Part 1 : First Meeting with You

The hustle and bustle of the club and the many people dancing on the dance floor did not deter Thea from entering the club.

She wore a peach blouse, a plaid midi skirt and flat shoes in stark contrast to the

other patrons who wore sexy dresses and high heels.

Thea grabbed her bag and hurriedly walked to the bar, she sat at an empty bar table. Calling the bartender to order her drink, a fruit beer.

As the bartender presented her order, Thea drank it slowly. The sweet and sour sensation made Thea's forehead wrinkle slightly and then sigh in satisfaction. At least this light alcohol could relax her tense nerves.

She failed again. I don't know how many times this month her application has been rejected. She crammed her file into her bag in frustation.

Her mother said that Thea didn't need to work while at Calvenhart during her college years. But Thea insisted on working, part-time.

This was to help her mother pay for her tuition fees and increase her pocket

money.

"Hey lady, are you alone?" Thea frowned, just as her drink was halfway down two large

men approached her.

Thea didn't answer, pretending to check her cell phone. Hoping the two men would leave soon. She was not in a good mood to respond to such trivial things.

"Gosh, how ignorant." One of them laughed, mocking.

They continued to tease and make fun of Thea, making the long-haired girl fed up. Thea gulped down what little beer she had left, then stood up to go home.

"Hey, don't be in such a hurry."

Thea ignored them, walking quickly towards the exit, but the two men continued to follow her.

"Don't be such a snob. What's wrong with accompanying us?" Thea's steps were halted as one of the two lanky men with pimples on his forehead held Thea's arm.

Thea narrowed her gray eyes, glaring at the man fiercely. " Let go!"

"No. No, no, no. Before you accompany us to drink."

"Let go before I scream."

"Go ahead. This club is too noisy for anyone to hear you."

Thea rebelled as the two men tried to drag her away. But her small body certainly could not match the strength of the two men. Just as she was desperate and close to giving up, a mature man who looked to be in his

early 40s held back the hand of the man pulling Thea's arm. He was wearing a

nice suit with gray-black hair.

"Hey mister what the hell." The thin man gave a disapproving look.

"I'm sorry I've been watching you guys all this time. But it seems...this girl doesn't want to be with you." A low voice came from the man's lips. He flashed a friendly smile, looking alternately between Thea and the two men. But Thea could have sworn the man's golden brown eyes seemed cold and

dangerous.

"Stalker huh? Take it easy sir, She's our friend who's drunk and emotionally unstable." His friend the thin man reasoned.

The man in the suit furrowed his forehead in disbelief. Suddenly he sniffed in front of Thea's face, making Thea widen her eyes in

surprise.

"There's a sweet and sour smell from his breath. She only drank Fruity beer with low alcohol content. You guys are obviously lying." The man in the suit looked at Thea. "Do you know them?"

Thea shook her head quickly, she pulled her hand away after being freed from the skinny man's grip thanks to the help of the man in the suit.

"Get out of here right now before I call the bar's executioner."

The two men looked furious, but they realized their opponents looked like important people. Not wanting to cause any further commotion they chose to leave the place. Leaving Thea who breathed a sigh of

relief, and the man in the suit.

"Thank you for helping me, sir..."

"Alaric." The man in the suit cut Thea off quickly. "You can call me Alaric." He took out his business card and gave it to Thea.

'Alaric Liu Grayson,' Thea muttered to herself. She could see Alaric's occupation as Curator, or museum director.

"You should be careful next time." Alaric advised, his golden brown eyes looking at Thea sharply. "Many people get drunk and lose control in places like this, it's a good idea for a young lady like you to

bring a friend or a self-defense weapon."

Thea grimaced inwardly at that. Great, after her proposal was rejected today. Now a foreign middle-aged man was giving her advice.

"Thanks for the advice."

The two of them fell silent, only the sound of the club's music and the voices of the surrounding people filling their silence. Thea

moved restlessly, her gray eyes glanced at Alaric and she realized he was watching her. Thea gulped, Alaric's golden brown eyes seemed warm but mysterious and cold at the same time. She was probably 185cm tall, Thea's height only reached Alaric's chest. His shoulders were broad and his posture was well-built-what else was hidden under his suit.

"I think I should go home now. Thank you again for helping me, Mr. Alaric." Thea nodded her head at Alaric and walked towards the exit of the club.

"Did you bring your own vehicle?"

For God's sake, why was that man following her again? Thea didn't understand, why was Alaric interfering like this?

"I'm...taking a taxi. Don't worry, I already ordered a taxi on my phone."

Alaric frowned in disbelief. Making Thea nervous, was he going to offer her a ride or something? Even though she hadn't ordered a taxi on her cell phone, Thea was just making excuses to keep Alaric out of it.

Luckily, an empty taxi was in front of the club's exit just as Thea exited with Alaric following behind like Thea's impromptu bodyguard. Without thinking twice, Thea got into the taxi. She rolled down the window and tried to give Alaric a friendly smile. After all, this man had helped her, Thea

didn't want to look like an impolite woman.

"Thank you again, Mr. Alaric."

Alaric nodded, looking at the girl with milk tea brown hair before parting. Alaric's golden brown eyes continued to rest on Thea, they

seemed warm but somehow Thea felt a rustle in them. "Be careful on the road."

The taxi window closed, leaving Alaric staring at the taxi's departure. Meanwhile, Thea breathed a sigh of relief, leaning against the seat of the taxi. She was so tired today, she just wanted to get to her modest

apartment quickly and soak in the warm water before going to bed.

She realized she was still holding Alaric's card from earlier without putting it in the bag. Her ash bead stared at the name on it.

"Grayson..." Thea muttered to herself. She recalled that there seemed to be a girl her age who had the same name as Grayson, but she forgot who it was.

Thea then shrugged her shoulders being so stupid, after all the name Grayson was not a rare name. Maybe it was just a coincidence.