Accelerating the wedding was not a problem. With the help of Noelle and Frans, Andreas was able to handle everything flawlessly. In no time, he was able to ensure that the wedding would take place in two weeks. A timeframe that satisfied him, considering that it had not been easy to get Vlora’s consent.
However, there was one thing that disturbed Andreas’ happiness. It had to do with the schedule after the wedding. So, it was not surprising that he went straight to Lucas’ office that afternoon and spoke frankly.
“You are absolutely heartless, Luc!”
Lucas raised his face, glanced at his watch, and noticed that it was already break time. Rising from his seat, Lucas asked, “Would you like to have lunch together?”
Andreas narrowed his eyes. “Lunch?” he asked incredulously. “Do I look like someone who wants to have lunch with you messing up my plans?”
Lucas chuckled. He put his blazer back on and walked over to Andreas, who was sitting on the sofa. Andreas seemed extremely annoyed.
“My plans? Do you mean the plan to pressure my secretary into a sudden marriage? And then demand a sudden honeymoon?”
Andreas groaned and covered his face with both hands. He threw his head back and let out his frustration.
“What’s a wedding without a honeymoon?”
Lucas’ laughter grew louder. “Just so you know, in case you forgot, I didn’t go on a honeymoon right after I got married either.”
Andreas’ hands dropped. He sighed, and of course he wouldn’t forget this particular story about Lucas. Unfortunately, their situation was different.
“Because at that time Velia was suffering from pregnancy sickness. Ck. I know that. You planned it that way, Luc. You’re the most insensitive guy I’ve ever met.”
“All right then, go ahead and convince Vlora. If she wants time off, I’ll grant it. Even if I don’t have a second secretary, I can ask Dad’s people for help.”
Andreas was silent for a moment. The tempting offer made him think, and Lucas just grinned.
“I just hope you’ve gotten to know your future wife’s nature quite well.”
That made Andreas pause. What Lucas had said was what he had thought. He had not known Vlora very long. Less than a year, but he could already understand Vlora’s personality and thoughts.
“You’re right,” Andreas said weakly, closing his eyes dramatically. “Vlora will probably reject it. She’s just like you.”
Lucas chuckled with an amused expression. He seemed to find his own entertainment in seeing Andreas’ distress.
“Besides, compared to a honeymoon, don’t you think it’s more important that you get moving soon?”
Andreas sighed heavily. He ruffled his hair. “I have to enjoy my marriage before I move. Argh! This sudden wedding seems to have a string of bad luck attached to it.”
Andreas stood up. He tidied his blazer and showed signs of leaving. Lucas inquired.
“What about lunch?”
“Just say hello to Velia. I just want to go home. I think I need to cool off.”
Lucas burst out laughing again. He let his laughter echo as he watched Andreas leave his office. At that moment, Andreas’ sardonic thoughts spoke.
“It seems to be the first time I’ve seen Lucas laugh so much. He tends to enjoy seeing me suffer.”
In reality, Andreas did not go home right away. He stopped by Vlora’s desk and found his fiancee sipping a cup of coffee.
“Would you like to have lunch with me?”
Vlora put the cup down and nodded. “Of course.”
Lunch was not just about enjoying a meal. Andreas and Vlora used it as an opportunity to discuss the wedding plans. There were several things to discuss, and of course the most important topic that weighed heavily on Andreas.
“We have to change our honeymoon plans, Vlo.”
Vlora enjoyed a slice of beef with a faint smile. “I’m impressed that you can accept this. At first, I thought you’d be really insistent.”
“At least I realized there are some things you can’t force. Sometimes taking a step back gives you a chance to leap forward,” Andreas said, taking a breath. He squinted and watched Vlora, who was enjoying her lunch. “Instead of asking for a week off for our honeymoon, how about asking for a month off?”
Vlora almost choked. She stopped eating and looked at Andreas in disbelief.
“A month? Oh, my goodness, Reas. I can’t take that much time off. I’m a secretary. Don’t be ridiculous.”
“You’re right. Sometimes I can be ridiculous.”
The conversation continued. Topics flowed. They discussed other matters, including Andreas’ desire to meet Vlora’s younger brother, Devando Thomas.
To be honest, Vlora did not expect Andreas to pay any attention to her brother. What could she hope for? Thomas was in a psychiatric hospital and almost certainly would not attend her wedding.
But Andreas proved to Vlora, for the umpteenth time, that he was an impressive man. He paid attention to every detail. Not only with Thomas, but also with her aunts and uncles who had been taking care of her all this time.
Andreas and Vlora visited the Anderson home. They were warmly welcomed by Emmet Anderson and Melanie Sophia Brown. They discussed wedding plans and the engagement ceremony would take place two nights later. What a wonderful time.
But there was something even more wonderful. Bryan was there, knowing that Noelle was also present.
Andreas’ satirical thoughts could not help but smile. He did not hold back and praised the words of the people around him.
Turns out it’s true. Marriage does bring its own blessings.
The following weekend, Andreas and Vlora visited Thomas. Their visit coincided with Vlora’s schedule to monitor her younger brother’s progress. From the brief consultation, Vlora learned that there had not been satisfactory progress. There was good news, however. Thomas’ hallucinations had decreased.
“He’s in too much shock.”
Vlora started the conversation as they walked towards Andreas’ parked car. Andreas turned to find Vlora continuing.
“He was indeed very close to both our parents. You must know that. A boy and the youngest.”
Andreas nodded. He understood.
“He was devastated. I used to have to calm him down in the middle of the night when he thought he saw Mom and Dad.”
Andreas did not need the explanation. He might be a rough guy, but that did not mean he was not sensitive. At least he knew what was worth asking about and what was not.
Unlike Vlora. She was sure that it was only fair that Andreas knew every detail of her life. One by one. Little by little.
So, Andreas behaved maturely and listened. He was also genuinely sympathetic.
“I’m sad for him too, Vlo.”
Vlora took a deep breath. “Thank you.”
The ride home was filled with silence. Andreas deliberately gave Vlora some time. He allowed her to calm down, and to some extent he could sense Vlora’s feelings.
It could almost be said that Vlora did not really have a close family. There were only Emmet and Melanie. There was also a younger brother who could not share Vlora’s happiness on her special day.
Vlora did not show her sadness on the outside. She seemed normal. But now Andreas wondered. Could it be that Vlora’s seemingly normal behavior was an expression of her sadness all along?
When he arrived at Vlora’s apartment, Andreas unbuckled his seat belt. This action signaled to Vlora that Andreas intended to come up to her unit.
“Would you like some tea?”
Vlora got up. She started for the kitchen, but Andreas held her hand.
“I don’t want tea.”
Vlora furrowed her brow, noticing Andreas’ slightly different demeanor that night. Normally, Andreas would try to find many reasons to stay in her unit. A cup of tea would usually be the perfect excuse.
“You don’t want any? Um, what do you mean…”
Vlora’s words stopped. Her confusion was replaced by realization as Andreas, without a single rose or balloon in the air, pulled out a velvet box of her color.
“R-Reas. What are you doing?”
Andreas took a diamond-crowned ring out of the velvet box. Then he took Vlora’s hand and answered quietly.
“I want this marriage to be as it should be. So, I thought a ring would make it complete.”
Vlora almost choked. “That’s not necessary.”
“It is necessary for me.”
“Have you forgotten?” Vlora asked, getting more and more worried. “You already gave me a ring on the night of our engagement.”
Andreas took a breath and clasped Vlora’s fingers. “The ring that night was an official part of the event, but this…”
His face lifted and he looked at Vlora.
“… is a different story.”
Vlora could not breathe. “Reas.”
“This is the ring I should have given you first. You can think of it as a symbol.”
“A symbol?”
Andreas smiled. “A symbol of my request that you are willing to spend your life with me.”
Oh God. Andreas really had managed to render Vlora speechless.
“Marriage is never easy for a woman. I’m sure of that. So, I hope this ring can serve as a guarantee that I will try to build a household you won’t regret”.
Vlora was rendered powerless. That’s why she didn’t resist when Andreas put the ring on her finger.
“That’s why I can guarantee you one thing,” Andreas said, looking at Vlora. Without blinking, his look conveyed conviction. “If this marriage becomes something perfect in the future, it’s undoubtedly because of you.”
*