"Hello Mr. Connor. I called about my assignment in Prague."
"Hi, Mia. What about it?"
"I know it's a long shot but is it possible to reschedule that or to send someone else..."
"No and no. Sorry. Why are you asking?"
Laurie was making some gestures near Mia, suggesting that she tried harder. The voice on the phone's speaker continued.
"You know there are many counterparts in this arrangement and you're the only one who's prepared on our side. You're practically the architect of this new initiative."
"I know. I asked because my aunt is having an urgent surgery and I'm the only one who can accompany her at the hospital."
"Sorry to hear that but there's nothing I can do. We can arrange a medical companion if you like. We can cover the cost for that."
"Thank you, Mr. Connor, I'll call you if I can't find another way."
She hung up.
"I think what he suggested sounds good, right?" Laurie wanted to make sure Mia was OK about this. She had been beating herself up for two days.
"Technically, yes. But you don't know her. She will use her piercing words about how inconsiderate I am, how she can't recognize me after I started to work at this bank and so on. She can be a real drama queen or a bitch when she wants."
"That's unfair. You're the sweetest thing ever. And, it's also hard to believe your aunt can be that much different from you."
She caressed his face, thinking stuff. Her smile reminded him the famous words 'you know nothing Jon Snow'.
That was an automated gesture, she didn't show any real affection to his words. She was too concerned, probably.
"There's more. The person they will send can't stand her for more than two days. She will make him crazy, on purpose. Just to make me feel worse."
Laurie met Mia in his fancy waffle corner four months ago. He had been seeing her for the last two months before that, without being able to talk to her.
Mia had just started a new job in that area and she rented a house there, to be close to work. She was living in the same building with her aunt. They owned the building and her flat was above her aunt's.
Since she started to work at that bank, aunt Ava was constantly complaining about things. Maybe she was angry that Mia moved away. She was hoping that she would return if she left that job.
The day when he first had a chance to talk to Mia, he had personnel shortage and he was helping them serve the tables himself too. And he fell in love when Mia talked to him. Luckily, he was a very handsome guy, so, he got her attention too.
He was lucky; being the timid and uptight person he was, he had no chance to start any kind of conversation with her.
Maybe she wasn't that much out of his league but she was the first hot girl he managed to start dating. Her deep, lively, green eyes, her blonde hair, legs, breasts, arms, shoulders...
She was perfect.
She was smart, kind and fun. Most of the time. She had some distant moments but she had a lot on her plate, she had to be thinking about work.
Sometimes, he was feeling sad seeing how she was holding herself back, when things got overheated. She was slowing down and calming herself. He suspected that there was a wild part of her, like any other woman, that she was trying to keep locked or hidden. Probably, she was embarrassed of her fantasies or kinks. He wished she didn't do that but he was too timid to talk about it.
Laurie was a very kind and considerate person too. So, you could call this a good match.
They learned that her aunt Ava needed a surgery but since she was a scrooge and chose a cheap, lousy insurance, she had to have this operation at a public hospital and Mia couldn't be sure that she would be well taken care of there. She wanted to be by her side just to make sure everything went fine, while accompanying Ava.
"I don't trust those clumsy ignorant nurses there" she once said. He never saw her do that, discriminate people.
She didn't have a hope about it but she also asked the doctor if there was a way to postpone the surgery. The answer was "Yesterday was late already."
He also explained that in fact, the surgery was a simple one and how they were planning another, completely unrelated small operation after this urgent one. He assured her there was no need to worry about the surgeries but one of them was urgent.
Laurie was aware that Mia wasn't comfortable with the situation.
There was nothing he wouldn't do for her, especially when she was worried like that. He was making calculations in his head, for the estimated three weeks stay at the hospital.
"I'll stay then. She can't fire me or make me leave. I'll manage work for three weeks, visiting two or three hours a day. I have good people there."
"You, staying with Ava?" She chuckled. Then she got serious.
"I can't let you do that. But you're the sweetest thing in the world." She was caressing his cheek again. Not in a very sensational, sweet way.
Like a grown up, appreciating a young boy's efforts. As if she already knew he wasn't really expecting her to say yes, as if she thought he just said it to show her that he was a good boyfriend.
This was the second time she acted like this in last ten minutes and Laurie could understand that it was an indicator of how stressful she was.
"No, I'm serious. I insist. You will be comfortable there if I do so."
This went on for a period.
Mia didn't want to accept that. To Laurie, she had to be thinking that this was too much of a sacrifice, especially in a relationship which was four months old. Even if she didn't say anything in that way. She was just giving short answers, trying to think. Most of her answers were 'You're so sweet.' or 'She'll make me regret this.'. She wasn't even considering Laurie's offer.
But he insisted. He made her consider his offer. She couldn't make him change his mind. Even after repeatedly saying "You don't know Ava. I don't want you to stay with her. She's..." and some reasons about how it would be a mistake.
She didn't say much about her, he could understand she wasn't an easy person and Mia didn't want to talk bad about her aunt.
Of course, such words weren't helping him. He wasn't comfortable with people he didn't know. Some old, grumpy lady was even worse. Especially if that person was someone that important for the woman he loved.
Also, Mia was 32 and he was 46. Her aunt could think that he was too old for her. He could annoy the woman or make mistakes because of his occasional inert moments, due to his timid character.
But he was dedicated to relieve her. She hugged him at the end and said "Remember. You wanted this. I hope I don't regret letting you do that. I won't forget your good intentions. I hope I find you the way I'm leaving you."
He started laughing, seeing how she turned this to a drama.
"Don't worry, nothing can change my love for you."