Chapter 1: Opening the Doors to Trouble
Loreen Harvey kept glancing at the driveway, expectantly waiting.
There was still an hour more before her beloved husband, Edric Harvey arrives home. Yet, she was already all dressed and dolled up.
'How will he greet me this time?' Loreen was extremely excited since it was their third wedding anniversary.
Her heart was erratic with excitement. He always gave her a gentle sweet kiss and a warm loving hug. She could never be happier with a husband like him.
'He must have prepared another surprise.'
Loreen's eyes were bright with expectation because in times like this, he always surprised her with a gift. And she was ready to give him a thank-you kiss once she accepts it.
Fit for the joyous celebration, it was a sunny day, as if the gods themselves were giving their blessing for another year of a peaceful marriage life.
Loreen had been busy the past few days planning and preparing for their celebration. She had prepared a surprise celebration for their anniversary since she knew Edric was busy and would not be able to do it for her this time, so she took the initiative.
It had been two whole weeks since Edric departed for Italy for a business promotion.
Loreen already missed him so much.
(Sound of a car passing by.)
She perked up when she heard a car. She thought it was her husband. But the car passed by. It wasn't him yet. She was too excited.
Their driver had picked up Edric at the airport since Loreen was busy with the preparations.
There was another car and finally, their gates opened, and the car entered the driveway.
"He's back!" she instantly rose from her seat.
Loreen checked herself in the mirror, fixed her hair and dress, then headed downstairs to go meet her husband.
She had a bright smile on her face as she giddily walked to the door. She could not contain her excitement at seeing Edric again.
Two weeks felt like months even though she was busy with celebratory preparations.
It had been like this in the past three years they were married.
She would wait for him to return home while she cooked his favorite meals or prepared little surprises to ease his fatigue. She also prepares everything he would need so he could get a good rest once he's home.
Loreen knew that her husband was a very busy person since he was the CEO of their company and main shareholder of a huge corporation.
She could not even begin to imagine how he managed handling an internationally awarded firm yet, stay calm, and act like normal outside work.
Edric was finally here but did not get out of the car. He was on a phone call, so Loreen had to wait.
While doing so, she could not help but reminisce how they accidentally met at a high-end bar more than three years ago.
She could still vividly remember the traumatizing stress she experienced in juggling her doctorate and her work as an engagement officer under a Non-Government Organization.
***
(3 years ago…)
Loreen's head throbbed. She barely slept or ate properly the past few days. Deadlines and expectations were pressing her on all sides.
She needed to finish her doctorate in business administration, and at the same time, maintain the productivity of her work.
She was beginning to question herself for rushing too much. She wanted to finish her bachelor's degree, master's degree, and doctorate degree in quick succession. And while working at that. Maybe she had been pushing herself too much.
Loreen was about to have breakdown when she received a call from a Sera Emery Cruz, a "childhood friend," whom she had not heard from since they graduated high school.
'Why is she calling me so suddenly?'
It puzzled her. But perhaps, it was something important, so she decided to respond.
Not wanting to make it obvious she was haggard and dead tired, she quickly shifted to professional mode and smiled as if she was entertaining someone at work.
She opened her camera to have a facetime with Sera.
It had been a while since someone from high school called her.
"Hi Loreen! How are you?" Sera greeted with an energetic voice and a bright smile on her face. She seemed to be in a good mood.
Loreen was about to ask her what was up for this sudden call. But Sera gasped dramatically.
She wondered if her appearance was too horrible that it shocked Sera. She didn't have the chance to check how she looked.
"Why do you look so stressed?!" Sera frowned as if she was concerned.
"Hi Sera! I'm good! I was just stressed lately, juggling with my work and study. But I'm hanging on. Haha."
Loreen did her best to laugh it off. But honestly, she was barely hanging on with all the pressure attacking her from all sides.
"What?! You are still studying until now? You are really a nerd! You haven't changed one bit, have you?" Sera commented.
"Yeah, I guess. I'm trying to pursue my doctorate while working. How about you? You surprised me with your call?" Loreen did her best to talk like she was invested in her conversation and not further make it obvious how tired she was.
"Well, I just came home from Australia. And I have plenty of time, so I remembered to call you! Want to go out? My treat, student!" Sera laughed.
Loreen wished she had something to laugh at too. She could barely even keep smiling.
"Sure! I think I might need your energy too. I've been so down lately."
Loreen agreed since she realized she needed a short break from all the pressures and stress she had been dealing with the past few days.
It was rare for her to go out like this anyway so why not join Sera? It was the first time in a while that she's back and even recalled inviting her out.
"Well, our business just got better and better these past months, so I decided to have a li'l break from those busy people!" Sera winked.
Sera was lucky to have been born as a rich kid. They had their own family business, so she had no problems when it came to finances.
"Well, yeah 'those' busy people. An honest word from a rich kid indeed!" Loreen chuckled lightly.
"So, are you coming? Our batchmates in high school are also coming. Let's go and party. It's been a while," Sera said in a tempting voice.
"Oh, they're coming too?" Loreen was surprised. It must be some kind of reunion then.
"Yes, you shouldn't miss out."
Loreen thought about it. She hadn't had the chance to meet everyone from high school. It would be nice to see them again indeed.
With all of them busy with their careers or married life, it was hard to gather in one place.
"Hmm, I guess, I have no choice. Ah, but I still need to work with my research though," Loreen pondered out loud.
"Nah! Don't you ever think about turning me down. Actually, I am calling you because our driver is already on the way there to pick you up! Be ready in a few minutes! We'll catch up at Exclusive Bar," Sera gave me another wink and blew kisses.
"What?! Wait! I-"
"See yah! And please wear something NOT modest, you know what I mean," Sera laughed and ended the call before Loreen could say anything.
"Ugh! That girl! Why doesn't change one bit?" she brooded. She didn't have time to prepare at this rate.
'Fine, I'll just go. It's the first time in a while anyway.'
Loreen prepared in a hurry since the driver might arrive any minute. Thankfully, her daily rush to work had made her get used to preparing as quickly as she could.
Just as Sera said, in a few minutes, Loreen heard a car park at the front of her apartment. Several seconds later, someone knocked on her door.
She could not help but wonder why Sera dared to assume she was still in the same apartment. If she had moved, Sera would have sent their driver to the wrong address.
Just the thought made Loreen feel bad for the guy. Traffic jams were so bad sometimes and it would have been exhausting to go to another location.
"This should be enough," Loreen checked herself on the mirror one last time and sighed. At least she did not look as stressed as she was earlier.
She opened the door and a respectable man in his sixties smiled and greeted her.
Loreen stopped for a while and looked at him from head to toe.
'I think I already met this person before. Who was he again? He looks really familiar.'
"Hi Lori! Look at you. You have become a grown lady now! As I expected, you are pretty like your granny," the man beamed with a bright smile.
Lori was her nickname!
'Wait! This voice…'