Karma (English)

Dalton Serano

Today is my graduation day and I'm really proud of myself that I achieved my goals by 24 years old. I got my Bachelor Degree in Harvard and then I got my Master Degree in Stanford.

I walked out from the hall after receiving my diploma and greeted by my family. My mother gave me a hug first and she said that she's so proud of me. My sister then gave me a hug and lastly.. my father gave me a big hug.

The only person that I want to pleased is my father.

As I grow up, I admire him and always wanted to be like him. I want to be someone that he can be proud of and live up to his expectations.

"We're so proud of you, son." My father said as he pulled away.

"Thank you, father." I smiled.

They already hired a professional photographer to take photos of us together as a family. My parents even gave me the time to talk and take pictures with some of my friends.

As I was busy taking pictures with some of my friends, suddenly a beautiful girl approached me. She brought a big bouquet of roses and she stood in front of me.

"Dalton Serano, I've been liking you for awhile now. I was wondering if we could go on a date tomorrow night?" She said shyly as she put the bouquet of flowers in front of me.

This reminded me of Ellie Lexington right away.

"Sorry, I have to go back to Paris tomorrow." I rejected her and she looked at me with teary eyes. I walked away to prevent any chaos that will occur.

This is not my first time receiving confession when I enrolled in uni. I got a lot of confessions but I rejected all of them. I only dated once throughout uni and it's with a woman named Lisa. We dated for about 1.5 years from my 3rd year to when I graduated my bachelor degree in Harvard.

When I challenged Ellie Lexington to follow me to Harvard on the day that she confessed to me, I never heard from her anymore. I saw her at school but that's it. She only confessed and just vanished into thin air.

Ellie Lexington is one of the most popular girls at school back then. She's beautiful and not to mention she was born with silver spoon too. The thing that made me remember about her until today is how she reacted when I told her to follow me to Harvard.

She told me that she will follow me a year after I enrolled, yet there's no signs of her. I went to the freshman welcoming orientation but none.

I guess, she's just one of those girls who don't have any sense of working hard to get what she wants. Even a part of me thought it was a prank or a dare from her friends.

Never heard anything from her ever again but I just hope she's doing great things in her life.

Ellie Lexington

"Ellie!" I squealed when I saw Callie walking into my office. I got up and immediately hugged her tightly.

"How are you?" I said as I put my hands on her upper arms. She still looking so gorgeous since the last time I saw her.

"I'm great. How about you?"

"I'm great too! was so happy when you called me, I thought you're still living in Melbourne." I said and she shook her head. She showed me her ring on her ring finger and my eyes widen.

"No way!"

"Yes.. way!" She squealed.

"This is great news!" I hugged her again and she squealed.

"I know!" She pulled away and handed me an invitation to her wedding.

"It's in 2 weeks. I know.. I know.. before you say something about it.." I was about to protest but she stopped me.

"It will be a big wedding, it's just I wanted to hand you the invitation in person." She said and I chuckled. I opened the wedding invitation and smiled.

"I'm so happy for you, Callie. I really do. This is amazing!" I said ad I put the invitation on my table. I turned to her and she held both of my hands.

"A lot of our highschool friends will come." She said and I nodded.

"I know."

"Including Dalton Serano and his family. Alfie's family knew them personally." She said and I chuckled.

"You're okay with it?" She raised her eyebrows.

"Why would I not be okay with it? It's your day and you don't need to think about me."

"That's odd." She looked at me suspiciously.

"It's been 7 years, Callie. I'll be working with him later." I said and she chocked on herself. I patted her back and she grabbed my glass of water drinking it.

"You what?"

"I'll be working with him." I repeated.

"How are you acting so normal? I know you're still in love with him!" She hissed as she wiped her lips.

"We're adults, Callie. We all have our own paths now." I said and she shook her head.

"Do you remember how he humiliated you in front of the whole student body?"

"It's in the past." I said and Callie looked at me disbelief.

"Good thing that you don't end up with him because you don't deserve him at all."

"I know, I know.. don't worry." I smiled and she let out a long sigh.

"There will be a lot of guests in my wedding and I will introduce you to my cousin. I think he's perfect for you."

"Are you really trying to hook me up with your cousin in your own wedding?" I asked and she laughed.

"I want you to find the one as soon as possible, you look lonely." She teased and I rolled my eyes.

"I just got out of a relationship, Callie."

"That was 7 months ago, stop making excuses!"

Dalton Serano

As soon as I got back to Paris, my father told me to help my sister handle her business because she recently got into an accident that requires her to rest for a month.

Deandra has a business in beauty products and I have to work with a company called Vinece. I have zero knowledge about this company because I just landed in Paris 3 days ago. I wasn't expecting to take over Deandra's work right away.

Today, I'm going to meet the CEO of Vinece and then I have to go to Alfie and Callie's wedding later in in the afternoon with my whole family.

I drove my car to Vinece's office and as soon as I arrived, they greeted me. They led me to the meeting room and I looked out the window because the weather today is fantastic.

"Good morning, Mr. Serano." I turned my body around to see none other that Ellie Lexington. She smiled at me and her presence caught me out of guard.

"Ellie?"

"Hi, Dalton." She said as she walked over me putting her hand in front of me. I took it and and she gestured me to sit down. We both sitting facing each other and as she's getting ready for the meeting, I had time to study her.

She looks mature and much more beautiful than she was in highschool. Her hair was short back then but now, it falls to her waist. She looks proper and professional with her office attire.

"Do you want tea or coffee?" She suddenly asked.

"Tea, please. Thanks." She texted someone and not long after I assumed her secretary brought in two cups of tea.

"I'm sorry for what happened to Deandra." She turned to me and I nodded.

"Let's get started." She smiled as she gestured me to look at the big screen. She started her presentation on how she will present Deandra's products and how she recommends a lot of type of packaging to attract consumer. She even told me that Deandra doesn't need to make an ad on TV or youtube. She recommended to use instagram and Tiktok influencers especially beauty gurus.

She changed a lot.

That's my first impression after 7 years not seeing her. It's like she's a different woman. She knows how to work professionally and she knows how to express her opinions. The way she talks, it shows that she's an intelligent person.

"Lastly, I was thinking about throwing a launching party and inviting people or we can make a PR packages and sent them out 1-2 weeks before the official launching happens. What do you think?" She asked me and I nodded.

"PR packaging is more promising to me because they will eventually promote it since the product is already known publicly. It's just we have to think it through how we will present it." I suggested and she wrote it down.

"Because DELORE is luxury brand for middle class and upper class people, I think we should take it to another level for the PR packagings." She said and then she looked up to me.

"Okay. I like your concept and I want you to send me this to my email and maybe forward it to Deandra's email too. I will talk to her about this." I said.

"Great." She said.

"So you're the CEO of this company?" I asked.

"Yes." She smiled before getting back to her iPad writing something on it.

"Oh! I heard you graduated recently, congratulations!" She said as she looked up to me and I was surprised that she knew.

"Thanks."

"Are you going to Alfie and Callie's wedding?" I asked.

"I will but I might be a little late."

"Oh okay." I said and she closed her iPad.

"I think that's all for today, I will be waiting for your feedback or maybe hear it from Deandra." She said and I nodded. I got up from my seat and Ellie put her hand in front of me. I took it and she smiled.

"My secretary will escort you downstairs." She said as she walked to the door opening it. I walked out first and Ellie walked behind me.

"Jinny, please escort Mr. Serano down." Ellie said.

"Ellie!" I turned to see her parents already waiting for her in the waiting room with a man in suits.

"Father Mother, I told you to come in an hour." She said as she hugged them.

"Mr. Serano." I turned to her secretary who already gestured me to get into the lift.

"Ellie, this is Sergio. Sergio, this my daughter, Ellie."

"Mr. Serano." I turned to her secretary and walked into the lift.

"Nice to meet you, Sergio." I heard Ellie said and then the door closed.

"Who is that man?" I turned to her secretary.

"Mr. and Mrs. Lexington is arranging Ms. Lexington with a rich businessman from Greece." She said and I raised my eyebrows hearing it.

"Arranging her? She's still young." I said.

"She agreed to it. They will get married soon." The lift door opened and I walked out from the lift. Her secretary opened the door for me and I walked out from the building.

"Thank you, Mr. Serano." She said and left me alone. I got into my car and felt uneasy for a split moment.

Arranged marriage? In this era? What is this Bridgerton?

I got into my car and called Deandra. She picked it up right away and I explained to her what Ellie said earlier.

"I will review the file later." Deandra said.

"Okay."

"So.. how was it?" Deandra asked in a teasing tone.

"What?"

"Isn't she beautiful? I wish she could be my sister-in-law." I rolled my eyes even though she can't see it.

"You know I'm look-"

"I know.. I know you're looking for a woman who is on the same level as you. I know.. you want a woman who graduated from Ivy League, I know. Geez, I will be praying that you will die single." She hissed.

"You're not even perfect, why are you looking for someone perfect to be with you?!" She said in a cold tone before hanging up the call.

"What's with her?" I looked at me phone completely confused.

Ellie Lexington

I arrived at Alfie and Callie wedding when they're saying their vows to each other. I sat at the back and can't hide my smile seeing her so happy. Alfie was crying as he said his vows to her and I felt so touch.

I'm jealous.

Alfie and Callie dated back in junior year and I'm glad that they both got married. Last year, they moved to Melbourne because of Alfie's work and I'm glad that she's back to have their wedding here in Paris. I'm so happy that I can come and witness this beautiful woman.

When they announced them as husband and wife, I cried more. They're such a perfect couple and back then, I always told them that if they don't get married, I will stop believing in love.

"Callie!" I called her and she turned to me. I hugged her tightly.

"You look stunning!" I said squealing with her. Alfie let out a cough and I turned to him.

"Congratulations, you two!" I gave him a brief hug.

"Was it magical?" Callie asked.

"It was more than magical, you two are meant to be together!" I said as I held her hands tightly.

"Alfie and Callie, congratulations!" I turned to see Deandra walking with a crutch and I held on to her.

"Thanks." She smiled to me. Deandra hugged Callie and then gave Alfie a hug.

"I'm so happy for you two!" Deandra said and Callie held her hand. I helped Deandra by holding on to her waist.

"Thanks, Deandra." Alfie smiled.

"You should introduce me to your cousins, their hot!" Deandra said and I chuckled.

"I will! I will introduce them to the both of you!" Callie said as Alfie took her away to greet other guests. Deandra turned to me and chuckled.

"I sound so desperate, huh?"

"No, I mean.. they're hot!" I said as I helped her by putting her arm around my shoulder.

"What happened, D?" I asked as I pointed at her left leg that was wrapped in bandaged.

"Fell down in the office and ended up a cracked ankle."

"Let's sit down!" I said as I slowly guided her to an empty seat.

"I'm sorry that you had to meet with Dalton this morning, is he mean to you?" She asked as I helped sit down. I grabbed her crutch and leaned it to the table.

"Don't be sorry, Deandra. He's not mean at all."

"Really? He didn't bully you about what happened 7 years ago right?" Deandra whispered and I chuckled.

"No, he didn't. It's in the past." I said trying to lie to myself.

To be honest, I felt uncomfortable with the thoughts of seeing him again. I was nervous and tried to not be obvious about it. If you ask if I still have feeling for him or not, the answer is yes.

How can you forget your first love easily?

He was my roll model, I look up to him a lot. I always wanted a guy like him to be my boyfriend but I guess someone like him doesn't think I'm capable to stand beside him.

In his eyes, I will never be as equal as him. He's perfect in my eyes, there's no flaws in him. When he told me to follow him to Harvard, I saw it as an opportunity to proof him wrong.

And in the end.. I got in. I got the acceptance letter a year later but I decided not go.

It didn't feel right back then. As much as I love him, I'm not the right person for him. For me, loving him is not about owning him. He deserves so much more.

"He's dumb, you know.." I looked up to Deandra.

"Huh?"

"Dalton should regret for rejecting you." Deandra said and I shook my head.

"It's in the past, Deandra. Let's not talk about it." I smiled as I grabbed a glass of champagne from the waiter that past by.

Deandra Serano

I heard from Callie that Ellie was actually got into Harvard 6 years ago. After my brother told her to follow him to Harvard, she studied night and day to get in and proof Dalton that she can or she is capable to be on the same level as him. She wanted him so badly that she just go for it without complaining.

In my eyes, Ellie deserves more than Dalton. Dalton is a jerk who is so full of himself. He always thinks that the world revolves around him. He always wants to be perfect.

The perfect son, the perfect brother and the perfect leader.

I guess faking my injuries didn't do anything to these two. It seemed Ellie has moved on and Dalton just does not care. Callie told me a lot about Ellie especially her progress in trying to go to Harvard.

It ruined her.

Her journey wanting to go to Harvard ruined her. It took down her confident, it took down her spirit and just ruined the real Ellie. Callie told me that Ellie used to be a rebel girl. She's rebel in a sense that she's vocal about her opinions and knows what's best for her. She used to go against her parents in some aspect but after she passed Harvard, she was nothing but an obedient girl.

Callie said that the Ellie that she knows now.. is always trying to impress people and wanting to be accepted especially from someone who has a similar status as Dalton.

I blamed my brother for that.

If Dalton changes his mind one day, I would be the first person to object it. Dalton doesn't deserves Ellie at all. I told my mother about this and she agreed with me.

She told me that Dalton is too similar to my father. They work with logic not with their emotions. They don't consider other people's feelings sometimes.

"Should we introduced ourselves to Callie's cousin?" I asked Ellie and she raised her eyebrows.

"We can go there and introduced ourselves. We have to pick the cute ones before other people trying to take them." I said as I grabbed her hand and she shook her head chuckling.

"I'll take you there, Deandra, but I'm not.. introducing myself to them."

"Why?"

"My parents already arranged me with a businessman from Greece. He's cute too." Good, very good.