C2 His name...

Anya’s story

My past was like a terrifying story in several episodes, and in each episode only I was always at a loss. Each time they died and I…

“Anya, please show me the wedding plans. It remained to establish the last details of the bouquet, remember?”, With great luck, I got torn from my nightmare otherwise I would have entered that cursed trance full of guilt again.

With shy eyes and trembling hands, I barely opened the portfolio. A few sheets fell on the floor. To my great surprise, the mysterious man rushed at the same time as me, trying to help me. Only for a split second did his rough hand touch mine. An icy shiver ran through my entire body again. Sinful images of what miracles he could do with those hands flooded my subconscious. I can’t understand the power of this Adonis over me. And I don’t even understand what’s happening to me around him. A multitude of contradictory feelings that do not give me peace. And as far as I could see, he was not indifferent either with what just happened under the table. He was nervous, I could swear he was. But I’m not allowed to feel that way, especially with him. I already pray to all the gods not to choose me to be his wedding planner.

“Are you all right, miss? You are shaking…” The shock was huge at the sound of his low, firm voice. The virility he emanated was more than I could bear. Mixed feelings came in an avalanche and my tremor intensified.

Wrapped in the past's whirlwind, I was making superhuman efforts to avoid eye contact and especially physical contact with him. But I had to stutter something, I would not leave me speechless in front of him.

“I’m fine, thank you…” and I suddenly got up at the table looking directly in the eyes of the distinguished lady in front of me, handing her a photo with what would be her bouquet, as if I was distrustful of my strength.”This is the prototype. It has pale pink roses exactly as you requested. However, I thought of inserting a dark purple orchid in their belt for contrast. What do you think?”

Sandra Ulyeva took the photo and studied it with extraordinary attention. I understood it was her wedding, and it was definitely not an ordinary one. Everything must be perfect or even better than that, if possible. With no flaws. I knew the lady was very demanding, but she had already been sitting for two minutes and researching every corner of the bouquet, every petal to be in its place. If this happened to a photo, I didn’t want to think about the natural bouquet when it will come. They never refused me with the final product. But now it really seemed like my entire career was at stake. I have been dealing with such people for so long, but now everything was different. Was this man’s presence to blame?

“It’s perfect exactly as you say, Anya, my dear! I love your idea of

the orchid and I am convinced that my husband will like it too. But in the end, what do men know about perfection and beauty, doesn’t it, Alexei?” At the sound of his name, the man looked up from the glass of wine that had come in the meantime. He seemed surprised, and the words did not come out. It annoyed him, looking at me insistently with his fascinating eyes. I refused to believe that this question and my presence intimidated him. People could not intimidate him, on the contrary, they were the ones who used this trick. Well, it was Sandra who changed the subject. Paradoxically, Alexei, and I seemed relieved by this. Alexei, why do I love how his name sounded in my mind?

“Okay, the magic is over!” and a wide, contagious smile spread over her perfect red lips. “Anya, the bouquet is perfect, we established the guest list from both my husband and me, we had reserved the church as well and the priest who will marry us, the place of the after-party is adorable, thank you. We still have to go to a dress rehearsal and everything is going to be just perfect! ”

I love to know I satisfied my clients, especially with such people, and I was also pleased, as I really liked Sandra Ulyeva. I sensed that a lasting friendship would bind us, and in a world like this, you really needed someone to cover your back.

“Everything seems perfect then. All that’s left is the dress, I’ll set up a meeting at the fashion house in the next few days!” happiness played on her face and in her eyes like the rays of the sun when they reflected the lake in front of my house.

“Thank you, Anya, and know that I invite you at the wedding!”, The invitation came like a bolt of lightning in the middle of the storm that I could not shelter from, and it hit me hard. In the contract, I had a clause that I will never break it and I was not going to start now. Of course, it was very nice of her, but I can’t get over my code of absence. Usually, it was Vladimir who always covered for me and made sure that everything went according to my plans. I never show up at the events, ever!

“Mrs. Ulyeva, you know my code of absence stipulated in the contract, a contract that I have to remind you, you agreed…” I was usually not interrupted, but the lady did not accept a refusal.

“My dear, no is no, I am aware of that, but I insist! We make rules just to break them. You will be my guest of honor. In addition, Alexei also will come, will you not?”, Sandra’s smile became one with thousands of meanings that not only I didn’t like but I didn’t want to understand. What do I care if he would come or not? Even Alexei’s face turned into one full of questions.

“Come on, my dear Alexei, don’t pretend you don’t understand. I invited you anyway“

Suddenly I felt the need to interrupt that atmosphere that oppressed me and was fun for them. He seemed upset, but probably by Sandra’s attempt to get me to come to the ceremony.

“Here’s how we do it, I’ll talk to my partner and I’ll come back with an answer in two days maximum. I am not saying that it will be a favorable one, but that I am thinking about this possibility cannot be a categorical refusal. “and with that, I hoped to gain time at least these two days to review my contract and this code that prevents me from participating in these happy and heavy events. I thought it was better to stay away, only this time an invisible force pushed me, without the right to appeal, to go, to be there to get everyone’s attention, to mingle in their dark world. It wasn’t as if no one knew me or I didn’t know anyone.

“In that case, wonderful creature, can we hope you could come?”