“Are you really not interested in taking your leave, Vlo?”
Lucas asked, opening a folder in front of him. He took a pen and signed it. Without looking at his secretary, he continued in a casual tone.
“You can take it. Maybe a week or two.”
Lucas closed the folder and handed it back to Vlora. She took it politely and answered.
“No need, sir. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
Lucas suppressed a grin. “I know you’ll be fine. It’s Andreas I’m worried about not being fine.”
Vlora blinked, trying to keep the warmth from reaching her cheeks. Oh, damn it! Hopefully she did not blush. It was difficult, but she tried not to blush when she thought about the hidden meaning behind Lucas’ words.
Lucas sighed and shook his head several times. Then he waved his hand.
“Never mind. You can go.”
Vlora nodded. “Alright, sir.”
Leaving Lucas’ office was a relief for Vlora. She quickly made her way to her desk and sat down.
Instead of immediately getting back to work, Vlora found herself lost in thought for a moment. Although her computer was on and there was a contract to check, her eyes remained blank for a few minutes.
Vlora’s hand went up and landed on her neck. She rubbed it a few times, trying to ease the remaining tension.
Really! Vlora realized that her body was not quite in shape that day. She felt tired, and yawned uncontrollably.
The prospect of a day off loomed. Just like the temptation of Andreas’ or Lucas’ offer. It was tempting, but also terrifying.
Vlora shuddered. Even though she felt extremely tired, requesting an impromptu vacation with the excuse that she was still in her honeymoon phase was not her style. She was an organized woman who lived her life according to plans and schedules. So, the vacation had to wait a few months.
It turned out that marriage did indeed require some changes.
Vlora’s conclusion was confirmed later that evening. Andreas had come to pick her up as promised.
It did not mean that Vlora doubted Andreas’ words. It was just that she had never been the center of attention when she was greeted by Andreas right in the office courtyard.
Andreas smiled, while Vlora felt slightly uncomfortable. What could she do? They had different personalities. Andreas was often the center of attention, while Vlora was the opposite.
“How was your day at work? Smooth?”
Andreas’ question opened the conversation during the drive home. Unlike the morning when Mason had driven, this time Andreas happily took the wheel while Vlora sat comfortably beside him.
“Everything went as smoothly as usual.”
“I can see that,” Andreas replied, glancing at Vlora as she yawned. He smiled slightly. “So, you still don’t want to take your leave, dear?”
Vlora spontaneously turned to him. “My leave? Oh, God. Don’t tell me you contacted Mr. Hernandez, Reas. You didn’t ask him to pressure me into taking my leave, did you?”
“I can’t exactly say I asked him to.”
Vlora stared. “You? Really?”
Andreas burst out laughing, causing Vlora’s stare to intensify.
“Forgive me. I just called him, and yes-wait!”
Something occurred to Andreas as the traffic light turned red. He turned back to Vlora.
“Lucas is your boss in the office, literally, but when you’re off the clock, you and he are on equal footing. I don’t think you have to call him ‘Mr.’ all the time.”
Vlora realized it. The man she was marrying was a close friend of Lucas’. Did it make sense for her to keep calling Lucas ‘Mr.’? Unfortunately, two years of courtesy habits could not disappear overnight.
“Never mind, Reas,” Vlora sighed lazily. “You don’t have to change the subject, and I don’t want to talk about my leave again.”
Andreas laughed even more. “You have to get used to my ways.”
“The same goes for you. I hope you can get used to my ways as well. No leave until the appointed time. That won’t change, so don’t hope for it.”
Andreas’ laughter turned into a smile. Just as Vlora suspected, he nodded and said, “Of course. I accept your decision. That’s how marriage works. We argue and compromise.”
Vlora did not answer. She just looked at Andreas before her husband started the car again. The journey home continued.
“Oh, I want to tell you something. Tonight, I’m going to introduce you to Frans.”
“Who’s Frans?”
The name did not sound familiar to Vlora. After a moment she was sure that she had never heard that name during her time with Lucas.
“My personal assistant.”
Vlora glanced briefly. “Oh! I didn’t know an unemployed person like you had a personal assistant.”
Andreas chuckled. Reflexively, he slapped the steering wheel and shook his head.
“You’re really something, Vlo,” Andreas said amidst the laughter. “There’s no rule against the unemployed having a personal assistant. Besides, while I’m busy avoiding being set up with Nadine, he takes care of all the work-related stuff.”
A small smile crept to the corner of Vlora’s lips. Andreas noticed and got ready.
“Your work?”
Damn it! Andreas burst into laughter again, all thanks to two words. The teasing was amusing, but strangely he did not feel offended at all.
“I’ve been living off stocks and a few properties I own. I may look like I don’t have a job, and as you know, I just wander aimlessly every day.”
Vlora shifted her sitting position slightly. Gently she leaned towards Andreas. “Oh. I thought you were a real unemployed, Reas.”
“You should be thankful that I’m unemployed. If I hadn’t been unemployed, we might never have met. In fact, we met because I was unemployed.”
“Of course, I’m grateful. Fate might have brought us together because you’re unemployed. Um, it seems I’m the only woman in the world who’s grateful that her husband is unemployed.
Oh, God! Andreas was sure he would never be bored for the rest of his life. Even in such light conversations, Vlora added a different color.
The teasing remarks Vlora directed at Andreas were her own form of entertainment. Isn’t it strange? Somewhere along the line, teasing had become so much fun.
Andreas noticed it. Only Vlora could do that.
“Before I became unemployed, about three years ago, I was entrusted with Progun.”
Andreas’ laughter disappeared for a moment. His expression changed when he mentioned the largest company of the Sanders family.
“Progun? The household company that’s now under Jonas’ control?”
Andreas nodded. “There is only one Progun in Oceana, and right now, yes, Jonas is in charge.”
*