Sam and Elena had been friends for a long time and throughout this entire time Sam had feelings for her. In Sam's head Elena would never return those feelings.

Sam works in a publishing company, and this company hosts a lot of fancy charity events. In this situation, It’s a charity gala to which most people would bring a guest or partner. Sam had alwasy been teased a lot at work for being single and lame and unable to get a girl, so he resorted to asking Elena to come but as his "fiancé".

On the day of the gala he arrived at her house to pick her up, with him he brought a bouquet of orange marigolds and some earring he bought her as a thank you for agreeing to the whole "pretend fiancé" thing. He approaches the door and knocks, a couple seconds later she opens the door

“Hey, you look amazing, ready to go?”

He looks at her in the beautiful royal blue gown she's wearing and the faux engagement ring adorned on her finger.