Being Elle

Chapter 1: Mirror, Mirror

Jordan couldn't help but feel like he had life all figured out. Tall, handsome, and with a smile that could melt anyone's resolve, he walked into the office each day like he owned the place. His perfectly tailored suit clung to his athletic frame, and his charming demeanor made everyone—from colleagues to clients—eager to be in his good graces. In meetings, he could always count on his looks and sharp wit to carry him through, but it wasn't just that. Jordan was genuinely good at what he did, and he knew it.

Still, it was his ability to woo women with little effort that gave him the most satisfaction. It was a game he played, one he always won. With his casual confidence and roguish charm, he navigated dates like they were stepping stones in a river, each one leading to the next. His latest interest, Jessica DeMonte, had been easy prey—flirty smiles exchanged during work lunches, subtle touches during meetings. He knew she was already hooked.

But despite his easy-going nature, there was a deeper side to Jordan. Only a few people got to see the real him, the version stripped of bravado and cool confidence. Ben was one of them.

Ben, in many ways, matched Jordan in the looks department. He was tall, well-built, with chiseled features that made him stand out just as much. His sandy blond hair was always neatly styled, and his sharp blue eyes had a way of drawing people in. Dressed in his usual laid-back but stylish way—jeans that fit just right and a shirt that emphasized his athletic build—Ben could have easily rivaled Jordan in charm, if he only used it the same way.

Where Jordan could command a room without saying a word, Ben had a quiet charm that people tended to appreciate only after getting to know him. Where Jordan's confidence was deliberate, Ben's attractiveness was effortless, unintentional even. He never needed to work to gain attention, and in fact, didn't care much for it. That was what made the two of them so different. While Jordan actively sought admiration, Ben was the kind of guy who naturally drew people in with his easygoing smile, casual humor, and approachable vibe.

The two had met in college, drawn together by an unlikely shared love of basketball and a few too many nights spent at the campus bar. Ben had been a solid player, though never quite as flashy as Jordan, who, even back then, knew how to put on a show. What Ben lacked in style, he made up for in heart. He never let Jordan get too full of himself on the court—or in life. If Jordan's life was a series of conquests, Ben was the grounding force that kept him from floating away entirely.

"Man, you're killing me," Ben often said, shaking his head with a smirk whenever Jordan retold his latest dating escapade. "One day, your charm's going to run out, and I'm gonna be there to see it."

Jordan would just grin. "Not in this lifetime."

It was a familiar back-and-forth, the kind of banter that only years of friendship could produce. Despite their differences, Ben admired Jordan's confidence, just as Jordan respected Ben's steady nature. When they were together, it was easy. No need for pretense or performance, no one to impress.

Ben was one of the few people who saw Jordan's flaws without judgment. He'd witnessed Jordan stumble through heartbreak, struggle with self-doubt during late-night talks in their shared apartment, and had stuck by him through all the highs and lows of life. For all of Jordan's bravado, Ben knew that underneath it all, his friend just wanted to be seen as someone who had it together.

"You know, you're way too good for this world," Jordan said, pushing Ben's shoulder after he listened to one of Jordan's latest stories of romantic triumph. Ben laughed, shaking his head as usual.

"And you're way too cocky for your own good," Ben retorted, always quick with a reality check.

But that's how it worked between them—Ben keeping Jordan humble, while Jordan pushed Ben to take risks, to be a little more bold. Their friendship had weathered a lot, and though Jordan was the one constantly in the spotlight, he never forgot how much he valued the guy standing quietly beside him.