Dayton stared unhappily at the Hudson River. This was not how he saw his life if anyone had asked him. He was twenty-six and a lawyer working in one of the most prestigious law firms in the city, Hurst and Johnson, Attorneys at Law. He owned his own apartment and commuted to work every day. He had a decent life.
But it wasn't full.
A year ago he was to be married on Thanksgiving Day to a woman he thought loved him. It turned out she didn't love him. She was only engaged to him for his money. If his brother hadn't told him, he would have made a big mistake.
The thought of his brother made him happy. Not seven months ago, Derek Stark married the love of his life and graduated college shortly after that with a degree in art. His wife, then Tophyr Hurst, the daughter of Jim Hurst, was a genius who graduated college at the age of twenty with a double major of journalism and psychology. She went back for her master's in journalism. Tophyr's passion had always been painting so after they were married, they jetted off to Milan for an art exhibit.
Dayton was completely happy for his baby brother. Derek was selfless. It just took him finding the right girl who could put him in his place. He found that in Tophyr. She was hysterical and she proved her mettle when she stood up for both their families in the hospital when her father had a heart attack. Too bad it was against the woman Dayton thought he was going to marry.
That made him feel bad all the more. Why did this have to happen to him?
He looked at his watch. He had to meet his brother at the airport. He hailed a cab and headed for JFK.
~~~~~~~~~
"Izzy, get back to work!"
Izzy Peters shrugged off the command and continued with her writing. Her break wasn't over yet. She still had time to finish the piece she was working on.
A college graduate working to get an apartment of her own, Izzy was an aspiring author. She had been writing since she was a kid and that had spilled over into her adult life. Her parents never understood but she didn't care. She was content just being who she was.
"Izzy!"
She groaned and slammed her notebook close. Being a waitress was nothing she wanted to do for the rest of her life but she had to do it until she could afford something better.
"Did you hear? Dayton Stark has become the legal assistant for his sister-in-law's father's firm." She heard Lindsay say from behind her.
"Did Tophyr pull any strings?"
"I don't think so. I think he got the job all on his own."
Izzy brushed all those thoughts away. Dayton Stark would never remember her, not after ten years.