"Aria what's all these preparations for, calm down girl, don't get so flustered." Stephanie reprimanded.

Aria didn't seem to hear her as she kept pacing. "Oh my, today is our fifth-year anniversary, I really hope for something to happen this time, maybe he will propose to me?" She keeps thinking as she continues to walk around the room. She seems lost in her thoughts as she completely ignored Stephanie.

Stephanie seems to get more irritated by how she was pacing back and forth.

"Enough Aria, is it not just your fifth-year anniversary in this relationship? Is not as if that jerk is ever going to propose to you after all."

Aria stopped pacing and rushed Stephanie, "you wench how dare you jinx me." She hit her playfully. Stephanie dodged hurriedly.

"Okay stop it, Aria. I'm going now, you can have all day long day dreaming about your anniversary, I'm leaving." She stood up.

Aria hurried back and held her, "wait, you can't be going already. You forgot why I called you here for."

"Come on, leave me," Stephanie broke away from her. "You called me over to help you pick a dress tonight. We have been at it for hours. I'm already tired of you rejecting all my choices. I can't help you so go ahead and pick whatever you like." Stephanie looked mad.

Aria felt sorry for her, she had been so indecisive over what to wear that was why she called her friend Stephanie over to help. Poor Stephanie, no matter what she chose Aria rejected it feeling that something was missing.

"Okay, I'm sorry dear. Now this last time, just this last time." She pleaded.

"I think the red dress will be better on you. It also fits the occasion."

Aria picked up the red dress that was lying on the bed. Then the more she looked at it the more she liked it. The gown was short and was made from stretch satin fabric. It has a sweetheart neckline, offering a touch of elegance and thin spaghetti straps for delicate feminine look.

"Okay, this one. One more thing please, can you stay behind and help me with my makeup. I'm going to take a bath now, it won't be long and I will be out." She pleaded with puppy eyes.

Stephanie was gritting her teeth. "Well, I guess I already made the mistake of coming over." She sighed.

Aria laughed and rushed to the bathroom.

"Don't worry it won't be long, I'll be out in a few."

**********************************************

Inside the club, a man was sitting quietly at the counter. He wore a black jacket and looked quite handsome. He scanned his environment with anxious eyes before taking a drag from the cigarette he was holding. He was expecting someone and he groaned while rubbing his slightly messy sandy brown hair.

A man walked in, he was six foot tall with dark brown hair. His blue colored eyes stood out among all his features. Sandy brown haired man eyes lit up. He looked relieved and waved at the newcomer to come over.

"What took you so long Garrett?" Asked the Sandy haired man, sounding annoyed. The brown-haired man Ethan laughed.

"Haha! Ethan Miles, still to your hot tempers, ha you never change." Garret laughed.

Ethan looked displeased but he didn't try to argue.

"Let's drink a toast, for old time's sake." Ethan poured two drinks and offered him one.

Garret accepted and downed it in one gulp.

"Careful Garrett, the wine is strong."

Garret coughed lightly. "Don't worry, I have had stronger ones before. So, what do you say you need my help for? Be quick I don't have loads of time to spend here, I still have things that I have to do."

Ethan cleared his throat. "Garret old friend, I really need your help. I have a huge debt on my head. I borrowed from a notorious loan check Cain to gamble in the casino. I thought I will win the money times three and pay him back but I lost everything and that guy Cain, he is a bad name in the street, his gang has been disturbing me for some time and they gave me an ultimatum that if I don't pay off tomorrow, I'd be a goner."

"Oh shit!" Garret exclaimed.

"I can't believe you're still like this Ethan. I thought you had dropped such this old habit. Why?"

"Oh shit don't start this please." Ethan growled. Gareth continued glaring at him till he couldn't stand it again.

"Yes, you are right Gareth, I'd stop. But recently I decided to have a shot and luckily, I won. I felt my luck was increasing and continued. Unfortunately..." He paused and shook his head in big regret.

"What? Go on, I'm all ears." He encouraged me.

Ethan sighed, "I lost all my money in just one night, everything was gone I saved up all these years was gone up in smoke. I thought I could one day be lucky enough and win all the money back, I borrowed from my girlfriend and at last... I borrowed from Cain."

Gareth sighed before he spoke. "Well, if you called me to give you money you got the wrong guy. I used all my money to pay for my house installment and I don't have any left."

"I know you might not have money, I actually need a small favor from you. I learned something unique about your boss that I think we can manipulate to my benefit." Ethan brightened up and started explaining his plan immediately.

Gareth frowned. "This... I don't know but I can't betray my boss." 

"What are you saying? It's not as if he's ever going to find out. Do this for me, please! For old times' sake Gareth."

"No, I'm sorry I can't," he replied affirmatively and stood up ready to leave.

Ethan gritted his teeth, he looked like he was about to do something that he shouldn't. "Garret, remember how I saved you in school? You are not going to abandon me now, are you? This is the time to repay the favor. Please!!"

"You son of a..." Gareth felt like cursing but he managed to control himself half. Sighing deeply, he took out a box of cigarettes from his pocket and took out one stick, he lit it with a lighter and started smoking with his eyes squinted. He was lost in thought for some minutes before making up his mind.

"Fine, I will help you this time, after This remember, I don't owe you a favor any longer."