Remarried to the Scorned

Opportunity comes but once

Brian.

The moment the slender woman with blonde, curly hair walked in, something came alive in me, a feeling I haven't experienced in years. I didn't care to identify what it was at that moment, all I just knew was that I wanted the woman in the tantalizing blue gown with glitters and I was willing to do anything to make that happen.

“Mr. Turner?” A voice behind me called, jogging me out of my thoughts. I turned around to see Sanjay, the young intern at my office building, standing behind me. He didn't have his glasses on and that surprised me.

“Sanjay,” I said, setting my drink down on the table closest to me. “How can I help you?”

“It's about the projector set up, sir,” Sanjay said in his thick Indian accent, his gaze traveling across the room to where there men seemed to be arguing. “Liam said it wouldn't be wise to put it by the wall there but Terry doesn't agree with him. Everyone seems to agree with Terry but Liam won't hear the last of it.”

“It's fine, Sanjay. I'll handle it,” I said.

Sanjay’s eyes lit up, then light in them went out almost immediately. “And, sir, please don't tell them I mentioned it to you,” He said, solemnly.

“Of course not, Sanjay,” I said. I understood how most of the others felt about him, and I wasn't about to turn the heat on him. I walked across the room and headed towards the arguing men, my eyes never leaving the slender beauty for more than a few seconds at a time. Her face looked familiar, but I couldn't place it yet. I watched as she was approached by one of the visitors for the conference and a part of me wanted to storm off to go and meet them as they hugged like long lost friends.

The voices of the arguing men got louder as I got closer to them. Of course, Liam's voice would be the loudest. He would be the one to start an argument and he would also be the one to end it. His baritone voice stood out among all the others and he was the first person to notice my presence.

“Hey, guy,” I said to them, “how about you take it down a notch? I hear you're arguing over where to set up the projector. You know that wherever you're going to set it up has to be in a place that offers maximum comfort for everyone that will be at the conference, right?”

“My point exactly,” Terry said. “And that wall over there is the perfect place.”

“Brian,” Liam said. Putting one hand on my shoulder, he turned me sideways and pointed. “Take a look at that side of the wall and compare it to where Terry is suggesting. I hope you remember how big the image of the projector will be?”

“Yes, but putting it up there will be at a disadvantage to those sitting close to it,” I replied.

“It's simple. They'll rotate their chairs for a better view. It's not as if the projector is going to be used for the whole period of the conference,” Liam said, eyeing the others with disapproval. I couldn't really blame them but the morons that designed and built the building. And another part of the blame went to those that chose the building for the conference without considering the level of comfort it offered.

“Alright,” I said, turning back to face Terry. “You know what, I think Liam is right. We'll set it up there.”

Liam was triumphant and he didn't hesitate to make a show of it. Terry simply nodded in agreement. I could see the hurt in his eyes but I just had to do what would be best for those attending the conference and at that moment, Liam's idea seemed like the best. More and more people were arriving and the room was filled in a short while. I took a glance at my watch. The conference is meant to start in fifteen minutes. Heading back to where I was before, I tried to locate the blonde but she was nowhere in sight. I couldn't find the person she was talking to before either. A pang of jealousy hit me but I sent it away. Hell, I didn't even know her, so why bother?

I suddenly felt pressed and I went in search of the toilet. My phone rang as soon as I left the conference room and I answered it after checking who the caller was.

“Hey, love,” Sandra said. I could hear television noise in the background.

“Hey,” I replied. As I got to the end of the corridor, I spotted a small signpost with a tiny figure resembling a male and another resembling a female beside it.

“Has the conference started?” Sandra asked.

“No. It will in a few minutes,” I replied. “Missing me already?” The ache in my bladders intensified as I entered the toilet and I went straight to the first stall.

“Hmmm. Maybe,” she said. “You've had too much to drink?”

“Uh?” I asked, confused by the question.

“I can hear you peeing, Barry,” she said. “Have you had too much to drink?”

“No. Not at all,” I said. “We're only being served water here.”

“And you're sure you didn't make any stop on your way there?” She asked, her tone accusingly.

“No,” I replied. “I promise.”

“Alright. Come home soon, baby. My body misses your touch,” she said.

“Sure, ma'am,” I said. “I'll head home soon after I'm done.”

“I'll stay up for you. Bye,” she said.

“Bye,” I said and ended the call.

The conference was already starting when I returned to the conference room and I headed straight to the seat allocated to me. Terry was sitting next to me and he had a worried look on his face as he typed furiously into his phone. I heard soft laughter across the room and I shifted my gaze to where it originated from. Sure enough, it was from the blonde and I watched as she giggled like a kid to something the man beside her was saying. It was the same guy as before and I recognized him from one of the tech fests we've done before. I couldn't remember his name at that moment, all that mattered was the pretty lady in the blue dress.

Kieran Locke, the head of the group organizing the conference, stood up and cleared his throat.

“Good evening, everyone,” he said. “I'm so happy that you all decided to grace us with your presence and I assure you, you won't be disappointed by what we have to show you.” He aimed a palm at me. “But we can't take all the credit alone. We couldn't have made this conference happen without the partnership and sponsorship of Mr. Turner here, so, Mr. Turner, we say a big thank you. A round of applause for him, please.”

I smiled and waved as the room was filled with applause but the only one that mattered to me was that of the blonde lady. Our eyes locked for the briefest moment and she smiled and averted her gaze.

“And, before I forget,” Keith said, “let's all welcome the special guest in our midst. She was added to the list of attendees at the eleventh hour and that was why none of you were aware that she was going to be present. Some of you might even know her. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the lovely Sylvia Bassett.”

Another round of applause filled the room but I was already lost in thought. Sylvia Bassett. The name was even more familiar than her face and I searched desperately in my mind for where I'd heard it. Then my memory clicked and realization hit me. Of course, it had to be her. How had I missed it all along? The beauty, the way she carried herself, hell, even the way she talked and laughed. I should have remembered immediately. As I stared at her while still clapping, a train of thoughts started and ran through my mind and I smiled to myself at the type of opportunity I had been presented with.