I stared at my reflection for what felt like the hundredth time, absentmindedly smoothing the fabric of my lavender dress.
"You've been looking at yourself for five minutes," Nami said, leaning against my bedroom door with an amused smile. "Planning to marry the mirror?" I rolled my eyes. "I'm thinking." "No, you're overthinking." She walked over, gently fixing a loose strand of my hair before stepping back to admire her work. "There. Perfect." I let out a small sigh.
The past few days had been... exhausting. Not physically. Emotionally. Some things were better left behind, no matter how much they hurt. I wasn't going to let one chapter of my life stop the next from beginning.
Tonight wasn't about me.It was about Ilya. The moment she'd called me, practically screaming over the phone that she'd won the National Innovation Project Award, I knew there was no way I'd miss her celebration. Her happiness had always felt like my own.
"So," Nami interrupted my thoughts, grabbing my handbag from the chair. "Are we going to stand here all evening, or are we actually attending this party?" I chuckled softly "We're going." "That's what I wanted to hear." She linked her arm with mine as we walked toward the front door. "And remember," she said with a grin, "my life motto." I smiled despite myself. "Leave what's gone behind and enjoy what's in front of you." "Exactly." She nudged my shoulder. "Besides, this isn't just a party." I raised an eyebrow. "It's a room full of wealthy businessmen." "And?" "And," she said dramatically, "my sweetest friend is finally going to find someone to invest in her crochet business." I laughed. "I don't even know if anyone will take me seriously." "They will."
"What if they don't?"
"Then we'll make them." I looked down at the leather folder tucked beneath my arm, filled with sketches, product samples, pricing plans, and business ideas I'd spent months preparing. Maybe Nami was right. If I wanted people to believe in my dream, the first person who had to believe in it was me. Taking a deep breath, I smiled "Let's go celebrate Ilya."
The moment our car rolled through the grand iron gates, I understood why people called the Alsrio Estate breathtaking. The mansion glowed beneath hundreds of warm golden lights. Crystal chandeliers shimmered through the tall windows while luxury cars continued pulling into the driveway one after another. Well-dressed guests walked inside with effortless confidence, as though they belonged in a world built from marble floors and sparkling champagne. "I suddenly feel underdressed," I muttered. Nami snorted "You've said that three times since we left home." "Because look at this place." She bumped my shoulder playfully. "Rora, breathe. You're here because your best friend invited you, not because you're auditioning to become a billionaire." I couldn't help laughing. She always knew exactly what to say. As soon as we stepped inside, familiar laughter echoed through the ballroom. "There she is!" I barely had time to react before Ilya wrapped me in one of her signature bone-crushing hugs. "You came!" I hugged her back just as tightly. "Of course I came." "You would've been dead to me if you hadn't." I laughed. "So dramatic." "I learned from the best." She glanced at Nami. "You agree, right?" "Completely." I shook my head. "I have terrible friends." "The best kind," Nami corrected.
Pulling away, I looked at Ilya properly. She looked radiant. Not because of her elegant navy-blue gown.Not because everyone in the room seemed eager to congratulate her. But because she looked proud. The kind of proud that only comes after countless sleepless nights finally pay off. "I'm really proud of you," I said sincerely. "You deserve every bit of this." For a brief moment, the teasing disappeared from her face. "Thank you." She squeezed my hands gently before her smile returned. "Now enough emotions." "Oh?" "I have work to do." I frowned. "What work?" "Helping my future CEO best friend." I blinked. "Excuse me?" She leaned closer and whispered dramatically, "You didn't think I'd invite half the city's biggest business owners without planning to introduce you, did you?" "Illyy"My cheeks warmed instantly. "I don't even know what to say to them." "You've practiced your business pitch at least fifty times." "That was in front of a mirror." "Tonight they're just mirrors with expensive suits." Nami burst into laughter. "I love that." I covered my face with one hand. "I hate both of you." "Yeah we love you too"I sighed dramatically.
Ilya suddenly grabbed my wrist. "Come on." "W-Where are we going?" "Business."She led us through the ballroom, greeting guests every few steps until she stopped near a group of influential businessmen. "There are a few potential dealers over there." I followed her gaze. There had to be at least six of them. Every single one looked confident.Powerful.Important.My stomach twisted. Ilya noticed immediately. "Hey." I looked at her. "Professional Aurora." I blinked. "What?" She gently tapped the folder in my hands. "You didn't spend months crocheting, designing, planning prices, and building your dream just to lose confidence now." I swallowed. She was right. I had worked too hard to let fear win. Taking a slow breath, straightened my shoulders.
MISSION:Professional Aurora. I could do that. "That's my girl," Nami whispered. The next hour wasn't easy. Some dealers barely spared me more than a polite smile before excusing themselves. Others listened for a minute before deciding handmade crochet products weren't the type of business they wanted to invest in. Every rejection stung. But I refused to let it show. I smiled. Thanked them for their time. And moved on. Because dreams weren't built after the first "yes." They survived dozens of "no's."
Just when I was beginning to think tonight wasn't my night, a deep voice interrupted my thoughts. "Those flowers..." I turned around. "They're handmade?" Standing before me was a tall man dressed in a charcoal-grey suit. His sharp features carried an effortless confidence, yet there was genuine curiosity in his eyes as he examined one of my crochet bouquets. "Yes," I answered. "I made every piece myself." He picked up the bouquet carefully, studying every stitch as though it were a priceless artifact. "The craftsmanship is impressive." I blinked. It wasn't fake praise. He actually meant it. "My name is Moritz." He offered his hand. "Moritz Vernon Irwin." I smiled politely before shaking it. "Arora." "Just Arora?"
"Arora Emerlyn" A small smile tugged at his lips. "I like your work, Arora." Relief washed over me.
Finally.
Someone who saw more than just yarn. For the next several minutes, we discussed production costs, materials, packaging ideas, and future expansion. Unlike everyone else, Moritz asked thoughtful questions and listened carefully to every answer. When our conversation ended, he handed me his business card. "I think we should continue this discussion soon." My heart skipped. "I'd like that."
As he walked away, I stared down at the elegant black card in my hand.Maybe... Tonight had been worth coming after all.
And to give me break from my own imaginational world Nami came "Forget the business dealer for a second, look there" pointed with her finger. "Where?" I asked, standing on the tips of my toes as I looked around the crowded ballroom. Nami sighed dramatically. "There." She gently turned my shoulders. "The ridiculously tall man in the black suit." I looked where she pointed. For a second, I forgot what I was supposed to be looking for. He stood with effortless confidence, one hand tucked into his pocket while speaking to a group of businessmen. There wasn't a smile on his face, yet somehow people seemed drawn to him anyway. He looked... intimidating. "See?" Nami whispered. "Fine as hell." "Umm He's handsome," I admitted before I could stop myself. Nami gasped dramatically. "Did Aurora Emerlyn just compliment a man?" "I did not—" "You literally just did." "I only said he was handsome!" "Same thing." Before I could defend myself any further, Ilya looked from me to the man across the ballroom. Then back at me. Her eyes widened. "Oh." She quickly stepped between my line of sight and the mysterious man. "No." I blinked. "...No?" She shook her head firmly. "Not that man." Nami frowned. "Why?" "Because.." Ilya opened her mouth. Closed it again. Then forced an awkward smile. "Just... trust me." I crossed my arms. "That's not an explanation." "It doesn't have to be." Nami narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "You're hiding something." "No more handsome strangers." She began dragging us toward the dessert table before either of us could protest. "Come on! Try the chocolate mousse. It's life-changing." Nami laughed. "Nice save." "I don't know what you're talking about." I stole one last glance over my shoulder. The man was still standing where he'd been. For reasons I couldn't explain. But before I could think any further, Nami hooked her arm through mine while Ilya shoved a dessert plate into my hands.
Within minutes, the conversation shifted to food, business, and Ilya's gain.
The mysterious man slowly faded into the background of my thoughts. Tonight wasn't about him. It was about celebrating my best friend...
And taking one more step toward the future I'd always dreamed of.