YES TO HARRY

Raina Pan walked stoically into the main office of Bills and Wicks Holdings, a file boldly addressed ‘confidential’ in her right hand and her cellphone in the other. She looked absolutely stunning in anything, but never wore just anything. Today, she was elegantly dressed in a white relaxed silk shirt, tucked in a dark-green, high waist ankle pant and a white satin court heels, that emphasized her well-rounded curves as she made her way to her office. Her asymmetrical tousled choppy bob hair, banged. It was the only thing that gave it away as an extension since her natural hair was long and golden. Though Raina's mien was striking and warm as usual, she was in no social mood, and was actually seething in anger. Her mind felt like a steel factory, loud enough she feared her thoughts may be heard, as they clamored for the first spot in her day's priority list. All thanks to the last half hour, where the man in her life, had successfully worsened the graceful course of her day and it was just 11:09 a.m, the wall clock at the exit read. Raina Pan squeezed her way past two gossipy colleagues, who hadn't moved an inch from their initial standpoint even when they knew they stood in her way. It was that exact absolutely calm disposition despite being a very beautiful lady, who literally enchanted every sane man, that got Boma Stone smitten by her. “You get me every damn time Ray” Boma would very often say to her, a sentence that partially meant to cheer Raina up and also divulged his attraction to her.. The little compliment, got the first mission behind the sentence accomplished every time she heard Boma say them, but she was completely oblivious of it second. Raina prayed fervently that Boma wasn't in his cubicle, as she made her way to her’s. She thought of checking, but didn't want to risk chances of an eye contact and having him all in her business. With a turn to the left, she pushed open the glass office addressed Associate ‘Attorneys’ open. She shared the office with Helena and Tobias, two very chatty people on a good day. One may think they were related in some ways or better yet grew up together somehow. But none of those assumptions were true, they were just colleagues at Bills and Wicks. Helena was just heading down the corridor when Raina walked in, she had caught a glimpse of her rear. Raina stood by her desk examining the file in her hand, apparently picking work over her personal dramas or the anger it stirred within her. Half an hour ago, Jeremy Wicks her unit manager and grandson to Hobbs Wicks, who owned 47 percent of the asset at Bills and Wicks holdings. While the rest, was divided among his senior partner Bills Michigan and five other board members, had registered his disapproval to Raina, handling one of the newest cases, of the firm involving one, Mr. Pius Jones and a top health company. Jeremy had stated his reservations to Raina, and how he preferred more capable hands on this. Though he had applauded how tremendous Raina was, at her job. Mr. Jones case was too dicey and sensitive for him to take chances with someone who has not exactly played in the mucky waters of a heated courtroom yet. He had communicated that, in the most polite but firm way possible to Raina. Yet, it still didn't make her feel any better. She was to hand the file to Lucas, a lawyer with far greater experience, but at the time she had called at his office. His secretary had said he was in a private online meeting and will notify Raina when he was done. Though Raina wasn't meant to look into the file, she couldn't help herself, her belief that she could just be as good as Lucas if given a shot overwhelmed her. Flipping the pages of the now opened file and reading between lines, Raina was all the more convinced she could handle it. Her ringing phone interrupted her concentration, she looked at the caller, it was Sebastian Harry, her fiance. She hesitated for a moment, recalling the incident that transpired when she called at his office earlier, right after leaving Wick's. Raina and Sebastian worked in the same firm, she had hoped for some sort of succor and professional advice from her fiance, when she stopped by, since he graced the same table with Lucas, Maxwell and Leigh, the four fantastic lawyers at Bills and Wicks and had sealed just as many cases. Instead, Sebastian had shown a completely nonchalant attitude to her concerns, nor had he taken a close look at her, the whole 7 minutes she stood in his office. Raina had gotten fed up and walked out angrily. Her phone was ringing a second time, and just when she decided to tap the green icon to answer it, a familiar voice pushed through her office glass door. “Hey Tobi” it greeted “Hey man” Tobi had answered, his eyes fixed on the desktop screen before him. “Whatever that is…” Boma pointed at a few neat pile, Tobias was now peering into… ”must have some grip on you”. You bet! Tobias answered unamused. “Hi Sunshine” Boma greeted, sinking into the seat in front of Raina. “Have I told you how much I like your outfit today?” “Twice now” Raina replied, smiling. “Aren't you a sight for sore eyes Boma” Boma chuckled, “You tease me..but, I've got just 5 minutes, you might wanna feed those eyes while you can, my dear friend. He paused. “No, I'd rephrase that last part… “my best girl”. Raina smiled gleefully, for the first time all day. “Huh..I see! Thank you Boma but I'll pass.” “Are you sure?” He pressed Raina knew Boma had sensed something was off about her. He always did. Positive! She replied calmly. “Hey.. you still got to tell me, you know?” he said, studying her. “I hate to pry but you leave me no choice Ray. That Serb guy got under your skin again..right?” “No..wrong! At least, not more than you are right now Boma, plus didn't you just say you had five?” Raina retorted. Boma was briefly quiet “Yeah I did, nice try Ray..”he resumed calmly. “But, you still have that look on your face, baby girl, and it'll take more than that to throw me off. Raina instantly regretted her response, Boma was her best friend and was doing what any caring friend would, when they felt something was wrong. His patience was one of the many things she adored about him. Raina heaved and replied chivalrously “What look B? You're ridiculous and besides..this is an office, tone down the teases already, else you may get us both queried”. Boma ignored her last sentence… “Uhmm..you know? The one where your eyes are fixed on the docs..because you don't want to look in my face and lie?” “Shit..give it a rest already Boma.. I assure you I'm good; I mean it's nothing, I can't handle” Raina said flatly. “Ugh..finally some truth; though..it had better be that you can handle it, else..I'll be back once I deal with..You-know-who”. Boma spoke his last sentence in whispers. Raina laughed again, “You're a pain! But Ivy is lucky to have you.” You love me! Boma said casually, keeping his response only to the first part of Raina's sentence. “Catch you later, Ray”! He added squeezing her hand and finding his feet. What does love have to do with anything? Raina shot. Everything!! He answered smiling at her. Bye Tobi!! Boma announced. Bye man! Tobi responded, looking up and flashing Boma a soft smile. Raina Pan smiled watching Boma shut the door behind him. 5 minutes with Boma and he had said everything right, only that he was the wrong man. Also, she could feel her usual happy self kick in effortlessly, the previous energy dissipated. Boma was indeed a breath of fresh air and she understood why her colleague Helena had a crush on him. Any sane lady who loved a good-looking, smooth-talking man with the ability to make any lady in his care feel like a queen in a flick of the finger would instantly like Boma Stone, especially if he flirted with them; something, he did very little around Raina. Ivy Lance, Boma’s unit supervisor was no exception, Raina believed, the reason why she gave him a hard-time at his job was simply because she liked him but hadn't the wit to tell him. “You are like an ice cream cone on a hot day, the difference is, unlike ice cream you are everyday” Raina had once told Boma at a restaurant during their lunch break. She noticed they had a grown number of attention the moment they walked into their favorite office restaurant. Raina could feel the ladies eyes poking at her, and she attempted to give words to their glued lips. They were accusatory, ‘why was she the arm candy to their Mr Right?’