A week later, Asia got to work early as usual. She got in the marketing department before anyone else got there. She went straight to work, took her laptop and typed away. Her last strategy was doing wonders out there, bringing in millions.
She had been announced the best employee of the month and that had only shone more light on her. People didn't even believe she earned it, much as they knew she was hard working. They felt she got it for fraternizing with the MD. Her colleagues teased her early arrival once they got there.
"Miss Rivers, the Managing Director needs to see you immediately," the secretary from the MD peeped.
Asia got up. She pulled down her skirt that had gone up by a few inches. She ensured her shirt was tucked in properly. Her black doll shoes were comfortable. She grabbed her phone and looked around.
Those people were trying to suppress their giggles and she hated them a little more. What was funny? She knew. They thought there was something unprofessional going on between the MD and Asia. They were not wrong.
"We talked about this. Just call me on the phone. You don't have to get down here," Asia told the secretary.
"Mr Mara didn't ask me to call. He said I should fetch you. Besides, you never pick my calls," the secretary said.
"Fair point. Next time you call, I will pick. I swear on Mr David Mara's life," Asia said.
"You want him dead," the secretary said. The two laughed as they walked out of the elevator.
Asia didn't understand why David loathed the secretary. She seemed normal, sharp and obedient. David was the problem and Asia would tell him. He was a leopard that would rather work alone.
Asia knew it wasn't for work reasons that she had been summoned. If protocol was followed, there would be three people above her that the MD could contact. She got there charged up.
"I missed you, darling," Asia said as she got in.
"I hate you!" David whispered feigning anger, but quickly got up for a hug.
"Bring it in. I missed you." Asia opened her arms warmly.
"I missed you too. A little too much," David confessed as he wrapped Asia in his arms.
Asia giggled. She went for his seat, rested her feet on his desk and checked out his dressing. Light grey suit, white shirt, black oxford shoes, black tie. He sat opposite her.
"You just got back from vacation with my sister. Why are you at work already?" She asked, swung on that seat.
"Will you get your feet off my desk?" he got up.
"Make me," She said, eyes shut.
"Why did I even ask for you?" he asked, rubbed the nose as he looked down at her.
"Isn't it obvious? You missed me. You look great, by the way." Asia said, looked at that well fitting suit.
"Is your sister pregnant?" David asked, abruptly.
"With the child of the promise? David Mara, so you did have some coochy, right?" Asia asked, suppressed a laugh.
David cursed. He had been on a two week vacation with Violet yet here he stood asking about Violet, whom Asia hadn't seen for two straight weeks. How was she to know? When she looked up at him, he seemed concerned.
Now, even with contraceptives, accidents do happen. Violet liked to do things to book. She probably wasn't pregnant and David the MD was anxious for no reason. Asia always thought the best of people. She put her feet down and told him.
"Don't worry, David, Sherlock Holmes here will get you the report, complete with diagrams," she said kindly, half in jest. "I hope she is carrying the child of the promise," Asia said dreamily.
"May the gods forbid." David meant it.
"What gods? The gods that witnessed the covenant want the baby already, Mr Mara," Asia said.
Say Violet was pregnant, wouldn't she be excited to tell David? They all were waiting for the child of the promise. Their parents would have a party for days.
There was dinner to be attended at David's parents' home that Friday and Asia hated it. No, they were not bad people. They had been in each other's lives for as long as she could remember. But the Mara family was filthy rich. The dinner protocol and small talk bored Asia.
David needed her there to make the whole thing bearable. He didn't like Violet. She suffocated the hell out of him and only Asia there would rescue him.
Asia didn't want to attend the dinner. She hated the fact that her name was Rivers, hated that the Rivers and the Maras were joined at the hip. Now her plans with Allan were squashed. She was to go out of town with her boyfriend, down to the countryside for two nights. They had booked a nice place by a lake.
Now David there was ruining that. She frowned. He smiled knowingly. Before she could tell him what she thought of it, her phone rang. Mrs Rivers herself. She told Asia the exact thing. Be there by 7 PM. Asia had no choice.
"How is our guy?" Asia asked, hit back hard.
"Shhhh! I am grateful for a friend like you. You have kept that secret." He came and sat on the desk and looked down at her.
"I know, I am amazing. Time to go back to work and whatever you do, please don't call me from my work." She said firmly.
"I got you a lot of gifts. Where should I send them?" David asked smiling.
Now, if he sent them to Asia's place, Violet would not be amused. How would Asia explain it? How? Best bet was to Allan's. He seemed more understanding.
"Send them to my boyfriend." Asia said.
"Fine. Still, you deserve a whole lot better than what that lad offers." David watched Asia's expression turn sour.
"What do you know about men, David?" She asked and instantly regretted it.
"A lot, sweetie. I know so much more than you, clearly."
"Goodbye, David. See you at that damned dinner," Asia could hear David laugh as she left.