Chapter 2

“Wow,” I whispered in awe.

The place was magnificent. 

The building’s lobby alone was enormous. I glanced up to the ceiling, and there was a huge beautiful crystal chandelier, that looked more expensive than my outfit and tuition combined. The floor shined with white marble, and the beautiful furniture around us white, I feel I’d get it dirty if I touch it. I looked down at my feet checking to see if I had gotten the floor dirty.

“I know right?” squealed Ava. She leaned closer to whisper in my ear as we walked further in. “I can’t believe how many men are here.” She winked at a man that passed her by.

I laughed, “Oh my goodness Ava.”

The further we went in, the more breath-taking it got. Along the walls of the building, small square-shaped videos were playing behind a square glass. Each one playing a shadow dance performance from the past.

“I’m going to use the restroom before it starts,” said Ava. She pouts when she notices the long line at the women’s restroom, “Do you have to go too?”

I shook my head, “No.” I gestured with my thumb to the videos playing on the wall, “I’ll be right over there.”

She nodded and left, leaving me alone.

I walked to one of the videos, hands behind my back, as I watched it play. The story was about a young couple that got married and had a baby girl. Then along the way, the man was suffering from a sickness that soon led to his death. Leaving his wife to raise their daughter alone. I was smiling in the beginning, but near the ending of the video, my smile dropped and tears started to fill my eyes.

“That’s so sad,” my smile fading, feeling sorry for the nonexistent family in the story.

“That’s what they want people to feel in this performance,” said a husky voice behind me.

My eyes widened. After that first day of meeting him, I’d recognize that voice anywhere. I slowly turned around, keeping my composure.

I gasped, “You!”

He gave a nod and in a teasing tone replied, “Me.” His eyes gleaming with delight. 

My mouth wide open, I quickly closed it and pulled myself together. “What are you doing here?” I said, giving him a once-over.

I pursed my lips, not enjoying how handsome he looked. His blonde hair combed back, bringing all the attention to his eyes and that strong jawline. The annoying charming grin of his that formed on his face made him all the more alluring. The black suit had him looking like the definition of sin.

It is illegal and unfair how handsome this man is. 

I thought the day of the craft fair would be the last time I have seen this man. The way the women that painted my picture talked about him, made me wonder who this man was. He never gave me a name and neither did the women, so it wasn’t like I could look him up on the computer to find out. It wasn’t like I could type, who is drop-dead gorgeous blonde hair and blue-eyed man?

“I saw you here and wanted to come to talk to you,” he stated as if it was obvious. “I must admit,” he chuckled, “it is a very pleasant surprise to see you here.”

My thought went to the first time we meant and he said the same thing.

I rolled my eyes, “You said that last time. You can’t use the same pickup line,” and turned around, moving to the next tv behind a glass.

He chuckled, “It's not a pickup line when I mean it.”

I brushed off his smooth reply.

“What are you doing at this event?” I asked, not expecting to see him again.

He nodded towards the three beautiful people standing at the other side of the room, chatting as they waited for the performance to start. This man’s attractive so I guess it made sense that he hung around his kind.

Birds of a feather flock together. 

A tall handsome man with dark brown hair had his hand around a woman’s waist. The woman seemed to be around the same height as me. She looked very stunning as her dark brown hair fell over her shoulders and wore a long black gown-length dress that hugged her curves. Another woman facing the couple was equally beautiful. She had a strong vibe around her that screamed independent. The woman’s brown hair shined even brighter as the chandelier cast its light on her. She looked like the female version of a tempting devil with the red dress she was sporting. 

If I felt beautiful before, that’s all gone now. They look like GQ models and I’m just the employee holding a prop.

“We’re here to check out the show. I've seen their videos on YouTube, but never in person. If I like their performance, then we’ll have them perform at the grand reopening of the Old Maria." 

My eyes widened, “So that’s what you’re doing!”

He nodded.

My interest peaked, “That’s going to be interesting.”

He looked curious, “How so?”

“Have you heard of the ghost stories surrounding the old maria?” I asked, turning to him with a tilt of my head. Everyone on campus knows the story.

He rolled his eyes in amusement, “Of course.” Then shook his head, “but I don’t believe in those things.”

“What? Ghosts?” I asked with a teasing tone.

He nodded.

I smirked, “Good Boy.” Then turned back to the video.

I shivered when I felt him brush up against me, hoping he didn’t notice it. I stood in silence as I tried to focus on the video of a shadow performance instead of the drop-dead gorgeous man beside me. I could smell the scent of his cologne, and it made him all the more alluring. I’d take a peek of him from the corner of my eyes, but I don’t want him to know how much he is affecting me. It already makes me frustrated that he does. 

He put his hands in his pocket, “This one is about a poor young boy that grows up to become the president of a country.”

I didn’t reply and instead stood silent until the whole video was finished. Throughout the whole time I stood there, he had stayed there with me.

He stayed with me till that video was done. 

I moved to the next one and guess what he did next?

He followed me to the next one too!

“and this one is abo-,” he spoke as if he was my tour guide.

“Don’t you have somewhere to go?” I snapped, cutting him off.

I didn’t mean to sound so rude, but his proximity and presence were making me nervous and that unsettled me. I don’t like being shy and blushing so red every time he speaks. It makes me feel like I’d easily jump if he asked me to, and all he had to do is snap his fingers. 

Real Pathetic Cassie.

He shook his head as if my tone didn’t bother him. “I’m supposed to be here,” he waved his hand in a circle around in the air, gesturing to the event that was about to start soon. He stepped closer, “Now that I’m here,” he said trailing off.

I took a step back.

The corners of his mouth turned up, “I’d like to be here.” He nodded to me, making his message very clear. 

He was enjoying my reaction towards him. He knew what he was doing to me.

My cheeks turned pink and a flush crept up my face. I rolled my eyes, faking annoyance, and took a step away from him.

He laughed, “Making you warm up to me is not going to be easy is it?”

I crossed my arms and stared at him, “If you think your charm and charisma will make me swoon and fall into your arms,” I dropped my hands and raised a brow, “you’re dead wrong.” I shook my head, “It’s never going to happen.”

You’re lying, whispered a voice in my head. I pushed that thought away for now.

Now was not the time to be thinking of a possibility of this man and I being together. I inwardly scoffed, the chance of that happening is one in a million. Anyone with eyes would see that this man is out of my league. I look like a peasant standing right next to him. I’d probably have a higher chance of blending in with the wall beside us, instead of gathering the amount of attention this man does.

There is no chance of us being a thing happening.