Architectural Nonsense

A majestic Darien Quin stood by the window in his office, staring out into the cityscape. This was one thing he always did. The reasons were unknown but, it just kind of connected him to the city, or, because the city at night was one of the most beautiful sites to behold. The almost noiseless creak of the door made him frown. How he hated being disturbed.

''Were you ever taught courtesy in school?'' His authoritative, quiet voice inquired.

''I did, and that is the reason I have come to ask you to please, honor Edwin's invitation. He brought this party to your hotel because he wants you to be there." The intruder said.

''And I already informed him that I wouldn't be there in it.'' Darien Quin said with no interest.

''At least just go downstairs and congratulate him. You both weren't enemies the last time I checked.'' The man insisted.

''Did he ask you to do that? Lure me into having a change of mind?''

''That would be a waste of a request. Besides, he knows better than to do that. He knows that as long as you've given your word, there is no going back, no second thoughts.''

''Then I'm certain you also know you're wasting your time, cause just like you said, I already gave my word." Darien said dismissively with his gaze still fixated out the window in his office that faced the city. He was going to continue that way, but his office's telephone called his attention.

''Sir, someone awaits you on the third floor.'' The caller informed, and Darien Quin put back the phone on the dial. He sighed with frustration, he had already given his word that he wouldn't show up at the party and now, someone awaited him on the third floor. He knew it must be important, because he had instructed his secretary to only inform him of important business. And there were no elevators connecting his office to the third floor, so, to go to the third floor, he needed to use the stairs and also, he would have to go through the 'grand floor'.

''Architectural nonsense." He cursed. Up until now, he had been so pleased with the way the hotel's building was, and had thought of it as a masterpiece, but now?

''You should leave my office, you know?'' He told the man and then walked past him. Walking down a flight of stairs that led to the fifth floor, Darien could already hear the blasting sound of music. He continued along the stairs, until he was standing on the last staircase in the 'Grand floor.' His phone beeped in his pocket. He picked it out, and went through the message. It was a message from Hau, the man from earlier in his office.

'You have guests on the third floor.' the text read. Darien sighed after reading the text, and then put the iPhone back in his pocket. When he looked back into the crowd, all eyes were resting on him.

When he looked back at the crowd, all eyes were on him. His countenance immediately dropped by a hundred degrees into a displeased frown. This was exactly what he had been trying to avoid. 

He climbed down the last stair block and walked through the crowd. As he appeared closer, they made a way for him like some revered god. His plan was to go to the third floor. He wasn't going to spend even the tiniest minute of his time there on the 'Grand floor.' The host already had his word that he wouldn't be coming.

Darien Quin continued through the crowd, each step he took emitting grace, and spoke of the man he was; ruthless, billionaire, tabloid's finest, and all there was about him. He hadn't made it halfway through the crowd when a small figure bumped into his hard frame. She staggered and was going to fall. Darien's frown deepened as he caught her just in before she could drop to the floor.

Irene and Mia hurried close to the scene and found their friend in the arms of tabloid's wealthiest, most handsome bachelor and tycoon. Outraged eyes popped out of their sockets. This man, who is noted to be the no-nonsense kind of man and has been pictured countless times with no hint of a smile on his face and, as rumored, has zero tolerance for the middle class and the poor, was holding the same girl who considers herself to be the nation's poorest in his arms and that too, this way? His expression was blank and unfathomably displeased.

''Wait! what's she doing?'' Irene asked her outraged self. ''Is she flirting with...'' she stopped before she could even finish.

''Oh no!'' She exclaimed, visibly scared for her poor dear friend. She turned to Mia and there was that dumbstruck expression she'd always wear when she was in shock.

''What do we do?'' Irene asked, uncertainty vivid in her eyes, but all she got as a reply was a dumbstruck glare at her and then back at the scene.

Darien Quin stared at the girl in his arms, as confused as never before. She just kept caressing his visible chest, and saying all sorts of crazy things that had the same effect on him. Different thoughts ran at the back of his mind. 'Who was this girl, and what was it fanning this courage of hers.'

No woman had ever had this much bravery to come this close to him without his permission, and even the many women he had taken to bed, none dared touch him or do anything to his body without a go-ahead order from him and here this frail little human was, doing all kinds of things to him. He could tell she wasn't an elite, because the elite ladies he knew didn't dress as simply as the girl in his arms. They always dressed so expensively like they were in some sort of competition with themselves. On second thought, he had heard the party was open to commoners also. Was she one? he thought.