Rose Clinton is a very elegant young lady. She stands at a height of 5'3. She isn't conventionally pretty, but she has a unique beauty all her own. Lucas had been friends with her for a long time. Keeping his feelings buried had been one of the hardest things he'd ever had to do, but it had been atleast bearable because he knew he had a chance with her.
All hope seems to be lost now however.
"Uhmm uhh" he stuttered. Rose really had brought him low, and the worse thing is she didn't even know she had. He couldn't speak past the lump that was rapidly building in his throat.
"Lucas, is something wrong? Don't tell me you don't like him." Rose said.
Lucas used the little strands of self control he had left to take a deep breath and reply.
"Of course I don't like him. He was much too blind to notice you." He said. He looked at her and thought, "I've been here the whole time, watching you watch him."
Kind and understanding Lucas that he is, he said instead, "But since you seem to like him so much, I'll endeavor to tolerate him. I can't promise you anymore than that."
Rose smiled then, and Lucas despite the hurt he felt came to the conclusion that he'd done the right thing.
Lisa was about to call it a night. She'd put off the lights in the living room, the receiving room and the lounge. She heard someone stumble unto the front porch and ring the doorbell.
She went to open the door and discovered Lucas and for the very first time she noticed something negative about him. He positively reeked of alcohol. The smell of alcohol had always been a sign of foreboding. She really abhorred that smell.
"Good evening sir. We weren't expecting you tonight. Need a hand?" She asked. As she moved to offer him support. Even in a drunken stupor Lucas tried to be a gentleman. " You don't have to keep such a straight face, I know I must smell terrible. Cringe away or atleast crinkle your nostrils if you have to." He said laughing.
"I hope you don't start thinking that I do this often. I just really needed the numbing effect that alcohol gives." He said.
"Sir, I don't have the right to have any thoughts on the matter. But I do have to say something. Your tongue seems to have loosened some. I'll keep that for future reference. If I ever need to get some information out of you, I'll just get you drunk." He laughed. He could really use her company. He just needed someone who will listen and maybe make him laugh and forget that his heart was shattered just a few hours ago. Even for a little while.
She let him lean on her and helped him get to his bedroom. "Lisa," he said "I went out today to meet someone special. The most beautiful girl in the world in my opinion. Well I had high hopes for that meeting if I'm being honest. I was going to tell her how I feel. She's in love with someone else and in a relationship with him now. You know what's funny, I had to give her the green light, to move ahead with him.
I was once told that when you love someone you want them to be happy. I really must be so far gone."
Lisa, sat quietly listening to him. Funny how he was feeling heartbroken, and she was feeling utterly hopeless yet happy. Lucas was telling her about his emotional issues. Her! And no matter how much she wanted to be a neutral party in this conversation, she just couldn't help but feel that she may be able to get a chance with him.
Lucas fell asleep eventually, and she made sure to leave a note telling him to get an aspirin for his hangover as soon as he wakes up from bed, before seeking her own bed.
The previous year had been wonderful. And Jacob wanted something much more grand, and meaningful for this year's wedding anniversary. So he decided to enlist Lisa's and Mrs. Lee's help in doing so. And he wanted to plan the event a whole two weeks before to ensure that nothing went wrong, and that the best of everything needed be obtained for the event.
It was for the above reason that Lisa found herself seated opposite Mr. Ward in his office at noon the next day.
Once she'd been told that the boss wanted to speak to her, A number of things went through her mind. "Could it be about yesterday? Did he perhaps see me exiting Sir. Lucas' room smiling like a maniac." She thought. "Oh Lisa, the things you get yourself into."
Despite the thoughts going through her mind, Lisa knew better than to commence the conversation. For two very vital reasons. One being, she may spill beans which had no business being spilled because infact they'd not been spilled yet.
And two, it is only courteous to let your boss address you first.
Mr. Ward said, " Good day Lisa, I called you here to enlist your help with planning a surprise for my Elise."
Lisa smiled. She couldn't help it. These guys were the perfect couple. She couldn't help but wonder if someone would ever say, "my Lisa" in reference to her.
She said," I'll do my utmost best sir. What would you like me to do?"
Mr. Ward then said, My Elise loves flowers so...
And so he went on for an hour giving Lisa a full picture of the event he had well imagined. Lisa gave him some suggestions along the way, and they were able to complete their plan. All she had to do then was to get Mrs. Lee to help with the food preparations, which ofcourse she could already count on.
Lucas woke up with a resounding headache. He didn't remember what happened after that dinner with Rose, but the headache he was sporting gave him an undeniable clue. He had drunk himself to a drunken stupor.
He saw the note Lisa left on his bedside cabinet, and began to wonder what happened after he got home. He noticed he still had on his clothes from the night before, hence nothing untoward could have occured. But he decided to apologize to Lisa for the inconvenience he'd caused her. But first he had to take a bath.
He didn't like the stench of alcohol that still clung to him.