Faintly in the distant, I could hear an annoying beeping sound near my right ear. I clawed the origin of the sound away with my right hand but I didn't expect a different reaction from it.

"I never thought you'd resort to violence first thing in the morning." A familiar deep voice hissed on the right side on my bed.

In reaction to the sound, my eyes flew open as I flipped on my back. In the back of my head, I was trying to process my current location. I squinted my eyes when a bright light greeted me. I rubbed on it a few times and waited for it to adjust.

"Good morning puffy face. You currently have two hours to get ready for your nine thirty meeting this morning." Hugh stated as he comfortable sat on the edge on my bed.

It bounced a few times before it settle, which was enough time for me to get my bearings. "What are you doing in my room?" my voice slightly cracked at my dry throat.

"Drink some water before you start scolding me," he suggested as he pointed towards my bedside table.

I glared at him as I moved a little further away from him as I grabbed my silk blanket to cover me. When he pointed at the direction of the water, I tore my eyes from him and looked at the clear glass of water placed on top of my bedside table. I regarded it for a moment before picking it up for a sip.

"Since you are spunky enough, you should get out of bed and clean up. Your breakfast is already on the table. I will meet you there." Hugh said as he stood up and retreated towards the door.

"Thank you," I said under my breath.

"What did you say something?" He paused by the door, holding it open.

"Nothing. I will shower now. Please get out of my room." I grumbled in reply, placing the glass of water back on my bedside table.

The end of his lips twitched in amusement but he didn't quipped back a witty reply. He gave me a curt nod as he finally closed the door behind him. When I was sure he was gone, I hurriedly got out of my bed towards the bathroom. I took my time in the bathroom and applied all moisturizer and facial product I had for my skin to look rejuvenated. When I was done, I've wasted half an hour of my time. With a formal knee-length cut fitted navy dress over a cream blazer, I walked out of my room clutching my matching white Louis Vuitton purse and pump heels an hour later.

As I entered the living room, it took me a moment to spot Hugh, who was sitting on the other side of the room by the kitchen counter. He hadn't noticed my entrance as he gulped down his drink. With a deep breath, I walked towards him. He finally turned when my heels clunked as I stepped on the uncarpeted floor of the living room.

"What took you so...?" he trailed off as his eyes studied me form head to toe. "You look ready for battle," he said under his breath but the room was silence enough for me to overhear.

"Did you leave some for me?" I ignored his comment and joined him by the island counter.

"No. You have a breakfast meeting in less than an hour from now." He replied without regard and jumped down the stool chair he was sitting.

"You could have left me at least a sandwich. I wouldn't be able to eat properly during that meeting," I grumbled in annoyance.

"No time to feel bad about it now. We need to go. It will take us about forty-five minutes to get to the venue. I don't understand why you agreed to meet at a different state." He commented sarcastically and rolled his eyes in mock disbelief.

"I didn't plan any of it, they arranged this meeting. And it would be rude to suggest to meet at my convenience since I'm the one presenting something to them." I stated sternly. I felt a little defensive at his remark.

"You don't have to be defensive."

"Did you check my mail at the office for Robert? Where are the copies for this morning's presentation?" I asked, changing the topic.

"I have everything. Don't worry. Let's go." He replied nonchalantly and waved his hand in dismissal. "Where is Russell?"

Before I could call him out on his behavior, Russell appeared in the room from hallway that led to the main door. It was like he had been there, waiting for his named to be called. "I will get the car ready in five minutes, Ms. Newman," he said monotonously in a professional demeanor.

I recovered from annoyed expression and gave him a curt nod in response. Russell disappeared towards the hallway and in a second I heard a door opened and closed. When we were alone again, I switched back to my previous expression and shot daggers at the back of Hugh's head with my eyes.

"Maria made you a ham and egg sandwich. It is in the fridge." Hugh suddenly said, breaking the eerie silence between us. "I will head out now. I will meet you downstairs." He added as he retreated towards the hallway to the main door.

I was about to give him my reply but he was already gone. I stared at the empty space from where he stood for a moment before turned around to the fridge. I opened it and found a well-packed sandwich. Without thinking twice, I got the zip lock bag with the sandwich and headed out to the door.

As I reached the lobby, I didn't see any signs of Hugh or Russell waiting for me. So I walked out of the building and found the car parked in front of the exit. I quickly made my way to the back passenger door. I was about to open it when someone beat me to it. I reeled in my surprised expression as I expected the person behind the tinted door.

"You took your dear time, didn't you?" Hugh asked rhetorically.

"And I still hold your paycheck and your future, Burns. Nothing changed since yesterday." I countered as I closed the door behind me. Russell didn't wait for my orders and drove the car towards the main street.

Beside me, I faintly heard Hugh's annoyed comment. "I was lighting up the mood."

It was a silent morning ride to my first meeting. I tried to fill the silence with work talk and prepped Hugh for today's event. To my surprise, he had already done what I asked him last night and it was still eight thirty five in the morning. I've got to hand it to him he did his job seriously.

At around nine twenty five, we reached the venue of my first appointment for the day. It was at a hotel, which I had planned to be a shareholder in the future. As I entered the lobby, I studied its interior design and took note for reference. The meeting is held at a private room.

The breakfast meeting started smoothly as we took time enjoying our meal before getting into business. It was great that my associated suggested on eating first since it might cause our appetite if this meeting went sour. But it didn't. As two hours passed, there were no foul languages or no man shouting lawsuits at each other. I felt proud of my team and myself for getting the job done so smoothly. After being dismissed, I could have sworn I felt like my day had ended. The moment was gone when Hugh opened his mouth to talk to me for the first time since we entered the hotel.

"We have thirty minutes to get to your lunch date. And I doubt we will get there in time," he stated in a whisper beside me as we headed towards the waiting car.

My eyebrow scrunched together at his word as I tried to ignore it. But Hugh didn't think I heard him. "If you don't like to ditch this guy, I suggest you call and tell him you will he half an hour late. You two are having that lunch back home, right?"

Without replying, I got my phone out of my purse and texted Eric to meet me at my suggested restaurant at twelve thirty. I added tidbit on his benefit that I was across town at the moment. After a few second, I got his reply with him agreeing to my terms.

"What kind of guy is he to allow a girl boss him around on a first date?" Hugh remarked under his breath when I told Russell the location on my next appointment.

My head snapped animatedly at Hugh direction as I glared at him. "The kind that is considerate enough to understand the situation. The last time I check, you don't have the heart to listen to people's plea."

"That wasn't a plea. You didn't give Mr. Journalist a chance to talk at all. Who would decline something like that when they are being pushy about it?" He defended.

"I wasn't being pushy. I was merely suggesting. And he agreed to it."

"Merely suggesting? Are you sure?" He raised his eyebrow in question.

I rolled my eyes at his tone and didn't give him the satisfaction of a reply. I knew he was trying to tick me off. I'm not going to let him ruin my mood after I had finished a business meeting that went smoothly. But it was expected since his presence alone can trigger my bad mood.

An hour later, we had arrived at the restaurant for my date with Eric. Russell swiftly parked the car in front as a valet run towards my side of the door. I looked at Hugh for a moment before saying my parting speech.

"Russell will take you to the hotel to check in. I will text you when to pick me up and where. Eric will probably take me somewhere after lunch." I instructed briefly.

"Got it. Good luck with the date. I hope this guy won't be enough to change your mind with Mr. Perfect." He nodded and smirked.

"Don't worry about who I'm going to choose. I'm the one who's going to marry them, not you." I countered and rolled my eyes suggestively before getting out of the car.

"Are you sure you don't need me to wait for you here?" Hugh asked urgently as I held the door to close it.

"No. I will be fine." I closed the door on his face, not waiting for his reply.

I didn't wait for the car to drive off and entered the restaurant with a confident stride. A waitress approached and welcomed me inside. She was about to ask if I was dining with anyone when my eyes caught the sight of my date. I turned to the waitress and told her I had company waiting for me inside already.

I made my way to the far corner of the room where Eric sat at a comfortable booth table. I gave him stiff smile in greet as he signaled me with a curt wave when he noticed my arrival.

"You are early. I hope I didn't keep you waiting." I said as I slid and sat down across from him.

"I thought you were going to ditch me." He teased lightly.

"I'm not that heartless."

"How was your business meeting? I hope it went well." He asked with a light conversational tone. It got me a little suspicious why he was asking.

"Are you trying to dig up something from me?" I voiced out my thought.

"I'm not on duty today. Everything we will talk about is off the record." He replied smugly, though I felt a hint of hurt from him. I just verbally accused him for being one of those people who only wanted my company for status.

"I'm sorry if that question insulted you."

"Don't worry. I expected it, being who you are and what I do."

I gave him a sad smile at the truth of his words. Even if I might end up liking Eric, I know this date wouldn't have a part two. Not because he is a reporter, but because I hadn't trusted him since Jade told me about him. Though he might have changed over the years, I only give out trust to people who deserved it. Robert, on the other hand, had slowly earned for the past few days.

I brushed off the thought at the back of my head. I felt rude thinking about another man when I'm currently having lunch with someone else. As I snapped out of it, I turned my attention towards Eric who had drive into a topic about his eccentric life doing some fieldwork as a reporter. He had met a few of the people who I'm associated with professionally, which was impressive. I knew a lot of private and rich individual who don't like media attention. But from the way Robert narrates about these meetings and interview, they seemed to feel comfortable with him. From the interview he did with me yesterday, I can't assure if it's true since it was awkward for me. He did ask me out. I'm sure I'm the only one he interviewed and asked out for a date.

For lunch, we both ordered something light to eat. I went with a salad and pasta while Eric ordered fish filet and vegetables. The lunch date went really smoothly than I expected. Though there were some awkward moment when he starts to rely question about my life, but I brushed it off since I knew how hard it was to detach yourself with your work.

After we finish our meal, we lingered in the restaurant for a while until he offered to take me out somewhere. I texted Hugh about our plans and asked him to relay the message to Russell on where to pick me up after the date.

Eric wanted to take me to an amusement park. I felt questionable at his choice, taking it as a joke. But it wasn't. Twenty minutes later, we where lining up in the entrance of a local amusement park in town. I don't whether to be surprised at his choice or at his confidence on taking me on a public place.

"Don't worry. The media wouldn't find you here. This is one of the unlikely places they will find celebrities like yourself." He stated beside me like he had read what I was thinking.

I looked up at him with my eyebrow raised. Maybe there are perks on dating someone who works in that industry.

"Do you have a preferred ride you want to go on first?" He asked as we finally entered the park.

I ignored him for a second as I studied our surrounding. The place was packed, which was expected since it was a weekend. I can't remember the last time I was in an amusement park. I winced at the sudden squeal that pulled me out of my trance.

"Are you okay?" Eric asked as I felt his hand touch my back.

"I'm fine. I think we should go." I replied stiffly and took a step away from him. "I think I want to try the shooting game first." I added as I turned at look at him with a shy smile.

"Good choice. Since I'm good at the game, I won't look stupid at trying to impress you." He joked arrogantly.

"That depends whether I would kick your ass."

"Game." He grinned confidently.

We headed towards the shooting game where you shoot mini figurines that are lined up in the counter. On our first round, it took me awhile to get a hang on it. But Eric was right on his words. He was great at it. I felt bad for the owner of the booth as I watch him give his prize for shooting perfectly. By the third round, I finally got myself a mini bunny plushy while Eric had three huge teddy bears. I couldn't help but laugh as he tried to wrapped those three in an embrace as we walked to another game. In his frustration, he looked around and gave two to the nearest little girl he could find. I smiled at the gesture but laugh at the reason why he had done it.

I blushed when he gave me one. In return, I gave him the small plushy rabbit to him.

"Can you see how unfair this is?" He asked sarcastically as he waved between the teddy beat I was currently hugging and the plushy rabbit on his hand.

"What? I gave the same effort to get that plushy for you. You should be grateful." I replied with the same sarcasm.

He rolled his eyes at my tone but smiled. "And you're still not impressed at my skills?"

"Nope." I replied popping the 'p'.

He shook is head in mock disbelief before grabbing my wrist and looped my arm around his. "So, what next? I suggest the ring toss since I'm good at that too." He suggested with a grin.

"How about we lay off the games? I don't want to bankrupt this park with your said skills." I countered with a laugh.

"What? I'm just warming up."

I laugh more at his reply and pulled him towards the rides. "Let's go do those now." I pointed at the direction of a carousel and Ferris wheel.

"Whatever you like." He nodded and smiled as he pulled me that direction.

I never expected this side of Eric since we met. I had misjudged him. He was the type of guy that takes a day to get to know what kind of person he is. First impression is not the best way to wrap up a conclusion on him. It was an opposite conclusion I had with Robert. I knew right away that Robert and I would click. But Eric, after spending a good amount of time with him, I'm starting to like him more.

As we sat on the Ferris wheel, I took a moment to recount the date I have with Eric and the dinner date last night with Robert. And a gun to my head, I prefer this moment than last night. There was something so normal and carefree about Eric's approach on the date. But if it was about a long run in a relationship, Robert seemed more suited. He had this air around him like he knows what he was doing. Eric is free-spirited, which was a plus for me before my parents drop that bomb. I need structure and control if I wanted things to work. And I don't have forever to choose. 

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A/N: Hey everyone! Since I did say that I was updating within the week, I think, so here is another chapter. I'm almost done writing with this story but I stopped for awhile to focus personal things.

I will be updating again this Sunday. Enjoy this chapter.

Have an awesome day and Happy reading!