ARE YOU GUYS READY FOR A NEW FIC?? 

Well yay here it is! Still won’t spill who the leading man is (you guys have to read to find out) But this idea came to me in a dream. I dreamt about this dude and immediately I was inspired to write about him. AHIHI :) 

Don’t forget to tune in on Studio 23 later at around midnight for another Azkals game! I was quite disappointed with last game because the defending was horrible. :( But Azkals We Believe right so let’s not not lose hope! 

Excited for Neil’s comeback as the GK but happy with Roe’s performance last game too! 

Alright I’mma leave you guys to it then! Time for me to get back to my man Leo. ;) Hahahaha. xx

Much love,
Victoria ♥ 

If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere that’s what they say.

Well, at least that’s what Alicia Keys said in the song the Empire State of Mind. A song that’s been overplayed in my Ipod., a song I’ve been playing incessantly ever since I started working in New York as an intern.

While girls around the age of ten or so dream about becoming Princesses, it has always been a fantasy of mine to walk down the mean streets of the Big Apple, basking in the beautiful city lights, holding a cup of Starbucks on one hand, and a pretzel on the other. I was mature for my age, and was teased a lot for having weird, grown-up objectives in life.

But now, after more than 10 years of dreaming about living in the city that never sleeps, it has finally happened for me.

Although regrettably, the cup of Starbucks and the pretzel I was currently holding was not mine to devour.

Nope, it was for my boss who was currently hounding me right this moment asking me where I was.

“Brianna, where in the world are you? Don’t tell me you got lost again.” The girl who has been working me to the bone spoke on the other end of the line.

“I’m sorry Nicole.” I tried to supress the annoyed feeling I was currently undergoing. Well if you had not ordered me to pick up your clothes from the drycleaners, ask me to buy you coffee and a pretzel and at the same time, meet with clients then I would have been back by now.

“I am on my way back.” I calmly said even though one of the world famous NY yellow cabs nearly ran me over as I was trying to cross the street.

After a few more blocks of torture in my high heels which I haven’t really broken into, I made it to our quaint office down Columbia street.

“What took you so long? Goodness Brianna!” My boss wasn’t the kindest one you will ever encounter. I’ve only been working with her for about a week now and already I want to book a ticket back to my hometown in Manila.

“I’m sorry, the line was tremendously long at Starbucks.” I didn’t have the heart to get on a plane though, not when my dreams of working here are at stake.

Nicole took a sip from her drink and grabbed the pretzel from my hand. “Were you able to at least get my dress for tonight?” She asked, raising her eyebrow. “Daddy said I have to look good for his business clients.”

Ah yes, have I mentioned? Nicole, coincidentally, like that of Nicole Richie, is an heiress to a multi-million dollar company. She is the face of the family enterprise, rocks a modelesque body, and to top it all off, has Fillipino blood in her too.

My friends back in the Philippines refer to her as “Brianna 2.0” because people say her and I kind of look alike..

But unquestionably, “2.0” is added for a reason; she looks way better than I do, and initially, lives a better, more comfortable life than me.

“Well, did you?” I realized I’ve been staring at her in her little black dress and Louboutin pumps for about a minute now as she reiterated her previous question.

“Yup, I dropped it off in your place like you asked.” God, I look like a hobo compared to her. I thought to myself as I fixed my own dress which looked like it had just come out from the washing machine and has not seen the light of day for so long.

 “Good. I’ll be in my office if you need me. Hold my calls for a while will you? I’m expecting a visitor.” She said as she walked gracefully out of the room and into her huge office.

I trudged back to my little cubicle and started organizing the details of this upcoming event we had. It was a charity game between the Hartwick Hawks, a popular football team around the area versus the Norwich Cadets.

Right on cue, the door opened and in came a guy in his football gear, wearing a Hartwick jersey. Instantaneously, I was mystified by his charm, I didn’t know if it was the way his lips were fashioned that it formed a smirk, the way his eyes gleamed with mischief, or just this boyish charm he seemed to carry with him securely.

I panicked, though, when I saw he was getting the carpet dirty. Nicole didn’t like her fifty thousand dollar carpet dirty with mud.

“Excuse me, mister, you’re getting the floor dirty. My boss wouldn’t like that.” I admonished, as a picture of an angry Nicole blaming me for getting the floors filthy flashed in my mind.

He chuckled a bit.

“Hi there,” He started to speak, what took me by surprise the most is the British accent that came with his manly voice, “I don’t think your boss will mind.” He smiled at me once again.

“How would you kno-”

“Simon! Honey! What are you doing here so early?” Nicole interjected as she greeted the guy with a kiss on the lips.

Should have known, a hot guy like that with a hot girl like Nicole. The scene sent me back to my High School years, and how I was always a witness to jocks and the socialites making out in front of me as I stood there alone.

“I got off training early. And you said you needed me to try on the suit you bought for tonight, correct?” The guy named Simon said as their heads pulled away after the kiss.

“Yes! My man has to look perfect for tonight as well. Brianna!” Nicole called out while snapping her fingers.

I’m not your dog, biatch. No need to snap away.

I soothed myself down, I hate being treated like a servant. But it’s just one of those inevitable realities of life, if you wanted to be successful in this business, you need to know the right people. Sadly, she was considered one of them.

“Yes, Nicole?” I stood up from my cubicle.

“I didn’t know you had a new secretary, Nic.” Simon scrutinized me head to toe first before grinning again at me.

Jesus Christ what is up with that smile?!

“Oh yeah, Brianna came from the Philippines too. I hired her because all three of us share the same heritage. How sweet of me right?” She demurely giggled. “Anyway, I need you to stay here until all the work for this weekend’s event is polished. Alright?”

“Why isn’t she coming with us?” Simon asked her. Both Nicole and I looked at each other, as if both puzzled as to why he asked that question.

Nicole let out a nervous laugh as she held Simon’s hand. “Honey, what are you talking about? That’s the main reason why I hired her. So I could spend time with you and you alone.” She explained as she leaned over to kiss him.

For the second time that afternoon, I was shocked. Not only did Simon avoid Nicole’s advances, he let go of her hand. “I said, why isn’t Brianna here coming with us? This is your event right, love? Don’t you want someone to oversee it while you’re having too much fun so everything goes perfectly?”

He was making a case, but what confused me the most is why he was doing so.

Nicole looked at me as if I was flirting with her man, “Not happening. She’s staying here. Whatever. Let’s go Simon we’re going to be late.” She pulled him towards the door out of the office.

But before the door closed, Simon managed to take another glance at me.

—

I spent most of the day making sure that everything was perfect for the football event. But everytime the Hartwick Hawks’ starting XI roster would appear on my laptop screen, I cant help but question the encounter with their very own center midfielder that took place this afternoon.

It all just seemed so puzzling as an advanced calculus word problem. I didn’t get why he wanted me there. I felt all giddy on the inside as my heart answered, but not long after, my mind retaliated with a ‘don’t get your hopes up darling, he probably wanted you there so Nicole won’t spend most of the time obssesing over the event’.

This time I urged myself to go with what my mind was telling me.

Last time you listened to that damn heart of yours where did it lead you huh? Outside the cinema waiting in the rain alone as your supposed-to-be date cozied up with another girl in his place, that’s where.

I heard the chimes of the front door create its distinct sound as it signaled someone had just entered the room. I blurted the usual, “sorry, we’re closed” line, a very robotic response you will hear from myself if it was after 6PM.

“Uh, delivery for a Miss Brianna?” A man whom I assumed was the delivery guy handed me a big brown box with a silver ribbon.

Who on earth would send me a package this beautiful?

I assumed it was from my parents, but as I saw the contents of the box, I was perplexed.

Because in the box was a gorgeous ball gown, and beautiful accessories to match. My eyes sparkled along with the rhinestones that were embedded across the corset area of the gown.

A note fell to the floor when I pulled out the lovely floor length dress.

“Why don’t you take a night off and come to the ball? Save me a dance. xx”

The note read as a limousine pulled up the front door.