2 weeks earlier

"What are you doing for Christmas this year?" Scarlett asked Emma. She was lying on her stomach on Emma's bed, watching her with amusement as she threw on one outfit after the other. She wondered why Emma always made a fuss about wearing the right outfit. They were just going out for dinner!

"Well, my parents are going to take our family boat out to the Caribbean. They decided they wanted a warm Christmas this year rather than freeze their toes off in New York," Emma replied while peeking her head from the walk-in closet.

"But you hate cruises! Don't you get horrible seasickness?"

"Which is exactly why I'm not going."

Scarlett immediately sat up and asked excitedly, "So you're open to ideas on how you're going to spend Christmas?"

'Hell yes! I am in no mood of attending those snobby parties this year, especially since Mom and Dad aren't going to be there- hey, wait up," Emma said while exiting her closet, struggling to get her high-neck on, her voice coming out muffled. "You aren't spending Christmas with your family?"

"No, I'm not on good terms with my father right now. Need a break from my family," Scarlett said while getting up from her position and making her way to Emma.

"Which brings me to my next question. Do you feel like going away on a trip for Christmas... Please?" Scarlett asked with hopeful eyes as she helped her friend squeeze into the high-neck.

"Oh, a trip!" Emma considered the idea for a while. "I haven't had one of those in a long time. You know what, I'm in. Do you have a place in mind?"

"Really? Wow, that was fast. Oh, I'm so excited!" Scarlett practically squealed in Emma's ear, making her flinch.

"So, I recently came across this gorgeous hotel in Schilthorn, right. It's literally built on top of a mountain. I can only imagine what the view will be like!" She looked like she would start jumping from excitement at any moment now.

"So we're traveling from a cold climate... to an even colder climate. I'm in!" Emma grinned.

"Of course, the trip is quite out of my range, but I'm willing to pay any price to go to Switzerland." Scarlett had a dreamy look on her face now.

"I'm sure it won't be a problem for you and the boys though," she continued, thinking the trip won't even make a dent in their bank balance.

"Oh, right! I suppose Anthony, Carter, and Eric will be joining too. Oh, this is going to be fun!" Emma said.

"I know right! I think it's also going to make the group closer again. Have you noticed how Carter and Eric don't seem to be getting along that well these days?" Scarlett asked, settling back on the bed.

"Well yes, but then again Eric has been so distant lately," Emma responded with a concerned look on her face. "I'm starting to worry about him."

"I'm sure everything is fine. Now, if you're done getting ready, can we please leave for dinner or are you going to starve me to death?" Scarlett asked with her eyebrows raised.

"Haha, very funny. I'll go grab my keys. Wait for me at the door?"

"Yeah, sure. You do that and I'll text the boys to meet us tomorrow so we can talk about the trip," Scarlett said, her fingers already typing away.

***

Eric was staring in the mirror, at the reflection of the painting that hung proudly above his headboard. It was a family portrait that was painted 10 years ago on the occasion of his birthday. How he wished he could be 18 again, go back to simpler times. Life was a complete mess right now.

His dark thoughts were interrupted by the shrill ringing of his phone. His mother had insisted on it since he didn't pick up her calls. He let his phone ring for a while, hoping the caller would just give up. It stopped ringing and Eric settled on his bed once again. But as soon as he did so, it started ringing again. Sighing, he quickly glanced at the caller ID before picking up.

"Yes, Scarlett?" he said into the phone.

"Where have you been, you moron! Do you not check your phone or are you just straight up ignoring me? Do you even remember your friends, aka us?!" Scarlett replied.

"Dramatic as always, I see." Eric could feel a hint of a smile on his lips. "Didn't we meet like, 2 weeks ago?"

"Yes, and two weeks is a long time. I'm texting you the address, get here, asap."

And before Eric could get a word in, the line was already dead. It was an annoying habit his friend did that drove him crazy. And she knew it, which is why she always made sure to do it. He got a text alert seconds later. The meeting place wasn't that far, thank God. He wasn't really fond of driving, especially in the harsh winter of New York.

Eric got up from his bed and strolled to the window. One wall of his bedroom was all glass, which meant he had a pretty good view of New York from up here. The sun was almost set now. It was his favorite time of the day and he made sure to appreciate the sunset each day. Because each day, it was a different picture, different hues, and different blend of colors.

He got out his phone and took a picture of the scenery before him. It was kind of like a hobby to him, a routine. He would admire the sunset for a while, then take a picture of it each day, like clockwork. God knows how many pictures he had of sunsets featuring the same view. He guessed around 2 years worth of pictures, which was when he shifted to this apartment.

In fact, it was this view which sold the apartment for him. As fate would have it, the sun was setting when his real state agent showed him the place. He was so mesmerized by it, that he approved it that instant, even though it was a little out of his budget.

His parents constantly pestered him that they would be all too happy to pay for him, for any property that he wished. And why wouldn't they, with millions at their disposal? But Eric had insisted on buying the place with his own money, something to call his own which wasn't paid by his father. Even though his paycheques were signed by his father's company, he had still worked hard for it.

The feeling of independence when he signed the papers which sealed his ownership to the apartment was indescribable.

Eric looked at the time and rushed to get himself ready. Scarlett and Emma could be pretty impatient, and he wasn't in the mood to get scolded from them. Within minutes, he was out of his apartment, into his car and on his way to the coffee shop. He reached it in record time and entered the place.

The first thing to greet him was the rich aroma of coffee and other heavenly smells of baked goods. And the second, "Well look who decided to show his face. Good evening your highness," Emma said to Eric.

Eric turned towards the voice and grinned at her. "Good evening to you too." He walked towards his friends while greeting them. Before he even sat down at the table, he had already had an earful of incessant nagging about him being late by Emma and Scarlett. Sitting beside them, Carter and Anthony snickered away. Traitors.

"Ladies, please. Give me a break. I'm here am I not?" Eric replied. All he got was an eye roll and one very poor imitation of him in reply. "So, what's this all about?"

"Please, let me do the honors," Eric's best friend, Anthony said. "The girls have suddenly decided that they want to go on a trip, to Switzerland! And they expect us to come too."

"Yes, and they want to leave in one week. Literally one week! How am I supposed to take a 2-week leave from office on such a short notice?" Carter said, his voice slightly rising. "Unlike you guys, Scarlett and I actually have to work to make a living. But she already took care of her holidays!" He continued, clearly annoyed.

A waiter interrupted just then and asked what they would like to order. "Your freshly baked chocolate croissants and coffee for all of us," Emma replied for the whole group, dismissing the waiter in the process.

"Hey! I wanted a cheesecake," Anthony snapped at Emma. The rest of them had slightly irritated looks on their faces too.

"Guess we'll be eating croissants today," Scarlett whispered to Anthony, who was shooting daggers at Emma, and not hiding it.

"Quit sulking everybody! We have important things to discuss. And Carter, stop whining. I'm sure your company will be happy to get rid of you for a couple of weeks. You all are coming, and that is final!" Emma said like a judge would seal the fate of a criminal.

You just couldn't say no to Emma. She was the only child and possible heir to her father's firm. A multi-national company which was founded by Eric's and her father 35 years ago. However, only one was to inherit the entire fortune. Which made Eric and Emma highly competitive towards each other ever since they were kids. But they had too much in common to not be friends. This is why even now, well into their twenties, they were still inseparable.

Even though there was nothing romantic between them, people just assumed they would end up getting married to each other. To keep the fortune in the family and strengthen their business partnership.

"Okay so... Switzerland? Are you two sure? Why can't we just travel domestic?" Eric asked Emma.

"Nope, we need a change of scenery. Literally. Besides, it's gorgeous!" Scarlett replied for Emma.

"Look!" Emma said, practically shoving her phone in their faces. She showed them a picture of the hotel, perched firmly on the top of the tallest mountain in the Schilthorn range.

"Well, it does look beautiful. I guess a trip won't hurt anybody. Except for my bank balance," Carter admitted begrudgingly. Emma and Scarlett leaned back in their chairs with a smirk while looking at each other.

"Wait, so are we really going?" Anthony asked the group. "Mother isn't going to be too happy about it." He muttered to himself.

"Well, my mother would be absolutely thrilled to hear when I tell her. She's always saying I need to do something to get the life back in me." Eric commented while rolling his eyes. Anthony stared at Eric, forgetting that his best friend had crazy good hearing.

"Okay then, it's settled. We're going to Switzerland for Christmas!" Emma exclaimed, her body giddy with excitement. She started rambling about all the things they would do there. Her excitement combined with Scarlett's was so contagious that the rest of the group couldn't help but join in. Soon, their table was buzzing with conversation about their trip.

"Okay, so I'll take care of the flight and hotel bookings. Anthony, you take care of all the rest of the logistics. You're good at the boring stuff, right?" Emma smiled at him. Anthony pretended to be deeply hurt, earning him a swat from Emma.

"We'll all meet at my house then? Since it's the closest to the airport. My driver will drop us off." Eric chimed in, feeling alive after a long time.

"Perfect! I literally cannot wait! See you idiots at Eric's on 16th then!" Scarlett announced while suddenly getting up from her chair. Emma followed suit.

"Hey, where are you guys going?" Carter asked the pair.

"Shopping for the trip, of course," They both said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"What about your food?!" Carter groaned.

"It's not even here yet. What are you complaining about? Them being gone means more food for us!" Anthony elbowed Carter into shushing.

"Alright then. We're out, Bye-bye!" And with that, the girls were swiftly out of the coffee shop, giving Anthony an odd look.

"Did we all really just agree and decide on a trip in less than thirty minutes?" Carter asked the remaining two.

"Anything is possible with those two around," Eric said in a daze.

"Food's here! And just after they left. Perfect!" Anthony commented, oblivious to the conversation going on around him, his eyes trained only on the waiter.

Carter and Eric laughed and continued the rest of the night talking about their upcoming trip. Making their own plans, ones that didn't involve shopping for clothes.

***

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