As she stared up at the blazing hot sky,she wondered what her life was going to look like .The clouds floated around happily in humor to her predicament.Being fired from the only place she had worked so hard to get into after graduation was quite a comic story indeed.
As she crossed the pathway leading up to her rundown apartment closeby,a few blocks away from the building that had held all her dashed hopes and dreams,her heel got stuck in the broken cemented sidewalk.Thrusting out with all her might,the heel of her favourite suede stiletto broke.She stumbled backwards and landed on her butt, grazing her hands onto the ground.It hurt.She knew that right at this moment ,the universe was mocking her.Working endlessly and tirelessly for years only to come out with the best degree and getting admitted into the workplace she had applied for seemed so far away now.shelooked down at her stubbed heel and wept for her bleak life."What's a beautiful girl like you doing on her ass on the sidewalk?"Her head whipped around so fast she was afraid her neck would snap. She raised her head up to look at the stranger that had his hand outstretched with a huge smile on his face."Am sorry who are you?"she spoke before her body could register what she had said.The said man was gorgeous,with chestnut brown hair and blue eyes,he looked so handsome,it took her breath away."Why don't I help you up?"he offered,gesturing to his outstretched hand.She nodded because words had seemed to fail her."Yes,thank you"she stammered.He pulled her up,stumbling due to her wobbly legs ,she collided with his chest."Sorry"Abruptly she straightened up."Can I buy you a cup of coffee?"he asked politely. Nodding,her lips widened In a shy smile as she felt her cheeks redden."There's a great coffee shop just two blocks away if we can just make it"he took the lead.Being careful not to loose him,she walked as fast as her legs could carry her to match his long strides. She noticed that he slowed down a few times to give her time to catch up which was very thoughtful of him."Come on in"he said ushering her in through the double glass doors that held the coffee sign,open.The place had an aesthetically pleasing mahogany feel to it.There wasn't much of a crowd for the lunch hour but it wasn't completely empty.There were customers scattered around the shop chatting away and sipping away at their coffees worry free.She let out a defeated sigh."What's wrong?Don't you like coffee?"he asked.She shook her head vehemently "no,no,I do.i was just...thinking about something else"She reassured him.He nodded and walked over to the counter to place their orders.Busing herself,she picked a table at the far end of the coffee place and slid into the curved seats overlooking the floor to ceiling windows.She watched as the people breezed by,some tired ,some happy but most of all she noticed the satisfied looks they all had as they passed by probably on their way back to work.Clearing his throat, she jerked back away from her internal musings."Are you alright?"he asked.Concern etched on the creases at the base of his forehead.She gave him a wan smile that didn't quite reach her eyes."Yes,I'm fine.just work "she summarised. She didn't need to bore a total stranger she had just met when she was a total mess, with her life problems.She just had to relax and savor this moment that is to come."Sorry,I haven't introduced myself. Am Micheal. Micheal wheeler"he said,giving her his outstretched hand once again,this time for a handshake and she obliged."My name is Alina.Alina Sanders"she replied.He nodded.Taking the information in ,a wistful smile etched onto his lips."That's a really nice name"he added.She felt her cheek go pink."thank you. But thank my parents. They're the ones who gave me the name. "She responded.He chuckled at her awkward attempt to lighten the mood, feeling his laughter was contagious, she followed suit.They were so wrapped up in the invisible bubble ,that they didn't fully notice when the waiter placed their drinks in front of them .She stared at the leaf design of the sweetened coffee.she wasn't a fan of sweetened coffee."Am sorry I went ahead to order your coffee.I figured you would prefer to drink yours sweetened"he explained as he watched her stare at her coffee,her expression unreadable.Her eyebrow arched upwards. "And what gave you that idea?"she asked,a little annoyed now."That's the impression you gave off.i might be wrong though "he interjected raising his hands up in surrender."That's much better"satisfied with his answer, she returned to the cup of coffee staring back at her,she stirred before finally taking a big gulp."So about your parents,what should I know about them?"he asked.She raised her head up from her cup of coffee to collide with his amused gaze smiling back at her.She looked at him over the rim of her coffee and wondered why he was interested in knowing about her parents.What kind of stranger gets into such details?she wondered and suddenly felt unsafe.Secluded in the corner with him,in a room full of people was supposed to reassure her but she felt goosebumps crawl up her skin.Who was this stranger? And what the heck was she doing with him?The questions kept bugging her.she eyed him skeptically as he sipped his coffeee waiting for her response. "Am sorry but as nice as you are,I don't feel comfortable telling you about such details of my life"she responded almost apologetically. He chuckled.Settling back in his seat,he leaned back and looked at her for a while."Look,like I said Am Micheal Wheeler.Doesn't that seem to ring a bell for you?"he spoke.Shaking her head vehemently in confusion, she tried to grasp where this conversation was going until..."Wheeler of the Wheeler enterprises?"she asked hesitantly.He blinked in confirmation. She gasped as she suddenly realized who and where he was.He was her boss."I guess the surprise has already hit you"he observed.Unable to speak,she nodded her reply."I know that this may come as a shock to you but you were highly recommended "he continued.She frowned in confusion. "What is that supposed to mean?"she asked skeptical of his intentions. With a wide grin on his face,he leaned in closer across the table."I have a proposition for you"he said."What proposition?excuse me,but am trying to wrap my head around the fact that am sitting across from the owner of the enterprise I work in.Wait,was this even planned?"she blurted out.Her mind going in different directions trying to piece everything together.He straightened up now.And gave her a once over before opening his mouth to speak. "This meeting was purely coincidental.Although I can't say,we wouldn't have met either way.But am glad it happened sooner rather than later."he explained."So what do you want from me?"she asked ."I just want to propose something to you"he declared."You've said
"You're such a vile person!"she spat out with as much venom as she could muster.She felt her eyes sting with tears and her throats constrict in discomfort.No way was she going to let him win.She wouldn't let him.So with a defiant stance,she stood from where she sat,glaring at him."This conversation is over,Mr.Micheal.Thank you for coffee "with that she walked out leaving a very confused micheal thinking through the points that may had lead to this very moment.Never in a million years had he seen this coming.No one had ever attempted to walk out on him or end the conversation until he was done. He pulled out his phone and dailed.His secretary picked up at the first ring."Doris,I want you to do something for me.Its about Alina"he spoke.* * * *On her brisk walk home, her mind reeled and her heart picked up a few more beats unable to calm the sensation that had washed through her with her encounter with her boss. She had never thought this day would go this way but she was det
All eyes were on them now as they watched the scene unfold.She had heard many stories about mother in laws and how they were always opposed to their son's choice in women.Always.She'd seen them in all the telenovelas her mum had loved to watch before she got too Ill to watch anymore."Don't be worried about my mother "his words had played over and over as she watched the beautiful older woman walk over to them with her entourage of women that seemed judgmental from the looks and stares from around the room.Her thoughts drifted to the events of this evening..."I don't understand whey you have to plan this huge party .Its completely unnecessary."she had cried out as she sat in his office memorizing information about the important people that were going to be there at the party he was arranging for them. It sounded absurd at first.She had not seen the need to publicly announce their engagement when this was meant to be shortlived."I cannot wed without showing my family and people who
In the span of a few days, they had been so wrapped up in a media frenzy over the news of their engagement that she hadn't slept for more than 4 hours in the past week.it was always makeup and hair for events,parties, interviews and the whole shebang of planning a wedding which his mother had completely taken over,fortunately. How could she live this life?Even if it was for a short while she knew that all these would get too overwhelming for her and the only way she could think of to keep her grounded was the thought that her mother was going to be well again.News had gotten to her through Micheal that her surgery had gone well and that she was recovering well.Although she wouldn't be well enough to make the travel back for her wedding tomorrow.Her new iphone 14 that Micheal had gotten her,vibrated as she came out of the shower of her hotel.It was an unknown number.She slid the green button to answer. "Hello?"she asked curious.There was silence at the other end of the phone. "He
She watched as his eyes followed her movements. They were sitted across from each other on his private plane on their way to their honeymoon.The wedding had ended in a frenzy with his mother being emotional,his younger sister ignoring her and his father nodding in approval as they walked down the aisle hand-in -hand as husband and wife."You can stare at me all you want.I won't crack"He stated still focused on the opened pages in his hand."I want to go see my mother"she declared."We'll talk about that once we are back from our honeymoon.I do not want anything ruining my plans"He said nonchalantly as he flipped through the business magazine that had been brought to him as soon as he got seated.She grimaced."What plans?this is a marriage of convenience for you.And anything that you think you've "planned" would just be a wasted effort because there is no love between us.There never can be "she responded ending with a defiant pout on her lips that he found was getting difficult to res