Chapter 4 Memories

Last meeting for the day. Boy! Was she glad.

Fridays were always so hectic for Ariel. Meetings upon meetings upon meetings.

She flinched from the pinch of her shoe. The company car chose the perfect day to breakdown. Thank God she always carried a sandal with her. She reached into her bag and brought it out. She went to a corner, changed her shoe and Continued her journey home. She had to walk some distance before she could get a cab.

Yes she was a witch and could easily disappear but the queen had made her promise to not use her powers except very necessary.

Walking past the famous 'Tatiana delicacies' restaurant, her stomach growled reminding her she hadn't eaten since the morning. Without wasting another second, she went in immediately.

She walked straight to the counter to make her order but found the waiter engrossed in her phone, smiling sheepishly. Ariel stood for a minute hoping the girl would notice her. When she didn't, she made to tap on the counter when she heard someone yell.

"Leah!"

The waiter quickly stood up and tried hiding her phone.

"Did I employ you to sit and operate your phone? There is a customer standing here and you didn't even notice. If you're tired of working here, let me know. There are people out there who want the job" He said and left.

"I'm very sorry ma'am" she apologized.

"It's okay. Boyfriend, right? The one that was making you smile at your phone "

She giggled shyly and asked for her order. Ariel told her what she wanted and went to sit.

As she waited for her food, her mind flashed back to what just happened. Something about it seemed awfully familiar but she just can't...

Oh! There it was. She had had a similar experience.

*FLASHBACK*

She was just nineteen at that time. She'd return for a short break from the school of witches. There was a guy she was crushing on back then so when she heard he was working at a carpenter's shop not too far away, she'd convinced the queen to allow her work too.

She usually wouldn't operate her phone during work hours since it was against the rule but she was extremely bored and her boss wasn't on seat, so she decided to wile away time on her phone.

She took some really nice pics the previous day and decided to post it so she'd get his attention.

After about two minutes, she received a notification that someone commented in the photo. In accordance with the usual norm of response, she went to check it out. She froze for a second.

It was from him. And the comment made butterflies spring up inside her.

"The way her lips lift

The beautiful dimples

Perfectly aligned teeth

The glow your happiness radiates

Your smile is a ray of sunshine

And I am a sunburn "

It sounded like a poem. She felt like a candle was lit and placed beneath her as heat spread over her body.

Few minutes later, she got a message from him.

"Hey beautiful one"

"Hello " she responded.

"I'd like to ask you a question and I want you to answer me truthfully "

"Okay? " she responded, raising a brow questioningly as she typed.

"What is it you add to your smile that makes it so alluring "

She couldn't help the smile that lit her face on reading his question.

"Lol" was the only response she could give.

"I'm serious. It's so beautiful and infectious. Just looking at your smiling pic makes me smile. How do you find it so easy to smile? "

And the laugh came out.

She stayed on the phone chatting And laughing and she didn't know when her boss walked in.

"Ariel?" she heard a deep voice call.

Oh no! He's back.

Slowly, she stood up. Before her were the faces of three smiling strangers and the Stern face of my boss.

She chuckled nervously.

"Who is laughing with you. Were you not told it's against office protocol to operate your phone during working hours "

"I'm sorry sir "

"Do you know I can fire you for this? See how you left customers standing here"

"It's alright, we've not been standing for long. Let it go" one of them said, coming to her rescue.

Her boss took her phone that day and didn't give the back till after two weeks.

*present *

A smile played across her face at the memory. Fun times but the relationship didn't last. She found out six months later that he was engaged to be married.

"Here's your food ma'am. Sorry again for making you wait " the waiter said.

"It's okay dear"

Just as she was about to dig in, Her ring began blinking red. "By the gods!" she exclaimed. "What could be wrong this time?"

her phone rang. It was her majesty's personal valley. It's an important call.

"Hello, Abigail.... Wait, slow down.... I'm on my way"

She quickly paid and left.

Do much for dinner.