It had been three days since Meredith had arrived back in her hometown. As per her agreement with her father, she would be spending her entire summer working in D.C., although she still didn't know the details. He'd just smiled and urged her to be patient when she'd asked him about it. She hoped everything would turn out fine regarding their deal.

Ideally the next few months would fly by, and then she'd be partying hard overseas.

Sitting at the large dining table, Meredith ate her breakfast, enjoying the solitude before her parents inevitably came to join her. She was starting to miss Lily. And she couldn't help but think of how nice the weather in Bali must be right about now.

Relax. You made the right choice, she reminded herself.

It wasn't long before Meredith's mother showed up. Elizabeth Howard Fields favored her daughter She had long, wavy blonde hair which was usually styled into an elegant bun. Like Meredith, her eyes were an unusual ocean blue color. Elizabeth was slim and if not for her mature personality, nobody would even think she had two children, with Meredith being the eldest at twenty-three.

“Good morning, honey,” Elizabeth greeted Meredith warmly as she took a seat across the table. She was smiling at her as if they hadn't seen each other for a very long time.

Well they hadn't, or at least not until three days ago, technically speaking.

“Morning, Mom,” Meredith responded before taking a bite of the toast she was holding.

“How's settling in going?” her mom asked, nodding pleasantly at the maid who was pouring her a glass of ice water.

“Fine,” she replied, then shrugged. “I guess,” Meredith added, quite unsure.

She didn't have the faintest clue about what her dad had in store for her. All she knew was that she wanted the summer to pass as quickly as possible, and that she couldn't wait for her trust fund to finally be released. By then, she would be free to do whatever she wanted.

But you want to be a journalist. This is what you’ve always wanted, whispered her inner voice, which made her mentally groan.

It was true that she wanted to be a successful reporter. It had been a goal of hers since she was little. But she'd just graduated from college! She deserved a break, didn't she?

“You guess? Did you leave something important back in New York?” her mom asked teasingly, eyeing Meredith with a playful grin on her lips. “Or maybe someone?”

Meredith chuckled and shook her head. Her mom was being a little silly, but she had to admit that some part of her thought having someone waiting for her back in the city would be nice.

Unbidden, the image of a masked man came to mind. Specifically, the man she'd met at the party with Lily. He'd had the most beautiful grey eyes she'd ever seen. And she was certain that he would have met all her expectations if he'd removed his mask that night.

God, how she wished she had seen his face.

She knew she'd been drunk that night, but for some reason he remained vivid in her mind, along with the effect he'd had on her body. If Lily hadn't come to whisk her away, she probably would have slept with that total stranger.

It was crazy.

It gave her goosebumps just thinking about it. She'd always been so careful when it came to dealing with members of the opposite sex. But that night, she'd been willing to give it up to someone whose face she hadn't even seen – with a complete stranger!

It was as if a spell had been cast on her as she'd stared deep into his grey orbs.

It had all felt so very... magical.

Ew. Magical, my ass. You were drunk and desperate. You would have given it up to anyone for all you know, a mocking voice in her head said. Realistically, she knew this assessment probably wasn't too far off the mark.

“Honey? Is something bothering you?” Elizabeth asked, giving Meredith a questioning look. She appeared curious and worried at the same time.

“Huh?” Meredith blinked after being pulled back to reality. She averted her gaze and stared fixedly at her plate.

“So, you do have someone!” Her mother shot her a triumphant, knowing look.

“What? Mom!” she groaned, then heaved a deep sigh. “There's no one, okay? I wish though.”

“Fine,” Elizabeth said, but her tone suggested she didn't quite believe Meredith. She smiled, clearly having fun.

“Let's just eat,” Meredith mumbled and smiled, still embarrassed by the sudden question.

“Oh, come on, honey. You know you can tell me anything. How’s your stay been so far?”

Meredith rolled her eyes. “It would have been better if I'd gone to Bali with Lily.”

“It's not too late to change your mind, dear,” Elizabeth spoke mischievously, giving her a wink. Her mom had always pushed for her daughters to enjoy their youth. It was probably because she'd married at such a young age.

“Seriously? Are you sure you're my mother? You sound just like Lily,” Meredith said, shaking her head when Elizabeth just giggled. Sometimes she couldn't believe the things her mother would say in private, when in public she was very much prim and proper. They lapsed into a comfortable silence as they worked on finishing their respective breakfasts.

“Are you going to work today?” her mom asked abruptly, sending shivers down her spine.

Today would be her first day working at her dad's company – the New York Tribune. And as much as she hated the idea of spending her entire summer back home, she couldn't help but feel a little excited.

From this point on, she would no longer be an intern, nor a student. Today she would be able to put all of her knowledge to use and hopefully gain more experience.

“Yep,” she responded, careful to keep her tone neutral. She didn't want her mom to think she wasn't taking things seriously.

“Are you sure you can handle it? It’s not going to be easy, Meredith,” her mother said gently.

“Mom, I chose this. Whether it’s easy or not, I'm going to do this. This is what I've always wanted to do, remember?”

Elizabeth nodded, but kept silent. She'd always been more easygoing than her father.

They resumed eating as another comfortable silence settled between them. After several moments had passed, her father appeared, dressed formally in a suit and tie as usual.

“Good morning,” her father greeted with a smile.

Where Meredith's mother was petite and blonde, her father was tall and dark. Meredith might not have inherited any of his physical characteristics, but she took after him in personality.

“Good morning,” Mer and Elizabeth chorused in turn.

Sipping from his favorite coffee mug, her dad eyed Meredith, who was finally finished eating.

“Are you ready?” Benedict asked suddenly, startling her as she neatly dabbed at the corners of her mouth with her napkin.

She didn't feel ready. But she couldn't admit that to her dad, especially not after the deal they'd struck.

“Yes,” she heard herself say, rising from her seat with a smile and turning to retrieve the garment bag that was neatly draped on the chair next to her. She'd asked their maid to press her favorite Chanel pantsuit to wear for her first day of work. But the smile on her lips vanished when her father let out a hearty laugh.

“What?” she asked, puzzled.

“You’re going to need more than that, honey.” Meredith exchanged a confused glance with her mother.

“She graduated from Columbia,” Elizabeth said pointedly.

“She did. But it’s better not to show off, don’t you think?” Benedict responded calmly. Elizabeth frowned.

“So wearing what she wants is showing off somehow?” her mother said, folding her arms across her chest.

Her mother loved fashion and owned several boutiques stocked with garments from only the most exclusive, in-demand designers. Meredith had a keen interest in fashion as well, thanks to her mother's influence. But her mother seemed to be taking this almost personally.

Her dad closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. Meredith and her mother exchanged glances again while they waited for him to respond.

“It's too flashy,” he finally said, opening his eyes and shaking his head.

Meredith didn't want her parents to fight. Yes, her mother was mostly easygoing, but when it came to certain topics she knew her mother would never back down. She cleared her throat, and both her parents turned to look at her.

“What should I wear then?” she asked, feeling slightly disappointed that she wouldn't be able to wear her favorite clothes to work. But she did want to fit in.

Silence filled the room as he looked her over thoughtfully. Meredith lowered her head when she felt her cheeks growing hot from his intense scrutiny, realizing she was wearing gym clothes despite having skipped her morning workout earlier in favor of getting more sleep.

“That will do,” her dad commented, referring to her outfit.

“Seriously?” she asked, quite taken aback. If the pantsuit was too flashy, surely this outfit was too casual by comparison?

“Yes. Keep in mind you'll be on your feet a lot throughout the day, and you'll want to be comfortable. You'll thank me later,” he said with a wink. Meredith rolled her eyes. That was one of his favorite phrases to use on her and her sister. But she couldn't think of a single time where he'd said that, and not been right.

Nodding in response, Meredith headed to her room to finish getting ready. By the time she headed downstairs again, her parents were already waiting for her in the foyer.

“Shall we?” she said with a wide smile on her face. She couldn't suppress the feeling of excitement as her dad led the way to the garage, where their private driver waited.

“Have a lovely day dear,” her mom whispered, giving her a light kiss on the cheek.

“Elizabeth, she’ll be fine. I’m with her,” Benedict murmured softly, shaking his head before kissing her mom on the temple.

“She should be. I’m counting on you.”

“I'm going to be just fine, you guys. I'm not a kid anymore,” Meredith piped up, shaking her head. Her parents chuckled, and exchanged their goodbyes.

Soon Meredith and her father were on their way. Meredith looked out the window, noting all the myriad changes to the neighborhood where she'd spent her entire life until leaving for college. Some buildings she'd expected to see had been replaced by newer, taller structures. The park where she'd played with friends in elementary school was gone, replaced by a cafe.

She smiled. Things had changed. But so had she.

She had grown up.

With a start, she realized she didn't recognize the path the driver was taking. She frowned and turned to her father.

“Where are we going?” she asked, wondering what he had planned. Maybe she wouldn't be working in the main office after all.

Her dad smiled and winked at her.

“Where were you planning on going if you hadn't come home for the summer? And where are you planning on going once the summer is over?”

Meredith froze. She hadn't expected to discuss this so soon. And definitely not with her dad.

“I was going to go to Bali with Lily. She's there right now,” she said. “And I guess I'll head to Europe and meet her wherever she ends up when summer's over,” she added.

“I see,” he said, looking thoughtful. Meredith wondered what he was thinking.

“Okay. You can go. On one condition…”

“What condition?” she asked cautiously. She didn't want to get her hopes up prematurely if he was going to ask her for something impossible.

“I want you to report on the presidential campaign. Use your degree for the whole summer and you're free to go,” he said.

“Really? That's it?”

His lips quirked up into a smile.

“That's it,” he said. “Oh, and make sure you call your parents from time to time,” he added.

“I will! And thank you Dad!” she exclaimed happily, giving him a hug.

“You're welcome. But it's not all going to be fun and games, Meredith. Working a presidential campaign isn't an easy assignment. And you'll be representing the company, so you'll need to be on your best behavior at all times.”

She nodded. “Dad, I know. Trust me.” Besides, she thought, it doesn't matter as long as I get to Bali after this is all done.

Shaking his head, her dad handed her a file with all the information she would need about this assignment. She was too excited to even spare it a single glance before shoving the papers inside her bag.

Bali! Wait for me! she thought enthusiastically.

Shortly, the car stopped in front of an unfamiliar office building. Meredith got out of the car and hurried alongside her father, following his lead.

A stunning brunette was waiting for them. Meredith learned that her name was Sosie, and she was the manager for the campaign. She ushered them toward the candidate's office, making pleasant small talk with her father. Meredith relaxed and spaced out a bit, daydreaming about Bali. She could practically feel the hot sand under her toes already.

She shook her head. She needed to start taking this seriously. She peeked into her bag and hurriedly scanned the file her father had given her. It wouldn't do to be completely ignorant. But all she had time to see was the candidate's name – Elijah Scott. It wasn't familiar to her though. Probably some old married guy, she thought.

As they stepped into a spacious office, she idly hoped she wouldn't die from sheer boredom over the next few months.

“Mr. Fields of the New York Tribune is here,” Sosie informed the man who was sitting on an office chair, looking out the windows.

Meredith felt fluttering in her stomach as the tall figure rose from his seat. Taller than even her father by a few inches, his shoulders were broad, and she could tell his muscular physique was the product of frequent trips to the gym.

As he turned to greet them, she found herself holding her breath. He looked way too young to be a presidential candidate. And in fact, she thought he looked more like a model than a career politician.

Tall, dark, and handsome, just her type. She was captivated by his presence. She'd never expected to be working with someone so young, let alone so handsome. He was sinfully handsome.

Is he married? she wondered to herself.

“Good morning, Mr. Fields. It's so good to see you again,” Elijah said warmly, shaking her father's hand.

“The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Scott,” her father responded in a friendly tone.

“Please, Elijah is just fine. Mr. Scott is my father.”

Meredith heard her father chuckle. “Elijah it is. This is my daughter Meredith. She'll be working on the campaign trail with you like we discussed,” he said, taking a seat and motioning for her to join him on the couch.

Meredith obediently took a seat next to her father, feeling slightly awkward when Elijah looked at her. When their eyes met, she felt butterflies flutter in her stomach. Something about his gaze was making her feel nervous for some reason.

But at the same time, something about him seemed strangely familiar...

It was his eyes. She could look at them all day. They were an unusual shade of grey. She knew they had never met before, so why did she have this nagging feeling like she somehow knew him already?

“It's nice to meet you, Meredith,” Elijah greeted her warmly, offering his hand for her to shake. He smiled.

When she shook his hand, she felt positively electric. The truth finally hit her when the image of the masked man from the party popped into her head.

The man from the party was the same person standing in front of her.

It’s him!