She was led down a large hall with art pieces covering both sides. She settled down in a plush visiting room, her eyes darting around as she took in the plush decoration. It had been a long time since she had been at her friend’s house. Life had gotten very busy in the past months.
“Elaina!” Leila squealed as she came in. “This is so unexpected.”
“I am sorry for coming without prior notice...” Elaina started saying but her friend waved her apology away.
“That is not necessary. You will always be welcome here, my dear friend. Would you like some tea?”
Elaina nodded, “I would like that very much, thank you.”
Two cups of tea later, the girls were finally alone. Leila took a sip of her tea, before she set the cup down. She stared questioningly at her friend as she said, “So, what is the problem? I know you very well, Elaina. You do not do things in the spur of the moment unless it is a matter of urgency. You would normally let me know if you are coming over. Not that I am complaining or anything, it is just that this is very much unlike you.”
“It is, isn’t it?” Elaina nodded slowly. “It’s just, something happened yesterday and I really need to talk it over with someone, do you understand? I am very worried, Leila.”
Leila hurried to Elaina’s side. “Talk to me, dear friend. Is everything okay? And James? What is wrong?”
“What do you think of Mr. Grimsson?” Elaina blurted out.
Leila quirked a brow. She was taken aback, “Why the strange question? Did something happen?”
“I don’t think I am overthinking this, Leila. I think I have every reason to worry.” Elaina went on to fill her friend in on the happenings of the previous day.
Midway through her story, she noticed her friend’s discomfort. Trying to ignore it, she finished. When she was done, she looked pointedly at her friend, waiting for a reaction.
“Well, he does seem to like you, that is true,” Leila said with a slow nod.
Elaina quirked a brow as she gauged her friend’s reaction, “That’s it? Him liking me is very inappropriate and not to talk of how much he belittles my husband. He had no right, Leila.”
“He is probably just very passionate about you. He just wants what is best for you. Besides, it is not like what he said was wrong. You are much better than James. You know he was never my choice for you, but I do respect the fact that he is the one you love and chose. I won’t deny the fact that I do think that you can do better. Grimsson is a good man and I bet he will take care of you.”
Elaina went pale as blood rushed out of her face, “Are you being serious right now? James is my husband, how can you say such a thing? Grimsson is his boss!”
“And why do you think James got that job?” Leila asked with an eye roll.
“What on earth are you talking about? Of course, it was because Grimsson was impressed by him and...”
Leila threw her head back and laughed. All Elaina could do was stare at her in confusion. When Leila settled down, she looked at her friend with amusement, and said, “Do you honestly think that James impressed someone like Tim Grimsson? Oh don’t deceive yourself, Elaina. You my dear friend are the one who impressed Grimsson. He was so impressed by you that he gave James the job to help him. If it weren’t for you, James would be as jobless as he was months ago.”
“That is not true. I...” Elaina trailed off and she held her head.
“It is what it is. You are so much better than James, my dear. I really wish you would realize it. It still beats me why you chose to be with him. You know, when I got married, I told you that you should hold on a little while longer and that I would get you a rich husband from Willy’s circle of friends, someone who would be able to treat you right, but you chose not to listen to me and hitched your wagon with that bum.”
Elaina could not take her eyes off her friend as she looked at her in shock, unable to believe what she was hearing. This could not be true. So this was how her friend felt all along? Sure, at the start, she had told her that James was not the best man for her but she had thought by now her friend had come to respect her decision. Never would she have thought that her friend would want to push her into the arms of a man that was not her husband.
“You know, I thought it was over for you when you got together with James and so, I had no choice but to help you out asyour friend. I could not leave you to die in poverty. That was why I invited you to the party, so you could meet a potential helper. But you met more! Imagine my joy when Grimsson confided his feelings for you to me after the party. Of course I told him to leave it all to me and take it slowly.”
“You did what?” Elaina gasped. Just when she thought she had heard it all. Now this.
“Well, yes, of course. I am convinced that soon you will see the kind of man that you are married to, that James is nothing but a low life, and then, you will realize how much better you can do. I really have no idea why Grimsson had to approach you. He is just so impatient, you know. I guess it is because he is completely and utterly crazy about you, right?”
“How on earth can you be this way, Leila? I cannot believe you would do this to me!” Elaina exclaimed as she jumped to her feet.
“You have to be realistic, my friend. There is a man who loves you and can actually take care of you. Why do you have to waste your time with James? If it weren’t for him, James would not have a job now, you know this right?”
“I am not going to stay here and have this conversation any further. I am not leaving James, you can tell your dear friend, Grimsson that. He is never going to have me so he can stop deceiving himself.”
She stormed toward the door with Leila fast behind her.
“Oh come on. Would you be realistic, Elaina? He holds James’ job in the palm of his hands. Do you really want to annoy him?”
