With a touch of curiosity and a hint of trepidation, he finally mustered the courage to ask the question that had been lingering in the back of his mind.
"Nora," Elvis began, his voice soft and tentative, "are you...are you married?"
Almost immediately, Elvis had his phone ring. He checked the caller ID and noticed that it was Leslie's lawyer calling.
With a sense of urgency, Elvis looked up at Nora. "Nora, please excuse me. I have to pick up this call."
Nora nodded understandingly, her warm smile showing empathy. "Of course, Elvis. Take your call. We'll catch up later," Nora said, her eyes reflecting genuine concern.
Elvis stepped away from Nora, answering the call as he moved toward a quieter area to ensure privacy. "Hello?"
The lawyer's voice on the other end sounded rushed and somewhat agitated. "Elvis, I'm at my office, and Leslie urgently needs you to come over to sign the divorce papers. I have a flight to catch, and I can't delay this any longer."
Elvis couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration. He had hoped to enjoy a pleasant conversation with Nora, but he had been unavoidably interrupted.
"Alright, I'll come over as soon as possible," he replied, trying to keep his voice composed.
With that, Elvis ended the call and turned back to Nora, his expression apologetic. "I'm sorry, Nora, but I have to go now to attend to something urgent.
Nora's understanding smile remained, and she nodded. "Of course, Elvis. Take care of what you need to, and we can catch up later."
Elvis appreciated Nora's understanding, and he quickly made his way out of the estate. He took a public vehicle down to the lawyer's office.
Finally, he would be divorcing Leslie, he thought. He had once hoped that their union would work, but it never did. He had feelings for Leslie until she cheated on him without feeling remorse about it.
Elvis tried as much as possible not to remember how Leslie had behaved to him, even after she was caught having s*x with another man on their bed.
Within a short while, he alighted in front of the lawyer's office. He had been anticipating this moment for a long time, but it still weighed heavily on his heart.
Upon reaching the lawyer's office, Elvis was greeted by Leslie's lawyer, a stern-faced woman who wasted no time in presenting the divorce papers for his signature.
The documents were a stark reminder of the end of a chapter in his life, a chapter filled with little or no happiness, and hardship.
With mixed feelings, Elvis signed the papers, knowing that this was the best decision for both him and Leslie. Their marriage had been strained for a long time, and it was time to move on separately.
As he handed the signed papers back to the lawyer, she nodded in approval. "Thank you, Mr. Klein. This is the final step in the process. I'll ensure that Leslie receives her copy, and the divorce will be official soon."
Elvis couldn't help but feel a sense of relief, knowing that this chapter of his life was now officially closed. He thanked the lawyer for her assistance and left her office.
**************
With determination burning in his eyes, Roy decided to reach out to a friend who had made previous purchases from the principal agent of The Elites' Estate.
After all, his friend could know something he didn't know about purchasing a house there.
His friend, Daniel, had been a successful entrepreneur for years and had acquired multiple properties within Rockview City. Daniel's phone rang for a while, and then he picked it up.
"Roy, my man! What's going on?" Daniel's cheerful voice greeted him on the other end of the line.
Roy wasted no time and got straight to the point. "Daniel, I need your help. I'm looking to purchase a house in The Elites' Estate. Do you still have a connection with the principal-agent?"
Daniel chuckled knowingly. "Roy, you're in luck. I just secured another property there last month. I can call the agent right now and make sure you get the privilege to purchase a house before the end of the day."
Relief washed over Roy as he heard Daniel's assurance. "That would be incredible, Daniel. I can't thank you enough."
With their conversation concluded, Roy's sense of hope and excitement was rekindled. He couldn't wait to share the news with Leslie, who had been by his side in the car.
"What's the news?" Leslie asked as she noticed the sudden excitement on Roy's face.
"Thanks to Daniel, we're going to secure a house in The Elites' Estate by the end of today!"
Leslie's eyes widened in surprise and delight. "Roy, that's amazing! I can't believe it."
With a sense of anticipation, Roy suggested, "Why don't we go shopping for a dress, Leslie? I want you to have something special for our new home."
Leslie's face lit up with excitement at the idea. "That sounds wonderful, Roy. Let's go!"
They headed to an upscale boutique nearby, En Spirale, a place known for its exquisite and luxurious clothing.
The boutique was a haven for luxury in Rockview City, adorned with crystal chandeliers, plush carpets, and racks of designer clothing that would make anyone feel like royalty. Only the wealthy in Rockview City could afford this kind of boutique.
As Roy guided Leslie through the store, his eyes widened in disbelief at what he saw. There, among the well-dressed clientele of the boutique, was Elvis Klein, casually examining dresses as if he belonged there. Roy tapped Leslie on her shoulders to look in Elvis's direction.
Leslie was astonished, as she and Roy exchanged incredulous glances. What could a pauper be doing in such an expensive boutique? Elvis had branched at the boutique (after leaving the lawyer's office) to purchase the dress he would use to grace the skill exhibition event that would soon take place.
Roy could no longer hold himself, so he walked very briskly to where Elvis was standing. "What is a loser like yourself doing here? I doubt you're in your right senses. Or don't you know where you are...?"
"I think he's crazy and we need to alert the saleswoman about him before he steals something and sneaks out out of here. This is unbelievable..." Leslie murmured as she walked over to meet the saleswoman who was busy attending to some customers.