"Cassie?" She stopped and saw pink hair approaching her, her face went red and she tried to look anywhere but his face.

"Hey Brayleigh." He chuckled upon getting to her.

"Hey... I didn't think you'd be in the mall." She gave him an awkward smile, the last few encounters she had would likely only raise some kind of problem, so she kept it to herself.

"Yeah, my mom told me it'd be a good idea to go shopping while things were so cheap."

"Really?" He looked at her bag, "Is that what's in there?"

"Just something I bought."

"Can I see it?" She didn't know what to say, but gave in and held the bag up. He held it and took the dress holding it out. The red material was satin and caused him to stare longer, eventually she made a noise to get the dress back.

"Uh... I-I don't think it's really my style." Brayleigh put it back and Cassie could see the redness on his face.

"No, I think it looks fine." He paused, "It'll look really good on you." She looked off. It'll look really good off me too! "But where are you wearing it too?"

"Huh?"

He chuckled, "You must be wearing it somewhere. No one buys a dress this fancy and just throws it in their closet."

"Oh, well it's a dinner party Mr. Wry invited me to." Brayleigh made a sour expression.

"Really? He invited you?" She nods.

"It's more of a formal meeting than a dinner honestly."

"Between just the two of you?"

"Oh no! He just said he figured it'd be a good chance for me to get familiar with a few names at the company." Brayleigh stared at her for a while longer, but he then sighed and touched a random strand of hair in front of his face.

"Well, if something happens don't let him drive you home. I'll be up late tonight working on a song so just call or text me okay?" Cassie smiled at him, What do you think I'm going to do with him?

"Okay, thanks for worrying about me."

"Of course, but I'll get out of your way now." She nods and he began to walk off, Cassie quickly made a run for it and tried to calm down.

"Damn he was too cute today! And that hair? Man, what does a girl have to do to get to touch that!" She agonized over her situation, but let out a deep sigh before looking to the dress once more. "Koto did say this looked good... do they all think that?" Her mind went elsewhere and she began to think inappropriate thoughts. "No! This dress would look good off me alone. If I even think about wearing this in front of them while we're together I'll..." She felt the heat rise to her head. "No!" She shook her head and began to speed off back home.

Cassie returned home and got ready for dinner, Jessica was alright with driving her there as she was going near that area anyways, but she told her to catch a ride as she wouldn't be home until the morning. Cassie was fine with that and when Jessica showed up, she was as ready she was going to be. Cassie shifted her legs a bit in the dress and groaned as she couldn't get any more comfortable in the seat. When they got to a red light Jessica looked over to her.

"You really don't wear dresses."

"What was your first clue?" Cassie sighed and pulled on the dress.

"Well, at least you look good in it. That's half the battle right there."

"I don't want that to be the case." Jessica snickered.

"Oh, right because Mr. Wry might just rip that right off you."

"Jess... he's a grown man."

"And you're a grown woman."

"And I don't want stuff like that in the first place."

"If you don't that's fine, but why pick that dress in the first place? You could have looked like a nun in order to prevent some people's minds from running wild."

"W-well, I didn't pick this dress out."

"Then who did?" Cassie began to twittle her thumbs.

"...Koto." Jessica nearly drove off the road.

"A guy picked this out for you?"

"Yeah! I didn't know the first thing about what looked good on me so..."

"Well he sure did good. That thing will get you a man tonight for sure." Cassie sighed.

"As I didn't ask for one."

"Well, Koto likely wants you in that dress and if he's a guy so-"

"Okay! Just keep driving." Cassie snapped. Jessica laughed.

"Oh man, I wish I had your problems."

...

Eventually they got to the hotel where the corporate dinner was going to be at. Jessica rolled down the window and yelled out to Cassie.

"Have fun!" Cassie glared back and soon Jessica drove off. Cassie sighed and made her way inside. The woman behind the desk smiled at her as Cassie approached her.

"Good evening, how can I help you?"

"Uh, I'm looking for the [[think of a company name]] dinner party." She smiled and went to a separate pile to her right then gave Cassie a card.

"Can I have your name?"

"Oh, Cassie Ann."

"Welcome Ms. Ann, here's your name tag and if you show the man at the door this card he'll let you right inside. It's just up the stairs and to your right." Cassie nodded and took her name tag before thanking the woman and turning to go up the stairs. Fuck heels, how do bitches walk up stairs with heels on? Cassie struggled for a bit getting up the stairs but thankfully no one went up or down it so she was free to look as stupid as she wanted.

When she got up she saw a man standing in front of a set of closed doors, she went to him and did as the woman said and was let inside. This is where shit got bad. The only person she knew here was Ankara, so if she didn't find him she'd be looking crazy just wondering around her alone for several hours. I knew I shouldn't have agreed to this. Cassie made her way to one area aimlessly and focused her attention on the food. I'm definitely not eating, some asshole is going to look at me and I don't need that kind of embarrassment. She just stared at the food wondering why everything looked so good. Cassie pouted a bit and just kept walking for a while.

This went on for a good twenty minutes until finally she spotted Ankara, she psyched herself out thinking maybe he was busy, or wouldn't want to see her tonight so she just stood where he could eventually see her and stared at some of the posters around the area. There were a lot of big wigs here so maybe she could get something good out of being appeasing to the eyes. It was only then did Ankara finally approach her and did so with a smile.

"I'm glad you made it Cassie." I'm not, "You look amazing." I doubt it, my guy.

"Thank you." I don't know if I should compliment back, but he does look literally the same, he's just always this beautiful. "You do too." Ankara smiled and began to guide her as he spoke.

"But you arrived at just the right time. There's someone I want to introduce you to, if this goes well I think there's you can go so much higher. Possibly even past the company."

"I wouldn't want to do that. I'm happy here."

"I'm glad to hear that, but you should always be open to bigger and better things." Like that di-

Before she could think that her mind went rampant with the sound of someone greeting her and so the night began.

It was now one in the morning and these people still wanted to be up as for whatever reason there was an after party. Cassie didn't want to go, her feet have been hurting since she put on these heels and all she wanted was to go home and relax.

"I think I'm going to head off now."

"I understand, but you did great Cassie." You can say that all you want, but it won't change my mind.

"Thanks, I was kind of nervous."

"I could barely notice." Ankara had been seeing her to the hotel entrance. "Oh, did you come here alone?" She nods.

"My friend dropped me off so I might just get on the bus near here."

"You know I can't let you do that."

"But I don't have another way of getting home." And dangerous shit could happen if we're alone.

"I know, I was going to offer you a ride. I have a chauffeur for long business trips, I can call him to pick you up."

"I don't want you to think you have to help me."

"It's nothing, besides a beautiful girl shouldn't be left alone anyways, but Calem's married so I don't have to worry too much about you." Cassie gave him a small smile.

"Well I have to thank you then." Ankara was getting his phone out.

"I told you it's no problem." But it is. "And since it'll be awhile until he gets here I'll wait with you." Why?

"Are you going home soon too?"

"I wish, this after party is important as I do need to be sure all of our current clients will be here. Some of them are a bit of a headache but being here with you is relaxing." Why does everyone think that? Like seriously, I would ask him but I think that's rude.

"Well, I'm glad I can help in some way." Ankara smiled at her and they talked the entire time they waited...