She filled her friends in after dinner as it was her unpaid job to do so. Out of prying ears, they chatted away but not without EloÃŊse assisting in assembling her friend's luggage which wasn't easy considering Marila's sea of outfits. It overflowed to the extent of EloÃŊse offering an extra suitcase for the remainder. They had barely four hours to their flight and the trio wanted to make it as memorable as they could.
"When's our Cali cruise?" Marila asked.
"You are the working class here, you tell us." EloÃŊse retorted.
"Well, I suggest the first two weeks of summer."
"Finn and I planned on hiking the Havasupai fall during the first week, so..."
"The next two weeks then. Good?"
Bennie zipped her suitcase. "Good."
"Good for me too. Not like I have anything doing of my life anyway. Oh my, I envy you, Bennie. I heard the Havasupai falls are gorgeous."
"Heard so too. Finn is the reason I'm visiting it. Said he's been there o
"You see, even though Finna had her fair share of bad attitudes displayed, they weren't as bad as those the man she had come to love so badly had begun to portray; he didn't sleep home some nights and not because he spent it with another woman, no. He didn't show her affection anymore, didn't take her out on dates or business parties, he didn't eat at home, indulge her into conversations, and all that." "All these worried Finna considering that she had fallen too deep and madly for this man and could not picture a future without him. So she sat him down on a faithful day and asked him what she'd done wrong, if he didn't love her anymore. And if it were the case of the latter, she'll peacefully leave. Guess what he said to her." EloÃŊse shrugged "That he still loved her. So much even." "Then why was he acting that way?" EloÃŊse hastily asked. "'Cus she didn't show interest in things he was excited about." "Hm, that was...a silly reason to behave like an arse." "To you. You should
"I uh..." Craig soothingly tightened his grip on her fingers, rubbing them simultaneously. "I have to leave the country soon foâ" Craig's beautiful face instantly tensed, a conspicuous frown in sight. "How soon is that?" "Less than a month." EloÃŊse's eyes denied meeting his. "Sorry I interrupted. Please proceed." "My designs were exhibited to an haute designer who approved them and he's willing I work with him. So...yeah." She shrugged. EloÃŊse felt Craig's stare warm her face all through her little speech. "How long will you be gone for?" "Six months or so, I'm not quite sure." Craig pondered. "Is this the trivial situation you referred to?" EloÃŊse said nothing. "You assume you're insignificant to me?" She still did not speak. "Where is it?" "France." Craig sighed, "I have nothing to lose as of now. As much as it hurts to admit, I'm tremendously skeptical about getting this job any moment soon. Implying that I'll have to start applying for a job in France then." EloÃŊse would
"Next," Troy, the photographer, said. "Tilt your head a little more to the left. Alright, perfect." "I thought he'll be here by now," Zaphrina worried as her eyes met her watch. "We are five minutes in. You sure he's not forgotten or something?" "He'll be here soon, mum. Perhaps something came up or he's caught in traffic," EloÃŊse shrugged and chuckled. "Funny how the roles have turned. Where's the mother who tells me 'a worried mind isn't healthy' hmm? And look at what you're worrying over, it's not even that much of a salient event." Zaphrina comported and focused on the photo shoot meanwhile, EloÃŊse faded away from the aggregate of photography staff to make a call. It had been ten minutes ago since she'd called Craig to no avail. Not known to be late, EloÃŊse, however, was certain he would show up since he'd assured her two days ago and earlier that day. She went to voice mail after two rings and wore the crown of persistence this time around. For the first time. Saints on her s
Craig had respected the curfew to the latter; he'd taken her back home seven minutes to time. Four of which they'd spent walking the short distance he'd parked his car away from EloÃŊse's home. When she asked why, his retort was to spend a little more time with her hand in his. "How do you cope living here?" He asked. "In what context?" Partly conscious, as a result of his big hands warming hers in addition to the circles he made with his thumb at the back, EloÃŊse wondered. "It's serenity. A little too deafening." "I'm used to. Born and raised in it. What I find deafening is the commotion out of this area." No one spoke for a while. "Don't you admire such places?" "I do. A lot. I love me some alone time every once in a while just like I love some commotion." "How's that?" "It's the way I grew up; my mum was the quiet type and my dad, the calm irritated type. They didn't last long. Spent time fluctuating from one to the other. Eventually lost both and had to live with granny." "I
It was no doubt a miracle that her father worked overtime that Friday evening yet, he did not fail to have a message passed on to EloÃŊse's date despite it that her mother unfailingly passed on. 'She should be home before 8:30,' she had said with a smile of admiration. 'You two have the fun of your lives.' EloÃŊse narrowed her eyes at her mother as she read and understood the assignment between the lines. Earlier that moment, while she was being dolled up, Zaphrina had given her one or two seductive pointers. And of course, she planned not on using any. EloÃŊse cringed at the thought. "You okay?" Craig worried. "Okay. I mean, yeah, I'm okay." She straightened up as the waiter who took their orders returned with a pitcher of minted water and a bottle of champagne. Craig gave her an intense smoldering stare while she watched the waiter fill their glasses and immediately he departed, she cooled her heated body with the cold glass of minted water. "You look good," He complimented for t
Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah, Dubai.8:13 a.m "Mr. White," The man in a beige Bisht atop an unblemished white kandoora called in his thick Emirati accent as he received his guest's hand for a shake. "Nice to see you." "The pleasure is all mine, Sayyid Kareem." "Have a seat." The tall brunet young man in a black tuxedo obeyed with a smile on display. Almost immediately, waitresses filed in with assorted platters of breakfast pastries to occupy the entire table. "How are you enjoying your stay in Dubai so far, Mr. White?" "Wonderful is an understatement." He watched his cup being shaded with black coffee, expressed his gratitude to the waitress, and watch her leave. "My delight to do business with you is beyond words, Mr. White." "Same here. After all, what other bank can I rely on with my money, eyes closed, but yours?" He watched Sayyid Kareem sip his coffee with glee. "I've heard a lot about it from associates running their businesses over here. It's been reported to have be