Hi everyone,
Sorry for the HUGE mix up on my part. BUT here is the REAL Chapter 3.
Happy Fantasies!!!
LD AKA Vicki Vale
Chapter 3
Eliza Perry was the youngest CFO in her company's history. She was known for not being a pushover. She knew what she wanted and she went after it. So, when she informed the executive staff of Meager & Meager that she was going on a three week vacation, even though the "Finland Project" was still not finalized, they were a bit confused to say the least. This project could not be completed without her, and she was getting away to clear her head and get some much needed relaxation.
The truth was she was being hounded by her family and friends to settle down. They had tried to set her up with every cute executive, lawyer, doctor, or professional they came in contact with. Her sister Molly had even gone as far as putting up a profile on seven matchmaking sites to see which one would get the most hits. Eliza got weekly reports on who to follow up with and who she would have a dinner date with. In short, Eliza needed to run away. This vacation was for her.
~~*~~*~~*~~
"Hello," she answered the phone with a barely disguised moan.
"Liza, it's your mother."
"Yes, mother I know, your picture and name pop up on my phone when you call." Eliza rolled her eyes. "What's up, I am pretty busy with some last minute things at work before I leave tonight."
"That's why I am calling," her mother continued. "I think you should take your sister with you. A young, successful, intelligent woman like yourself should not be prancing all over Europe on your own. Some man might try to take advantage of you, Dear."
"Mother, we have gone through this. I'm okay traveling alone, and it would cost a pretty good amount of money to get Molly on the tour at this point."
"It's been taken care of," her mother interrupted, "Mark knows someone who knows someone who got a great deal." Eliza's mouth dropped open and she removed the phone from her ear. Was she hearing right? Somehow her sister was going to tour Europe with her? She stared at phone as if she could melt it with her heat vision. "Oh great", she said after returning the phone to her ear and biting her crooked index finger.
"Yeah, yeah, I thought it was a wonderful idea, and when it came together, I knew it was just meant to be," her mother said proudly. "So see, Dear, you and your sister will have a great time."
Eliza sat at her desk looking at the floor and shaking her head in defeat. She thought
, 'This only happens in my life. Why couldn't I just have a vacation to myself?'
Her mother continued, "So Liza, she will meet you at the airport tonight, unless you want to come out to dinner with us. We are throwing her a sendoff party at Althea's Cafe on 33
rd
." She paused to await an answer.
"Um, no Mother, I will not be able to make the dinner, but do give everyone my love. I have to really push the clock before I leave at 10PM tonight. I will be heading to the airport from here." How pathetic, she thought to herself, that she was about to go on the vacation she'd wanted to go on since college, and she is spending every last minute before departure working. She really needed this vacation more than she had thought.
"Well, Dear, remember you are about to go on vacation and please leave that office humbug there when you push off. No, and I mean, NO working on this vacation," her mother demanded.
Eliza for the first time agreed to do just that. "Yes, Mother, that is the plan."
"Okay dear. Love you; and remember love can find you if you send out the right coordinates." Her mother blew a kiss through the phone.
"Yes, mother. I love you too." Eliza returned the kiss. It was not tradition for anyone in her family to say "bye." Her mother started it when they were in grade school. She never wanted to say bye to her kids. She had wanted them to know that she would always be there. She felt if the unfortunate would take place and one would die before they saw each other again, goodbye was not the last word spoken. Therefore, she replaced saying goodbye with blowing a kiss.
Eliza pushed the end button on her cell phone and sighed heavily. She knew that her mother had sent her sister with an agenda...simply put:
"Operation: Find Eliza a man."
Eliza knew that any man who showed a hint of interest would be encouraged to approach her and make his move. Eliza felt her stomach churning and wished she could abort her plans and hide.
She returned her attention to files on her desk and the many legal documents that needed her signature. Pressing the intercom for her assistant, "Sally, may I trouble you for another cup of coffee, and can you make it the strongest stuff we have?" Breathing deeply, she refocused on the tasks at hand.