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In personality, her friend has always been fun and very funny too, but she isn't very sociable, especially in front of strangers, and she isn't the outgoing type either. Ismena has always been focused more on work and success in life than social lives, dating, and clubs.

Is there more to her suddenly new resolution or is it just her zeal to do something completely different in her leave vacation?

"Stop overthinking it, baiiiibyyy." Ismena sing-song without sparing her friend a glance.

"I just hope you know you're gonna get fired after you call your boss an asshole, right?"

"Who caaaares?" Ismena bent and tweaked her hips in rhythm with the music, "Definitely not me."

"So, how do you plan to tick off your list? Don't tell me you're gonna club and fuck around here in Oklahoma? Your parents will have a fit."

Ismena scoffed, "No, silly. I'm going for a one-week vacation to New York City, I already booked a week in advance flight too. I leave next week."

Finally, Sandra smiled. "Alright then, I'll help you with shopping and getting ready. Go to the City-That-Never-Sleeps and make us proud. I have a feeling about this vacation slash quest of yours."

"What kind of feeling?" She asked, dubiously.

"Not sure if it's a good feeling or a bad feeling, but I have this feeling that this quest will be changing your life forever."

CHAPTER 2. THE MASCULINE ACCIDENT

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA

"So, what else are we shopping for?" Sandra asked as they got out of Penn Square mall, each of them carrying two shopping bags filled with Ismena's accessories and necessities for her vacay.

"Nothing, I think we're done. God, this feels heavenly!" Ismena raised her head towards the sun, a wide smile on her face, "I can't remember the last time I shopped."

"Me too. I'm glad you came back, you know. I almost forgot what the inside of a mall looks like. I've been too busy running after stories. Whoever said being a journalist is easy?"

"I know, right?" As they walked towards Ismena's car, she swung her head in her friend's direction, "If you wanna catch fun in life, now's the time, Sandy. Don't wait until you're dying or getting old. Life is too short."

"Look who's talking? Just because you've got some time on your hands now doesn't mean you aren't a workaholic." Her friend teased.

"Well, you are right but—Whoofs!!!" She gasped suddenly when the breath was suddenly knocked out of her. She'd bumped into someone while she was talking without looking.

"I'm sorry, so sorry..." She began saying immediately, even as the large hand instantly went around her to help steady her, helping her to find her footing. "Thank you so much, I'm grateful—"

"It’s nothing. I should have been mindful too." The man cut her off, his voice deep.

Having found her footing, Ismena stared at her 'masculine accident'. She was suddenly robbed of speech. He is big, masculine and so tall, he towered over her. He has the built of a dangerous bodyguard and the sunshade that hid his eyes isn't helping matters either.

A shiver of fear worked its way through her spine. That's saying something because she doesn't scare easily. "L-Like I said, I'm truly sorry for walking into you like that."

His head bobbed. "That's okay." A large hand stretched out towards her, "I am Alphose, and you are?"

"I-Ismena. I'm Ismena, this is my friend, Sandra." She directed towards her friend as she shook his outstretched hand.

"Nice meeting you." Unlike her, Sandra wasn't unsettled at all, "I'm really sorry about my friend. She doesn't look it but she's a walking accident zone."

"Sandra!" Ismena seethed, throwing her a glare.

The man's lips curved up again, "I can see that."

"Anyway, we have to get going now. Sorry, once again, Alphose, it was nice meeting you but we have to be on our way now." Ismena practically dragged her friend forward towards her car.

She didn't turn, her back prickled all the way to her car but when she finally turned... The man was nowhere within sight anymore.

"Mehn, that guy is so hot! Bejeezus!" Sandra whisper-screamed, turning to search for the stranger fanatically with her eyes, "Heavens, I haven't seen a guy that hot in real life, and I've worked with some celebrities! Wow!"