The car halts stop in front of the villa Mom talked about. I come out and assess the place and the neighbourhood. It's quiet and green.Aligned private bungalows are separated with green spaces that are filled with different sizes of plants and trees. The driver pulls out my two-wheel suitcase from the car and puts it near me. "You move the car from here. I'll take the suitcase inside by myself. It's not heavy." I instruct him, pulling up the suitcase's handle. "Yes sure, Ma'am." He responds politely and walks towards the driving seat.I look at the villa again. This is my new house in Seattle where I've just arrived due to my unplanned and sudden business trip. Thanks to Mom and Dad. Dad's most trusted man Abraham arranged the car and driver for me who picked me up from the airport and brought me here. I've heard that this house and the office space are arranged by Nicholas Eastmond, Rafe's father. It's a relief though that I won't have to worry about my accommodation till I've t
Twenty minutes later, I reach the office; a new, small temporary office that will be solely under my supervision. Dad's assistant has already arranged staff for me who will help me here. The place is nice, has few rooms and an impressive lobby. Seeing the office staff going here and there, engaged in their own activities doesn't make it look like it has opened only a few days ago."Hello, Ms. Howard...I mean Mrs. Eastmond." A hesitant, female voice calls me in the hallway. I turn around with a frown. A woman, younger than me standing before me, looks nervous. "Sorry. I didn't know how to address you." She scratches the back of her head. I don't say anything, just quirk up my brow. She takes the hint, "Sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. I'm appointed as your secretary. Mr. Abraham Willson sent me."Great. A secretary is just what I needed. "Okay.""It's an honor to work for you. Howard is a big name. I'm looking forward to learn from you and become a successful woman someday just
New place, but same old routine. However, it's now tougher to manage two offices at the same time. I've been attending continuous calls since morning and sorting out day-to-day issues. I came to the office early in the morning, following my habit here as well, also because I couldn't properly sleep last night. Enduring Freya's presence in the same house as my wife was not an easy task for me. If I haven't had the fear of being caught by my father that I'm not living in a house that he has rented for me instead living in some hotel, I would've never agreed to stay this near to that woman. Besides, I thought my ways are giving her the bliss of living in a deluxe apartment alone and comfortably while I was bearing the hassles of being homeless and staying in hotels. So why should I suffer while she enjoys the peace of home? That made me at least enjoy the same peace till I'm staying in Seattle. I won't have to worry about where I'll crash at night. I deserve that. But my decision will
I hurriedly enter into the meeting room after Luke Salvatore and take each step carefully this time.I didn't expect my first day would be this disastrous. My clangers have thrown my self-confidence into a garbage can now. If Mom had seen me this way she would have asked me to join self-development classes. And this time I wouldn't have gotten angry on her snarky remarks because I'm truly worthy of them. I take my chair. Luke takes the chair placed at head of the table and Rafe sits just opposite of me. I catch Luke looking at me with pensive expression. I look away because I'm embarrassed to make direct eye contact with him. He had probably imagined me as classy, poised daughter of Howard, but I devastate his imagination and my self-esteem. I don't understand what came under my feet all of a sudden that made me stumble."I don't know if I should ask this or not. I'm feeling just a little concerned." Luke speaks with hesitation. I and Rafe both don't say anything just look at him, w
I put on a darker brown blazer over my lighter brown turtleneck, fitted shirt then spray some cedarwood perfume all over me. While setting my hair with my fingers, I think of calling Mona. We haven't talked since I've come to Seattle. Once I feel like I'm good to go to the formal dinner arranged by Luke Salvatore, I walk out of the room and at the same time search for Mona's name in my phone's contact list. I click on her number and just about to put my phone on my ear I catch Freya coming out of her room in captivating attire. I stop in my tracks.This is the second time in a day that I couldn't recognize her at first glance. I cancel the call and put down my phone. I gawk at her, eyes out on stalks. She's wearing a pretty swing dress, hugging her body as a second skin before belling out from the bottom.Her earlier fine hair are now assembled into soft locks, cascading down her lower back. When did she grow her hair? She wasn't a long-haired type woman. She preferred shoulder-leng
I blink back the unshed tears in my eyes as I step out of the car. The whole ride Rafe's words kept replaying in my head. I go through my outfit for the millionth time. What if Rafe was telling the truth? What if Benjamin really found me unattractive? Maybe that is why he left me so easily and never looked back. Maybe I'm really not good enough. I'm just a dimwit woman as Rafe said who can't do anything right. I lock my car and continue walking towards the restaurant where Luke has invited us. Rafe and I decided to go in our separate cars and meet outside the restaurant and enter together in order to put an impression on Luke that we came together. Just when I reach the right spot, I wait for Rafe. He's not here yet. Meanwhile, I pull out the mirror from my sling purse and see my reflection from different angles. The blue swing dress I'm wearing is of my own choice. All of my office wardrobe is of my choice and not Mom's. I wanted to have my work and formal outfits according to my
I won't deny that I feel a tingle of delight as I step on the dance floor with Luke. I'm liking his courteous and polite behavior. He definitely knows how to behave around women.I and him join other couples on the floor and take our positions. The songs that are playing are slow and comforting, maintaining the slow rhythm among couples. I start swaying my body as I get a hint from Luke. I give him my genuine smile when my eyes see him staring at me. "I hope your husband is not offended with our dance." He spins me around once. I let out a laugh when I face himagain, "He's not that conservative. Don't worry.""Hmm. I have heard you both were friends before. Best friends got married. That's cliche.""Yes. It's right." I say, wanting him to drop Rafe's topic. I don't want to think about him. If I've got a chance to forget about him for awhile, I want to avail that chance. The environment is too calming right now. I look around, checking out the place while continuing wavering my body
The next whole day at the office, I avoid any kind of interaction with Rafe. And thankfully he also does the same, stayed at his side of office space. I have started to loathe him with my every nerve. I took off from the office early today and came home because I need some spare time to prepare for the presentation tomorrow for Luke's directors. Maybe I would need the entire night for the preparation. I've been studying about the project for two nights precisely and today is the last night so I want to practice, revise and avoid clumsiness at all costs. I take a quick shower and change into something comfortable; loose trousers and a plain tee shirt. I call home afterwards and talk to Mia and Mom. Then I switch on my laptop, place it on my bed, and sit in front of it with some essential documents. "Hello, Abraham. Hopefully, you're ready with the summary I asked you to write." I call Abraham to get to know his viewpoint about the project. "Yes. Yes. It's done, but it's not with me