A Secret Affair

Besties

With the pleasantries exchanged, Josiah stood up, giving Priscilla a warm hug. “It was really great seeing you again, Priscilla. I’ll call you soon, okay?”

Priscilla nodded, returning the hug. “I’ll be looking forward to it,” she said, a hint of excitement in her voice.

With one last wave, Josiah turned and left the coffee shop, leaving Priscilla and Sophia alone once again.

Sophia raised an eyebrow, giving Priscilla a knowing look.

Priscilla chuckled, shaking her head. “I know that look. Yes, he was my childhood crush, but we weren’t boyfriend and girlfriend,” she explained, sipping her coffee. “We met at high school, but I haven’t seen him since then. Until now, of course.”

Sophia leaned forward, her eyes shining with curiosity. “Ooh, tell me everything. How did you two meet?”

Priscilla couldn’t help but smile at the memory.

Priscilla laughed again, rolling her eyes. “Okay, okay. I met Josiah when we were both in high school. We were in the same class, and I remember thinking he was so handsome and charming,” she said, a dreamy look in her eyes. “But nothing ever really happened between us. He was more of a friend, really.”

Sophia leaned back in her seat, a smile playing on her lips. “So, what do you think now? Are you going to give him a chance?”

Priscilla shook her head, a determined look on her face. “No way. I’m not ready to date anyone right now. My career comes first,” she said, a hint of steel in her voice.

As she finished speaking, her phone began to ring. She glanced at the screen and s. “It’s my mom,” she said, answering the call.

“Hello, Mom,” she said, a warm tone in her voice.

“Hey, sweetheart,” came her mother’s familiar voice over the phone. “Where are you? Your dad and I were getting worried.”

Priscilla smiled again, feeling the warmth of her mother’s concern. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’m with Sophia. I’ll be back home soon, okay?”

“Alright, honey. Be safe, okay?” her mother replied.

Priscilla nodded, even though her mother couldn’t see her. “I will.

The phone call ended, and Priscilla slipped her phone back into her pocket.

Sophia, watching her friend, couldn’t help but smile. “Your mom is so sweet and caring,” she said, her voice full of admiration. “It’s really nice to see.”

Priscilla nodded. “Yeah, she really is. I don’t know what I’d do without her and my dad,” she said, her expression turning wistful.

“They’re really great people,” Sophia agreed. “And the fact that they adopted you… That must have taken a lot of love and commitment.”

Priscilla nodded again, her eyes glistening with emotion. “Yeah, it did. They’ve always been there for me, ever since I was a little kid,” she said, her voice catching in her throat. “I’m so grateful for them.”

Sophia reached out and squeezed her friend’s hand.

“And they’re going to be so proud of you,” Sophia said, her voice full of warmth. “You’re going to make it big, I just know it.”

Priscilla smiled, her eyes gleaming with determination. “Thanks, Soph. I hope so. I’ve worked so hard for this.”

Sophia nodded. “And it’s all going to pay off. You just watch.”

The two friends smiled at each other, their bond strong and unbreakable.

With the evening coming to a close, Priscilla and Sophia stood up, ready to make their way home. As they walked out of the coffee shop, the city air was cool and crisp, a gentle breeze stirring the leaves on the trees.

“Thanks for tonight,” Priscilla said, a genuine smile on her face. “It was great catching up.”

Sophia nodded, returning the smile. “Anytime, P. I’m always here for you.”

They hugged, a warmth passing between them.

As Priscilla and Sophia made their way down the street, they talked and laughed, the events of the day fading away.

The stars began to twinkle overhead, their light winking and dancing in the dark sky. A sense of peace settled over them as they moved through the night, their friendship a beacon in the darkness.

“I’m so glad we’re doing this,” Sophia said, a contented sigh escaping her lips.

Priscilla nodded, a small smile on her face. “Me too.

“You sure you don’t want me to drop you home?” Priscilla asked Sophia, patting the seat behind her on the scooter.

Sophia shook her head. “No, don’t worry. I know we’re not going the same way,” she said, pulling out her phone to call for a cab. “You go ahead. I’ll be fine.”

Priscilla nodded, starting up her scooter. “Alright, then. Drive safe, okay?”

****

Michael sighed, staring out the window of his office at the city skyline. The glimmering lights of country D stretched out before him, but he could find no solace in their beauty.

He thought back to the early days of his marriage, when Michelle had been full of life and energy. But now, she was a different person, and he was left feeling alone and adrift.

Just as he was about to give up on finding a solution, a knock sounded at his door, interrupting his thoughts.

His secretary will enter and say “Sir, assistant Caleb is back.”

“Send him in.” Michael replied

The secretary said “okay”and went out.

Michael nodded to his secretary, dismissing her with a small gesture. The door to his office opened again, and his assistant, Caleb, entered with a confident stride.

"Good evening, sir," Caleb said, bowing slightly in respect. "I've just returned from the event, and I've brought you some footage of the show." He handed Michael his iPad, which was displaying the videos he had recorded.

Michael took the device, his eyes flicking over the images on the screen. "Good work, Caleb," he said with a smile.

"Thank you, sir," Caleb replied with a nod. "I was thinking that, with your permission, I could show these videos to our managers and ask them to select the most promising talents. We could then invite them to a follow-up audition."

Michael considered Caleb's suggestion for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "That's a good idea. We should be selective with our investments, and this is a good way to ensure we're only funding the most promising projects."

He handed the iPad back to Caleb.

Caleb accepted the iPad with another small bow. "Thank you, sir. I'll get to work on it right away." He turned to leave, but then paused, as if there was something else on his mind.

Michael noticed his hesitation and c****d his head to one side. "Is there something else, Caleb?"

Caleb cleared his throat, his expression serious. "Actually, sir, there was one other matter I wanted to discuss with you. It's about...your wife."

Michael's brow furrowed, his jaw tightening slightly. "What about her?"

“She traveled to country M again and left the kids with their nanny.” Caleb answered.

“Okay, don’t send her money and send the kids to my mom’s house.” Michael instructs Caleb with a frown on his face.

Caleb nodded, understanding the instructions. "I'll make sure the children are taken care of, sir. And I won't send any funds to your wife while she's away," he said, his tone professional and even.

As Caleb left the room, Michael poured himself a glass of whiskey from the cupboard, taking a slow, thoughtful sip. The amber liquid warmed his throat as he gazed out the window, the hustle and bustle of the city below serving as a silent reminder of his own success and power.