Leonard slumped. The weight of memories he was pushing away seemed to press on his shoulders. Matthews still couldn’t believe that Allison, whom he had dated for three years, had cheated on him.
He met Allison during a new collection show. She was a model. Yes, the story is cliché, but is it easy not to fall for a stunning brunette with eyes like Angelina Jolie’s? So the owner of the catwalk melted.
Leonard thought everything was fine and going according to plan. A year ago, he proposed to Allison «hand and heart» in the Maldives. She agreed.
They set a wedding date. And then… Then it was like a dumb joke. He saw his fiancée’s messages with some guy.
She was sending him very explicit photos and setting up meetings. And no, Lenny didn’t snoop in her phone. Fate just arranged it that way.
The smartphone, the latest Apple model that the man had given Allison, ended up in his hands at the moment her lover appeared. He thanked Allison for the wonderful date and hot night, even sent her photo taken in a hotel bed. Leonard didn’t know who Allison was having an affair with; the messages didn’t reveal it, and he wasn’t going to hire some Sherlock Holmes to investigate.
Too much honor. The man simply threw the cheater out of his apartment, where she had settled quite comfortably, and broke off the engagement. Allison really cried, begged for forgiveness, even crawled on her knees, but Lenny didn’t forgive that.
Betrayal was his ultimate taboo. Once committed, the person was dead to Leonard. However, all this happened just two days ago, and the guests from Japan were practically at the door.
They needed to be greeted with bread, salt, and a fiancée already tomorrow. But where to get a fiancée? You can’t buy one at the market like a carrot, though maybe on the black market. But that was hardly within the law and aligned with the moral values the Japanese cherished.
I don’t want to risk it, I don’t want to look like a fool or defective in his eyes. If I couldn’t keep a fiancée, how can I be trusted with a company? The man scolded himself. — And what are you going to do? — Dennis raised an eyebrow.
— Hire an actress? — Ha, I’ll do it simpler, marry the first one who walks through the door. Lenny grumbled in response. Dennis burst out laughing, slapping his knee.
— Damn, I hope it’s Aunt Lydia from accounting, the one you won’t let retire! — he declared, recalling the dissatisfied face of the elderly and plump woman who loved using acid-green and blue shades in her makeup. — Or Allison will show up to beg for forgiveness again, that would be hilarious! Dennis laughed again, looking at the gloomy boss, when suddenly there was a knock at the door. Cooper immediately shut up, choking on laughter, then, glancing at Matthews who froze for a moment, he pompously declared.
— Hear that, fate is knocking at the door! — Go to hell! — the man grumbled, then quickly crossed the office. — Actually, I’m not expecting anyone, I even sent the secretary home. Olivia, the man’s secretary, was going on maternity leave.
She was already looking for a replacement because her pregnancy was complicated, and the woman had to take time off for appointments. He flung open the door and froze. On the threshold stood something.
Dennis popped up beside him, curiously peeking over Lenny’s shoulder and whistling. — Whoa, a bum! — he blurted out, not at all embarrassed to label people. — Are we begging for alms in offices now, not subway cars? The young girl visibly embarrassed and shrank under the strangers’ gazes, her cheeks flushing.
But Dennis had reasons for his conclusions. The thing was, the girl was dirty. Her skirt was torn, as were her stockings.
Her hair was in a «I fell off a haystack, braked with my head» style. A fresh coffee stain adorned her white shirt. — I didn’t come for handouts, I came for an interview, — the girl declared, composing herself and giving Dennis a displeased look.
— What interview? — the man didn’t understand. — For the secretary position, — the girl explained, trying to fix her skirt, but it didn’t help the situation. — I called, talked to Olivia, we met yesterday.
She told me to come today at ten and meet with you, but under no circumstances be late, and here I am. The man tried to recall if Olivia had said anything about meeting a candidate. Either he missed it, drowning in other worries, or Olivia forgot as usual.
After the second trimester started, something strange happened to the woman. She cried a lot and forgot everything. Leonard was starting to fear her.
However, the choice of secretary seemed strange to him. Lenny still let the girl, who introduced herself as Anna Sullivan, into the office. Anna didn’t want to sit in the chair, afraid to dirty it, but Matthews insisted, and he sat opposite, accepting her resume.
Dennis started wandering around the office like the ghost of Hamlet’s father. Periodically, he froze behind Anna’s back, getting into his friend’s field of vision, and hinted that the one sitting in front of him was his fate and future fiancée. For example, he pantomimed putting a ring on a finger.
Lenny tried to ignore him, though he really wanted to grab the remaining pen and launch it at his friend again. But he was afraid to scare the potential secretary, so he restrained his impulses. «So, Olivia thinks you’re suitable for me?» Anna nodded, but doubt appeared on her face.
«I’ll be honest with you, your secretary, after listening to me, started crying and hugging,» the girl admitted. «I’m not sure if she liked my answers and set of skills, or if she just pitied me.» The man glanced at Anna again, thinking that anyone would pity someone like her.
Anna, correctly interpreting his look, began to defend herself. «Listen, I don’t always look like this.» «But one can hope,» Lenny smiled.
«You see, today hasn’t gone well from the morning. Unable to hold back, Anna started complaining about fate. «My phone broke, and Alex and I overslept.