_Meghan The day had been a beautiful one. I finally had a dress to wear to Ludovic's wedding tomorrow. But I couldn't have done it without Vera's help. She truly had an eye for fashion. When the car drove up to the driveway, I noticed that there was an unusual bursting activity at the house. And there were more cars parked outside. "Are we having guests over tonight?" I pointed to the parked cars."Yes. But it is only family. Neon's Uncles and their better halves are joining us for dinner, it's the least we could do for Ludovic and Miriam." Vera said, picking up her clutch bag. "That is so kind of you and Ivan.""Ludovic insisted that Miriam didn't want any grand parties, so I thought this would just be us having dinner.""She has always been reserved. I can not imagine her in a party." I said, thinking what a pair they made with Ludovic. They fit perfectly together. *** "This is an interesting arrangement." Uncle Alek said as soon as I was seated and Uncle Lev surpassed a laug
_Meghan The following morning I woke up to an empty bed. I walked into the ensuite and prepared for what I knew would be a long day. I made my way downstairs and found Vera in a bathrobe sitting on the kitchen table with tea between her hands. "Good morning, dear. Did Neon come home last night?" she asked the minute I walked in. It felt like someone had died. I'd never seen her in a bathrobe before and her face was not done. She had bags under her eyes."No, he still hasn't shown up." I poured myself a cup of coffee, I needed something stronger than tea. "Do you think that's a good idea, I also noticed that last night you were drinking wine. Im sorry I don't mean to pry." She nodded at my coffee cup and blushed scarlet. "Im not pregnant, if that's what you're worried about." I smiled at her in answer to her unasked question. "Oh. I assumed-""The will," I said, knowing full well what she thought. "I never understood why Neon put that clause in there. He had everyone worried for
Eight months later. Later as we watched the sun set above the white sand. I thanked Simon for walking me down the aisle, he beamed at me and walked away. Yes, the funny man was back at the Petrov residence. The wedding reception had been exquisite, but I expected nothing less with Vera planning the whole wedding on the beach, picnic style. Now that the main event was over. The different couples were scattered around the sand enjoying themselves. Vera was sitting with Marcelli. They had danced the day away and now they sat feeding each other what looked like strawberries. After the outburst at the dinner, Vera had filed for a divorce and she and Ivan had gone their separate ways. Something she said was long overdue. She now stayed in Italy with Marcelli, the man she said was the love of her life. Ivan was also in attendance. He was now a single father raising Boris. A difficult task, given that Boris was in his late teens and becoming a young adult. But he had the best team money
_Meghan"Meghan, hurry up honey, we 're going to be late," Ben said, standing at our bedroom door. I looked at myself in the mirror, still not sure about my outfit. "Do you think this dress is too short?""Yes, No. I mean you look perfect, come on now, let's go." he was growing impatient with my going back and forth. Ben and I had been dating for over a year now and engaged for the past four months. In all that time, Vivian, Bens's mother never failed to bring up the fact that my work in a strip club was a disgrace to her family, let alone to 'proper' women. And not once did Ben defend me. He shrugged whenever I brought it up. "She's old fashion like that."That was all he said about the matter. "Baby, why are we even going? you know your mother hates me." I tried again, without much hope."My mother doesn't hate you, you are the most lovable human being I know, she would be a fool not to love you." She could have fooled me. But then again, he always defended her. Always. It w
_Neon The clock struck nine fifteen pm. The office was dead quiet at this hour and it was my favorite time to finish up some work. The only sound was the ticking of the clock and Sylvia's shuffling movements from her small office next to mine. I went through the final page of last quarter's financial report with a fine comb. I had at least gone through them five times already. Embedding them into my mind and memory. The company had an accountant for these matters but I always wanted to know what was going on within the company.When I was younger, I struggled at school, and after an assessment, I was diagnosed with dyslexia. I couldn't read or write. In class, I had to work ten times harder than the average kid. Even now I still read and write slower than the average man. My condition of not being able to perform certain tasks only meant that I perfected other skills, like people skills. I manage people very well and I can think outside the box, often coming up with ideas that have
_MeghanI lay awake on the couch. The fatigue I felt earlier when I left the club had magically vanished. After counting my tips for the night I was over the moon, I knew if I worked hard for the coming nights, I could have my place in a month. Then came Neon with his outrageous offer. To be his eye candy or hostess. The job sounded easy enough. If I took the deal, with the money he was offering, I could have my place the following day. It almost sounded too good to be true. What was in it for him? Who in their right mind hired a stripper for one night and paid them a lump sum for smiling and clicking champaign glasses? No one. My phone beeped, it was a message. 'When are you coming to fetch your rags from my place?'Ben. Now I needed to find my place. I couldn't bring my stuff into Alicia's small apartment. I took my phone and dialed Neon's number. He answered on the second ring. "I will take the job," I said into the phone. "Should I send someone to come and fetch you?" his
_Meghan"Where's my money?" I demanded. Before we went any further off the rails, I needed that cheque in my hands. Neon looked at me and shrugged. "About that. Now that your outfits are sorted. I will write out a cheque for tonight and an advance for two weeks. Thereafter you will be paid every fortnightly.""Why am I getting an advance, are you afraid I won't show?""I thought you might want to sort out your living arrangements.""Yes. I do." Me and my big mouth again.He took out his checkbook and started writing. "Who should I write out the cheque to?" He asked while paging through his checkbook. Giving me enough time to notice his long slim hands. "Meghan, Meghan Adams."He started writing and my suspicions about him dwindled a bit. Until I realized this man was messing with me. How hard could it be to write one cheque? He took his sweet time. Going over each letter like he was drawing them. He was messing with me, and he knew it. After what felt like an eternity, he tore t
_Meghan"I can explain."I had forgotten that I promised Alicia to tag along with me today. We were like two ships passing in the night. "Imagine my surprise when I woke up and realized you had gone apartment hunting without me even though you promised to wake me up. Then I get to work ready to give you a piece of my mind, only to be told you called in sick. Funny cause I haven't seen you all today. Then you walk in here dressed to the nines, are you back together with Ben?" she looked about ready to faint. "Not in a million years." I sat down next to her on the couch and turned my back to her. She unzipped my dress at the back."I need to be comfortable for this, where do I even begin? In twenty-four hours I met thee Petrov of Petrov Ltd, and he asked me to move in with him and this." I showed her the cheque."Oh my gosh Meg, this a lot of money for one night. Start from the beginning, I want the unedited version." She ran to the room and came back with nail polish and nail polish re