"Ooh! Shit, I'm late for dinner," Valerie screamed, her eyes widening as she glanced at her watch. She quickly stood up from her desk and grabbed her phone, dialing her best friend's number in a rush.
"Hello, Ashley, where are you?" Valerie asked anxiously as soon as Ashley picked up the call.
"I'm at our favorite Italian restaurant," Ashley responded, her voice filled with curiosity.
"Okay, sweetheart, I'll be there soon," Valerie replied, trying to sound calm. "Wait, Valerie, don't tell me you're still at your office?" Ashley asked, her voice tinged with anger.
"No, I'm almost at the restaurant," Valerie lied, not wanting to upset Ashley further. She hurriedly ended the call and tucked her phone into her bag. Glancing around her office to ensure everything was in order, she swiftly grabbed her bag and rushed out heading to the parking lot.
Twenty minutes later, Valerie arrived at the Italian restaurant. Standing at the entrance, she carefully scanned the place, searching for her friend. "Over here, Valerie!" Ashley called out, waving enthusiastically. Valerie's lips curled up into a smile as she spotted her best friend. She nodded and made her way towards Ashley's table.
"I'm very sorry, Ashley, I lost track of time," Valerie apologized sincerely as she pulled out a seat for herself.
"You always do this all the time," Ashley said, her anger still apparent.
"I'm sorry, Ashley. Or do you want me to kill myself? You know I can do that if it would make you forgive me," Valerie teased, attempting to lighten the mood.
"I would love that, but I can't live without you, bestie," Ashley said with a smile, her anger dissipating. Valerie playfully pulled Ashley's cheek, further teasing her.
"Hem," a waitress cleared her throat to gain their attention, interrupting their playful banter. Valerie and Ashley turned their heads towards the waitress.
Realizing that she had their attention, the waitress asked politely, "Please, may I take your orders?" Valerie nodded, quickly perusing the menu in front of her. She ordered a delicious plate of spaghetti aglio e olio, while Ashley chose a mouthwatering portion of chicken piccata.
"I will be back with your order in less than ten minutes," the waitress said politely and then left to relay their requests to the kitchen.
After the waitress left to retrieve their orders, Valerie couldn't contain her excitement any longer. She turned to Ashley with a mischievous smile and said, "Guess what, Ashley?"
Ashley rolled her eyes playfully. "You know I'm not good at guessing. Spill the gist already," she replied, her curiosity piqued.
Valerie raised her hand dramatically and said, "I've been assigned to handle a multi-millionaire deal!" Her eyes sparkled with joy.
"Woah, that's incredible news! I'm so happy for you, Valerie," Ashley exclaimed, her face beaming with genuine happiness.
Eager to share the details, Valerie reached into her bag and pulled out her phone. "Let me give you a highlight of the deal," she said, quickly unlocking her phone and scrolling through messages. As she searched for information about the deal, Valerie noticed that Ashley wasn't paying attention to her. Confused, she looked at Ashley and asked, "Ashley, what are you looking at?"
Ashley's smile widened as she pulled her phone out of her bag. "Look, there's an engagement going on behind you," she said, pointing discreetly. Intrigued, Valerie turned her head, her curiosity overtaking her.
A young couple stood nearby, lost in their own world of love and anticipation. The man was down on one knee, holding out a ring to his girlfriend. Valerie's heart skipped a beat as she witnessed the romantic moment unfolding before her. But instead of feeling joy or excitement, anger welled up inside Valerie.
Filled with excitement, Ashley stood up from her seat, wanting to capture a clearer video of the special occasion. With her phone in hand, she positioned herself to get the perfect shot. The ambiance of the restaurant became hushed as others noticed the engagement too.
Filled with a surge of emotions, Valerie abruptly stood up from her seat and rudely interrupted the engagement. The ambiance of the Italian restaurant turned tense as Valerie's outburst echoed through the air.
"If I were you, I wouldn't accept that ring," Valerie spat with a mix of anger and concern, her voice carrying throughout the restaurant. The man proposing looked bewildered, his face a mask of confusion and disbelief.
Gasps filled the room as Valerie's words cut through the romantic atmosphere surrounding the engaged couple. All eyes turned towards the unfolding scene, with patrons reaching for their phones to capture the moment.
"Excuse you, do I know you?" the man asked, his voice filled with genuine surprise. The lady he was proposing to looked at Valerie, her eyes wide with confusion and concern.
Ashley, realizing that Valerie was about to create a scene, immediately covered her mouth, attempting to prevent Valerie from speaking. But Valerie forcefully removed Ashley's hand and continued her outburst.
"You don't need to know me, you son of the devil," Valerie spat, her anger boiling over. She turned her attention back to the girl, her voice filled with intensity. "Marriage is a trap! Once you get married, you'll be reduced to the lowest thing you can ever think of. Your duty will be to bear children for this idiot standing here," she said, pointing accusatorily at the man. The atmosphere in the restaurant grew tense, and murmurs filled the air.
"After you get married he cheats on you and beats you up. And then one day, he would beat you to death. Don't allow him to ruin you. Say no to this engagement and—"
Before Valerie could complete her sentence, Ashley, her best friend, sprang into action. She swiftly moved to Valerie's side, her eyes pleading with her to stop. But Valerie ignored her,"This fool here will make you...."Ashely covered Valerie's mouth with her hand, trying to stop her from speaking and causing more scenes.
With urgency in her movements, Ashley firmly grabbed Valerie's arm and forcefully dragged her towards the exit, desperately trying to diffuse the escalating situation.
"I am sorry for the embarrassment," Ashley apologized to the shocked couple, her voice laced with regret.