Chapter 6: meeting the best friend

 Lily laughed at Ana's excitement. "Yes, for real. I met him at one of my modeling gigs in China, and I asked him to sign a book for you. I knew how much you admired him."

Ana's heart was racing with excitement. She couldn't wait to see the book and get her hands on Lee Dong Jun's autograph. "Thank you so much, Lily! You're the best. When can we meet up?" Ana asked, already planning her day around meeting up with Lily.

"I'm still at work right now," Lily said, "and I have a dinner banquet to attend tonight. But I was thinking, if you can come with me to the banquet, I can give you the book then."

"You devil, are you trying to lure me out?" Ana asked, playfully.

Lily laughed. "Maybe a little. But it'll be fun, I promise! It's a birthday banquet for Sophia Grant, the famous actress."

Ana raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Sophia Grant? Never heard of her."

Lily laughed. "You're kidding, right? She's only one of the most famous actresses in USA." 

 Ana shrugged. "I don't really watch movies or TV shows. I'm too busy with statistics and work."

Lily chuckled. "That's our Ana, always with her nose buried in a statistics book. But trust me, this will be fun. You can't miss this opportunity to meet Sophia Grant."

Ana sighed. "It sounds boring already. I'm not coming."

Lily's voice turned persuasive. "Come on, Ana. It'll be good for you to get out and socialize. And like I said, I'll give you the book if you come."

Ana hesitated. "Okay, fine. I'll come. Send me the address."

A black limo pulled over before the luxurious hotel building. Ana stepped down onto the red carpet, wearing a deep blue fitted long dress that clung to her body. The dress had a slight slit from the thigh, exposing her fair, tanned skin. Her black, silky, full hair was neatly brushed to the side, covering her left shoulder. The shoes she wore were only three-inch heels, due to her good height.

Ana could hear the sound of camera shutters, even though she wasn't an artist. She was a popular figure, being the brain and CEO of many popular software companies. She seldom appeared before the press, but she did accept interviews if necessary.

Ana entered the hotel lobby, which was just as she had expected - very crowded. There were many big names, some she recognized and some she didn't. Attending occasions like this wasn't new to her, but this was the first time she was attending a party for her own personal gain. All the various occasions she had attended, whether weddings, birthdays, or funerals, were always for business.

She spotted Lily across the room, resplendent in a red gown that hugged her body curves in all the right places. Her blonde hair was neatly brushed and looked tangle-free, and she had on light makeup that exposed her youthful beauty, making her look like a young teenager. Lily was speaking with some other people and was smiling brightly. When she spotted Ana, she waved happily, walking over with a smile. They hugged affectionately.

"Compared to the last time we met, I think you're just a step away from vanishing into thin air," Ana commented sarcastically, referencing Lily's thinness.

Lily chuckled. "That's the goal. As a model, you should be slim and perfect."

Lily grabbed a glass of wine for Ana. "If starving yourself really paid off, you'd be in the top three, not top five, most famous models," Ana said, taking the wine and sipping it.

Lily laughed. "Well, I'm surely going to get to the top and be the most beautiful model. And then you'll worship me."

Lily gave Ana a dreamy look, and they both laughed.

"How popular is Sophia Grant?" Ana asked, spotting one of her business clients.

Lily sighed. "It's Sophia, not Stephany. Her father is the highest shareholder of Jamel Jewel Empire. She's spoiled and loved, so her father went to extra lengths to invite important businesspeople to her birthday."

Ana nodded, not saying a word. She felt it was really easy for some people, unlike others who had to work hard for everything. For example, herself and Lily - even though Lily's father was a second-generation rich man, he hadn't supported her career as a model. He wanted her to take over the family business, but Lily had been stubborn, promising never to ask for help from him or any of the family members. It was a hard decision for the pampered girl who had grown up being served, but she was motivated by her best friend, Ana, who was solely dependent on herself and worked hard for everything she had ever gotten.

"I heard your company is working on a new project. Any progress?" Lily asked.

Ana sighed. "I'm not the one handling the project this time. The board assigned Director Ben to oversee the project. I heard it's an accessory."

Lily looked surprised. "An accessory? NEXA is known for creating software, never has it been heard that an accessory was made from NEXA."

Ana took a few sips from her wine. "I'm not so clear about it. I heard the board say the accessory is connected to the new software NEXA would launch soon."

Ana sighed sadly. "Enough with that. I'm jealous and sad. Say something else."