Love and Peace
When I enter the office, I am welcomed with a shower of confetti.
Surprised, I look around and see all the workers standing. Archer, Damian, and Kaylah are also there smiling broadly. “Welcome back, Miss Windrug!” they happily scream in unison. My eyes skim the happy faces, all familiar. Looks like Archer didn't change much in this case. Aaahh, with this salary, I too wouldn’t bother finding another workplace.
One by one they step forward to hug me. Well, this is certainly a warm welcome after five years of absence. Now, of course, I'm expected to give a short speech. I also see a few bottles of wine on a table.
After the warm greeting, I motion for Archer, Kaylah, and Damian to come and stand next to me. “Well, I'm also happy to be back after such a long time and to see all the familiar faces again. Thank you all for keeping the company going in my absence so I could pay your fat salary every month,” I say meaningfully. Smirk goes across the room, some hands cover the mouth.
“Just in case you're wondering how much my presence will bring about changes in the management, I can reassure you that as long as Archer wants to, he will continue to lead here. I have other challenges that are more private, that require my attention. No, no more a secret relationship with a married man, this time I'm doing it right by the book."
And now no one can hold back their laughter. “Who's the lucky one this time, Loraine? Aziel is still single,” one of the clerks shouts. I feign disbelief. "No, I do not think so. I heard this morning before I got here that he is now firmly engaged and has even registered it with the CRA. The man's betrothed and please, don't encourage bigamy”, I explain hilariously. Another burst of laughter. If only they knew how true my words are! I see some take out their phones, looks like Aziel has some questions to answer today.
With a glass of wine in my hand, I make a round for personal contact with the workers. After some time everyone leaves for their workspace again. In the end, Archer, Kaylah, and Damian are left in the office. “Damian!” I shout happily. “How are things going? Still happily married and the business running smoothly?”. He grins and grabs my hand. “Thank you again for the trust you had in me to give me this opportunity, Loraine,” he says emotionally. "Privately, things are going great, I even had a daughter, her name is also Loraine," he says sheepishly. “That was my wife's idea, I'll tell you beforehand”
My eyes go wide.
“Did you name her after me? That is amazing! Maybe we can already make arrangements for an arranged marriage with my son?”, I propose funny. Damian looks at me in astonishment. “Do you have a son? Where is he then?". Gradually he becomes more enthusiastic about the idea that I have a child. “You will meet him soon. His name is Lorrich and he turned four recently.” I can almost hear Damian thinking.
“Were you pregnant when you left here? Is Fellogan his father?” he asks, startled. “Yes, but I didn't know that then. And it is indeed Dordrich's, but neither of them knows of each other's existence. I need some time to sort that out," I let him know.
Archer beckons us to take a seat on the sofa where there is more room for private conversations. As we walk towards it, I wonder how to tell them the news. Hesitantly I look at my friends. “Uhmm, I have something important to tell you”, I begin hesitantly. Kaylah looks at me with a painful look. “Not again, Loraine. We really can't use any more drama. The last time I was able to prevent the worst, but I don't have the energy for that anymore. My baby drains all out of me, so watch yourself this time”, she lectured me, shaking her head.
Archer and Damian look at me quizzically. “No more Fellogan, Loraine. Really, I mean it. You're not back to New York to do the drama over again," Damian begins.
I sigh and look at them one by one. “Why would I step in the same shit twice? For real, I thought you guys thought better of me. I almost don't feel like telling you the good news anymore," I react somewhat disappointedly. Damian sits down next to me and takes my hands in his. "That's not it. We're just concerned about you, want you to really get your life on track right now. You now have a son who expects the same from you”, he soothes.
I decide to bully them a bit more, these three are not going to lecture me with impunity. I look at him bewildered. “But this time it's really good news. You judge before you hear what I have to say. This is so annoying”.
Kaylah raises an eyebrow; she's not really convinced of my act yet. “Why don't you let us know right away without all that show going with it? It's your fault that we get the idea that you again bet on the wrong horse. What's going on now? And this time let it be really good news, I swear I'll strangle you if you cause trouble again."
I sigh and look down at my nails. After a few seconds of silence, it becomes too much for the men. “Mind to update us now, Loraine? After this bad acting of yours, we still don't know anything," Archer insists. I open my eyes wide and clear my throat. “I got engaged this morning,” I confess happily.
Silence!
The three look at me incredulously. “You haven't been in New York for a week and already engaged? That was quickly fixed. Is it a joke?” Damian asks, half chuckling. I shake my head with a smile. “Would you like to celebrate with us this weekend? Then you will meet him right away”, I suggest.
“No, no, no, Loraine. You tell us who it is right now. Then we'll celebrate the weekend. But you let us know his name here and now,” Damian demands. He gets support from Kaylah and Archer. “You'll never guess!” I tease them further. Three pairs of eyes are rolling until Kaylah screams out.
“AZIEL!”
A loud cheer is heard in the room. “Finally!” Damian sighs with his hands in the air demonstratively. "I started to fear for my best friend when he came back here without you."
“Thank God!” Archer shouts heartily. “This should have happened a long time ago.” I look at Kaylah with anticipation. And then I see the tears in her eyes. She slowly gets up from the couch and sits next to me. She takes me into a tight embrace. “My wish has come true. Aziel is the best man for you. He loves you and can definitely tame you. I am so happy, Loraine, now love and peace is coming into your life”.
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