AFTER THIS NIGHT

The meeting

The car approached the entrance of the building where the event was taking place. A red carpet adorned the path, and security agents were there to maintain order. The press was present, and flashes were visible everywhere. Sophia felt a bit anxious, but Sharon reassured her by taking her hand.

"Everything will be fine. Don't worry," she said with a radiant and reassuring smile. Sophia smiled back and sighed.

"Ready, ladies?" Sean asked. They responded affirmatively, and the car came to a stop. An agent opened the door for them, and they exited. Sean took Sharon's hand, and they walked forward. Journalists asked for poses, and they did so naturally, smiling. Sophia, on the other hand, stayed behind and walked after them.

Once inside, Sean guided them to the immense hall prepared for the occasion.

" Wow! This hall is magnificent," exclaimed Sharon.

" I would have loved to decorate it," said Sophia, scanning the room with stars in her eyes.

" One day, my So, one day. But you know if you accepted..."

" Not tonight, please, Shasha," she said disapprovingly.

" Okay, okay," she said, capitulating.

" Sean!" said a feminine voice behind them.

" Morgane? It's been a long time. How are you?" Sean asked, surprised to see the young woman.

" Very well, and you?" she asked in a charming voice, smiling.

" I'm doing wonderfully. Well, let me introduce you to Sharon, my girlfriend, and Sophia, his best friend and a good friend of mine."

" Ah! Nice to meet you, girls. I'm Morgan Stone," she replied, hiding her surprise and irritation.

" Nice to meet you," Sophia and Sharon replied in unison.

" Oh! Sean dear, we'll see each other much more often because I'm back in New York," said Morgan, trying to create tension between Sean and Sharon.

" Oh yeah? You finally decided to come back?"

" Yes! Life was starting to get boring in France. Here, I have a lot to gain and some things to recover," she said, casting a charming glance at Sean. The girls noticed her little game and began to feel uncomfortable. The arrival of Sean's mother was salutary.

" Morgan, I didn't expect to see you here," exclaimed the newcomer.

" Mrs. O'Brian, good evening to you! My father had to leave the city urgently, and my mother went with him as always. So, they send you their sincere apologies," she explained.

" Oh! I'm sorry to hear that," she exclaimed, sorry to hear the news.

" It wasn't planned at all for me to be here tonight. I only returned this morning. The decision was made just a few hours ago."

" I highly doubt that! Your parents would have warned me if not! I hope you had a good trip," she replied.

" Yes, thank you. And you? How are you?"

" Well, thank you. Sharon, how are you, my dear?"

" Well, Mom, and you?" she replied, all smiles.

This familiarity between them surprised Morgan. When she was dating Sean, she hadn't been treated this way. Their relationship was cordial, but not as familiar. For her, who had come to get Sean back, it didn't help. She had returned to New York solely for Sean.

" I'm fine too. I suppose this is Sophia, your best friend."

" Exactly," confirmed Sharon.

" Well, Sophia, I'm delighted to finally meet you. Sharon talks about you very often."

" I am also delighted, Mrs. O'Brian," said Sophia in a cheerful voice.

" None of that with me. Just call me Carla," said Sean's mother, taking her hands.

" Okay, Carla," the young woman replied with a shy smile.

" Great! Please excuse me, kids! I have to leave you. I still need to greet the other guests. And, uh, Sean? I almost forgot! Akira was looking for you. He's near the buffet."

" Okay, Mom," Sean replied.

" Well, good evening, young people," she concluded before leaving.

" Sophia, Sharon, follow me! I'm going to introduce you to Akira," he said once his mother had left.

" Okay," replied Sharon.

" Excuse us, Morgan," he said politely, bowing his head slightly forward.

" Yes, of course," she replied in turn. She watched them walk away, swearing to find a way to get Sean back. She wasn't going to give up so easily. She hadn't made such a long trip to give up at the first obstacle.

" Akira?"

" Sean! It's been a long time. How are you?" he said, hugging him and giving his friend a special handshake, an unusual hand game.

" Well, Akira. And yes, it's been a long time. But it's not my fault. You know. You've been so focused on work for the past six months that I'm impressed," he said, laughing, leading Akira.

" Not wrong. We'll talk about it later. Please present me to your friends instead," he replied

" Oh, I forgot. Akira, let me introduce you to Sharon, my gorgeous girlfriend."

" Flatterer," she said.

" I'm sure he's telling the truth, and behind this mask is a splendid young woman," Akira commented, extending his hand to kiss hers.

" In fact, both of you are great flatterers," Sharon remarked, pointing at them in turn teasingly, making the three of them laugh.

" Baby, you're of great beauty, and you know it."

" That's true," she admitted, lightly tossing her hair back in a gesture that made the three people beside her laugh again.

" But where has your modesty gone, Sharon?" Sophia asked, feigning shock, eliciting another round of laughter from the small group.

" The introductions aren't finished, I believe! Will you please introduce me to this magnificent young woman?" Akira finally said to Sharon and Sean.

" My apologies, Akira. Let me introduce you to Sophia, Sharon's best friend," Sean presented.

" Funny thing, her second name is similar to your name, with just one letter difference," mused Sharon.

" ShaSha," said Sophia, embarrassed under her breath. Akira noticed her gesture, which he found cute. In addition to having a perfect body, she was adorable.

" Oh yeah? Which one?" he couldn't help asking.

" Akila. Isn't it incredible? Just the second-to-last letter that differs," Sharon explained.

" I didn't know your name was Akila, Sophia," Sean commented.

" It's a bit complicated, actually," Sophia replied, still feeling embarrassed.

" Delighted, Sophia. I'll be thrilled to get to know you better during this evening, if you don't mind," Akira said after planting a kiss on her hand.

" Not at all," Sophia replied.

"Well, Akira, I have to go. I still need to greet the other guests," Sean said.

"The duty of a host," he said, nodding slightly forward in a slow gesture.

"You know him better than I do. Sophia, hope you don't mind if I leave with Sharon?"

"Don't worry. Go ahead! Have a good time, both of you!"

" Thank you, So," Sharon thanked her, a broad smile on her face.

"You're welcome, ShaSha."