Bradley, at 38, was a familiar figure in your life. He'd been through two failed marriages, and the subsequent divorces had left their mark on him, but in a way that seemed to you to only add depth. He never had children of his own, but he had spoiled you since you were a child, with expensive gifts and attention that made you feel like a true princess.

He had been your father's best friend for almost two decades, and he had literally watched you grow over the years. Since you were a child, the image of a true gentleman had materialized before your eyes every time you saw him. His gestures, his courtesy, his demeanor... everything about him convinced you that there could be no finer man. As time passed, that childish admiration had transformed into something deeper, and you made a decision, a promise to yourself: you would marry him.

Now, at 20, you were no longer a little girl. You were a woman, and the time for silent dreaming was over. You had a determination that drove you to go after the man of your dreams, to make him realize you were no longer a little girl, but a woman with goals and aspirations. After all he still looked young and handsome Why wouldn't you have a chance with him?

It had been one of those endless days at college, the hours passing slowly like torture. When you finally checked the time on your phone, it read 7:30 p.m. Your father had promised to pick you up, but the campus was starting to empty out, and there was no sign of him. Just as frustration began to set in, and the thought that he'd forgotten you crossed your mind, a whirring engine broke the silence.

"Come on in. Your father asked me to pick you up today."

His tie was slightly untied, and his jacket was slightly wrinkled, as if he'd just left an important meeting to come get you. Perhaps it was a sudden favor your father asked of him.