A bar date

Helene squealed and jumped up and down, her feet noisily thumping on the ground below.

“Shh, you're making a lot of noise,” Aria stated as she tried to stop Helene’s movements.

“I don’t care. I’m so happy. Do you know what it means? I bet we’d be the best graduating students,” she said, squirming as she grabbed Aria’s arms. She was so excited.

Aria didn’t know why she wasn’t as excited as her; she was supposed to be. She had put in so much effort that she had planned to celebrate if they succeeded.

Now she was just looking at Helene and Scott with a tight expression. She just hoped that she wouldn’t have to see Asher all the time. It was just sponsorship; it didn’t really require him to keep showing off his face every time.

“Calm down; it’s not over yet. He hasn’t signed anything yet; he could change his mind at any time, you know that,” she said, sounding like a pessimist.

Helene’s smile faded, and she immediately slapped Aria’s arm. Scott gave her a look as his eyes narrowed.

“Is everything okay?” he asked her, looking worried, his dark brown eyes staring unnecessarily deep into her soul.

Aria looked away. “Of course, everything is okay. Don’t mind me. I just don’t want to get my hopes up,” she said.

But that only made Scott look at her more suspiciously. He knew more than anyone that Aria was an optimistic woman. Before he could go further, Aria shut him up.

“You need to get the papers to him after signing for his own signature,” she said to them and the remaining group with a bright smile.

“Oh, yes!” Helene squealed again. “All signings been done. Here,” she said as she handed Aria the papers. “Tell him we appreciate it.”

Aria didn’t grab it; she stared down at it instead while she thought.

Why was this done so unprofessionally? Why did he have to call her to give her the papers? Were her teammates not supposed to be there? And who signs at different places?

Well, it wasn’t a business proposal; this was just sponsorship. Since he was the one giving out money, it was natural that he wouldn’t want to go through more stress.

Aria recalled the way he had stressed out the 'you' when he had instructed her to bring back the papers. She knew it was only natural for her to do just that. But.

“Take it to him. I’d send you his address and phone number,” Aria said instead as she looked up at Helene. Helene looked confused. She looked at Scott, who equally looked like he was confused.

“I mean, I would love to see the divinely handsome Mr. Asher, but I thought you were supposed to take it to him,” she asked, contemplating whether she should take it or leave it.

“Why must I be the one to take it?” Aria asked, looking totally confused.

“Because he called you and gave it to you; it would only show respect if you take it to him,” Helene said, and I admired her. It was one thing Aria liked about Helene; she liked to reason things. Aria knew she was right, but she didn’t only want to go against his wish; she also didn’t want to see the man.

Of course, she was the most handsome man she had ever seen, so her stomach would always clench when she saw him. But she was afraid of making a fool out of herself the next time they met.

“Well, that’s true, but I think it’s also right that he meets other members of the group, not just me. Also, you could go with Scott,” I said, knowing that it was the only thing that would make her go.

Aria had never failed to notice the way she looks at Scott. It was obvious that she liked him.

But sadly, it was more obvious how interested he was in Aria.

Helene turned towards Scott, grinning.

“Okay,” she said with a smile.

Aria smiled, but she hoped that she wasn’t putting her and her teammates in danger with her brazenness.

********************************************

It was hours later that Aria’s phone buzzed, bringing her back to reality. She had been staring at the ceiling unblinkingly, her mind blank.

She blinked twice, fighting back tears due to her dry eyes.

The name on the screen was Helene's, so she picked up immediately. Pressing the phone to her ear, she heard Helene breathing heavily, momentarily scared until the excitement in Helene’s voice emerged.

“A…ria,” she dragged the name. “So now that all has been done, shouldn’t we celebrate?” she asked chillingly.

Oh. He collected it.

Aria thought. Oh well. A smile slowly curved on her lips until it was full and bright.

“Everything has been finalized?” Aria said with a squeal.

“Well, yes. Technically. He collected the papers. And oh, he asked where you were but that’s all. He collected and said we could go,” Helene explained. “And before you say that doesn’t mean anything, he said that it would be nice working with us.”

Ohh. Then that’s good news. Aria could literally die from excitement.

“Sooo….” Helene continued. “Are you coming?” she asked.

Well, it would be nice for her to celebrate. It was good news for them as much as her.

So why not.

“Of course, send me the address and time.”

Four hours later, even though Aria had wondered what kind of celebration starts at 8 pm on the night, she knew she couldn’t bail out. Arriving at the venue, Aria got out of the cab looking the most girly she had looked her entire life.

She wore a jet black short gown, not very short, though, since it was more to her knees than her thighs. But there was a V at the neck and tiny sleeves.

Her red hair was held back in a bun, while a few strands hung down her face.

As Michelle said, Aria had destroyed something that would have looked exquisite if she had worn pencil heels or very high heels. “I’ll call that flats,” Michelle had said, looking at the low heels. Aria, being Aria, had just smiled.

Looking down at herself, she took a deep breath as she looked up. Why did the place look so damn expensive?

It looked like a bar, but not those cheap ones that Michelle had dragged her to on numerous occasions.

Was Helene serious? Wasn’t it obvious that those bar people would cut off their necks with the bills? Aria looked shocked as well as betrayed; those guys weren’t serious!!

She wondered whether to go in or not. After much contemplation, she decided. She would go in and give them a piece of her mind, or at least look at the prices before flaring up. Making up her mind, she walked in.

Immediately, a bartender saw her, looking as if he had been waiting for her. “This way,” he said to her.

She was worried for a second but then saw her friends sitting at a far end. Oh well. She followed until she was standing right on top of their heads.

“Guys. This place? Do you see how expensive it is?” She exclaimed immediately the bartender had gone.

She must admit, the place was beautiful and had this look like it could compel you to drink. She even saw businessmen chatting at their tables.

“Shhhush. Sit,” Helene said as she pulled her hand to make her sit.

“What—“ she started but was cut off.

“We aren’t paying. This place belongs to Mr. Hunter. It was his courtesy. He invited us,”

Aria opened her mouth, quite wide. Hunter? Was that a joke? Of course, it didn’t sound weird and out of place. So this wasn’t weird for them?

“Why are you telling me about this now?” She asked them.

“Uhmm,” they all looked at each other.

“But you look pretty,” Scott finally spoke looking completely mesmerized.

Before Aria could stop herself, she was blushing red. She knew she looked different. But she was hoping that no one would mention it.

“Yes, you look incredibly beautiful. Why don’t you dress like this on a normal day? Have you seen your body? I didn’t think you had this kind of body shape,” Helene added. Martha, and the other guy who were part of the group nodded in agreement.

She just blushed deeper.

Scott smiled happily as he handed her a glass of wine.

“This was the most expensive, courtesy of Mr. Hunter,” Scott said giving it to her with a smile. She collected it as she looked down, seemed she had already had theirs.

Smelling the wine, she brought it to her lips, but it was just then that her eyes locked with the eyes that now seemed familiar.

She blinked, as if wanting to be sure. It wasn’t her eyes. It was truly him.

Immediately, she choked on her wine and coughed it out, wetting her dress with the wound that looked much more expansive than her dress. She cursed as she tried to brush it off herself.

Finally, she looked up and met the same pair of golden eyes.

He was among other people who looked like they were in a business meeting.

Cold rushed over Aria’s skin, now feeling like she was naked.

“So sorry,” they had all been saying, but her attention was far off.

“I need... need to wash this… the bathroom,” she said as she stood up.

“Sorry, I need to wash up,” she said with a polite smile. They all looked at each other; she left before they could answer.

Asher, whose eyes never left her the moment she had walked into the room, immediately stood up. “Excuse me, gentlemen.”