Love is Like A For*bid*den Fruit

Chapter 7

Elena's Point of View

“Rachael, yesterday our CEO from the London branch visited us. You know very well about how I was looking yesterday. I am afraid that he might have thought about me as a drunken mess or like a girl who would come to work either hungover or drunk. I don't know what to say. I am afraid that the manager is asking for us with the news that I got fired and to tell you to look for a new assistant. I don't want to leave this job and our experiments and especially my internship under you. Please Rachael, save me. You know that I'm not a drunken mess and you know that I have never come drunk or hungover, to work, before. Only you can save me and my career” I held her hands in me and looked at her in a begging eyes.

She sighed. “So, this is the matter. How come I didn't think of any of this? If this thought didn't come to my mind, then it means it is no big deal. Let us go and meet our manager and then decide how to proceed further from there” she consoled me.

We both left towards the cabin of our manager and I was really fidgeting about what to do. I was feeling very much nervous. We reached the cabin and Rachael gave the door a knock. “Come in”, came the reply from the inside and we both went inside.

“Oh hello Mrs. Stiff and Ms. Lockwood. Thanks for coming amidst your busy works. How are you both feeling today”, he asked.

“Yes Mr. Lawson. We both are doing fine. We are very close to achieving breakthroughs in our tests. We are currently working on the lab rats and have to keep a closer eye on them. Once we conclude positive results, we can then proceed with human trials. Anyways, why were we called here today?”, Rachael replied to Mr. Lawson's questions.

“I just wanted to ask you about the progress of your tests and also about the possible results that you are achieving from them. Anyways, I got my answers. You may leave now, as you might be quite busy”, he replied and I let go of the breath that I didn't know I was holding. He looked at me with a questioning look. I smiled at him as I couldn't say anything to him.

Rachael understood my problem and she stood. “We will be leaving then, as there is nothing more to say”, with that we both left the room. We came out of the room and I held Rachael’s hands and I was very happy for not facing what I thought I would be facing today. We both laughed and left towards our lab. I was really feeling very happy as I escaped from getting fired for the day.

I didn't know what tomorrow held, but I was very much happy that my job is secured for the day. Me and Rachael started working on our experiments. We had some time to spend till we got the results, and so I went towards the waiting room and laid on the bed there. Rachael was busy with some work, and so I had the whole room for myself. I started thinking about what just happened?

I was not fired from the job, which made my future secure, but how will I help my mom in arranging everything for the wedding? Speaking of the wedding, I don't have a dress to wear. I need to find a dress fast, as the wedding is the day after tomorrow. Oh no, I need to go through my wardrobe and see whether I have a dress that is worth wearing for a wedding.

I have to be careful from the next time I go clubbing. Clubbing on a weekday is a big NO. I need to take help from Nicole to find a dress. She might have many dresses that I can borrow for a day. I have to go speak to her in the lunchtime and should ask my mom whether I can take her with me as my plus one. Before thinking about all these, I should first ask mom whether we have been invited as guests for the wedding, or we are just the flower decorators there? I need to ask mom about this right now. I took my mobile and called my mom. She picked after three rings.

“Hello mom, what are you doing?” I asked

“Hello Elena. I’m with Sebastian finalizing the flower order. What is it? Anything serious you want to talk about now, because you know that I am quite busy these days”, she sounded quite busy and even urgent to speak. 

“Mom, I called you to ask whether we have been invited as the guests to the wedding or just as flower decorators” I asked her. 

She became silent for a few seconds and she replied, “we do have an invitation Elena. However, I don't wish to go to that wedding. I have instructed Sebastian to take care of the decorations and I will be there just to guide him. I will return home once I’m done with it. Why are you asking this?”. 

“I'm planning to take Nicole as my plus one. So asked. Can I take her with me? You know I will be there without a company and I might feel very much bored there”, I tried to make my point with her, regarding taking Nicole.

She again took a pause and finally agreed for my proposal. I disconnected the call and was feeling very much happy about the fact that I can take Nicole with me. It was almost lunch time and I went towards the lab and saw Rachael working on something. I asked her whether she needed my help and she said “no” and dismissed me. I went towards the reception area and found Nicole busy with making some entries in the book. I waited for a while and she was finally done with it.

“Nicole, come let us have our lunch. It’s almost lunchtime. I hope we have spaghetti for lunch. mmmmm , I’m feeling my mouth filling with water already”, I took Nicole in her elbows and we went towards the cafeteria.

“Elena, you didn't bring your lunch today? How come?” she asked me.

“Mom is busy with the flower order for the wedding of one of my aunts on Friday. Speaking of the wedding, I wanted to ask you whether you have a dress for me for the wedding. I don't have a dress to wear and I really don't have enough time to go shopping now. So help me Nicole”, I made my puppy dog eyes and looked at her.

She looked at me and sighed. “I do have many dresses for you to wear and you don't need to make puppy dog eyes for it. I will give you if you just ask me. What’s with the drama? It’s not like I am invited for the wedding or can be your plus one right?” she hit me directly with her words.

“Nicole, that is what I wanted to tell you. You are invited to be my plus one in the wedding. Will you be my plus one? Pleaseee ?” I asked her and she hugged me tighter. She wanted to scream, but screaming and shouting and even speaking louder in the lab premises was not allowed. She let me go and became very much happy.

We then spoke about the dresses that we can try on and our hairstyles and all. The lunch time went on with us girls discussing everything about how we should get dressed for the wedding and all. I returned to the lab and saw that Rachael was preparing the next step of the experiment and she explained to me about the results of the first step. We made some notes and I also joined in the preparation of the second step of the experiment. 

Me and Rachael discussed some worldly matters while waiting for the preparation of the required ingredients for the experiment. She told me that she is basically from Puerto Rico and shifted here because of her job. She and her husband are working in different fields, but compensate the loss of time together, by planning something new every weekend. She got married just 5 years ago and don't have any plans for kids anytime sooner.

She said she is quite secured with her work here, and so is her husband. So, she doesn't wish to go anywhere from here, anytime sooner. We continued with our normal discussions and I started telling her about the wedding of my aunt and the preparations that me and Nicole discussed before. She laughed hearing our plans and she even gave some inputs with the hairstyle and accessories and all.

She would have definitely been a famous fashion designer, if she was not a famous scientist here. The day went on as usual and I got a ping in my mobile regarding the latest news and trends in the business world. I read the news and it really shocked me to the core, because it was the news about the wedding of my aunt. However, what caught my attention was the name of the groom.

It read, "Billionaire widower Mr. Leon Strauss is all set to tie the knot second time in his life with a Wedding Planner this Friday, in St. John's Chapel in New York ''.

The last name of the groom was Strauss, as in The Strauss. I showed the news headline to Rachael and she sighed. “Yes Elena, that is Mr. Strauss, Thomas Strauss, the current CEO’s father. He is getting married in New York and not everyone is invited to the wedding”.

I was shocked. “Rachael, the bride in the wedding is my aunt. Not a very close one, but my maternal aunt, as in my mom’s first cousin. I have a wedding invite for Friday. The wedding that I discussed till now with you, is about this one only. Oh god, does this mean that I will be getting related to our CEO, Thomas Strauss?” I was looking at her with fearful eyes.

She was as shocked as me. “Oh my God, Elena. Are you telling the truth? The bride is your maternal aunt? Oh dear. You will surely be getting related to the Strauss, in a way. What a turn of events?” with that she kept looking at me.

Seriously, WHAT A TURN OF EVENTS? Here, I was crushing hard for Thomas, and here he is going to be my cousin, in a distant way. The day ended and I left towards my home. I started shouting my mom’s name as soon as I entered the house, and told her about the things that I discovered today regarding the wedding. She was really as shocked as I was.

“That wi tch did find a very good groom with excellent bank balance. No wonder she “fell in love” with him and agreed to marry him”, my mom said gritting her teeth and air quoting the words “fell in love”.

Little did I know that the future had many things for me and Thomas in its plan.