Chapter Two

“Get the hell out of bed, lazy ass and talk to me!” Marie rolled her eyes inwardly as Sandra pummeled her pillow.

“What? The one day I get a day off and I can't catch any sleep. Sandra, what's with you?”

“What do you think? I can't reach my husband! Wake up, it's an emergency.”

“Okay, okay. I’m up.” Marie said as she held up her hands in mock surrender and then sat up slowly. Sandra plunked herself next to her and looked at her with worried eyes.

“What's the issue?” Marie demanded.

“ I can't get a hold of Mr King.” Sandra said, sounding close to tears.

Marie looked at her friend and tried to assess if she was being serious. Before the wedding, Marie had warned her thoroughly not to develop any kinds of feelings for Mr King. It was a marriage-in-name only. Once the negotiations for the transfer of the Kazuko Inc. accounts to their agency was complete, the marriage would be over.

“ Look, he’s probably off to a meeting somewhere. What's the matter? Haven't you been paid?”

“ I have. But being my husband and all, I thought we would, you know, hang out…”

“Oh dear. Mr King is hardly social. He’ll return your calls soon, I’m sure. Anywho, tell me about your place!” Marie said in what she hoped was an excited voice. She didn't want Sandra obsessing over Mr King’s absence. Talking about the little place always got Sandra so happy and today was no exception. Before long, both women were in Marie's kitchen eating pancakes and eggs.

They spent the next hour talking about how Sandra was a married woman now and would have no time for frivolities, how Marie had never had an off day in her life because she worked for Godzilla, and how they both needed pedicures urgently. Eventually, Sandra looked her friend in the eye squarely and asked in a small voice,

“ So do you think he’ll call?”

“To be honest, Sandra. No one knows the darn man’s mind. He may or may not call. But here's what's important, seven weeks from now you’ll be free and richer. Think about that.”

“Alright. It's not like I love him anyway. It was always about the money for me.”

“ Does this mean you can treat me to something better than Burger King this afternoon?”

“Ha, you wish.” Sandra replied and they both fell into peels of laughter.

They spent the next couple of hours watching reruns of their favorite show, Chicago Med until Sandra fell asleep.

Hearing her cell ring in the bedroom, Marie went in to answer it. She frowned as she looked at the receiver. It was her day off, after all.

“ Hello, Steven.”

“ Why aren't you here?” The voice on the other hand demanded brusquely

“Err, well… You were out of town and so I thought I could take my day off. I thought you wouldn't be back…”

“Get here now.” Steven said and hung up the phone.

Sighing loudly, Marie had a quick shower, dressed and went out to the living room where Sandra was still passed out on the sofa. Not wanting to wake her friend up, she left a note on the refrigerator

Hey. Godzilla came back and called me to work. I know. He's an ass. I’ll catch up with you later. Bye.

As Marie drove back to her office, she thought back on the choices that had brought her to the life where she couldn't even afford a day off. The mess on her desk when she got back to the office didn't look appealing either.

“Oh good, you’re here. Come in.”

“ Okay, what's up?” Marie said, stepping into his office.

“ I need to make some decisions. For starters, I think the retainer calculator the team has used is shit. Look at this.” He said and thrust a folder to her.

Truth be told, Marie could care less. It was not her job. But whenever Steven got nitpicky about anything, there was usually something to it.

“I think it looks fair, sir. “

“ We should be doing more than that but leave that. I need your notes from our previous meetings with Kazuko Inc. . This could be really good news for Alden Kings, you know. We aren't talking about just their Japanese brands. We’re talking about all their accounts globally being transferred to our subsidiaries as well. And that should shut the old man up.” He finished with a satisfied smile.

“ That's awesome sir.” Marie said, shifting from one foot to another. The old man in question was Steven King's grandfather.

“If it goes according to plan, we’ll need to start talking about expansion.”

“It will.”

“Of course it will. Pass me the contact reports, everything. And please set up a call with all our creative directors across the countries for tomorrow at 7AM.”

“Yes, Sir.” Marie said. She was halfway outside the office when an image of Sandra's worried face flashed in her mind.

“Err, Steven?” She asked in a small tone that she hoped showed that she wasn't looking to wind him up.

“Yes, Marie?”

“I was wondering if you had spoken to err, Sandra today? She's a bit, ermm… worried… about you.”

For a full minute Steven just looked at Marie till she thought she had stood there and sprouted purple horns. Why wasn't he saying anything? Perhaps she should leave.

“Invite her for dinner.” He said at last. Convinced she had heard wrong, Marie said

“Dinner?”

“Yes. Dinner.”

Nodding her head, Marie asked,

“Shall I ring up The Sprutz and make a reservation?”

“Nope. Invite her to dinner here.”

“Here?” Marie asked, eyes widening at the thought. Steven never brought personal guests into his office. One time she had let one of his cousins in and she had almost lost her job.

“Well, she's my bloody wife? Isn't she? Let her come.” Marie nodded and hastily retreated from his office.

Thirty minutes later, a breathless Sandra stood before her, reeking of fruity perfume. Marie plastered a wide grin on her face even though deep down she was worried. Apart from her own feelings for Steven that she had never been able to get rid of, she didn't want her friend becoming attached and being unable to move on after the seven weeks of their marriage.

She looked so optimistic that Marie couldn't help feeling a pang of guilt. She wanted Steven King for herself but when had he ever looked at her as anything other than a person to order around. It didn't help that she was addicted to comfortable clothes.

Her motto was comfort over style and she stuck to it religiously. Her standard look was a cotton shirt, over a long flannel skirt and a cardigan when the weather demanded it. She also saw no point in applying a lot of makeup to her face.

“Earth to Marie!” Sandra’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

“Sorry Sandra, what's up?”

“Please, take me in to meet him.”

Steven barely spared a glance to Marie before dismissing her. Stifling her hurt feelings, Marie dashed out and walked briskly to the bathroom. Even if she knew that they weren't in love, seeing them together was hard on her. She had done everything she could to make herself stop loving the man. Now he had married her best friend and there was nothing she could do.