NOT GIVING UP ON FOREVER

Chapter 87

She had never seen anything more beautiful than London. Now, she was sitting in a London cab, craning her neck to look at the passing sights and taking pictures of everything.

It was a dream come true. It was the England she had drawn maps of as a little girl. Here were the English, whose language she worshipped, running their errands. These were the places she'd read about in books. She was here! She was here! She was here!

Anna's face broke into a wide smile. She felt nothing but infinite happiness.

The taxi stopped at the campus gate of Anna's future place of work an hour later. The school was huge, in several buildings. Anna was quickly met and shown to the dormitory for teachers.

Although it was possible to rent an apartment without problems, Anna still wanted to immerse herself in academic life, make friends with colleagues, and quickly join society. Otherwise, she would never have shown such friendliness, but this was Great Britain, baby! She wanted to know and be a friend to everyone. Logic can be immediately disabled when a child's dream becomes a reality.

Anna and Mark agreed to meet the next day at The National Gallery square, which was always full of people, absorbing even the noise of the endless stream of cars with their hubbub.

Anna shifted nervously from one foot to the other, afraid that Mark had forgotten the meeting. He didn't answer her calls or texts. As she was waiting, she wondered why he was so late.

Mark came into view twenty minutes later and not alone. None other than the bride-to-be herself accompanied him. As he was approaching, he looked guiltily into Anna's eyes.

"I'm sorry, Anna. I know we're late, but the traffic is terrible. We got stuck in a traffic jam for an hour and a half getting here from the suburbs."

"It's okay!" Anna said, embarrassed that Mark had come with a fiancee.

"Please, let me introduce you Emilia, my future wife," Mark hurried on, as if reading her gaze. "Emily, this is Anna, my school friend."

Emilia was a stunning woman. Tall, with a wasp waist, she was dressed stylishly, in the latest fashion. Her blonde hair was neatly styled in waves, and her minimal make-up betrayed a sophisticated taste. She smelled of expensive perfume even from a distance, and undoubtedly she made an instant positive impression even among those who should not like her at all.

However, all this impression of delight at how gorgeous beauty looks were spoiled the second she opened her mouth. A gratuitous haughtiness and an apparent hostility that Emily, even out of politeness, did not intend to conceal, at once built a wall the size of the Great Wall of China between them.

Anna hadn't planned to be best friends with someone who took her place if life turned out differently. But for the sake of decency, she was always ready to smile and be friendly when the situation demanded it.

Here, when Emilia did not even bother to pretend that she was pleased to meet her. Anna was unpleasantly embarrassed and already foresaw that they would enjoy a tedious and unpleasant walk in a "third wheel" style. Anna had assumed that Mark must have a good reason for bringing Emily with him, but that didn't help at all to dispel the impending bad mood.

"We know each other," Emilia grunted in response to the performance.

"Not personally," Anna corrected.

Mark, glancing nervously at the two women, hastened to suggest.

"Okay, ladies. Shall we go to a cafe? There's a great place across the street. Although even on the way there, we'll come across a lot of great eateries."

"Take us to a proper restaurant, Mark." Emily shook her head. "You have a visitor, after all. It's no good taking her to a diner."

Anna raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, that is quite all right. I have half an hour, I am very..."

"Of course, I'm sorry," Mark apologized. "Then we'll steer to the left, and it won't take long. There is a great Italian restaurant with equally great Italian cuisine very close by."

So the company went to look for the place recommended by Mark.