of their love? It's like you witnessed it or maybe you were in a similar relationship."

     Ryan chuckled... "I witnessed it. I talked like that because I knew Cassie." Ryan told her.

   "Was she that pretty?" Layla asked him. "The way you described her made me a little jealous." Layla laughed quietly.

     "Don't be, you're unique in your own way."  Ryan said to her.
    Layla sat up, facing Ryan... "There's something I need to tell you." Layla's voice was serious.

   "You sound too serious. Is everything okay?" Ryan asked her as he too sat up.

    "I'm leaving for Italy tomorrow." Layla told him.

    "You're leaving? How come you didn't tell me?" Ryan frowned.

    "I tried to but you never gave me a chance. You were so busy, I didn't want to distract you." Layla said to him.

    "Layla," Ryan sighed... "I'm really sorry."

    "It's okay. I'm heading to Italy for a photoshoot and I don't know how long it's gonna take. Days, weeks, a month?"

     "Really? That's... A long time." Ryan nodded.

    "Yeah. Will you be okay on your own?" She asked him.

  "I'll manage." Ryan said to her. "But hell I'll miss you, a lot." He admitted. He was really going to miss her. 

      Layla smiled... "I'll miss you like crazy babe." Layla leaned, hugging him tightly.
.......................................................

     Mia, Andrew and Danny sat in the coffee shop. Mia was busy on her laptop while Andrew and Danny were talking.

     "Andrew, have you found a new model?" Danny asked him.

   "Not yet." Andrew said to her.

    "I told you to make use of me, it'll save you time." Danny rolled her eyes.

     "I made use of you the other day." Andrew said to her.

    "Oh, did Mia tell you about the person she's working with?" Danny asked him.

    "Yeah. Some arrogant douchebag." Andrew chuckled.

    "Not that. He's a great catch! He's super hot like those Italian guys in telenovela." Danny said.

    "You have a boyfriend Danny." Andrew shook his head.

    "It doesn't mean I can't appreciate other creations of God." Danny grinned.

   "Hey hey hey, take a look," she faced the laptops to her friends. "What do you think? Do you think this is a hit on the standard suite?" Mia was showing them how she planned to design and decorate the standard suite.

   Danny and Andrew took their time, scrutinizing her plan.

     "So?" Mia was so eager to here from them.

     "It's perfect!" Danny blew a kiss at Mia.

     "White or cream should go with the peach. It's very artistic." Andrew nodded.

    Mia smiled.. "Thanks guys! I spent all night trying to get the perfect combination of colors. I'm really hoping that the trip to California be soon, so that I can finalize all my plans and get started." Mia said to them.

     "You're doing great, no need to panic." Andrew assured her.

    "Just hoping Ryan says the same thing." Mia packed her things into her bag.

     "Well... Try not to be too too too too haughty." Danny smiled.

    "I'm being too haughty? That's not fair, why would you even say that?" Mia frowned.

    "Don't take it the wrong way Mia. I'm only telling you to be careful, you don't want to loose a potential client." Danny nodded.

    "I promise not to lose my temper." Mia rolled her eyes.

    "We wish you luck Mimi." Andrew hugged her.

    "Thank you because I really need it." Mia smiled at him. She packed her things before leaving the coffee shop.

     "Stop looking at her like that." Andrew smacked Danny's arm when Danny didn't tear her eyes off Mia.

    "I have a hunch that something's wrong and Mia isn't telling us about it." Danny looked at Andrew.

     Andrew laughed... "What makes you say that?"

     "Don't you see, she's been so disturbed lately. I feel something's up. Look at her, she looks... Different? The same but different." Danny couldn't place her finger on it yet, but she was sure that Mia had something going on.

    "I don't understand you one bit." Andrew knitted his brows.

     "It's a suspicion. She looks fine but I know she's not, I need to know what's going on." Danny said. Andrew gave her a look.

    "She seems fine to me."

    "Not to me. And I'm gonna find out." Danny nodded.

      Mia hurried to meet Ryan in the office, so that she could submit her plan and head for the other place she had to be. She was supposed to plan an event for a client today.
     

     "Good morning Mia." Fiona greeted Mia.

     "Morning." Mia smiled.

   "Why the rush?" Fiona asked her.

      "Sorry. I have things to do so I can't stay for so long. Mr Webster is here right?" Mia asked, moving towards the elevator.

    "Yes."

     "Thanks."

The elevator dropped her off at the tenth floor where she was going to meet Ryan. She walked down the hall way before she entered his secretary's office.

    "Hello. Good morning." Mia smiled at Olivia.

     "Mia right? He's been expecting you." Olivia said to her.

    "Thank you." Mia thanked her before proceeding into Ryan's office.

    She knocked, when she entered, she found Ryan with his back turned. He was standing next to the window.

     "Sir?" Mia said after a while.

   Ryan turned to her but he wasn't smiling.

      "You're late young lady." He walked to his chair.

     "I'm really sorry Mr Webster. I have the plans for the interior designs." Mia wanted a quick and sharp meeting.

   He offered her a seat across the table. "Let's see it."

   Mia sat upright, starting up her laptop while Ryan waited patiently. In a minute she was done.

    "So," she flipped her hair which gracefully fell to her back. "I sorted colors that I thought you might think it's suitable for the standard suite." She turned the laptop, facing it to him.

   Ryan pulled the laptop closer to him. He kept clicking on the mouse pad to look at the designs. Honestly, they were fantastic and very creative but Ryan had other plans. He wasn't letting Mia go so easily, he was going to keep her for as long as he could.

      "I must say these are pretty interesting to look at but do you think it's the best shot?" Ryan asked her.

     "I don't think, I know." She stood up, walked up to Ryan and stood beside him. "I know these might not be too accurate but I am sure once I see the suite, you'll love the ideas I have." She bent, leaning forward. She decided to give him an explicit explanation on what she plans to do.

         Ryan could hear her voice closer to his ear, even feel her hair by the side of his face. He was tempted to touch it. Her hair smelt like... Lavender? It smelt different from her body which was screaming jasmine... He wasn't paying attention to her but was inhaling her sweet scent, for five minutes Mia was talking.

    "How does that sound?" Mia looked at him. She caught him already looking at her, their faces were so close to each other that she couldn't help but stare into his eyes. "What do you think?" She asked him.

    Ryan looked away quickly. He cleared his throat. "I-I-I-I think it's actually good." Ryan stuttered. He never stuttered but now Mia was making him do the opposite.

   Mia stood erect and smiled. "Then you like it?"

   "I like it." Ryan paused. "But not what I was looking for."

    Mia frowned... "Sir I think this is really —"

     "This isn't it Ms Mia. Not what I want." Ryan shook his head.

   Mia sighed... "Then what do you want?"

     "Exquisite designs. You do know that MacGolden resort is known for it's lavish style and I intend to keep it that way." Ryan told her.

    "But this —"

        "But this is not it. Try something different."

    "I will." Mia wasn't happy because she had worked hard for it.

      "Good. I'll expect it in thirty minutes times."

      "Thirty minutes? It takes time and effort to compile these —"

     "Then step up your game. Remember we have one month and that's the limit." Ryan was only doing this to see how far her patience can hold up.

     "Sir, I'm very busy. Please, I have somewhere to be and it's urgent." Mia was almost begging.

    "Are you saying this isn't important?" Ryan frowned at her.

    "It's not like that."

   "I have other things to do Ms Mia, I'll see you in thirty minutes. Okay?" Ryan sounded heartless.

   "Okay. I'll get it done." Mia nodded. She walked out of the office. Maybe this was his payback for what she did to him.

    "Hello Julia?" She picked up her phone to contact Julia as soon as she left Ryan's office. "I'll be late. Please fill in for me. Thanks bye." Mia walked away with no idea of where to start from.

   Ryan knew it was a bit too extreme to do that to her, but she certainly didn't think he forgot all about everything she said.

    In thirty minutes, Mia had strolled into Ryan's office.

    "You're back." Ryan was happy to see her but she wasn't looking as happy.

     "You were right. I made some amendments and I know you'll love it." Mia walked straight to the chair across the table.

     "Impress me." Ryan nodded.

   Mia placed her laptop on his table. "So here..." She started explaining the strategies she'd use and most of the designs were different from the previous one. Ryan liked that she was really quick to adapt.

     After fifteen minutes, she was done talking. "How about this? Is it exquisite enough?" Mia smiled. To her she did a great job and she was proud of it.

    He nodded... "Nice. Very nice."

    "Thank you." Mia grinned.

   "But I was thinking about going for ornaments less flashy for the standard suite?"

    "Okay, sure. That can work." Mia nodded.

    "And then..." Ryan looked for more faults in her proposal and ended up telling her to redo.

    Mia is trying to keep her anger intact but Ryan is just only fueling her up.

   Before leaving, she turned back to Ryan. "Why do I have a feeling that this is payback for what I said before?" She managed not to insult him. 

    "Payback?" Ryan laughed and leaned back, against his swivel chair. "You're mistaken."

    "You know what, you can do what you like." Mia walked out of the office. She was fuming and Olivia noticed the anger on her face.

    "Are you alright Mia?" Olivia asked out of concern. Mia didn't bother to look at her she just left with annoyance and frustration.

    "Oh Mia, I thought you went to meet Mr Webster?" Fiona asked Mia when she saw Mia returning to her office. Fiona had let Mia use her office to work, so she was surprised that Mia was back again.

     "Turns out Mr Webster is such an ass! He's worse than the devil and right now I'm losing my patience already." Mia groaned loudly.

       Fiona is startled by her outburst. "Relax Mia. Someone might hear you." Fiona quickly closed her door.

   Mia exhaled.... "I don't think I can take it anymore. I put so much effort in this, you saw it!" Mia frowned.

     "Don't get upset. What went wrong?" Fiona sat beside Mia.

    "I don't know." Mia shrugged.

   "I'll help." Fiona took the laptop from Mia.

    Mia and Fiona started working on the designs and proposed decorations for the standard suite and eventually the presidential suite, it took about forty minutes to cross check every detail.

   "Thank you so much Fiona, you don't know how grateful I am." Mia hugged her.

    "You're welcome and I'm sure this time, Mr Webster would finally approve it." Fiona smiled.

    "I really hope so too." Mia stood up, ready to see Ryan. "Don't worry, I owe you one."

    "Okay." Fiona grinned.

  "Thank you again." Mia thanked her before leaving Fiona's office.

    Mia had forfeited her time for a party she was supposed to decorate because Ryan had kept her longer than she expected. Mia saw David approaching with a smile.

    "Hello beautiful." David said, opening his arms for a hug.

    "I'm really in a bad mood, so please not today." Mia was about to shove him away when he dodged her hand.

"Cosa c' è che non va amore mio." David said in a clean Italian accent.  (What's wrong my love)

"What? Quindi ora parli italiano?" Mia was quite amused, that she smiled. He originally had a French accent but his Italian was clean. (So now you speak Italian)

   David chuckled... "Sí sí. Ho sentito che Sri venuto dall'Italia." (Yes yes. I heard you came from Italy)

   Mia found herself laughing. It's been a while since someone had spoken Italian to her. "Sino impressionato! Parli spesso la lingua perché sei perfetto?" (I'm impressed! Do you speak Italian frequently because you're perfect)

   "No. Solo per te amore mio." David grinned. (No. Only for you my love)

    Mia laughed along with David. He was really something,  It felt good to laugh after all the stress Ryan put her through.

  "Thank you." Mia thanked him.

  "For what?" David frowned. He hadn't done anything.

   "For making me laugh." She nodded. "It does feel good to hear someone speak Italian to me."

    "Did I do well?" He asked her.

   "Very well. I didn't expect that you'd be impeccable, given your French accent. How did you know I came from Italy?" Mia asked him.

    "Let's just say I asked around." David shrugged. "So what's wrong? I noticed your red face earlier and the way you stormed into Fiona's office like you were about to kick some ass." David asked her. 

    "Oh that." Mia sighed... "I just need to cool off, it's been a long day."

    "Hmm. Have you handed Ryan the designs?"

    "I'm about to."

   He nodded... "Alright. I'll see you around later?" David smiled.

    "Okay."

   David allowed her to walk past him. Mia took some steps but turned back at David who was still looking at her.

    "Is speaking Italian or any other foreign language part of your flirting schemes?" Mia asked him.

  "Is it working?" David smirked.

   "Nah. You can do better." Mia shook her head before turning away.

"That's a sign! I know I'm gonna get there." He yelled out to her.

    Mia smiled as she entered the elevator, she pressed the button with the number 10, heading straight to Ryan's office.