Still Unmarried

Chapter 2: What Goes Around...Comes Around

"Do you believe in karma, my dear readers? I've never had much to do with karma, probably because I don't like to leave my work in the hands of others, or because I can't leave things to time. If someone slaps you on the right cheek, the Bible says you should turn the other cheek to him also. I have never been able to follow this is a piece of advice. Who made the mistake of slapping me, so I introduced them to the Ottoman slap. My wish for my precious readers who have never experienced the Ottoman slap in practice is that you will never do. Coming to the theory, the story of this slap, according to the legend, is as follows: Soldiers in the Ottoman army trained themselves for hand-to-hand combat by slapping wet marble, and it's said that this made their hands grow very hard and calloused, enabling them to deliver a devastating slap that was supposedly able to cause a concussion or even break the enemy's neck."

God alone knows how our beloved author's keyboard keys were still endured on her! Gemma was putting out all her anger and rage by pressing the keys of the keyboard because of the unexpected and unwanted guest who had come to the door of the penthouse last night. Actually, that should be good news. After the article she sent to her boss the night before, the inspiration for her next article, which was more than due, came with the first light of the morning. And it also contributed to the fact that she tidied up the living room, which she had begun with anger last night after her ex-fiancée had gone. And now the living room is unusually clean and smells as lavender should smell.

There was also some other good news to tell. For example, she charged her phone, which she had buried in rice the night before and was unable to charge thanks to a grain of rice in the charging socket, later with the wireless charger she found in the bathroom, and then the phone started to work again this morning after it had been fully charged.

But, of course, there was also some devastating news, too. For example, her ex-fiancee had returned to the city and wanted to sell the penthouse they had purchased together and planned to live in after they married, but of course, such a thing never happened, as he left our writer with a message on their wedding day a year and a half ago. He said that it was the only perfectly reasonable thing to do since they couldn't live here together anymore. He hadn't even expressed regret to her for anything that had happened. She imagined all the scenarios of her ex-fiancé apologizing to her. In one of these scenarios, her ex-fiancé sent postcards apologizing to her from every country he visited. Damn it! He hadn't even sent her a single postcard to ask how she was. What a jerk!

It was her boss at the other end of the line when the company phone started ringing with that familiar sound. The fact that her company phone rang every day but her personal phone remained silent was quite ironic. Even her mother, too, was no longer calling for her. Her mother hadn't adapted to the time difference between the two countries, which was why she didn't call Gemma.

"Miss Smithson. I have just finished the first few sentences of my new article for the column. What can I do to help you?"

"Oh, I'm glad to hear it. You're aware that there was a meeting with the shareholders today. Although mine is empty rhetoric, how can you know if you've ever visited the company? So what was I saying anyway? Oh yes, I remember. You know our magazine has readers from all around the world. After the pandemic, the most comprehensive and crowded festival to be held in Germany is approaching. Normally we would give such tasks to Gabriel, but he is off this week due to the death of his cat the other day. In any case, you should make all of the required arrangements for your work trip. Please provide us with an acceptable date so that they may begin their procedures for the trip. You had a visa, right? I'll send you the details via email. And you are welcome."

"Let's see what I can do. So I was caught off guard and, to be honest, I am not sure I could go on a trip like this."

"Oh dear, you misunderstood me! I didn't ask whether you wanted to go or not. I informed you that you were going on that trip. Anyway, it's crazy busy here and I've already wasted enough time on this nonsense. Remember, tell us a suitable day for this week. Take care, bye!"

And that voice that announces the end of the phone call: Beep beep.

A very interesting situation occurred and a notification came to Gemma's personal phone stating that a message had come. That way, she didn't have to think anymore and get angry about the boss's demands. The message was from her ex-fiancee. And the message said, "If you're available on Thursday, the real estate agent will come to take photographs of the penthouse and make a price estimate."

A date that Gemma had never considered previously, but that was suddenly perfect for a work trip, appeared: that Thursday. She began to reply to the message straight away: "Oh, I wish you would have told me sooner! Unfortunately, there is a trip scheduled for this Thursday and I've been gone for a long time. Isn't that ironic? Kismet."

She ran to her room after emailing the company to let them know she was ready to leave on Thursday for the work trip. What would the weather be like in Germany at these times, and what to wear at this festival? Were the German men ready and able for her, most importantly?

She approached the dressing room, which was right next to the bedroom, and took the largest suitcase from the left corner. She didn't ask how long she should stay in Germany for the festival, but if it turned out to be shorter than she had expected, she could take the next days off and take a vacation she hadn't had in nearly a year and a half. She had earned it. After all, she was the admired and respected author of the magazine's most popular column.