How to be Happy.

Dearest diary,

I'm so sorry, I know it's been a while, but in my defense, I have been extremely busy.

First there's been work and then there is that great fact that business has been booming lately. Of course, I would never complain about that, but like David, I am beginning to entertain the thought of quitting my other day job. I even mentioned it to one of my bosses, just the other day and let me tell you, he was not pleased. I would bore you with the details, but I am a little bit squeezed for time and I have to pick this call.

Until later,

Love ☆ALD☆

************************************************************

"So, Attarah, have you made up your mind?" My cousin's voice reaches me after I swipe the screen to receive his call.

"Yes Caleb. Despite what you've all told me, I'll not sue. This has dragged on long enough and I just want to have some peace and to move on with my life." I reply, thoughtfully, my dream is still fresh in my mind and even though I am not scared of Monica, I know that such a case might drag and drag for years and I hardly have the time or patience for that kind of thing.

"Okay, then. We will try to wrap things up and be on our way home at the earliest opportunity. Oh, and before I forget, if I were you, I'd prepare myself for anything. Troy has been asking a lot of questions and I believe that he may be on his way to you, right now as we speak."

"Is he now?" I ask, a frown marring my features.

"Yes. He's curious about that information we hid from him. Somehow, I get this vibe that he is hurt because you chose not to trust him."

"I have my reasons." I reply scratching my head in frustration. No matter how hard I try to avoid it, drama seems to follow me everywhere.

"Anyway, I have to go now." Caleb tells me and I nod.

"We'll talk later." I reply. With that I hang up my phone still digesting that new piece of information.

"Troy is coming". I muse to myself. "I guess I'll have to wait and see how this plays out. Right Lord?"  I think directing it to my Creator. For now, He does not respond and with a heavy sigh, I drag myself out of bed and begin to prepare for work. Tomorrow, I have this big meeting with a client and I want to be ready when I face them.

************************************************************

"Who was that?"

Instead of answering me, David stows his phone away blushing furiously.

"Okay...Now I am interested." I respond putting my bag away. We are at our new company offices and I have just arrived from work to check on some last minute details of an Avocado shipment.

"Okay... I am getting married."

My jaw drops to the ground and I stare at David with shocked eyes.

"Don't act so surprised. My life is not all work and work." He jokes.

"I am sure it's not, but why have I never met her?"

He smiles at me sheepishly and my frown grows deeper.

"Who? Who is it? Is it Aoko?"

"No, hapana..." he replies with a laugh before adding. "Ni Lydia."

For the second time today my eyes grow wide and a huge smile forms on my face.

"OMG! This is gold!" After that I start rumbling and to say that David is flabbergusted would be an understatement.

"How did this happen? Lini? Does Linda know? Why were you so quiet about it? And when is the wedding?" My questions are endless.

"Hey! Hey!" David tries to stop me and I stare back at him.

"What?"

"Why don't you write them down and if I find the time, I'll answer them for you."

My brows crunch up into a frown and I make an irritated clicking sound before turning back to my the desk.

"I mean it." David laughs and I scowl back at him.

"Attara, this shouldn't come as a surprise to you since Lydia and I have been friends since forever. We decided to keep our relationship a secret until we could no longer hide it and I expect that you of all people can understand that."

"I know, I know and I am happy for you."

"But..." he says giving me a pointed look.

"I feel betrayed. You know everything about me and yet you couldn't trust me with that." I pout and David chuckles lightly.

"At least you now know how Troy feels about all your secrets."

I glare at him, but he laughs all the more.

"Why does it have to always be lessons with you!" I snap. I know I am being childish, but I can't help it. My feelings are real.

"I am serious with my job."

"What job?" I ask irritatedly.

"Did you forget that you asked me to show you how to be happy?"

I groan because he is right and another chuckle escapes from his lips.

"Fine. Let's get to work."

Still chuckling, David takes one of the seats in front of my desk and slides a folder over to me.I pick the folder from the desk and flip it open to scan the writings on the files within it.

"We are through collecting the Avocados  and the last of the trucks will be here before dawn." He tells me showing me the numbers and math of our present shipment.

"When will Mr. Khan be here?" I ask him as I continue reading through the files inside the folder.

"Tomorrow evening."

"But tomorrow...?" I ask feeling  perplexed. I still have that meeting scheduled with our new client and I am worried that it may end up coinciding with the sealing of the shipment with Mr. Khan.

"Don't worry," David attempts to reassure me. " I have it handled. You handle the new client and I will deal with Mr. Khan."

"Are sure?" I raise my eyebrows at him.

"Don't you trust me?" He responds his eyes narrowing  infinitesmally.

"I do. I just don't want to overwhelm you with work." I attempt to pacify him.

"I'll be fine. However, I still need you to go through the other folder. It came with their workers and they want us to go through it and send them a feedback before the end of the next week."

I nod and proceed to scan through the documents. I append my signature on a few pages and hand over the files to David before calling for Aoko via the intercom.

"Attara!" She calls out standing by my door and I hail her in.

"How have you been?" I ask.

"I'm fine." She responds with a smile.

"And Tim?" I add motioning for her to take the seat that David has just vacated.

"He's doing fine." She replies with an even wider smile and I can't help but smile back.

"That's good. Bri has been asking about him alot. One of these days we should organise a play date for the both of them."

She nods back at me, but I can tell that she is not completely into it.

"Don't worry, Troy won't be around."

"Great coz' that guy is scary."she tells me with widened eyes and I burst out laughing.

"Come now Aoko. Troy is harmless."

"Only because he's interested in you."

I laugh at that before sobering up in order to handle the issues at hand.

"So, did you prepare what I asked you to?" I ask her.

"Yes, here are the catalogues and the contract papers." She says handing me a bunch of papers that are hanging from a folder.

"Thank you." I tell her taking the sheave of papers from her hands. "This looks good..." I add flipping through the catalogues.

"Believe it or not, they were inspired by you?"

"How so?" I ask smiling.

"For example the paper we used? It's cream with an embossed feel about it that is so simple yet classy. As for the font, I am sure you can tell what the caramel writing represents."

"I can guess." I agree.

She nods back at me and waits quietly as I go through the contract papers. After I find that they are satisfactory, I turn back to her and address the other issue.

"So, are you prepared for tomorrow?"

"To be honest, I am not sure."

"It's not complicated." I tell her. "You'll just sit in and take notes of all the proceedings. I could do it myself, but I need to be attentive and to have my wits about me as I negotiate the deal." She still looks uncormfortable so I go on.

"You'll be literally invisible. I also need you there for moral support. David can't make it due to the deal with Mr. Khan and I wouldn't want to be the only one there from our side."

I seem to have finally gotten through to her since she lookd up and smiles back at me.

"In that case, I'll be more than happy to accompany you, even though, in my honest opinion, I think you're adequate. You're a force to reckon with, and whether I am there or not I believe you can handle things perfectly."

"Thank you Aoko and now, if you're done flattering me, will please get back to your work?"