Mia worked into Van's Event building on a sunny bright Tuesday morning, greeting her dear friend Danny at the front desk.

    "Looking good Danny." Mia smiled, walking away to her office space.

     "Hey." Danny gave a short wave.

    Mia noticed a young lady strut out of the hallway in a royal blue pencil skirt and white shirt, the lady's heels were something to notice as they were statements. It was hard not to notice the lady that walked out of the building. Mia stopped on her tracks, turning to Danny.

   "Who was that?" Mia asked Danny.

   Danny shrugged... "But she came to see the boss."

   "Oh." Mia nodded, walking away.

   Few hours later, Mia was informed that Mrs Van was requesting for her in Mrs Van's office.

    "Mrs V?" Mia entered the office. "Good morning." Mia smiled.

   "Mia! Oh, please do sit." Mrs Van offered her a chair across the table.

   "Thank you." Mia sat down.

   "How are you dear?" Van asked him with a smile.

    "I'm fine Mrs V. I'm really surprised you called for me, I hope it's nothing serious." Mia said to Van.

    "Well it is serious but not a bad serious." Van chuckled.

   "So I'm safe?" Mia grinned.

   "Of course." Van stood up, walking away from her chair. "If there's one thing I like about you, it's your ability to put in your best into something. Apart from that, you're a very diligent person, very jovial and nice too."

   Mia frowned, she didn't know where Van was heading to. 

   "Mia my dear, you've proved yourself to me not once or twice but plenty of times that you're more than capable of handling something big. So that's why I'm letting you go—"

    Mia's heart sank... "Mrs V, letting me go? Did I do something wrong? Did I upset you in anyway? I'm really sorry. Please don't fire me Mrs V." Mia was afraid. Had she done something to make Van angry? Oh no, this would be terrible.

    "Relax Mia. You did nothing absolutely nothing wrong, so just let me finish." Van said to her.

    "I'm not letting you go, never. What I mean is that, there's a very big proposal for this company and I need you to help me." Van told Mia.

    "Me? How?" Mia is totally confused.

   Van walked back to her seat. "Have you heard of Mi-Tech before?"

   "Mi-Tech? I don't think so." Mia frowned at Van.

    "It's a very successful multi-million dollars company owned by an influential person in the country. The company deals on electronics, devices and they have resorts too. You might have heard of MacGolden resort, have you?" Van asked seated.

    "Yes. It's quite popular." Mia nodded, but still not understanding a thing.

    "It turns out that the company is building a branch in California and they are setting up a planning committee."

    "Okay yes, but what does that have to do with me?" Mia asked her.

   "It turns out that they want you part of that committee." Van nodded slowly.

       "Me?"

   "Somehow they found out that you're an event planner, a good one. And now they want you to work with them."

    "I-I-I don't understand, why me? What do they want me to do there?" It was all sounding confusing and strange to Mia.

    "You were recommended to be in-charge of the interior decorations and designs." Van said.

    "B-b-b-but I'm no interior designer? I'm a party planner, I plan parties." Mia shook her head. "There must be some sort of mistake, I'm sure of it." There was no way she was believing Van.

     "Mia. Interior designer, party planner, what difference does it make? Our company was chosen not some other interior designing company? This is the big shot we've been waiting for all these time! Look, you have this flair for transforming a place, it doesn't need to be a party before you know how to decorate. I've seen what you did to your apartment, it was splendid! You have so much potentials that you can unlock sweetheart." Van was out to convince Mia.

   Mia didn't understand one bit! Why in the world would a company like Mi-Tech choose an event planner to decorate for them? Isn't that stupid? Mia then wondered why Van wanted her to take the offer.

    "How much is involved?" Mia had to ask.

    "The company's willing to bet a million dollars on you Mia. They want you for a million dollars, insane right? Me too, I just don't get it, but it's a risk I'm willing to take." Van said like she had accepted the offer and there was no going back.

    "Why? I don't get, why?" Mia scratched her forehead.

   "Mia, we're accepting the deal."

   "We are? But what if I don't meet up to their expectations? What if they expect too much from me and then realize I'm a joke, what if—"

    "Stop the what ifs. If Mi-Tech thinks you're good enough then you are, don't doubt yourself. You can do it Mia, I know you can." Van smiled, taking Mia's hand.

    Mia sighed... "Is there anything else I should know? Concerning the proposal?" She asked.

    "It's all in this document." Van gave her a file. "Everything, the terms and conditions, deals—they are all in here. Read it carefully."

   "Okay I will." Mia nodded.

   "Thank you so much Mia." Van thanked her.

   "No please. This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't given me this job. So thank you." Mia smiled at her.

   "Wonderful! We are definitely cerebrating this!" Van clapped twice. Now, she could show her excitement.

   Archu had stood, leaning against the door, listening to Mia and Van's conversation.

    "Archu?" Julia had spotted Archu.

   Archu quickly leaned away, adjusting her dress.

    "What are you doing there?" Julia asked her.

    Archu cleared her throat... "Nothing. I was just about knocking anyway." Archu fixed her hair, knocking slightly on the door.

    Julia walked away without any suspicion.

     Archu heard the Van's voice and she opened the door.

    "Boss," Archu smiled. Of course her fake smile. "You asked for the closest venues for the Garrison's wedding reception. I got them here." She waved some papers.

    "Ok. It's good you're here anyways, I want to talk to you." Van looked back at Mia. "We'll talk later."

    "Okay Mrs V." Mia stood up, moving for the entrance.

   Archu watched Mia walk out..

   "Let me see the venues Archu." Van noticed that Archu kept on staring at Mia.

    "Oh!" Archu walked over to Van, handing the papers over. A few moments watching Van go through the papers, Archu decided to talk. "You spent quite a while talking to Mia, is there something going on?"

     Van clicked her tongue... "It was nothing important." Van didn't spare her a glance.

    "You wouldn't mind discussing it with me, right boss?" Archu said to Van.

    Van glanced at Archu... "Okay. I'm sure you'll be happy when I tell that you can now go solo. You can plan your own events without Mia being there with you, plus, you get to handle all Mia's clients too."

   "Oh." Archu said dryly.

  Van looked up at Archu... "Oh? I thought you'd be jumping for joy right now?" Van raised her brow.

   "Sure, I'm happy!" Archu puts on a forced smile. "If I may ask, how did this happen? What's the sudden change for?" Archu asked Van.

    "You don't need to ask Archu. Your hands are gonna be full for the next few weeks, that's all you should be concerned about." Van said to her.

   "Okay." Archu nodded. She's about to leave but she turned back to Van. "Boss?"

    "What is it Archu?"

  "Can I get off work now?" Archu requested.

     "Why?"

   "I um, I really need to visit the hospital. You know my sister just came out of surgery and—"

   "Oh yes yes yes. How is she?" Van asked.

    "She can move at least. I need to be there at the hospital because the doctor um, he wants to speak to me about my sister's health issues? He says it's really urgent and I should be on my way." Archu made sure to look sympathetic.

    "Is her condition that serious?" Van was already buying Archu's acting.

    "We're still not sure. Boss I'm really sorry if this is not the right time, I just have to be there. Please?" Archu said calmly.

     Van sighed... "Okay then. Hand over your duties to someone else... Julia or maybe Mia." Van said to her. 

    "Thank you so much! I'll make sure I come back as soon as possible." Archu surpressed a smile.

    "No problem." Van didn't mind at all.

    Immediately Archu left the office, she smirked, knowing she had a little plan forming in her head.

    She was going for the Mi-Tech deal... She wasn't letting Mia take the spotlight and all the glory.
......................................................

     Alex sat with Natalie in their apartment. They were talking about Natalie's new makeup line collection.

    "Babe, I want my next line collection to be named after you, what do you think?" Natalie asked him while she applied the nail polish to her toes.

    "That will be superb! So what's it gonna be?" Alex asked her.

   "I'm still thinking! How about a combination of our names? ALIE X ALEX?" Natalie suggested.

  "Yeah, that's actually great too." He nodded.

    "I'm going to the pop-up shop, you're coming with me." Natalie said to him. 

    "Why? I'm hanging out with David just so you know." Alex frowned.

     "Babe you promised. I don't want to go alone." Natalie shook her head.

    "Lucas would love to go with you. Besides, Layla can tag along too." Alex said to her. 

   "Yeah yeah. Speaking of Layla, how are things between her and Ryan?" Natalie asked him.

     "Okay. I don't ask Ryan about his personal relationship, you know that." Alex said to her.

    "It's kinda sad you know. Layla is such a sweet girl, I still wonder why Ryan doesn't want to make any effort in making them a real couple. Two years is something!" Natalie said to Alex.

    "Two years? So you've been counting for them, huh babe?" Alex raised his brow at her.

  Natalie smacked his arm. "It's nothing like that. But on a serious note, I'm sure Layla is madly in love with Ryan. Why can't Ryan just," she shrugged. "You know, love her back. Layla isn't that hard to love. She's understanding, very pretty, a wonderful cook, she's altogether a wonderful person! I just don't get Ryan."

   "You talk too much! I wonder how I've coped all these years. If Layal is so great, maybe I should date her instead." Alex teased her.

   Natalie smacked his arm twice... "Hey! I just feel for her that's all." Natalie stuck a tongue out at him. "Don't be silly."

   Alex laughed... "I can't trade you for anything in this world, you know that."

    "Good." Natalie pouted.

  "We know how Ryan is, let's just leave him to do what he wants. He knows what he's doing. If he's truly destined for Layla then fine, but if not? We can't force him." Alex said to her.

  Natalie bites her lip, pausing for a while... "Do you think, by chance, that he still thinks about her? About... Sophie?" Natalie knew bringing up Sophie was a very touchy subject for Alex. "Do you think it's the reason he can't move on? Because he's afraid?"

    Natalie had seen Ryan at his worst. She had never seen him so vulnerable after Sophie's death. He'd overdosed a couple of times and putting his life back together wasn't so easy. It was a miracle that Ryan managed to keep his sanity. Thinking of it, seven years looked like it had gone so quickly! Her relationship with Alex is still as fresh as it was during their highschool days, although more fights and arguments, they managed to pull through together.
✴✴✴✴

     Archu entered Olivia's office, putting on the best of her smile. 

    "Good afternoon." Archu smiled at Olivia.

    "You're the lady from Van's Event, right?" Olivia glanced at Archu.

    "Yes." Archu nodded.

  Olivia picked up her telephone, placing the receiver over her ear.
   "The lady from Van's Events is here. Should I send her in?" Olivia spoke to the telephone. "Okay." She dropped the receiver and turned back to Archu.

    "Mr Webster will see you now." Olivia pointed towards the big mahogany French door. "That's the door to his office." Olivia said to her before turning to her laptop.

    Archu smiled, walking with confidence into Mr Webster's office.

     Ryan sat in his chair as busy as usual, but when Olivia had told him that Mia was already around, he decided to set most things aside.

    "That was fast." Ryan thought to himself as he wasn't expecting her to show up so quickly.

    Soon, she entered his office but it wasn't who he was anticipating to see.

    "Good afternoon sir." Archu greeted politely.

    "Oh." Ryan narrowed his eyes at the lady in front of him. "Good afternoon." He greeted back.

    "I'm the representative from Van's Events. Archana Patel." Archu streched her hands out for a handshake, which Ryan took.

    "Archana?" Ryan finally frowned. He watched her take a seat in front of him.

   "I was told that we were recommended to work with you Sir and—"

   "Mia, Mia Simpsons. She was the one my company recommended, no one told me that a certain Archana was part of the project." Ryan said to her.

    "Well not really. I'm the best at what I do and so our company manager only wanted to send the best to your prestigious company. As you see, I'm more than familiar with interior designs and decorations, in fact, I graduated here in NewYork at the interior and—"

   "So what are you saying?" Ryan couldn't careless what she was talking about.

   "Sir, I'm saying, you should give me the chance to prove my worth to your company." Archu said to him.

    "Look Miss Archana, you're not what I'm looking for." Ryan told her plainly.

    "Then what are you looking for? Truth be told, I am better than that Mia. She might have been recommended but our boss chose me. I really wish you'd give me the opportunity to work with you." Archu does her famous hair flipping. "You won't regret it, I promise."

    "I'm sorry but it's Mia Simpsons I want." Ryan said to her.

    "But why sir? Why her? She's only going to be bad luck!" Archu frowned.

    "Our conversation is over. If you have personal issues with her, don't blabber about it here. Please leave." Ryan went back to writing.

     Archu sighed... "Sir, I'm sorry. I just—"

    "You'll only be wasting your time. I have better things to do so please leave." Ryan told her.

   Archu gathered her pride as she had just lost a potential client... All because of that stupid Mia! How dare Mia make her—Archana, her shadow?! This was the last cut! 

   Archu glanced at Ryan, when she saw that he had lost interest in whatever she had to say, she stood up and walked out of the office. 

    Meanwhile, Danny and Mia strolled down the streets of NewYork after work.

    "One month contract, compulsory stay in California, compulsory attending of meetings... Blah blah blah." Mia threw her hands up out of frustration. "I can't do this. The workload is too much." Mia said while holding a file in her hand.

    "You can handle anything. You're tough." Danny said holding a tiny coin to her face.

    "I don't know Danny." Mia sighed. "I heard Archu left earlier, do you know why?" Mia asked her.

    "Why should I care? It's not like she gives a damn about me or anyone else." Danny said to her.

    Mia looked at Danny and sees the coin she's holding up. "What's that?" Mia asked her.

   "A coin, obviously." Danny said, scrutinizing every part of it.

    "And why are you looking at it like your life depends on it." Mia asked.

    "This isn't just any coin Mia, it's a special coin. Last year, my cousin from India gave it to me. He said it's a lucky charm that would bring my one true love to me." Danny smiled and looked at Mia.

Mia laughed... "What? You've been scammed."

    "No it's true! My one true love came to me." Danny grinned at her.

    "So your true love is Tyson? You guys fight every two minutes in every five minutes, and you call that true love? " Mia quoted the air while saying 'true love'.

  "Tyson and I may have our hills but we love each other. We might throw savage insults at one another but deep down, we can't breathe without each other. And of course, no relationship is a bed of roses, there's gonna have to be ups and downs." Danny told her.

    "That's bullshit. You're crazy if you believe that superstition." Mia scoffed, taking a look at the coin. "Find your true love? Really?" Mia rolled her eyes.

    "It's true." Danny said with conviction.

   "You're so easy to fool. Besides, I don't believe in true love." Mia shook her head.

   "There you go with that cynic attitude of yours." Danny took Mia's hand and placed the coin in it. "It's for you."

   Mia batted her lashes at Danny.