Since I wasn't satisfied with the parts 6 - 8, I've revised them a bit and am now posting them here again. If you have already read this part, you can safely skip it. The changes are not crucial to the story.
I've also decided not to put all the parts in one category, but in that one, where the chapter fits best. However, it can be, that the content of the chapter also fits into another category. Please take note of this, before you rate the content. And I would also appreciate it very much, if you would leave me a few comments.
All parts belong together. I recommend to read the story from the beginning.
Thanks a lot to Kenjisato for editing!
***
Klaus:
The last few weeks and months had been normal. Manuela had, meanwhile, moved in with me. We were still doing it like bunnies and my heart still started racing when I thought that this incredibly beautiful and amazing woman was now mine. To me, that was still like winning all existing lotteries plus all jackpots at every possible day in a year. I still burst with pride when we walked around town, holding hands, and I saw the other men's envious looks. I, the average John Doe, had conquered this over-the-top woman. If only I knew how I did it. I would immediately write a book about it and become a gazillionaire.
She was no longer allowed to visit me at work since she wasn't exactly dressed like a nunβ the whole office came to a virtual standstill when she was there. All of my colleagues stayed as close as possible to her, and some of my female colleagues always got quite nervous.
I had eaten pizza with Manu at lunchtime and was window shopping with her in town when my phone rang. My boss, who else?
"What's up?"
"Klaus, I'm sorry that I have to call you on Saturday, but a video wall in the Arcades has failed. Someone probably just tripped over a cable again, but they're too stupid to plug it back in themselves. I could have it done myself, but I'm in Hamburg at the moment. Would you please check that?"
"If only I weren't so good-natured! Okay, I'll do it. Where to?"
"Go to see the center's management, a Ms. Schmitz. She'll show you everything."
"All right, boss, I'm on my way. This'll cost you something!"
"We'll get that. Thank you! See you next week."
Shit, the beautiful afternoon is over.
"Manu sweetie, did you hear that?"
"Yes, I did. Go easy, I'm already passing the time here."
"I still have to go to the company to get my tools. Do you want me to drive you home?"
"No, I'll have a look around. When you're done, call me. Then we'll meet somewhere."
We said goodbye with a kiss. While she continued walking into town, I returned to my car, got my tools and drove into the Arcades. They actually had some dance event there.
This Frau Schmitz, a nice but ugly woman, showed me the problem. Half of a large video wall, with thirty monitors showing the dancers, had failed.
So I got to work. Luckily, most of it was done in the background, so I was spared the silly comments from visitors. I searched for almost half an hour, but couldn't find any problem. I finally discovered a small connector that hadn't latched properly. But these plugs cannot come out on their own. So someone must have done it on purpose. If I could catch him! He would check all the plugs between here and the North Pole!
I was really angry and let Frau Schmitz, who was standing in front of the video wall, know that, too. She listened to everything with a smile, and then said something that completely knocked me off my feet.
"I know that. I pulled the plug myself. But before you blow up, please look at this."
She pointed to the video wall, which was showing Manuela's oversized image.
"Hello, my darling! Please don't be mad at me and please don't be mad at Mrs. Schmitz. But I have something to tell you..."
Frau Schmitz grabbed my shoulder and turned me around. Manuela stood behind me. She smiled and took my hands.
"My darling, we've known each other for a good half a year now, and I can't imagine life without you. Every day, I thank the gods that you almost ran over me. And every day, I ask the gods, that we stay together for another hundred years and be happy together. I don't want to spend another day without you."
I was still perplexed and didn't know what was going on here. And it got worse when she got on her knees in front of me.
"Klaus Mustermann, do you want to marry me?"
It took me a few seconds to get the words in the right place in my overwhelmed brain.
"Yes, yes, yes, of course, YES!"
I pulled Manu up and hugged her and, at that moment, applause erupted. I opened my eyes, saw a cameraman next to me, and then seeing Manu and me on the huge video wall. And in the background, all the visitors present applauded. Then it dawned on me. We were in the Wedding Show!
Tears welled up in my eyes. The greatest woman in the universe had asked ME to marry her. I still held her and kissed her and also tasted her tears running down her cheeks.
We had just calmed down and were able to perceive our surroundings again when a heavy hand rested on my shoulder.
"May I be the first to congratulate you?"
I turned and looked into my boss' face.
"I'm sorry, but somehow I had to lure you here."
He hugged us and wished us all the best.
"I can't believe you're involved, Sven."
"Me and my sister."
He looked at Frau Schmitz, who was standing next to him, grinning. She, too, hugged and congratulated us.
"I booked you a vacation next week. It's on the house. If we ever have a TV star in the company. And now get out of here and celebrate. See you the week after next."
He patted us on the shoulder again, and then walked away with his sister. At least she had switched back to the normal program in the meantime. On the way to the parking lot, a few visitors congratulated us. The first handed us a pack of tissues to wipe away the tears and runny makeup.
At the car I took my girl in my arms again.
"God, Manu, you are the best. I love you so much."
We kissed tenderly, until a few seconds later we both cried again. Laughing, I dried both of our faces again, before we finally got in the car and drove home.
The next surprise was waiting for us there. Manuela's parents, her sister, Aunt Martina and, of course, Manu's best friend Birgit with her boyfriend Oliver, were all standing at the front door when we came out of the garage. Everyone cheered and congratulated us. Then they pulled us onto the patio, where a large grill was already set up. We all got a glass of champagne and were congratulated by everyone. While Oliver and Birgit grilled the meat or took care of the side dishes, Manu and I had to keep telling everyone about the proposal in detail.
It was on this occasion that I finally got to know my father-in-law. Peter was in his early forties, dark skin, black hair and almost 1.70 meters tall, a few centimeters shorter than me. He was a handsome man, but nobody would have guessed that he was a former porn star. He worked in the office of a large construction company, but also had to travel to see customers or be on construction sites from time to time. That's why it had never worked out before that we met.
It was very pleasant to talk to him and it was also very pleasing that he was so open and did not watch over his wife and daughters like an eagle.
Why should I be against it, I can't think of anything better
was his motto in the relationship.
He also knew, that his older daughter had been sexually active since she was thirteen and he was fine with the fact, that I shagged his wife from time to time.
"I know what I have in her and I also know that I can never satisfy her enough. She needs it very often and, unfortunately, I'm away far too often for that. So she should get her satisfaction somewhere else. Whether it's with you or Manu, it doesn't matter. I know she would never leave me, so I don't have to be jealous."
"Wow, what a great attitude. There aren't many people who are as open as you are."
"We have also brought up our children in this way and, above all, from the very beginning, to take great personal responsibility. We know that we can rely on them not to do anything stupid. And that's why they have all the freedom with whom they want to fuck."
"Even if they wanted to fuck you?"
"Sure, they just have to say something. I won't come to it by myself."
"I can only say again, WOW!"
"But it works. Barbara has never dragged a guy. She prefers to do it herself. I don't know what she's waiting for, but okay. And Manu, well, she's been fucking around for years, but with a condom if necessary. And now β if Sandra and I are not extremely wrong about you, then she has presented me with a great son-in-law. What more do I want?"
"I even know what Barbara is waiting for, but I promised her not to tell."
"Does Sandra know?"
"Yes."
"Okay, then it's clear to me. If Sandra knows and doesn't tell me anything, then it can only be me."
"I did not say anything."
"I know and I won't tell Barbara about our conversation, either. But you know my nickname?"
"The bell? Yes, I know it. Barbara told me that."