"Does he work here?" I asked.

The guy shook his head. "No, Ma'am. May I ask what this is about? Maybe I can help you out." He repeated.

"If... if he doesn't work here, then how can you help me?" I asked a little impatiently.

He raised a brow at me but he didn't say anything. I realized he wasn't going to give me any information.

"Mr. Van Woodsen..." I started. "This guy that we're talking about... Ryder Van Woodsen?"

The guy nodded. "Yes, Ma'am."

I already feel like I am about to hyperventilate any minute.

"You see... I met a guy a couple of months ago... he introduced himself as Ryder. We had a little arrangement... I've been trying to call him today but he was unavailable."

"I see. As I said, he is out of the country. Maybe he's on board a flight right now." The guy said politely.

"Okay." I took a deep breath. "But really? Ryder Van Woodsen? That's his real name? Are we talking about the same guy? Black hair, riveting green eyes?"

The guy smiled. "I think we are talking about the same guy. But really, Ma'am? How can I help you?"

I shook my head. "I... guess you can't." I said to him. "Do you know when he's coming back?"

The guy shook his head. "He comes and goes. He has other branches to look after. We do not know when he'll be in Malibu again."

I nodded. "Okay. When he does come back, can you please tell him that Astrid Jacobson is looking for him?"

The guy nodded. "I will pass that message along."

I nodded at him and smiled. Then I turned my back on him and started to go but then I changed my mind. I turned back to him again. "And can you also tell him that when I do find him, I intend to personally kick his ass?"

The guy looked startled but he quickly composed himself. "I'll... I'll make sure he gets the message."

I nodded again and then quickly dashed back to our table.

I was quiet. My friends were waiting for me to say something. When Nicole and Dannie finally figured out that I might not speak for a while, they turned to John.

John sighed. "Apparently, a certain Ryder Woodson does not work here. Never had. No one knew him."

"So, what was he doing behind the bar then?"

"No one knew Ryder Woodson. However, a certain Ryder Van Woodsen seems to be so important around here, only the manager can talk to you once you mention his name." John replied.

"How could it be the same guy?" I asked in disbelief.

"He did say that Mr. Van Woodsen's name is also Ryder. And he also has black hair and green eyes." John said. He chuckled. "Wow! He must have been so taken with you to agree to pretend to be your date that night. No wonder he didn't take a penny from your ten grand!"

I stared at John. "It can't be!"

"Ash, wasn't he introducing himself at that party as Ryder Van Woodsen?" Nicole asked.

I nodded.

"He what?" John asked.

"He was telling everybody that his name was Ryder Van Woodsen. So much so, that whenever Ash introduced him as Ryder Woodson, he corrected her every time." Nicole said.

"If that guy you introduced to us really is Ryder Van Woodsen, then he isn't just a bartender here, sweetheart." John said. "He doesn't work here. Apparently, he owns this place."

I knew that he was right. If no one knew Ryder Woodson the bartender, but he was at that counter serving my drinks that night, he must still be a part of this bar. For the manager to refuse to disclose his whereabouts or his schedule but made it clear that he knew him... that could be the only explanation.

In fact, it was the only explanation for everything. From the checks that he returned to me, to the car that he was driving, to the ease and grace that he had when he was talking to my relatives about business and assuring them that he can get them a table to a famous Manhattan restaurant, to the very expensive room that he rented that night, to the ring that I am wearing on my finger.

He must have thought this was a joke! He introduced himself to everybody except me! He gave his real name to everybody and to me, he gave a fake name!

"I... can't believe this!" I breathed.

"Wow!" Dannie breathed. "You didn't make up the perfect guy that night. You really had him. He was the real deal."

"So, the story that you thought was real was the actual sham? And the fake story that you were telling your relatives that night was really the truth?"

"Apparently so. Except for us. We were a sham."

"No you weren't." Nicole said. "You said you didn't pretend right? He said that too. Just think that you had a one day relationship with Ryder Van Woodsen."

"Yeah. And having this ring made me feel like a... prostitute. Like he paid for my company!"

"You should only feel that if you went to bed with him!" Dannie muttered.

I made a big mistake after that! I blushed 'til the roots of my hair so fast that I had no time to pretend otherwise.

"Oh my God!" Nicole breathed.

"Oh my God!" Dannie almost shrieked.

John looked away and took a gulp of his beer.

I covered my face with my hands. "Shit! I'm going to kill him when I see him again!"

"Why? I thought you said..." Nicole started.

"I said a lot of things, I believed a lot of things!" I muttered. "That didn't stop Bryan and Geena from hurting me beyond belief!"

Dannie and Nicole fell silent.

"No one is judging you, Ash." John said gently. "It was about time you gave it up anyway."

"Thanks John!" I said.

"Well, at least you gave it up to someone more gorgeous than Bryan!" Dannie said, trying to make the mood light again.

"And I got a thirty thousand ring in return! What a high class whore I am!" I muttered.

"It's not that, Ash! Maybe he was just... gallant!"

"I told him to buy a ring that is fake but would pass up to be the real thing. Or he can rent the real thing and return it later. He didn't do either! And he only told me to keep the ring after all has been done! What else was this ring for? He doesn't know me. I don't know him."

"He's rich. Something to remember him by?" Nicole suggested.

I shook my head. "No. If he thought, he could buy me, he's dead wrong!"

"And what are you going to tell him when you see him? That your sleeping with him was actually for free?" Dannie asked in an irritated tone.

"Well..." Actually, I didn't know what I'm going to say to him. "I'll tell him that... that he can take his ring back and shove it down his throat!"

"What good would that do?" John asked.

"I don't like owing people favors. Especially those with a huge financial value attached to it." I replied.