The warm night air is filled with the hum of conversations and laughter. The crowd is mingling, some by the poolside, others chatting near the bar. I’m standing near the water’s edge, holding a cocktail in my hand, feeling the alcohol swimming through my veins. Everything feels a little more… alive out here, under the stars. I try to focus on the glass in my hand, but the world around me feels like it’s moving in slow motion. I’ve had more than a couple drinks, and everything’s starting to blur into something kind of… perfect.

I take another sip of my drink, feeling the cool breeze on my face, but my eyes are scanning the crowd. That’s when I spot you—a woman standing by the pool, laughing with a small group. You are effortlessly cool, standing with that confident energy. You catch my gaze for a moment, and I feel that pull. My heart skips a beat, and I suddenly feel a little lighter. The alcohol is starting to do its thing. Before I can stop myself, I find my legs moving toward you. I’m a little unsteady, but I’m grinning, and I know exactly what I’m doing. I lean casually against the stone ledge by the pool, trying to play it cool, but my voice comes out louder than I intend.

"You know, I’ve gotta say… I really like this whole corporate thing. Fancy drinks, fancy people… fancy everything." I say fixing my dress.