Cross Roads.

"Are you happy miss?" Andrew asked as he stared helplessly at Maria. Her face was sullen. She was unusually quiet. Andrew couldn't understand the tighteness that grew in his chest with each passing moment he spent around Maria.

'The two of you could have an affair.' The words of his boss played on like a record in his head. This was the height of disloyalty, how could he develop feelings for a woman who had been claimed by another -- especially when that ANOTHER was his own boss. He despised himself.

"Doesn't he like me?" Maria asked. Her face held so much emotion, that it became plain.

Maria was an only child of a business tycoon. She was constantly showered with attention and affection, so the notion of 'nothing good comes easy' did not exist to her.

Fourteen years ago, Maria had an encounter that changed her life forever.

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February 17th, Fourteen years ago. It was Maria's sixth birthday party. Though she was surrounded by gift, smiles and warm looks, she felt alone. That was a trying period in her life; her mom had passed away two months ago from cancer. Inorder to secure a partnership, and stabilize his empire after the loss of his wife, Maria's father didn't waste anytime before marrying Isabella Davis, the daughter of his business partner.

Maria wasn't allowed to mourn her mother. Her birthday party was only a coverup for her father had made arrangements to officially announce his marriage to Isabella. To prevent her father from being portrayed as insensitive before the eyes of the media and general public, Maria was told that she had to be happy for them. She had to act like she had given full support and had already accepted Isabella as her step mother. Her opinion didn't matter at this point, she had to give it all up for her family's success. She had to be daddy's perfect little girl.

Halfway through the party, Maria felt choked. The deceitful faces surrounding her made her blood run cold. When she couldn't take it anymore. She ran outside. Holding unto her gown as she raced to her favourite place. Her garden. The one place she and her mother spent most time together.

The moment Maria reached the garden, she stood rooted to the ground as her eyes darted around. All the memories came flooding into her, instantly, she fell unto the grass and began to wail her heart out. For the first time in two months, she mourned her mother's passing. The pain gripped her tight, she was alone.

"What are you doing here." Maria heard footsteps coming towards her direction. Unfortunately, she felt too heavy to move or even try to run away. Soon, the silhouette of a male figure came into view. "It hurts doesn't it." The young man emerged from the darkness then came to stand over Maria. He squatted down to meet Maria on the ground. She stared at him. His face was similar to hers, distressed. It was as if he knew exactly how she felt, that brought warmth to Maria.

"It's okay, you can cry. It'll help." He cooed as he brought out a handkerchief then gently dabbed the tears off her face.

Maria was astounded at how much his presence made her feel safe. The young man then sat on the grass and slowly laid Maria's head on his laps. He gently stroked her hair as she continued to ball her eyes out. After some time, Maria slept off and when she woke up, she was lying in her bed. It was like a dream.

Years went by and she still held on to the memories of that night. Her prince charming was gone, but the moment they shared remained strong within her.

About a year ago, on her 20th birthday, her father informed her that an affluent man had asked for her hand in marriage and he had accepted without her concent. Frustrated, at her father's never changing negligence; Maria ran and locked herself up in her room. She cried and threatened to kill herself if the marriage wasn't called off. In the depts of her despair, a letter was passed under her door. It came from her suitor who had asked her to meet him in her garden so they could call of the marriage. Joy engulfed Maria and without haste, she rushed down to the garden. Maria waited for what seemed like eternity when, she heard footsteps behind her.

"Do you still cry like a kid whenever you're unhappy?" A masculine voice echoed from behind her. Though years had gone by, and her memories were watered down, she could never forget the warm that voice carried. She broke down. She couldn't believe it. In an instant, Maria turned around then ran into the man's embrace, balling her eyes out once more. She had found him. She repeated over and over within her consciousness.

He smiled, amusement hinted in his tone. "You didn't change." He stroked her head as he leaned into her embrace. "I believe back then we never properly introduced ourselves. My name is Ethan Alexander Hernández and I was hoping you'd do me the honour of becoming my bride."

Maria held her ring and her tears as the memories came back. Ethan had changed. The warm teenager she met when she was six, had grown into a cold and distance adult. She couldn't comprehend what must have changed him during the fourteen years they spent apart. Though he had changed, her feelings for him remained. And she was more than determined to make him feel same.

"I'm sure Sir likes you. But you must understand that he is a difficult man and not one to show his feelings." Andrew answered.

"Oh... Sure." Maria was distracted. The thoughts in her head and the pain in her heart weighed her down. She fidgeted with the ring on her finger. "Is there another woman?" She finally asked.

"None that I know of."

"Mm."

"We're done with the fitting, how does it look?" The excited seamstress asked. She patiently awaited her customer's reply.

"I don't know." Maria stated. Her tone flat and her words distant. "Isn't it the groom's responsibility to answer that question?"

"Uh, y-you're right." The seamstress stuttered. Then an idea struck her, "Master Andrew." She turned to him. "How does the dress look on her?"

"W-why are you asking me?!" He froze.

"Well you're supposed to represent your boss aren't you?"

"That's true." Andrew cleared his throat. He stalled by adjusting his tie, he couldn't look Maria in the eye. He was smitten. The sight of Maria made his breaths quicker. He had fallen for her childish nature and though his boss often referred to it as 'rude' or 'noisy'. He couldn't help but appreciate that side of her. Andrew had been in the corporate world since he was seventeen. He knew all to well the lengths women went to inorder to secure their positions. But Maria was different, it's not that didn't try to be like the others, it's that she couldn't! She was terrible at being fake.

Andrew fell for everything about her. From her expressive brown eyes to her shy smile to the way she stared at his boss -- with so much longing. To him, she was perfect. Andrew believed that calling Maria average, was the greatest mistake any man could ever make.

"It fits her perfectly. It brought out the curvature of her hips and balances well around her bust." He paused. "She looks like a goddess." He cooed, swallowing his saliva as his mouth felt dry. He was lost in a trance.

"Tch! I wish he'd look at me that way." Maria whispered.