Chapter 1 ~ Paris Martinez's POV

“Shit! Shit!”

“What?” I fired back at Nina, a friend and coursemate of mine who abruptly stopped drinking as soon as she caught Jeff, her long-time crush who was approaching us.

“Cover me, I don't want him to see me. His he looking at me?” Nina held my arms in hopes that I would stand in front of her just so Jeff won't be able to see her.

I have always known Nina to act in ridiculous ways in other to avoid Jeff, I wasn't sure what these two had together but whatever it might give me the thought that would be together soon.

“Okay Nina, act cool. Do not fret, be normal.” I tried calming her down.

“Hey, ladies!” Jeff broadened a smile at us.

“Hi!” Nina and I beamed.

“You both are looking wonderful tonight, anything new aside from the graduation?”

“Thank you, nothing actually. Just girls hang out after the graduation.” Nina uttered.

“Uhm... I was hoping you and I could spend some time together before I live town, you know... just you and I.” The nervousness in-between Jeff's voice was noticeable. I could imagine butterflies roaming all over her stomach.

“Alright... will call you later today.” Nina's cheeks turned red, Jeff said his goodbye and left us to our chit-chat.

“Ah!” Nina exclaimed and leaped in joy.

“Now, when will you two make me an aunt?” I crossed my arm and laughed.

“Oh please! We aren't an item, it's just a hangout.”

I scoffed at the idea of her words. “Says someone who jumped happily after he asked you out on a date.”

“Shut up!” She nudged me on my arm.

“I can't believe we are finally done with college!”

“Me too, I am deciding on working at St. Caters, I chose pathology,” Nina announced with a sigh.

“Wait... the same St. Carters?” I asked in surprise. During the years when we worked as a resident, Nina and I weren't able to choose the same hospital due to my controlling and annoying father. It was a bit of a surprise knowing she chose the same department as that of Jeff. I was able to know this because my older brother, Ethan worked there as the chief of the surgery department.

“Yes?” Nina raised an eyebrow, looking at me as though she was eager to hear me speak.

“Then you get to see, Jeff.” I teased, noticing how Nina's blush rose immediately.

“Whatever, I will miss you.” She leaned on me to hug me.

I rolled my eyes at her dramatic approach. “Come on, Nina it's just a few houses away from yours.”

“Still!” She retorted.

We were so engrossed with the conversation we were having that we heard someone use metal to click on the wine glass slowly. Nina and I turned forward, it was one of my medical mentors; Mr. Hawkins was my mentor at a hospital I was interning at which was in the cardiology department. I found the old man to be grumpy, he had dogmatic claims which made us disagree on so many things while I was still an intern, with years we grew to tolerate each other. Mr. Hawkins was old, and I was sure in no time, he would want to retire.

“Everyone, it is of delights and happiness to have been here today to witness the graduation of these children,” every one of us burst into a fit of laughter. “Pardon me, I am too old.”

“I am rooting for you!” I screamed enthusiastically at top of my voice which made him laugh.

“On a more serious note, it is the... a great honor that I have to be here and witness the success of the class of 'twenty-two, you just sit back and take a look at how time flies; the unending and exhausting lectures, the presentations, research, working as a resident. Yes, they are all too much but I want you to know that you all got in here... in here...” he took a long pause then continued. “You all got in here, because of you. Your hard work got you right here and it paid off.”

“Let's exclude the student loan now?” Nina whispered into my ear in sarcasm, causing me to glare at her jokingly but she was right after all.

“And I'm sure you are all proud of yourselves for getting this far, do let me welcome a person of honor and also one of the few people who helped with our charity, Dante Melendez!” Immediately a clap of thunder made the room shudder.

This was where I knew it would get interesting, I wasn't surprised by the name Hawkins called on, Dante Melendez was your typical—tall-fine—looking young billionaire who was probably in his 30s, and was also among the people of timber and caliber who donated to the Havard University, apparently it wasn't only Havard but other prestigious universities and high schools also.

“Good day, class of 'twenty-two,” his voice was gruff, and his brows were drawn together in a frown and yet the blue eyes twinkled with humor. “Well, Uhm... it is such an honor to be here in front of everyone, now will be best to call upon each graduate to hand their degrees to them.” He announced and then left the podium.

Each of our names was called one by one to receive our degree, it was now my turn to reach up to the podium to get mine. Dante Melendez had given me a little smile and a handshake. All was over and I gave Nina along with other people I knew a goodbye hug.

“There she is! There is our cardiologist!” I heard a familiar voice hail, I smiled delightedly at Ethan, coming forward to embrace him in a hug.

“You are late, everyone is almost gone,” I remarked, freeing myself from his embrace.

“I am so sorry, fatherhood and the hospital has me in a chokehold.” His apology sounded sincere.

“I understand, how are Emma and Cleo?” I asked him.

Emma was the woman, my brother got married to ten years ago and they both had my adorable niece, Cleo who was four years old. I remembered vividly when Ethan had just brought Emma to introduce to us as his fiancée, Dad wasn't happy about it at first because he thought Ethan wouldn't dare defy his wishes to get married to one of his rich friend's daughters. Dad still disliked Emma but he was obviously tolerant around her.

“All fine, hop in, let's go home to celebrate.” Ethan opened the front door of his car and lead me in.

***

Ethan and I arrived at our father's house since he was bad at keeping secrets he told me everyone was home to surprise me for the after-party. The party had gone well and my Dad celebrated and told me how proud I have made him.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I have an announcement to make,” my father brought to everyone's attention, which made me smile. He was probably going to ramble again about how proud he was of me and me working with Ethan. “I am proud today, to announce to you that my daughter, Paris Martinez will be taking over my company.” The smile on my face dropped immediately when he said that.

“What?” I voiced in surprise, watching as everyone applauded.