It’s Saturday.

Lucy drove into Sharon Hotel and parked at their garage. She stepped out of her car wearing a blue-black suit trouser with a white inner shirt. She looked sophisticated and extremely beautiful and all eyes were on her as she passed. It was one of the things she loved very much. She always loved the looks on people’s faces whenever they saw her.

When she entered the conference hall of the hotel, she saw that the place was filled up but spotted a seat at the back of the hall and took it.

Standing in front of the raised podium in a grey three-piece suit and a striped shirt, he looked incredibly handsome. She listened to him throughout as he talked about how to be an upcoming entrepreneur and the risks involved and she couldn’t help but marvel at his level of intelligence.

At the end of the program, he talked about his foundation and how it had helped lots of startup entrepreneurs and the participants were impressed and donated massively.

Ten people were presented as the startup entrepreneurs chosen for benefits that day.

It was an eventful program and Lucy was glad she came. When the program ended, she waited for him to be free because a lot of people were around him discussing. When she realised he was walking towards the exit of the hall, she stood up to meet him.

“Hi I’m Lucy, can I have a moment with you please?”

“Yes, how may I be of help to you?” Michel responded, “Are you an upcoming entrepreneur? If you are, you must have to meet my PA because I don’t discuss directly with startups.”

“No, I’m not, I just happened to bump into you during the week and I feel I owe you an apology.”

“Why is that?” Michel asked surprised. He knew she looks familiar but he couldn’t place where he met her.

“We met at Globus supermarket on Tuesday and had a little misunderstanding,” Lucy replied, feeling sad as she remembered everything that happened.

“Oh, I remember now. And you call that a little misunderstanding? Are you for real?” Michel said feeling a little angry as the scene of what happened replayed in his head.

Lucy, noticing the change of mood from him quickly apologized, “I know I stepped out of bound that day and I’m really sorry. I had a bad day and I guess I took it out on you, I’m extremely sorry. Please find it in your heart to forgive me.”

Seeing the sincerity in her eyes, Michel was sorry for her but knew he didn’t want to have anything to do with a person that takes out her issues on total strangers.

“Apology accepted. Just be careful how you take out your issues on people, others won’t be lenient on you like I was.”

“Is that all?,” Lucy asked surprised that he just accepted her apology like that. She was expecting him to be mad at her and said some of those words to her again but it was just too easy.

“Of course, what else do you need? I’m even shocked you apologized in the first place.”

 “Why do you say that?”

“You didn’t look like someone who apologises from the way I saw you the other day. Otherwise, you should have apologized that very moment but you just walked out without saying anything.”

“I should, but I wasn’t feeling myself at all that day.”

“Well, I really don’t need any apologies from you, cos I got over it that very day. How did you even find me? Have you been stalking me?”

“No, I felt remorse for what I did and I decided to apologize and fortunately for me, my friend knew you and she told me of this program today and I felt it was a good opportunity for me to meet you,” and Lucy dropped her face, she was afraid that looking at him will give her away because she was feeling guilty.

“That’s thoughtful of you, but what made you think you will get a chance with me? It’s a big gathering.”

“Let’s just say I had hope.”

“Nice, and it worked for you, Michel said smiling.

“I guess it did.”

“Well, like I said earlier, I have no issue with you, I’m good.”

“Thanks a lot.”

“You are welcome. I’m Michel Cole by the way,” offering his hand for a shake.

“Yea, I know. I’m Lucy Williams,” she said with a smile, taking his hand.

“You do?” Michel asked smiling, with dimples in his cheek.

Lucy was struck with that infectious smile of his again,” ofcos I do. Who doesn’t know about the hottest bachelor in abj.”

“I don’t know anything about that title but one thing I know is you didn’t know me before that day at the supermarket.”

“You are right about that. It was my friend who told me all about you. She is actually a big fan of yours.”

“Oh, that’s refreshing. It was nice talking to you Miss Williams but I have to move, I have other things I need to take care of.”

“No problem, Mr Cole. Thanks for giving me your time and accepting my apology.”

“You welcome and please call me Michel.”

“Ok, call me Lucy too.”

“Alright, have fun and enjoy the buffet and the rest of your day.”

He shook her hand once again and walked out of the hall with his entourage and Lucy felt goosebumps when they shook hands and she took in his sweet scent with a smile.

As she walked to the front to treat herself to some buffet, she convinced herself that now that this had been settled, life would go back to the way it was before. And then she felt the goosebumps when she remembered him taking her hands and wondered why he affects her so.

She picked up a plate and started to dish out some food into it and found herself smiling again.

 “Something to keep the body and soul intact, “she said as she took the first bite.

* * *               

Inside the car, Michel thought about everything that happened with the lady inside the hotel and admitted she was indeed very beautiful, probably the most beautiful woman he’s seen in a long while but he felt like something is wrong with her. He admitted she looked nice and amazing but deep down in her eyes, he saw that something was missing.

He found himself thinking about her throughout his drive to the next location and wondered why she affected him so.