Summery: James is a man every woman dreams about: confident, handsome, rich. Lily is a photographer who dislikes everything James represents: a cocky man who doesn't know what to do with his money. When situation force her to help him, could the two find anything in common beyond their mutual physical attraction?

Disclaimer: don't own a single character you recognize.

Life, Light, Love

By: Ruby89

Chapter one

The ballroom was illuminated by large chandeliers which washed the room with bright glow. Waitresses in elegant uniforms traveled pass the crowd, offering drinks and appetizers. Women in fashionable dresses and men in tuxes talked, laughed and danced in the middle of the ballroom. The atmosphere was a pleasant one, indicating that the high society was celebrating tonight.

And all James could feel was a coming headache.

His dislike for these kind of events was growing near hatred tonight. unfortunately being one of the richest people in society, forced him to participate from time to time. He could skip the Charity Ball tonight if he wanted but his current date, Loryn Meckson, refused to take 'no' for an answer.

Loryn Meckson was a model with honey long hair and deep blue eyes. She was tall and petite with curves in all the right places. James dated her for the past four months, and according to her, she was deeply and crazily in love with him. James thought it would be amusing to see if she'll keep being so 'crazily' in love without the expensive dresses and jewels he bought her.

There were times, such as this one, when he wondered if all women who were attracted to him were gold-diggers. He sighed and forced a smile when he saw another familiar acquaintance.

"You could at least try to look like you're having fun" Loryn's irritated voice interrupted his thoughts.

James gave her a sideway glance. Loryn wore tonight one of her sexiest low-cut dresses. It was a night-blue strapless long dress that reached her ankles and hugged her body perfectly. Loryn always expressed sensuality, whether it was with a dress or without.

"You know I hate these kinds of gatherings" James said "I don't understand why you insisted we should accept the invitation"

"I explained it to you earlier" Loryn said impatiently "I heard from one of my friends that Ms. Evans will attend this party unexpectedly"

"And who is this Ms. Evans?"

Loryn cast him a shocked look "don't tell me you don't know! She's a very famous photographer among the high class. She's a top expert in her job. If she'll agree to picture me at least once" she let an excited sigh "my way to become a top model will be a snap of fingers away"

James raised one eyebrow in a skeptic manner "never saw a presentation of hers"

"Only because she's rather new. She worked in many famous fashion magazines and newspapers; I heard she works currently at "Sparks""

"That gossip magazine?"

"Not gossip" corrected him Loryn pointedly "it is a well respected magazine among women who reflects the hidden truths behind the celebrities' lives"

James rolled his eyes "gossip" he repeated himself.

Loryn cast him an annoyed look "if you're not in the mood to talk civilly with me, than how about you'll bring us a drink? Champagne will be good"

"As you wish" he shrugged. Any excuse to stretch his legs was welcomed. He headed towards the tables with food and drinks. He picked two glasses of champagne and was about to head back when something caught his eye and made him stop in his tracks.

It was a young girl. The girl sat on an empty table at the corner of the room and seemed to be cleaning something. When James observed closer he saw that it was a black professional camera. The girl wore a purple miniskirt and a long-sleeved olive-green top. Her red hair fell foreword and hid her face from his gaze.

Inwardly curious and forgetting that Loryn was waiting for him; he walked towards the girl and stopped next to her "need help?"

"Nope, it's ok. I'm almost done anyway" she looked up at him and flashed him a quick smile. James noticed her sparkling green eyes and felt the familiar tug of mixed interest and attraction. He smiled back and set next to her, the two glasses still held in his hands.

He noticed her quick questioned glance at the champagne and offered her one "may I tempt you?"

She half-smiled and shrugged "you may, but I'll have to refuse. I'm not allowed to drink during work"

"You're a tyro in photography?"

It took her a moment to respond, and James was surprised that she took his question seriously "some say I'm good enough to be an expert" she shrugged again "I, on the other hand, believe I've got still a lot to learn"

"Aren't you too young to be addressed as an expert?" he inquired.

"Some say I am"

"How old are you?"

She looked amusedly at him "how old do you think?"

"Seventeen, eighteen…" he guessed. He hoped she was much older. Messing with underage girls was not his thing. But he guessed that flirting a little never done any harm to anyone. The girl didn't seem to recognize him at all, which was quite refreshing to be able to talk freely without seeing the girl getting a dreamy look in her eyes.

To his surprise the redheaded girl burst in laughter "well, I guess it's better than Mr. Bridfery. He thought I was twelve and demanded from Sally to tell him what I was doing past my bedtime hour"

James chuckled slightly in response "you're close friends with Sally?" Sally Reya was the organizer of the whole ball. If the girl knew Sally then that'll explain how she got here.

"I know the whole family pretty well. I help them sometimes with things like these"

"They asked you to take pictures of the evening?"

"No. I'm actually here to replace a friend of mine. One of her kids got sick so she asked me to come instead of her" she glanced around her and sighed "I'm not very fond of such parties. They drag non-stop until the guests are drunk enough to write a check and leave"

"I don't like them either" James confessed. It was nice to know that there was another person who suffered just like him.

The girl looked at him in mock-surprise "James Potter doesn't like to party? I'm shocked. By your last interview it seemed that all you do is to go from one party to another"

"You know who I am?" he asked in slight surprise.

"Of course" she waved her hand airily "James Potter, 28-year-old, the mysterious millionaire. Voted four times in a row as the most dashing bachelor in the country"

"You seem to know a lot about me" he felt amused by her accurate knowledge.

"It's my job to know such things"

James moved an inch closer and gave her his most charming smile "well; now all I need to know is your name and my evening will be complete"

She laughed slightly and stretched her hand "it's Lily"

"Pleasure" he took her hand and gently brushed his lips against the back of it "Lily" he said slowly, as if tasting her name on his tongue.

He thought he saw her eyes darken with emotion for a second before she smiled and drew her hand back "so you don't like charity?"

"No" he was slightly disappointed to get back to the topic but he hid it quickly "it's the parties I don't enjoy. The gatherings are always the same. They only throw a party now and then, so they could compare their most top gossips. Who bought which mansion last summer, which traveled where, who got divorced, and so on. The charity theme is only a cover for it"

"You wrote a check already?"

"When I entered I wrote down for three thousand, I think it'll be enough to fulfill my obligation for attending" he shrugged indifferently.

Lily rolled her eyes "you're just like the rest" she muttered.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Three thousand? James, you're swimming in millions. And all you ready to give is three thousand? Let me ask you this, if I gave you half a million, what would you do with it?"

He thought for a second and then shrugged "I don't know, probably invest in some business"

"And if this business lost you half a million, would that upset you?"

"If it lost more, it would"

"So… half a million won't leave you broken hearted or something"

"No…" he was starting to suspect where this conversation was going. He didn't think he liked that mischievous spark in Lily's eyes.

"That's good to know" she smiled and raised her hand "Sally! Come here for a second, I've got you some good news!"

A woman in her mid forties came towards them with a pleasant smile "hello Lily, hello James"

"Hi Sally" James smiled and kissed Sally's backhand gentlemanlike.

"Sally" Lily smiled at her cheerfully "you would never believe it, but James over here agreed to donate half a million for your charity work"

James froze and stared at Lily in shock.

"Really? Oh James it's wonderful!" Sally beamed up at him "I never knew you were interested in such things"

"oh you know how he is" Lily clapped lightly on the man's arm "all modest and quiet" she winked secretly at Sally who tried her best not to laugh at the shocked expression on James' face.

James glared silently at Lily and wrote down the sum. Despite his anger on the way Lily tricked him, he didn't have the heart to disappoint Sally. She was a very nice woman and he truly liked her.

"Told you I'll be able to get at least one of the guests to sign you a high sum" Lily whispered in Sally's ear.

Sally giggled slightly and nodded "you should accept more invitations for these kinds of events, Lily. You'll bring me and my friends a big luck"

"Thank you" she said to James and kissed him on both of his cheeks "enjoy the rest of the evening"

"Now, that wasn't so bad, was it?" Lily asked innocently.

"Half a million?" he stared at her in mixed anger, shock, and a little admiration. It was the first time a woman was able to get from him so much money in one go.

"James! Where have you disappeared to?"

"I see your girlfriend finally caught you" Lily smiled slightly.

Loryn stopped in front of the couple and her angry gaze moved to look at Lily "who's she?" she spat.

"A friend of mine" James explained.

"A friend?" Loryn repeated and then stared at Lily through nerrow eyes "you seemed too young to attend a ball like this. Aren't you supposed to be in bed by now?"

"Second time in a row" Lily chuckled to herself and jumped from the table "it was nice talking to you, James"

"Yeah, you too" he smiled back.

"Congratulations by the way" she smiled suddenly at Loryn "I heard you're engaged"

"Who told you that?" James frowned at her.

"Just rumors" she shrugged "you know how it works"

"Well, we're not engaged. We haven't even thought about it yet" James said clearly.

"Sorry" she shrugged apologetically, "my bad" .

She smiled when she heard Loryn's shrill voice arguing with James. She looked around her to check if someone was watching her and pulled her cell phone out. She dialed a number and waited until the person from the other line answered.

"Hey Jule? Yeah it's me. I got that info you wanted to know… write it down, though I doubt you'll forget it... ahha. Well, James Potter has no intention to settle down yet, and certainly not with Ms. Meckson. She, on the other hand, was probably planning their wedding from the first moment she heard how much he's worth. How do I know that? Because she's now making a full scene in front of everyone about James leading her on. Yeah, she's crying and everything… yes, I know you owe me, how's the kid? Really? Great! So I see you tomorrow then? Good. By the way, next time Jule?" she watched as Loryn storm out the doors and sighed "send someone else ok? I'm only a photographer after all, not a gossip digger. I'll show you the photos tomorrow. Right. Goodnight then"

She put her cell phone back and shook her head "the things I do for friends…"

A/N: review! Only to know whether to continue or not…

Ruby89