WHEN YOU LOVE

SPELLBOUND

"Gosh, there's people. I bet no one called in sick for this retail conference," Lee said as he recognized a few former colleagues queuing up for check-in.

"No, one did to Watkins despair."

Lee smirked, "Trust them to do this when I'm gone."

The company usually held conferences in the UK for cost reasons, but finance had made so many budget cuts on the previous events that the wallet overflowed.

The conference-turned-trip was a reward for managers complaining about the straining pressure of workload. It was the company's way of ensuring re-engagement and throwing pixie dust in the new manager's eyes who imagined entering the most people-friendly work environment.

Thus, everyone came.

"Lee, Sana," Michael yelled as he approached them. Each region had delegations. Sana's flight had all the head office staff.

The following one at 11 a.m. had the British regionales and managers.

"Hey, mate," Michael said as he shook Lee's hand. "Fancy seeing you here at this early hour."

Lee would have slept more but wished to spend every second until Sana's departure with her.

Sana didn't pack much. The weather forecast announced thirty-two degrees. What took up space in her luggage were the sanitary pads and tampons by dozens. Lee betted the woman brought every format of protection known to man. Sana was the precautious type when it came to her menstrual cycle.

Her quick packing allowed them to procrastinate in each other's arms a little before leaving for Heathrow.

"Gosh, it looks like some crept out from under their desks to be here," Lee said. "There were more dropouts in my era."

Micheal laughed, "For sure, give them sea, sex, and sun, and you'll have them out packing their gear."

Sana widened her eyes to hint to Michael to stop, but the harm was done. The woman knew exactly what term of Micheal's sentence Lee's mind got stuck on.

Micheal didn't catch on, "apparently, we've got enough boos to paint the town with mischief and mayhem."

Sana just wanted to bury herself. She imagined how Lee boiled. She took a glance at him. The man seemed so serene it was unbelievable.

Where was her possessive Lion?

Sana knew he worked on his trust issues and possiveness, but still, she expected him to whine a little. Nothing came; the man maintained his composure.

Had the age of reason arisen?

Was Lee finally a sage like Aslan?

"Oh, Lee, before I forget. Are you free on the 26th? Audrey and I are renewing our vows," Micheal said.

"Really," Lee exclaimed, "that's good news."

Micheal grinned. It felt good to make the announcement, "Yep, the road was long."

"You can say that again, " Lee said, tapping on Micheals' shoulder.

Lee was genuinely happy for his friend. He always thought Micheal was lucky to have married the former model. He found himself envying their osmosis. The couple had the chemistry his and Camille's marriage lacked. The news of Audrey's Cancer devasted Lee, and Micheal's behavior during his wife's sickness horrified him. Lee couldn't believe how easily his friend fell into the cheater's trap. The whole story disgusted Lee, and he tried to help Micheal, but he had his issues to deal with.

Some would say it was Micheal and Keela's unlawful story that cost his job, but the man wasn't one to be resentful. There, Lee was glad to see his friend's marriage was out of the cyclone's eye, and they were at the reset stage that Lee would have died to have with Camille when she filed for divorce.