THE ENGAGEMENT.

LOOSE ENDS.

ROMAN...

I had decided to let Olivia enjoy her time in Vietnam so I did not tell her about the plans I had. We often phoned each other and she told me everything about the amazing time she was having in Vietnam. She constantly sent me pictures and videos of her and her friend, Mia. The conference had lasted three days and like every other female, the two of them spent the last two days of their stay touring and shopping.

My plan was to wait for her to arrive back in the US then have a talk about our future together and other plans I have in mind. After days of deep thought and mediation, I had made a satisfactory decision. It's a decision my mum would approve because to her my happiness came first unlike my father who treasured the prosperity of the family business before anything else to the extent that he missed my mother's funeral service because he had a meeting with an investor who was ready to invest in the company.

I was not about to take advice from such a man.

Today was Thursday and I had lunch plans with my best friend, Carter. I had just gotten off the phone with Olivia. It was really nice to know she was a having a good time and I was planning on spending my life showing her even a better time.

I got back to wrapping up reading and responding to important emails before stepping out of the office for lunch with Carter. I glanced down to my wrist to check what the time was on my golden Chopard 201-Carat Watch. It was twenty minutes to midday. That was enough time to get done with what I wanted to complete given that Carter and I had decided to meet at one p.m. at the restaurant that was thirty minutes drive away from my work place.

"Murphy," I called my assistant. "I am heading out for lunch, will be back within an hours time," I told him once he walked through my office doors.

I got up from my seat, grabbed my cellphone and keys off the office desk and walked to my car parked right at the front of the office building.

*********************

OLIVIA

Urgggh

Today was our last of the seven exhilarant days spent in Vietnam. Our return flight was scheduled for the following day at 6 a.m. I was sad to be leaving already because we were having a really good time more so that the company was financing all our activities but again I was excited to see my MAN. I couldn't wait to show him the gift I had for him. Oh how anxious I was to see his reaction.

Robert dropped Mia and I off after our day spent well on a shopping spree. For the entire week, Robert was our driver, dropping us wherever we wanted to go and patiently waiting while we had fun so that he could drop us back to the hotel. He had been as patient as a job while with us and I was more than grateful.

"Robert, I got you something," I spoke as soon as we arrived at the hotel.

He turned to face me, who was seated at the back seat adjacent to his, surprise written all over his aging face. I stretched out my hand, handing him a light weighted blue gift bag.

"But why?" he asked full of mixed emotions.

"You have been really sweet to us during our stay here. It's a thank you present," I replied.

"Ever since I started this chauffeur job in 2001, no one has done this for me," he spoke looking straight ahead of him clearly deep in thought. "Obviously except for kids who buy me candy but that has been just about it. Thank you so much," he spoke gratefully looking at Mia and I.

We smiled at him before stepping out of the car to get to our hotel room. Once in the elevator, I pressed the button with the number 18 plastered on it and stood in silence with the rest of the people in the elevator. On the eighteenth floor, the elevator beeped then the doors opened and most of us stepped out. Mia and I walked to our room where we got straight to packing in preparation for our early morning flight.

Once I was done doing my part of the packing, I climbed on to my gigantic bed and took a nap.

Two hours later I woke from my sleep after having a night mare that I now could not remember. I grabbed my phone from the bed dresser to check what time it was. It was 9 p.m. now. Mia was asleep on her bed on the opposite side of the room. I was putting my phone back down on the dresser before something caught my attention.

It was a ten minute long voice mail from Carmen.

I passed my spare hand over my eyes to try and clear the sleep that was taking over me so as to concentrate and listen to Carmen. I opened the voice mail and played it.

****************************************************