My friends looked at me curiously.

"Any chance this bar has the same management as Oil Rig?" I asked the waiter.

The waiter smiled and then he said, "Then I trust you understand what I meant."

I groaned and then I turned to my friends who were smiling now.

"Wow!" Dannie couldn't help saying.

"Okay, where's his office?" I asked the waiter.

I told my friends I won't be long. I just need to tell Ryder that next time he wants to see me, he must make the effort to ask me himself.

I was led to the office upstairs. When I opened the door, I found Ryder standing on one side, looking through the glass wall, his back turned on me. I know that he knows I was standing behind him, but I made no effort to call his name or to make any sound to indicate my presence.

"Can you do me a favor?" He finally asked.

I sighed. "What?"

He turned to face me. "Will you have dinner with me?"

"I already had dinner." I said, although it was more a snack than dinner. I intended to make some pasta when I get home.

"Would you humor me then?" He asked.

"What for?" I asked back.

He smiled and he stepped closer to me. "We... got off on the wrong foot the last time. I'd like to make up for it."

I rolled my eyes. "Ryder, what do you want from me? I know I owe you a favor. But can you tell me what you want in return so we can go on our separate lives?"

"That's the thing. I can't seem to decide what I want in return." He said, his eyes twinkling. I almost forgot how to breathe. He was so handsome and the look he gave me just blew me away.

I sighed and then I nodded. "Okay. I just need to tell my friends."

I dialed Dannie's number and told him that they can go ahead since Ryder and I have some business to talk about.

"Would you like to have dinner here then?" I asked Ryder after my phone call.

He shook his head. "No. I've got something else in mind."

He grabbed his car keys and then he took my hand. I tried to pull it away but he only gripped it tighter, refusing to let me go. Then he turned to me and winked.

I heaved a sigh. I wish he would just tell me what the hell he wants so I can start moving on with my life!

We drove quietly for a while. He parked in front of a hotel and then he went out of the car and opened the door for me.

"Mademoiselle." He said.

I stared at him and found that his eyes were twinkling, like he was suppressing a laugh or something. I didn't know what to say so I rolled my eyes and stuck my tongue out at him for a moment and then I walked past him. I heard him chuckle behind me.

We walked into a restaurant. He chose a spot outside where we had a lovely view of the beach.

The waiter handed us a menu. Although I said I already had dinner, I still ordered pasta. Ryder was suppressing a smile when he heard me order something from the waiter.

When the waiter left, we stared at each other blankly. Then Ryder chuckled.

"What?" I asked in an irritated tone.

He shook his head. "You're cute."

I knew I blushed at that. But I raised my brow at him instead of turning away.

"What do you want from me, Ryder?" I asked.

"Come on, Ash. You were not this grumpy at the wedding. What happened to that girl?"

I sighed. "That girl was desperate and broken. This girl is nearly fixed now and she's mad at you for lying to her, and making her feel like a first class..."

"Stop!" He cut me off. Something in his voice scared me. He took a deep breath. It was evident that he was trying to control his temper.

I was afraid to utter a word. I bit my lip, while I waited for him to say something.

He took a deep breath. "I never meant to make you feel that, Astrid." He said in a low voice. "In fact, I never planned to... I didn't plan the things that happened that night."

"I know. I threw myself at you. And you're just a man." I said.

His eyes narrowed. "Do you think I would take any woman who would throw herself at me?"

I shrugged. "I don't know you."

"Exactly. You don't know me. So don't... judge me, Ash." His words were bitter, but his voice was gentle. Like he'd been hurt by my words but he was trying to understand me.

"Then why did you do it, Ryder?" I asked him. "Why did you agree to do pretend to be my boyfriend? You didn't need the money."

"Sometimes, you don't need to have a reason for doing something. Sometimes, you just... want to." He said.

"It must have insulted you that I thought you were just a mere bartender."

He shook his head. "Not really. Would you have spoken to me if you knew I owned the place?"

I shook my head. "I wouldn't even look at you."

He smiled. "I was at the right place at the right time, Astrid. You needed me. Call it a favor." He said gently.

Our food was served. We ate in silence for the about five minutes. And then I couldn't help asking him, "What about the events that followed after? Is that a favor too?"

He stared at me for a while. He knew I was talking about the night we spent together. He shook his head, "That... that I did for my own benefit."

I blushed again and this time, I did look away from him.

The he reached forward and pulled my chin so I could look at him. "The ring was not a payment, Astrid. It was yours the moment I bought it. I never intended to just lend it to you... or to give it to you only after what happened between us. So... please... do not think otherwise."

"Why, Ryder? Why would you give me that ring in the first place? I know you're rich and you could afford it. But you don't just give out expensive rings to people you don't know."

"I know you, Astrid." He said softly. "And I know you deserved it."

"It's not enough." I whispered. "Your reason is not enough."

He smiled. "If I find a reason that seems 'enough' for you, will you wear the ring again?"

I raised a brow. "I gave it back to you already."

"It's still yours. I'm not going to send it back to the store." He said. "So? Will you?"

I sighed. I don't know what that meant, or why he was so persistent, but somehow, what could it hurt if I accepted his gift? As long as he finds a good enough reason as to why he was giving it to me, then I guess it was fine.

"Only if your reason is good enough." I said.

He nodded. "Then we have another deal." He smiled.

"I'll get to be the judge, so don't keep your hopes up." I said seriously.

He laughed. "We'll see about that, won't we?"

It's Kaycee's and Michael's wedding day. They were childhood sweethearts, and they wanted their wedding to be a feast of flowers. The place where the ceremony was held was covered in lilies. The reception had roses in shades of red, orange and pink.

The floor was covered with rose petals. I mixed the artificial ones with the real ones to save on cost. Balls of roses hung from the ceiling in different heights. It looked like a classy fairy, flower land.

"I told you, you should hire me now." Nicole said. "You really could use some help."

I smiled at her. "I know, but not yet. I can't afford you yet."

After my success with Kaycee and Michael, I was hired by Peter and Lyn, a referral that came from Angela and Jacob. And soon, inquiries just kept pouring in.