Samantha invited Julia out.

Samantha was about to leave when she heard a commotion ahead. "The president the Darius group is downstairs!" someone exclaimed, followed by screams and a rush of girls forward. Samantha's curiosity got the better of her, and she joined the crowd, standing on tiptoe to get a glimpse. Just then, Max emerged from the elevator, flanked by bodyguards. Samantha's eyes widened in shock seeing Max. "Where is the president?" she asked her friend, who replied, "The one in the white T-shirt is Max, the president of Darius."

Samantha's jaw dropped. "What? Max?" She suddenly recalled why the name seemed familiar. Her friends had mentioned it before.

 As the owner of a beauty parlor, she had wealthy acquaintances, who would always discuss about the people in their social class, most especially the most eligible bachelor. She had just found out her friend married the most wanted bachelor in town and the president of the famous Darius group. Why did he keep her friend in the dark about his true identity? When she looked again, Max had already disappeared into the crowd, surrounded by his entourage. In the chaos, he hadn't noticed Samantha's presence.

As the crowd dissipated, Samantha regained her composure and hastened to find Julia, her excitement barely contained. "Julia, Julia! I just saw the president of Darius' group!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with enthusiasm. Julia, engrossed in a fashion magazine, looked up with a hint of amusement. "Samantha, calm down! You're not usually this thrilled. Was the president more captivating than Max?" Samantha's eyes widened as she took a seat, her mind racing with questions. She paused, collecting her thoughts before speaking, "Let me process this first." She was hesitant to reveal the truth, fearing Julia's reaction.

Julia was curious by Samantha's behavior. "Tell me, what does the president look like?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with interest. Samantha hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "I, uh, didn't get a clear look. I only saw his back." She decided to withhold the information for now, unsure how Julia would react to the news that her husband was the president of the Darius Group.

Julia smiled, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Then why are you so excited?" Samantha's response was laced with conviction. "He's the president of the Darius group, the pinnacle of success! Even a glimpse of his back is enough to leave people awestruck." Samantha's words trailed off, her thoughts consumed by the mystery surrounding Max's identity and his motives for marrying Julia.

Samantha asked hesitantly, Julia, how did you and Max meet, exactly? Did you really connect on a dating site?" Julia nodded, "Yes, Vanessa signed me up, remember? When we first met, we instantly connected. We both decided to settle down. According to the site, he'd met many girls, but he liked my profile, and I thought he was kind, so we got married."

Samantha feigned nonchalance, "Just curious, marveling at the twist of fate." She smiled, concealing her concern, and added, "Julia, have you ever imagined marrying into an ultra-wealthy family?" Julia thought Samantha disapproved of Max's social status and replied firmly, "I never thought about it. Max treats me well; whether he's wealthy or not doesn't matter. Being a rich family's daughter-in-law isn't easy, and I don't want to marry for wealth.

Samantha was familiar with the challenges of marrying into a high-society family, having seen numerous reports about controlling in-laws and unhappy marriages. She chuckled wryly, deciding to drop the matter, and remarked, "Julia, you're right; you've found a charming partner, that's fortunate enough.

"Samantha's concern now was that Max might be hiding a dark secret, one that could put Julia in danger. She suspected he was concealing a troubled past and fabricating the story about his business success. However, she didn't dare confront him without solid proof. 

Julia looked at the time and said, "Sammy, it's almost five; I need to prepare for the fair." Samantha nodded, her thoughts still lingering on the mystery surrounding Max and Julia's relationship.

"I'll come with you,"  Samantha said, having already bid farewell to her friends. "I'll head back to the beauty parlor ." When she returned home, Max was already there, a hint of surprise in his voice. "You're back."

She quickly changed her shoes and shared her day's adventure. "Mom took me to my aunt's house, and then I tagged along with Samantha to The Darius Club. Oh, and your boss was there too! Many girls were vying for his attention. Samantha even caught a glimpse of him." Max's heart skipped a beat; he hadn't expected Julia to be at the club.

"Did you see the president of the Darius Group?" he asked, trying to sound relaxed. Julia shrugged. "I didn't, but Samantha claimed she saw his back. There were too many people, so she couldn't get a good look. But even just a glimpse of him from behind was enough to excite her. Is your boss really that handsome?" Max breathed a sigh of relief and joked, "Compared to me, he's still a bit lacking."

Julia playfully teased, "Narcissist! If your boss hears that, he'll fire you on the spot!" Max chuckled. "As a programmer, I can easily find another job. But our boss won't be so petty." Julia continued to gossip, "If your boss is so rich and handsome, why is he still single?" Max was taken aback, struggling to respond. "I don't know... employees shouldn't discuss their boss's personal life."

Quickly changing the subject, he asked, "Isn't the fair starting at five o'clock? Is everything ready?" Julia suddenly came to realization. "Oh, I almost forgot! I need to get the goods now."

The president of Darius seemed like a distant dream, and Julia knew she didn't belong in his world. Her focus was on making a living and finding financial security. This time, with Max's help, the burden of setting up the booth at the fair was lessened. As they arrived at the bustling market, Julia's determination shone through. She had rented a booth, ensuring a stable spot to sell her beautifully crafted designs.

Julia's past experiences have been a bit challenging, especially when she first started out newly. The memory sometimes still brought a hint of distress, and she had kept all of this hidden from her mother. But Max's support made a difference. He had helped her this time, despite having some apprentices, his kind gestures had touched her heart. There were other vendors there too for the fair. It was indeed a very big fair, where different companies came to display their goods for sale, at an almost fifty percent slashed price. As they began the sales.  Max took in the vibrant atmosphere of the night market. The row was filled with different vendors selling their goods, and the competition was fierce. But Julia's designs stood out, and Max couldn't help but admire her resilience.

As the sun began to set, the market came alive. Students from nearby universities flooded in, and locals strolled by, eager to explore the fair. Julia handed Max a folding stool, and said softly," Please 

"Sit down, take a rest." He glanced at the stool, took it, and sat down without a word, while her workers were busy interacting with customers who had come to buy from them.

The air was thick with humidity. She had prepared everything to ensure his comfort, and he appreciated her kindness.

Julia had thoughtfully prepared a small fan, bottled water, snacks, and even a tablet to keep Max entertained. He smiled, feeling pampered, "You're spoiling me, Julia." She replied, "I don't want you to get bored." As they sat down, Kelvin, the clothing stall owner, whom Julia supplies goods, approached with a teasing grin, "Jula, is this your boyfriend? Wow, he's quite the handsome one!" Before Julia could respond, Max corrected, "I'm her husband." Kelvin's eyes rolled in surprise, "Julia, when did you get married?"

Julia stylishly changed the subject. Hi Kelvin, how is sales coming up? Oh awesome, I see your booth is crowded with lots of customers. I actually came to get the pant for that blazers. The customer over there wants the complete set. Oh okay, Julia called out to one of her employees, Jenny, to quickly get the pants.

So Julia, you actually got married in secret. I'm elated for you, congratulations.

Oh! Thank you, Kelvin. 

Nice to meet you Mr…

It's Mr. Wellington, Max quickly corrected. And nice to meet you too. The two of them chatted for a while.

Just then Julia asked, hey Kelvin, have you resolved the issues with your homeowner? And how is your sister's health? 

Kelvin exhaled, hm, Julia my sister's health is not getting any better. I have practically spent everything I have. If not for you, who had been helping me with the supplies of goods on credit, I don't know what i would have done. Really, thank you.