Always Yours

One- Sophia

The gentle hum of casual conversation carries throughout the dimly light venue on such a beautiful late summer evening. The setting sun glows through the penthouse windows and mixes beautifully with the warm artificial light that engulfs the expansive space overlooking the city scape. I glance around the room at my creation and take in the wonderful piano playing- such a great choice on my part-internally bowing to myself. How lucky am I to make this a living? Now, not to say I didn't work my ass off to get to where I am. Neither did my friends. My business partners. My incredible support system that helps keep me sane in this crazy city. The two amazing women who are walking around this event just as I am doing so. Making sure they fix any little thing that strays out of place and of course, mingling with the guests.

We successfully pulled this charity event together for the New York City Youth Foundation in just a few months. It made me feel enormously proud of all the success the girls and I have been able to achieve in the last 5 years together. I believe that the Foundation will be able to receive a large amount of donations from the very affluent guests that have been enjoying the dinner and cocktails. I cannot help but smile at the thought of how much this money will help the foundation. It warms my heart.

I suddenly meet eyes with the president of the Foundation from across the floor and he gives me a slight head nod towards the stage area. This is my cue to have the pianist slowly lower the playing so that he can make his speech to his guests. I make my way over to the piano and move my hand to the gentleman's shoulder. "Charles is ready to make his speech to the guests now", I lightly tell him. He smiles and gives me the slightest nod and gradually finishes the piece he was playing. I give a wink over to Charles and he confidently walks up over to the mic.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you all so much for coming out to this amazing event in support of our city youth in need. With all your generosity, we will be able to provide for so many children." He continues about every part of their foundation that the money goes towards. He is extremely enthusiastic when he explains his gratitude to the guests. You can certainly tell he loves what he does with the Foundation. I can't help but to watch the guests react to his speech. They know that they did a good deed tonight. Maybe, for once, the members of New York's wealthy society were thinking of the many others they were helping instead of only themselves. I chuckle to myself... wishful thinking. However, regardless of how they truly feel, they are the reason that this event will be very profitable for the Foundation. So, I am happy.

"Last but certainly not least, we could not have successfully hosted this event without the help and knowledge of our wonderful event planners. Sophia, Charlotte, and Gianna from Manhattan Premiere Events. They put together such a beautiful event for us. Thank you for everything you did ladies!" He leads the guests in an applause and all three of us smile and bow our heads in gratitude at the kind words he said about us. I really hope I wasn't blushing too bad, because I really don't like when all eyes are on me. I look up and see Gianna and Charlotte walking over towards me as Charles instructs the crowd to continue to enjoy their evening and the music starts up again.

"Another one in the books, huh Soph?", Gianna playfully says and lightly elbows my arm. "Absolutely! We definitely did good with this one!", I respond with a huge smile that I am no longer willing to hide. "I am pretty sure they are going to receive a shit ton of donations this year and I couldn't be any happier!" I add. Charlotte gives me a sly smile and I know she has something to tell me. "Well, if you think you're happy now, wait until you hear my news!" she exclaims. I still love hearing this southern blonde speak. She still has a slight southern draw from her pre- college life down in Georgia. Even though she shows her New York side more now, the southern charm hasn't fully left, and I really hope it never does.

"Well don't keep me waiting, Char. Tell me!" I nervously request. "See that guy over there?", she says as she points over to a man standing by one of the tables filled with guests. He is dressed in a beautiful navy blue fitted tux which certainly tells you that this man has money and takes care of himself. As I am taking in his slightly longer brown hair, pushed slightly to the side with some gel and his groomed facial hair, I realize he is now looking over in our direction. Immediately I am embarrassed that he just caught me staring at him, but then I am about to really want the world to swallow me up because he starts walking towards us. "That is Noah Collins, and he is heading up an LA based record label's new footprint here in Manhattan." She quickly spits out as he makes his way up to us. "He is interested in speaking with you about planning an event for their company to get their name around the city even more than it already is", she finishes saying just as he stops in front of us with a million dollar smile on his face.