The Numbers That Brought Our Fates Together

"You know, it always amazed me how beautiful and bright your eyes are. Although you have had so much to endure lately." He touched the girl's face with tenderness, wiping away a tear that rolled down her cheek. "Well, well, my dear, don't be sad. You know that I will definitely find you. Even after death. And now you have to go." His eyes were full of warmth, slightly leaning forward, he touched her lips.

Beep, beep, beep.

Elena opened her eyes. How long had she not seen this dream. It seems like five or six years have passed since these nightmares stopped torturing her. And now, for the third day, she could not sleep because of the repeated pictures before her eyes.

Beep, beep, beep.

"Hello," Elena said in a sleepy tone, her eyes closed.

"Elena!! Where are you??? Let's go shopping with me!!" A ringing female voice sounded on the other end of the line just like the second alarm-clock which made the girl wake up completely.

"Oh shoot, Corey! Did you even look at the time? Shops are opening at 10." Regardless of how much Elena loved her friend, to go shopping with her at such an early hour was not in her plans.

"Honey, you have to look at the time. It is 11 o'clock already," Corey's voice sounded with such confidence which it was hard to argue with.

Elena looked at the clock on the wall. The time was 11:15. 'Damn.'

She seemed to have just fallen asleep, and it was almost noon already. It looks like another night was wasted.

"Hey, what's with the voice? Didn't you sleep again? Listen, you have to do something with your nightmares. Go to a psychologist or something. And even better - to the psychic medium! You know, a friend of mine is... Although, wait. What am I talking about? Did you make up your mind about what to wear tonight?"

"What are you talking about?" Elena asked her friend again, not quite understanding what she was hinting at.

"Have you forgotten again?? Today is a great party at Jason's! His father is gathering all creme de la creme of our city in honor of his beloved son turning 25 years old. I know that you are not a fan of such events, but as the only daughter of the head of Lee Pharmaceuticals you should be there."

"Stepdaughter," Elena interrupted Corey, although the necessity of going to the banquet worried her much more than this fact.

"Oh God, Elena, can you leave that subject alone?! Stepdaughter, real daughter - who cares! Your father will be there too. Do not forget that Jason's father is a very powerful minister. And the way you behave can affect your dad's business. And imagine how Jason will be delighted!" Corey applied one reason after the other and it was very hard to argue with them.

"This butthead is always happy about his life, so my presence has nothing to do with it," Elena replied half-heartedly, the picture on the ceiling in her bedroom seemed even more interesting for her.

"Ha-ha, that's for sure! Okay, I'll pick you up in half an hour! Get ready."

Elena hung up the phone and gazed thoughtfully out the window. She absolutely disliked these kinds of social gatherings. But Corey was right. This time she could not avoid going there.

Chen Lee was the head of Lee Pharmaceuticals, the country's leading pharmaceutical company. As the third generation of Chinese immigrants, he was well versed in the current affairs of the country and had good connections with both America's leading companies and the Eastern market. That allowed him to take a leading position in his niche.

And he was the man who took the girl from the orphanage when she was six years old and became her adoptive father.

. . .

A black limousine drove up to the door of the hotel. An a.d.u.l.t man with oriental face features came out of the car and a young girl, age about twenty, followed him.

"Oh, my friend Chen! What a blast from the past!" A man opened his arms, joyfully greeting his old friend.

"John!! Glad to see you! Happy birthday to your son. Jason is already a full-fledged heir; it's time to find a good bride for him," Mr. Lee teased the birthday boy's father a little.

"Ha-ha, you're right, but this dummy takes a too much-relaxed approach to life. So he has not grown to a serious relationship. But your beauty has become even more beautiful!" The host of the event looked at the young girl with a playful fire in his eyes and winked at her, making the latter feel slightly confused.

"Hello, Mr. Barton! Glad to meet you," Elena bowed her head greeting him.

"Elena, you are already a real young lady! How about becoming my daughter?" John knew well that his good-for-nothing son will not interest such a lady with outstanding talents, but, as they say, hope springs eternal.

"Thank you for the offer, but I am more than happy to be just friends with your son," the young lady's answer smashed his last hope into pieces like a hammer would break the glass.

Without answering, the man only laughed out loud.

"Elena, over here!"

Elena turned back to the side where the voice was coming from and saw Corey near the entrance, the girl was actively waving at her, gesturing like a little baboon monkey.

"Father-" she asked Mr. Chen Lee, but the man understood the situation very well already.

"Yes, go. Mr. Barton and I just wanted to discuss a few things a little bit," he nodded and returned to the conversation with his friend.

"If you please..."