"No no no." Mia tried giving the coin back but Danny squeezed her fist.

    "Mia. I'm giving it to you and that's final." Danny said to her.

    "I don't want it. I'm not looking for a true love?" Mia shook her head.

    "It's actually the other way round. Your true love is gonna find you." Danny smiled.

   Mia glanced at the coin in her palm and look back at Danny. "This is stupid. Danny thanks for trying but I don't want what you want, I'm fine on my own, I don't need a guy to add to my problems. True love might exist in your world, but in mine?" Mia shrugged. "I don't want it. Love makes people sick in the head." Mia said to Danny.

    Danny laughed... "My goodness Mia, what kind of planet are you from?" Danny laughed. She just can't understand why Mia couldn't stand the word 'love'. Mia never dated anyone, sometimes she lied she did to get off the hook, she got bored from talking to guys and sometimes really upset when Danny or Andrew tried hooking her on blind dates.

   "Don't blame me." Mia smiled.

      "But, keep the coin. Take it as my gift to you." Danny said firmly.

   "Danny if this coin is special to you, don't give it to me. You said it brought your true love right? Then I don't deserve it. You should give it to someone that truly needs it." Mia said truthfully.

    She sighed... "Take it! Call it stupid, superstition, rubbish, whatever! Just keep it." Danny said to her.

   Mia took a last look at the coin before tossing it into her handbag. "Thanks for the talisman." Mia said sarcastically, throwing her arm around Danny's shoulders.

   "You're welcome." Danny smiled, walking away with Mia.

   The coin is stupid! A coin that directs you to your true love? How crazy can that sound?! Love? Love was made for some people and Mia wasn't part of those people.

     Mia sat by a bar counter, she wasn't drinking anything just tapping on her phone. She was actually waiting for Andrew who was supposed to pick her up. The bar wasn't noisy, it was a karaoke bar and some girls were singing.
✴✴✴✴✴

      "How long will it take to get the car fixed?" Ryan asked his driver/bodyguard Rufus.

    "Fifty minutes. The mechanic is having a hard time getting here in time." Rufus answered him. "But don't worry, a substitute is on it's way."

    Ryan sighed, glancing at his wristwatch. It was already 8:30pm. "Alright." He was seated in his Mercedes. "How long would it take the substitute to get here?" He asked Rufus.

    "About thirty minutes?"

    "What? That's almost half the time I'll be waiting." Ryan frowned. All he wanted was to get a good sleep, he was so damn tired. Four hours with the president of The Press Enterprise had torn him down, he needed to strike a deal with them as soon as possible.

   "Sorry Sir." Rufus apologized.

  "I'll just be around the corner." Ryan said to Rufus, stepping out from the car.

    Ryan strolled for a while before entering a bar.

   A drink, that's what he needed!

   Moving to the bar counter, Ryan sat down. "Whiskey please." He said to the male attendant.

    Ryan noticed a lady sitting a beside him but her hair had covered the side of her face. He looked away when the attendant returned with his order. Ryan sipped from the glass, savoring the taste.

  
   Mia's attention was drawn when someone had touched her hand. She turned, looking at the scrawny man beside her.

    "Hey lady." His teeth was colored and crooked. He looked like he could be in his late forties.

    Mia looked back at her phone ignoring his presence.

   "Oi lady, I'm talking to you." The man sounded drunk. From where she sat, she could smell the reeking stink of alcohol.

  Again Mia ignored him but this time he reached to grab her hand, Mia was quick to avoid his hand.

   "What's your problem? I only wanna talk."

    "Excuse me, I would appreciate it if you don't touch me." Mia said, looking at her phone.

    He scoffed, "What? I can't admire a beautiful slut." He snickered.

   Mia looked at him... "What did you say?" She narrowed her eyes at him.

   He then smirked... "What? Ain't you a five dollar trick that..." The next thing made everyone look at Mia's direction.

   Mia gave the man a frightening punch in the nose which sent him crashing to the floor. "That should teach you to respect women." Mia tugged her hair behind her ears, without looking at the man on the floor.

   That's when Ryan saw her. It was almost impossible to believe but she was really there... And and... and... and... she had just punched a man in the face! In the freaking face! Ryan was greatly astonished!

   The man glared at her, very pissed with the audacity she had. "You fucking bitch!" He got up angrily, reaching for her arm. He grabbed it, pulling her away from the bar stool.

    Mia almost stumbled but she got her balance. She was beyond furious glaring at the scrawny man.

   "You think you're tough huh! I'll show you what I do to girls like you." The man was about hitting her face but angry Mia kicked him in his crotch. Before he could scream due to the impact, Mia took the man's arm, twisting it behind his back.

    "Ah ah ah." The man yelped in pain as Mia held his arm backwards, causing him almost to scream.

    "You were saying?" Mia said standing behind him. She pushed the man, ready to give him a another punch when she felt arms around her waist, pulling her away.

    "Hey hey hey! Don't." The breezy voice said to her.

  It was a manly voice alright, she still struggled to get free. But soon when she felt his arms around her boobs, she thrusted her head backwards, giving him a backstroke to the jaw. Immediately the hands unwrapped her and she turned to him.

    "You pervert!" Mia kicked his leg before using her handbag to beat the guy's back. "Pervert!!"

    Ryan had watched Mia from the start when she was busy kick-boxing, he quickly had to stop her from hitting the poor man who was bleeding from his nose. He grabbed her by the waist, restraining her from moving but she wouldn't stop fidgeting. And because of that he wanted to secure and keep her steady. Before he knew what was going on, Mia had hit him so hard with the back of her head that his own head spun. 

   He bent, with his hand over his mouth. He was in serious pain and Mia kept kicking and beating him without stopping. This was public humiliation!! Something had fallen from her handbag without her knowing and yet she kept on cursing at him.

   Mia angrily walked out of the bar with all eyes on her which she didn't mind at all.

   With Ryan's bleeding mouth, he ran after her, ignoring the stinging pain in his left leg.

   "Miss Miss!! He called out to her but she paid no attention to him. He had to pursue her because she was walking so fast, he grabbed her hand but Mia snatched it away.

    Turning to Ryan with her fist ready for another hit, Mia paused when she saw him flinched and also because she saw that his lips were already bleeding.

    "If you do not want your face ruined, don't follow me." Mia's eyes flashed like lightning bolts before walking away.

   Ryan batted his lashes at her but that threat didn't stop him from going after her. "I was only trying to help."

   "Do I look like I needed your help?" She said not slowing down her pace.

    "What did I do?" Ryan was so confused, plus his dizziness. "You were about to knock that man out. I only stopped you." Ryan said, trying to keep up with her. 

    "Don't talk to me pervert! Get lost!" Mia said to him.

    "Pervert? But I didn't —"

   Mia abruptly stopped, turning to him. "Shut up!" She said, staring daggers at him.

   "I'm sorry." Ryan said calmly. The last thing he wanted was get into an argument.

    Mia scoffed... "Sorry? You're sorry? Sorry that you had your arms around my boobs, sorry?" Mia felt her fist tighten.

    "Your what?" Ryan frowned... He was completely lost. "I didn't do that, I would never—"

     "If you keep following me, I'll make sure more than your lips bleed." Mia threatened him. "Stay away, I mean it." Mia said to him.
  
    Ryan stared at her like a lost puppy as he watched her cross the street to meet someone.

     Mia caught sight of Andrew across the street. She quickly went over to meet him.

   "Hey, what's going on?" Andrew had seen her talking to some guy.

     "Andrew." She hugged him. "You came right on time." She was a bit calm.

    "Was that guy bothering you?" Andrew asked her.

   "I'll tell you. Let's go in first." Mia opening the door of the car.

    "Okay." Andrew nodded, joining her inside the car.

   Ryan watched them drive off. He just couldn't believe things ended badly, he had been anticipating to meet her, and now he meets her? It felt so heartbreaking...

   Ryan placed his hands in his pants pocket and felt something in it. He took it out, looking at it. It was a coin. It had mistakenly dropped from Mia's bag when she was brutally assaulting him. He began limping on  back to his car.

    "Sir I was looking for you, the car has— what happened to your lips and your leg?" Rufus looked startled when he saw Ryan's lips.

    "Rufus I'm taking a cab. When the car's ready, bring it home." Ryan said to him before limping away.

    Rufus could sense Ryan's dark mood and nothing he said was negotiable. "Yes sir." He responded as he watched Ryan flag down a cab.

    Sitting in the moving cab, Ryan held the tiny coin to his face, staring at it intensely.
✴✴✴✴✴

   "Did you show him who's the boss?" Andrew asked her while driving.

    "Of course! I taught him a lesson." Mia said.

   "You should have allowed me to beat the living daylight out of him. He can't just do that to you." Andrew said to her.

    "I know. They both got what they deserve." Mia nodded.

    "The important thing is you're okay. Right?" He glanced at Mia.

   "Yes." Mia nodded, but his delicate face was still fresh in her memory. And to think he was dressed decently yet his thoughts were rotten!! Stupid idiot!

    Due to an incident from her early past, Mia had decided that men were no good. She learnt self-defense, using it when necessary.

     Ryan couldn't get his mind off Mia. He had walked into his quiet house without much limping, he was able to enter his bedroom.

    "Babe you're home!" Layla smiled. She was seated on the bed, dressed in her night robes.

   "Yeah. I'll just shower." Ryan said, without looking at her. He was about to leave for the bathroom when Layla stood from the bed.

    "Are you okay?" Layla walked closer to Ryan. "Oh my God, what happened to your lips?!" Layla placed her hands on his cheeks.

    "It's nothing." Ryan removed her hands.

    "Does it hurt?" Layla was fully concerned for Ryan.

    "Not anymore." Ryan moved, heading to his bathroom.

   Layla frowned watching him leave.

   Ryan spent more time than usual in the bathroom. He wasn't ready for Layla's questions and when he eventually got out, he silenced her by making love to her.
......................................................

   Beep!

   Beep!

   Beep!

   Beep!

  Mia's alarm blared out, forcing her to wake up.

   "Stupid alarm!" She hit the alarm and it crashed to the floor.

    The sunlight was already reflecting in her room, meaning it was morning. Time to prepare.

   Mia yawned, she hardly had any sleep last night because she and Andrew talked through out the night.

   "Good morning." Andrew entered her room.

   "Hey." Mia smiled at him. Andrew chuckled, seeing her hair all over the place.

   "You had a good sleep." Andrew said to her.

   "Barely. I have this headache and it's killing me..." She looked at Andrew. "You need something?"

    "No. I wanted to tell you I'm leaving." Andrew said to her.

   "Oh. Drive safely okay?" Mia said, watching him leave.

   "I always do." Andrew replied.

    Mia took her time taking her bath, she decided to put on lowkey makeup and dress in a white tie-back cami with a royal blue one piece jacket and Wide Leg Pants with black strapped statement pumps, She threw on her chain strap bag over one shoulder. She had no idea what to do with her long hair but she ended up packing up a ponytail.

   In an hour, she was ready. Looking at the full length mirror in her room, she smiled at her pretty self —she was confident and ready.

    She left the house for Mi-Tech. She tried rehearsing what she was gonna say and also tried convincing herself that she would be alright, but as soon as she stepped into Mi-Tech's building, nervousness took over.

    The building was magnificent!! So many people moving to and fro, she felt so strange in their midst although she was totally ignored. She found herself walking towards the spacious reception area.

    "Good morning." Mia greeted the lady behind the counter.

   "Good morning Ms, how may I help you?" The lady asked with a smile.

     "I'm Mia Simpsons from Van's Events, I was told to give you this when I get here." Mia showed her a special card to the lady. When she read the proposals, there was a silver card with an instruction to give anyone behind the front desk. 

   "Oh." She recognized the card. "One moment please." The lady took the receiver and dialed a set of numbers. "Front desk. The silver card just arrived, from Van's Events?" The lady nodded...

   "I'll send her up." The lady dropped the receiver and looked at Mia. "Take the elevator to the seventh floor, she'll be waiting for you." The lady said to Mia.

    "Okay." Mia wasn't sure who exactly but she followed the instruction. She found her way to the elevator, heading for the seventh floor.

    As soon as the elevator door opened, Mia stepped out. She was didn't move for a while until a plum woman had beckoned on her.

    "Mia Simpsons?" The lady, Fiona asked for clarifications.

   "Yes." Mia nodded with a smile. "That's me."

   Fiona adjusted her glasses, scrutinizing every part of Mia before she finally smiled.

   "Fiona." Fiona introduced herself, stretching her hand for a shake.

    "Nice to meet you." Mia gladly received Fiona's hand.

   "Come on." Fiona led Mia away. "So you're the recommended interior designer." Fiona said while walking along side with Mia.

  Interior designer? No?!  "I'm not really an interior designer, I just have a flair for decorating." Mia said. It wasn't utterly a lie though.
  
   "I see, What's your specification?" Fiona asked her. They walked into another elevator, going up.

    "My specification?" Mia's brain went blank.

  Fiona chuckled... "There's no way the big boss would choose an ordinary person to design and decorate his California project. You must be so talented and versatile, do you know Morris Cecila?" She turned Mia.

    "I don't think I've —"

   "She's a pretty good interior and exterior designer and decorator. We all thought she was going to get the contract but seems the big boss had other plans." Fiona shrugged. "How good are you? I've never heard of any Mia Simpsons before? You work for Van's Events right? Is your company top notch?...  Fiona didn't give Mia any space to answer any of the questions. 

   Truth is, Mia had no answers to the questions either. Fiona kept on talking and talking even after they left the elevator. Then they entered a room.  It was a board room actually and two other people were seated when they entered.

   "I work with the advertising department." Fiona said to Mia who only kept nodding her head. Fiona's smile widened... "I think we'll get along just fine."

   "What?" Mia hadn't been listening, she was busy looking around.

   "Let's sit first." Fiona said to her. Mia sat down beside Fiona, and looked at the other people sitting across the table.

    "Hi." Mia smiled, giving them a small wave. They were two men, they nodded.

   "Charles." The blond guy reached out to shake Mia's hand.

  "Mia." Mia took his hand. "Nice to meet you."

    "Nick." The black American said, also reaching out for her hand. Mia gave him a warm smile.

    "She's the interior designer." Fiona told them. They nodded, before resuming their talk. "They don't really talk much. They are both from the engineering department." Fiona informed her.
  
   "Is that so?" Mia nodded...  "Which one of them is heading the team?" Mia asked her privately.

   Before Fiona could respond, the door opened and he walked in...