Learn to Accept Kindness

Katia discussed the details about the artworks she produced and Finland listened wholeheartedly. She was amazed to see how perfect the beautiful girl in front of her looked.

Katia not only had the appearance of a nobleman's daughter, but she was also very talented. Like Yayoi Kusama, she had produced various paintings, designs, sculptures and installation arts with different genres. Not many people would expect that such rare and creative talents were hidden behind this beautiful face.

Finland couldn't help comparing Katia to herself. She did not have such prominent talent and her beauty was nowhere close to Katia's...

What did Caspar see in me? she thought to herself.

Was the man still feeling sorry for me?

Finland's wandering mind returned to the present when Katia invited her and Jean for dinner in her apartment.

"Thank you very much for inviting me to this pleasant dinner... It was very nice and refreshing to chat with you guys. We must meet again while Jean is still in Singapore. I wish to invite you two to my apartment this weekend. I can cook dinner, or we can invite a professional chef."

"We already have plans for this weekend," Jean said quickly. "I have a mission to teach Finland to have fun, so she can enjoy life instead of only focusing on work."

"Oh, what's the plan?"

"We will go to Universal Studios."

"Oh, I've never been to Universal Studios," Katia said sadly. "I've never had a friend I could invite to an amusement park."

"You can come with us! The more the merrier, that's what they always say," Jean turned to Finland, "Can we go to Universal Studios this Saturday?"

Finland could not say no because she had promised him to learn how to have fun. "OK."

"Wow... that would be nice." Katia looked very happy because Jean invited her to come along.

"Thank you."

Katia was a very pleasant person. She was beautiful, smart, elegant, and very easy to get along with.

During the short dinner they had, Finland felt like she had known the girl for a long time. She was relieved to know that Katia did not discuss her relationship with Caspar at all. She wouldn't have known how to respond if that topic were to come up.

Finland arrived home at 10 pm and found Caspar waiting for her on the terrace of her pavilion, working. This guy was definitely more workaholic than herself, she thought.

"How was dinner?" Caspar asked, closing his laptop when he saw Finland arrive.

"The dinner was fun. Jean said that I am overworked and that I didn't know how to have fun, so he suggested that for the next two weeks he would teach me how to enjoy life. This Saturday we will go to Universal Studios." Finland shrugs, "Jean doesn't know that you're a bigger workaholic than me. I think you also need to learn to have fun, so you don't work too much."

Caspar laughed at that statement. "I'm not a workaholic. It just so happens that you often see me when I'm working."

"It's already 10 p.m. and you're still working. Last night you held a conference call until midnight."

"I will prove to you that I can also enjoy life. I wanted to take you to a special place this weekend, but it seems that you have already made arrangements with Jean." Caspar then extended his hand, "Give your passport to me."

"What for?"

"The special place I want to show you requires a visa. Give me your passport so that my secretary can arrange everything."

"Oh..." Finland suddenly felt rather anxious. She had always refused when Jean offered to buy her tickets for a trip to Europe, even though he offered to purchase the tickets by redeeming his miles or whatever.

Finland told him many times that she would one day visit Europe with her own sweat and blood. A visa meant that Caspar was planning to take her out to another country; maybe Europe or America... She would violate her own principles if she received flight tickets from this man.

"Uhm... I'm already saving to go to Europe. I can't receive flight tickets from you... I've promised myself that I will one day travel with my own money."

Caspar frowned at Finland's answer, "Tickets? I have a private plane! Whether you come with me or not, it makes no difference."

"Ah..." Finland forgot about the private plane.

"Finland... remember what I told you before? You must learn to accept kindness from other people and say thank you. If you really have trouble accepting my kindness... you can always repay me by treating me to dinner," Caspar coughed coyly, "or kiss me."

Finland's face turned red. She pretended not to hear Caspar's last sentence and immediately entered her room to retrieve her passport. She then handed her passport over to Caspar who was still smiling broadly on the terrace.

"Thank you..." Finland said. "I am learning to enjoy life from Jean, and I am learning to receive kindness from you."

"Good. Now you sleep. Tomorrow we will chat again during breakfast." Caspar hugged Finland for a few minutes before letting her go. He then cleared his laptop and left. "Good night, Finland."

Finland nodded. She watched as he entered the main house.

She still didn't believe the luck in her life.

Everything was going too easy...

She was afraid to sleep and find tomorrow that all this was just a dream.