Olina

I am Thea. You're Olina

Chapter 1 - I am Thea. You're Olina.

She came incognito.

Her aura beaming with confidence. 

She glides seamlessly in the hotel lobby full of people.

As she sashayed towards the registration table, she noticed a man approaching her. She moved, uninterrupted by the man’s obvious irresistible good looks.

She moved with precision. Reaching the table she targets, she approached a woman in aquamarine suit. At a distance, she is undeniably beautiful. Nearing her target, she is becoming even more attractive, her success written all over her. 

Within hearing distance of the man who is already a foot close, she introduced herself to the lady in a beautiful business suit who is giving frantic instructions to the people manning the registration table. “ I am Arthea Raign McHaile.”

With admiring look, the lady in aquamarine figure hugging suit took her handshake and said, “I know!”.

She exclaimed. “You look exactly like Arthur!”

“You must be Carolina Mather. No one calls my dad, Arthur except his college best friend Olina!” Thea excitedly added.

Carolina Regina Mather, she silently named herself in her mind.

"Yes, Olina! a name I haven’t  heard from anyone, for two decades. Only Arthur Reginald McHaile calls her Olina", admitted Carolina.

Nostalgia suddenly crept into her system, drowning the voices around her.  An over-powering  urge to cry engulfed her. She felt heaviness in her head yet there was a feeling of lightness in her heart. 

“Are you alright Olina?”, Thea gently asked.

Suddenly roused from her temporary imbalance; Carolina happily snapped back, “I am delighted – very delighted to see you, Raigna.”  “Miss McHaile”, Olina corrected herself.

You called me Raigna!, Thea enthused, seemingly disturbed.

Olina noticed Thea’s imbalance, she cannot deny that to herself .

Gaining her composure, Carolina noticed  Arden, now standing between her and Thea -  intently listening to her conversation with the beautiful  Arthea Raign McHaile.

Arden, upon her noticing his presence – hugged  Carolina and protectively echoed, “Mom, you seem overwhelmed by the influx of people!” 

Carolina, relieved of Arden’s presence, lovingly hugged her son while both glancing at the same time, exchanging admiring gaze at Thea.  

Hearing the word mom, Thea realized, it was not her that he was eager to get close by but his mother Carolina. They were visible at the same visual angle where Arden was walking on. Thea who is now feeling a tinge of pain, her pride slighted by her own realization – reminded herself that Arden is not interested in her beauty.

“This is  Arden Mandville’, Olina introduce him formally to Thea.

“My son is the organizer of this very big event”, added Carolina.

” The same event you are the invited to observe, Miss McHaile.”

 Noticing the uneasiness of Arthea when she called her Raigna, Olina started formally calling her Ms McHaile. Relieved that she found her bearing, Carolina asked Arden to accompany Thea to her designated space, the View Room of the biggest ballroom in the hotel.

Let’s go Ms. Mc Haile, Arden told Thea. Oh so beautiful Arthea, he kept mumbling to himself .   

........to be continued. MLG