Beyond

1

"So when is the wedding?" I asked my best friend. 
"It's two weeks from now on a Saturday." Evie answered. " I hope you won't be busy.... please tell me you're not going to busy Laila." Evie begged and I smiled.

"I'm not sure if I'll be free...but I promise you girl, I'll be there. Wouldn't miss it for the world."

"That's a relief, because I've been meaning to tell you something, and I  won't give you a chance to say 'no' because you promised you'd be there." She said with something sparkly in her eyes. Oh no. This was her surprise face.

"What is it Evie?" I asked.
"You are gonna be my..."  She trailed off, leaving the sentence hanging in a way that I was supposed to figure out the next word. I knew what it was, but decided to let her finish, keeping my look impassive. 

"Just say it Evie."

" Maid of honor. I want you to be my maid of honor."

"Just like that, you're not gonna ask. You're literally ordering me." I laughed.

She gave me a shy smile. "Well are you?"

" I don't really have a choice, do I?" I said raising my eyebrows. She laughed.

" No. And I want you to know that I'm really grateful for you going out of that busy schedule of yours. You know,  since you became CEO, it hasn't been easy-"

I cut her off. " No Evie, you don't have to thank me. I'm your bestie and that's my job. To be there for you on such beautiful  moments in your Iife." 

" I know." She sighed. " I'm really gonna marry the man of my dreams Laila, seriously you need to meet him.
He's.... He's amazing." She said and I knew that he was more than amazing.
She looked happy. 

I was disrupted from my happy moment when I heard a  brief knock at my office door. I looked up from my phone screen when I heard it opening.  It was Priya, my PA. 

"Someone's here to see you." Priya said.

I held up a finger at her signalling for her to wait. Then I returned my to Evie.
"Uhm..I have to go now, but promise me we'll meet up for coffee sometime this week." I smiled at her.
"Sure, just call me up." She said and I gave her one final goodbye before ending our video call.
 
"Who is it Priya?"  I asked with mere lack of interest.
"He says he's James Conner from Sullivan Enterprises Inc."
"What is his reason for coming here?" I switched on my computer and typed Sullivan Enterprises in the search box.

"He said ' important business matters.'
Priya said raising her eyebrows.
"Send him to Jason then."
Hmmm... Sullivan originally founded by Frederick Sullivan who's now seventy years old,has four kids all boys...

" Jason's not well..okay at the moment."
" What, is he feeling ill?"I said and she gave me a look. Oh great. I just had to get the most dramatic vice any president could get. Don't get me wrong though, when Jason wasn't behaving like an 18 year old he was actually good at his job.

I sighed "Broke up with his  boyfriend again."
"Something like that. But anyway, this guy said he only wanted to talk with you, not anyone else."
"Fine. Let him in."

A minute later, a short bald headed middle aged man walked through the large oak doors.

"Miss Sanders, a pleasure to make your acquaintance this morning." He reached his hand out and I took it."

"Please have a seat mister..."I trailed off. "James. James Conner."

"Great. So, what brings you around here."
"I'll cut straight to the chase miss. I'm here, to offer you a very attractive opportunity."
When I didn't say anything he continued.