"How do we get the money refunded? I wish I knew this was gonna happen, I couldn't have started it, he ran away with our money and my daughter's birthday is tomorrow for crying out loud" Mr Williams panicked.

"It's gonna be okay, honey, at least we still have the school. We can still work something out and the police gave us their word that they must catch those fraudsters" His wife consoled him.

"It isn't fine, honey, look at us, everything we have worked hard for is going down the drain, what happens to Sophia? The good life she is accustomed to, what will I tell her?" He lamented.

"What about Mr Smith, what did he say about this? I mean, this is his idea after all and he told you that he knew those men very well" She inquired curiously.

Could it actually be that Mr Smith is plotting evil against them because they trusted him too well? Otherwise, he would have done something about it than sit back and watch. 

This thought finally made sense to Mr Williams…

***

Sophia watched as so many people came to collect her birthday invitation card from her friends. 

Finally, she will be eighteen years old tomorrow and will become an adult, at least, she can do adult things and have a boyfriend without her parents bugging her.

Actually, she fantasizes about having these men in que pleading to kiss her feet and she will find her prince charming and step on them.

She has heard enough about the word LOVE, isn't it time she even crushed on someone? Who knows who this person will be! 

"You shouldn't just give anybody the card, I don't want everywhere to be crowded by those gold diggers" Sofia whispered to Molly's ears.

"I was thinking the same thing. I will let Sunny and Eve know" Molly went to inform her other friends who helped in sharing the card to mind who they invited.

"Sophy, don't you think you are being overly rude?" Molly asked when she came to sit down beside her again.

"Rude? Wait, don't talk to me like you are my mother 'cause you are not and will never be! This is the third time I am warning you about preaching to me, if you repeat this, you will cease to be my friend!" Sophia said furiously.

"I know I am not your mother, but I would rather tell you the truth and cease to be your friend than pretend I am enjoying your arrogant attitude towards people! You are just so blinded by wealth!" Molly said bravely.

They drew attention immediately. Everybody expected them to pick a fight, it will be a good gossip for their enemy for the whole of two weeks. But amongst all her friends, Molly was her childhood friend and they understand each other more than anything else.

If it were someone else, Sophia would have slapped the person, but Molly, nay! She knows she is right, but Sophia believes that if she is so good to people, they would step on you and hurt you.

"I don't want to see you at my birthday party!" She thrusted a warning finger to her face.

"Okay, no problems. Have a happy belated birthday celebration! You can as well share your cards!!" Molly threw her hands up and walked away.

"Are you really being serious? Molly! Go to hell!!!" Sophia ran after her.

Molly noticed and started running… Their other friends who know them too well ignored them. This is not the first time they are quarreling and it only ends a joke.

***

"Good evening sir, you called me" Mr. Smith's bodyguard, Flying dragon, greeted with a bow.

"Yeah, I want you to do me a favour?"

"Sir, I'm at your services anytime"

"Cool, look for a group of assassins for me" He said, the bodyguard was dumbfounded…

"A group of… assa... " He stammered.  

"What is wrong with you? I didn't ask you to be the assassinator for me, I just want you to hire them for me"

The young man moped at him like a dummy.

"Just tell me that you can't do it" Mr Smith waved at his face.

"I can do it sir! I'll find an assassin for you" Flying Dragon said. "If there's nothing else, I beg to leave first" he added, bowed and left.

"I can't wait until the day comes, the day I'll sit upon that chair, to be hailed and called the CEO of that company" Mr Smith smiled and sipped a little of his drink.

"You should wait for your death. I'm tired of keeping quiet, it is time for me to take over" he muttered and laughed loudly.

***

Sophia was awoken by a noise, an annoying noise disturbing her from her peaceful sleep this morning. 

"Oh damn! Gosh, what's with the sound?" she groaned, turning around the bed.

The noise was becoming very stuffy as she indignantly woke up! Opening her eyes she saw her room decorated with so many flowers and balloons.

She used her palm to clean her eyes just to make sure she wasn't hallucinating, then opened it to a cheer…

"It's your birthday, honey" Her father's voice echoed in her mind and snapped her back to reality. She seems to have been dreaming before.  

"Oh good morning dad, morning mom" She greeted them and embraced them happily.

"Happy birthday, my princess" Her mother cheered, pecking her cheeks.

She was amazed by the decorations they made. How come she overslept that she couldn't detect when they were doing it.

"Oh, you see honey, we're sorry to say this... But, we can't stay and do the party with you, we have important things to do at the company" Her father said to her, with a sad look on his face, they would have loved to stay for her birthday party, but duty calls.

"Don't worry much, I understand. You don't have to worry, my friends will be there. Thanks Mom, thanks Dad" She hugged them again. 

Her mom brought the gift she bought specially for this day and presented it to her. "Here, sweetie. Enjoy your day. You can take your time in opening it"

Mrs Williams planted a kiss on her daughter's forehead, all smiles.

"Oh mom, thanks," she appreciated their efforts to make her happy.

"And this is the wristwatch you requested from me. Don't worry, I will get you a surprise gift when I come back and I will take you on a tour to Paris"

Opening the box, she found a wristwatch, necklace and earrings. Exactly what she needs to wear to her party.

"Oh Daddy, thanks for the gift. I love you two," she jumped down from the bed and hugged them more closely. 

"Okay, go and enjoy your birthday party, we will be going now" They went out of the room feeling really sad because they  weren't able to stay with her on her special day.

***

"We can't go dude, she didn't invite us" Justin's friend, Tyler, teased, scoffing. 

"Seriously guys, I'm going and nothing can change my mind about it. Can't you understand? I like her and she must be my girlfriend" Justin stood his ground. 

"She's the reason why I attend that school, the reason why I came to korean" Justin murmured and his friends bursted into laughter.

 "Oh my gosh, you did that for a girl who barely notices you? Who are you, John Legend? He's love struck" Tyler teased.

 "Shut the fuck, Tyler! Aren't you the same person that was crushing on her before Molly? He uttered and they kept mute.

"By hook or by crook, I gotta get to that party, I need to make her mine today!" He paused and ignored his friends who were staring at him hysterically as he went to dress up for the party.

"Come on dude, this is insane, going to a party that you are not invited to, all in the name of love!" Franko smirked.

"How do you even plan to get her? By hook or by crook, wait up, are you planning to rape that girl?" Greg asked curiously.

"I'm not stopping you since you have made up your mind to go. But I hope you don't do something stupid to her. She might be all arrogant and bossy, but she doesn't deserve to be hurt" Tyler said thoughtfully.

They followed him to the party. Two security guards could be seen on the gate dressed in a uniform as a young lady approached them with her invitation card.

Justin and his friends knew they can't go in except they have their invitation cards, but he is determined to make entrance no matter what.

They walked to the gate and were stopped by the guards.

"Where's your invitation card?" one of the men asked as he noticed that they wanted to sneak in without dropping their cards.

"Oh, we forgot it at home," he lied.

"I'm sorry but I can't let you in, if you think you really forget it, you can call her, I don't want to lose my job" the man said.

 "I don't have her number, please just let me in,'' he pleaded, rumpling his head, all pissed off by the time he wasted.

"I think I know them. You guys can go inside," One of the guards said after somewhile.

"That man just save our a*s" Tyler muttered as they all went inside the Hotel's big event center.

Justin turned worriedly to look at the man that just let them in, he looked really familiar to him.

"What is it, Justin?" Tyler inquired

"I don't know, I kinda feel like I know that man that let us in. His voice and face looks familiar, but I can't remember where I have seen him before" he answered.

"That shouldn't be a problem, the good news is, we were able to get in. Come on man!" Tyler put a hand on his shoulder and dragged him forward.