MIDNIGHT Bride The CEO's TEMPTATION

Eric sighed and said, "You may as well get back on the bike. This conversation isn't going anywhere, so I may as well take you to school."

***

When Serenity saw Crystal pull up in front of the school on the back of a motorbike, she rushed out to see if anything was wrong. Once she got to the curb, she said, "Crystal, I was so worried about you last night. I called you so many times, but you didn't answer. I was scared to death." Then she saw Eric and was immediately distracted by his good looks. "Is that Eric?" she asked.

"This is Eric," Crystal replied. "I'm sorry I didn't return your tests. I got my period, so I went to bed early."

Serenity: "What on earth is going on?"

Crystal: "What are you talking about?"

Serenity: "All the videos on the Internet have been deleted, and the public's opinion is being controlled. Do you really have no idea what I'm talking about? Not only that, but I heard that the people who assaulted you were arrested. Was Professor Davis behind this? Did your father hire the people who assaulted you?" 

Crystal: "I guess so."

Serenity: "Anyway, we can talk about that later. What are you doing on the back of a motorcycle? Are you crazy?"

Crystal: "Eric saw me walking and offered me a ride. It's no big deal."

Serenity: "Is it that simple? You can't fool me! Since when have we kept secrets from each other?"

Crystal: "Come on! Stop it!"

Serenity grabbed the helmet out of Crystal's hand and passed it back to Eric. "We should get to class anyway," she said.

Crystal nodded, said goodbye to Eric, and they walked in the direction of the school. 

There was still some time before class started, and Crystal had planned to study in the Library, but Serenity insisted that they go to the Auditorium, and she wouldn't tell her why.

When they got to the Auditorium, Crystal saw that there were many lines of students, and the room was so full of people that the smell of sweat was barely bearable. Serenity asked her if she had her Student ID card and Driver's License with her, and she wasn't sure if she did, so she checked her bag. Once she found her identification, she held it up for Serenity to see. "Well? I've got them," she said. "Now what?"

Serenity: "Have you forgotten that the class director is looking for two hot assistants for the economic channel?"

Crystal: "Oh, I almost forgot. But I'm not hot..."

Serenity dragged Crystal into the line. "Don't worry," she said. "I'm hot enough for both of us."

"Are you sure we should sign up?" Crystal asked. "There are so many people. We'll have to wait in line for hours, and we probably won't get the job anyway."

Serenity: "Come on, don't be like that! Think about it; if you get hired, you'll be able to work at a TV station. Why don't we get in separate lines and see who gets to the front first?"

Crystal shrugged and said, "Sure." Serenity joined a short line, and Crystal stood in the one next to her.

Serenity: "I heard that this recruiting session is open to all of the university and college students in the city. No wonder there are so many people."

Crystal: "Oh, dear. There must be thousands of people here!" 

Serenity: "I guess so. This position is very popular, and everyone wants to work at a TV station, and these kinds of opportunities are few and far between. But if God is on our side, we should get the positions!"

When Crystal heard that, she began to panic.

"So, do I need to pray to him every day?" she asked.

Serenity: "Yes, you do."

Crystal thought about that for a minute, and then she realized that she was silly. She didn't understand why she would put her hopes in someone she didn't believe in. She said, "Oh, come on. I think it's better to rely on myself. Anyway, I believe in Karma. If you do good things, good things will happen to you. And I'm a good person, aren't I?"

Serenity: "Yes, you are. You rock, girl. I admire your values, but you may suffer losses because of them one day."

The line moved forward slowly, and they were able to take a step forward every minute or so. It seemed that Crystal's line was moving faster, though. Serenity looked at her watch and frowned. Then she turned to her friend and said, "I don't get it....

Crystal: "What?"

Serenity: "Since they require professional candidates, why wouldn't they recruit from their Host Department?"

Crystal shrugged and said, "Think of the hype."

Serenity: "The hype? What do you mean?"

Crystal: "If students with Host majors don't know about finance and economics, they would not be qualified. The job of being a Host is easy and requires little training. Thus, it is better to hire someone with a more rounded education. Do you get it now?"

Serenity nodded but said nothing. As they got closer to the front, someone came by and handed them clipboards with applications pinned to them. There wasn't much to them, and both girls were done quickly.

The person collecting the applications was Tiffany Ford, and when Crystal saw her, she suddenly felt sick to her stomach. She hadn't seen Tiffany since she was staying at her house with Nathan. Tiffany wore gorgeous make-up and was the most beautiful teacher at the school, and when she saw Crystal, she smiled sweetly.

What a phony bitch - thought Crystal, and she smiled back and waved.

Tiffany walked up to Crystal. "Oh, it's you!" she exclaimed, "Crystal, we haven't seen each other for a long time!" She took Crystal and Serenity's applications and added them to an envelope she was carrying under her arm.

"Hello, Miss Ford. I was a bit taken aback when you left me as suddenly as you did." Crystal spoke softly but emphasized the word "suddenly" to imply that not only had Tiffany left without saying goodbye, but she had run away as if something had scared her off.

"I'm sorry about that," said Tiffany. "There was an emergency, and I wasn't able to say goodbye. I've felt bad about it ever since and was hoping to run into you like this so that I could apologize... and here we are."

Crystal: "Here we are..."

Tiffany's face turned red suddenly. She giggled and lifted her hand to cover her mouth.

Of course, Crystal knew what the 'emergency' was, and Tiffany knew that she knew.