SEA OF FROGS

Venice paced nervously around her luxurious apartment, her heart pounding with anxiety. She knew she couldn't face her family for the upcoming vacation without a man by her side. Her younger sister Keke was happily dating a basketball player, and her introverted younger brother Harry had somehow managed to secure a girlfriend. Meanwhile, Venice's love life was in shambles.

She was desperately in need of a man to accompany her to her family's vacation in Italy. Venice picked up her phone and dialed her friend Nina's number. As the phone rang, she anxiously bit her lip, hoping Nina would answer.

Venice was a picture of elegance. Her ginger hair glistened under the afternoon sun and her light brown eyes sparkled with a lively spirit. She was an attractive, successful woman at 25 working as Head of Marketing in her father's colossal company, "The Wilson Group", but something major was missing from her life.

Getting up from her chair, Venice strolled over to her favorite spot, a small balcony overlooking the lagoon. As the soft breeze blew through her hair, she blurted,

"Hello, Nina dear, I need your help."

The automated robotic response was the last thing she expected.

"This user is currently unavailable, please leave a message."

There was something peculiar about the wording. Furrowing her brows, Venice tried again,

"Hello Nina, my family vacation is in two days. I need a man to accompany me. You know how it looks; my younger sister and younger brother are coming with their plus ones."

Again she received the monotone reply, "This user is currently unavailable, in fact, this user is confused. Do not leave a message." She almost dropped her phone, laughing at her friend's ingenuity.

Leaning on the parapet, she shouted into the phone, "Ninaaaaaa! This is serious! I thought I could do it on my own but apparently, I can't." She could almost hear her friend's hearty laughter through the silence. Nina finally responded, her voice full of amusement, "So, now you've decided to come to 'Nina the Great,' the manufacturer of men, for help? Tell me, Venice, where can I possibly find a reasonable and responsible man to play pretend with you for one week?"

Venice just laughed. Nina was always a breath of fresh air – unpredictable and filled with laughter. "That's why you're called Nina the Great, the helper of people," Venice retorted, goading her friend further. Nina burst into bolts of laughter at that, "You've come to the right place. But due to the short time frame, he could only be reasonable or responsible. You can't have it all." The phone buzzed with her laughter.

"You know," Venice started, giving a long sigh into the phone, "Harry is bringing someone and Keke, remember, her basketball player boyfriend?" Her voice trailed off as she took in the enormity of the situation. There was a moment of silence at the other end and then Nina's voice rang through the phone, still laughing, "I understand, I would do my best."

As she hung up, the loneliness felt more profound than before. She couldn't believe that she was in this situation, searching for a man in this manner but she'd rather do this than stand the sarcasm of her younger sister Keke or the scolding and probing of her parents, especially her mom. She had everything a man could possibly desire: beauty, success, wealth, but she was not able to find the right one.

Nina, on the other hand, lived her life with humor and grace. A successful fashion designer, she worked with top brands and was even a celebrity in her own right. She loved to live life and enjoy herself, she was not in a relationship with anyone but she had dates with several guys and she even had a "no strings attached" kind of arrangement with several others. Venice was a beauty to behold yet, here she was, the extroverted introvert with the gift of the gab, confronting the challenges of fate and time, trying to manufacture a companion for a family trip.

The next two days were going to be interesting.

As the yellow sunset gave way to a thick darkness, Venice thought about Nina's prank. A gentle laugh escaped her. She was lucky to have a friend like Nina, who added color to every moment, yet had the wisdom to know how to navigate through life and provide solutions to problems.

As the night light began to settle slowly, Venice waited. She waited patiently for Nina to work her magic. While her mind stirred with concern and confusion, her heart resonated with a touch of hope, the hope that Nina would come through. Venice found it difficult to sleep, she was troubled by thoughts of her sister's sarcasm and her mom's scrutiny.

Venice had been feeling restless all night, now she was wide awake, scanning around the room and her mind seemed to be racing ahead of her. She glimpsed at the clock; it was still early, and the gentle glow of the moon created a strange shadow across her room. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and slipped her feet into her cozy slippers. She wandered around the huge space, with her breath coming out in ragged gasps. The family trip or reunion was a heavy burden to bear; it meant that she had to sit through her parents' lovey-dovey stories of how they had met for the 25,000th time. She had not visited her family in a long time, they had only communicated over the phone and every time she spoke to her mother, her mother Mrs. Tia Wilson, was always probing to find out if she was in a relationship, she usually had to find a way to dismiss her but now she was going to answer questions face to face if she didn't show up with a man.

Venice bit her lip, her fingers grazing over the neat pile of outfits she had laid out in anticipation of the trip; it was a little getaway for her family to celebrate her parents' 50th anniversary and the pressure to appear perfect was massive. Not only did she have to please her parents, but she was always held up as the prime example of the perfect child to her sister Keke and Keke had to fight hard to find her own path. Her parents' sharp criticism had created a rift between the two sisters, and this in turn sparked a form of rivalry between them. It was always as if Keke had something to prove, she had to strive to outdo Venice. It was Venice flawless disposition and exceptional academic achievements that Keke felt she had to match in order to be accepted by her family. Keke was an elegant model, gallivanting around the world, and she was showing up with her handsome and successful basketball player Bryan Gonelli which would be the icing on the cake. This would shift the family's attention to Venice, so she also had to show up with a perfect guy, even if she had to fake it. Venice knew that her parents loved her and her younger sister Keke but it was a love tinged with the expectation that she would always be the perfect child. She had to maintain her image at all costs, and that included finding the perfect man to bring on this trip. If she showed up without a handsome and successful gentleman on her arm, her family would eat her alive.

After getting minimal sleep, Venice woke up to a brand new day. She slipped out of bed to prepare herself for the new day, She had plans to work from home and briefly slip into the office, later on, to pick up some documents since her assistant was on a break. Venice had no intention of waking her friend Nina up but she was getting increasingly impatient, with a frustrated sigh she picked up her phone to call Nina. when she called Nina, there was no response. Venice finally decided to wait for Nina's call, when her phone rang, she could not contain her excitement as she discovered that the call was from Nina. Venice hurriedly answered it,

"Nina darling, rise and shine!' Venice said, her voice full of excitement.

The other end of the phone was quiet for a moment, then there was a soft groan.

"Leave me alone?" came a sleepy voice.

"But you called me. Anyways have you been able to find me a man for the trip?" Venice asked in between laughter.

"Actually, I did," Nina responded. "I had to get a little creative, but I managed to find you an actor, Richard Harmony."

Venice squealed with delight. 'You found me an actor? That's amazing!' she exclaimed.

'Yes, he's so famous so you have to try to stay out of the eyes of the public," Nina continued. "I explained the situation to him, and he was more than happy to help."

Venice's excitement continued to grow as she processed the news.

"So, I'll be spending the week with Richard Harmony," she said. "I can't thank you enough, Nina!"

"Yeah, yeah, you owe me big time, now let me get back to sleep," her friend replied jokingly. "Only lonely people are up at this time, and I'm not one of them."

Venice laughed and promised to call her the next day. She was over the moon and she immediately navigated to the social media page of Richard Harmony to check him out. His profile pictures revealed an elegant and handsome young man with a warm smile. Not only was he exceedingly good-looking, but he was also known for his witty conversations. Venice's heart was full of gratitude as she silently thanked Nina again in her heart. With that, she opened her laptop and began to work; she had a full day ahead of her and preparation for the trip was on the other hand. Venice spent the rest of the day daydreaming about her upcoming trip. She couldn't wait to meet Richard and start their adventure together. She knew that it was going to be a week to remember, and she had Nina to thank for making it possible.

The day of the family trip had finally come, Venice had been so nervous about the family trip, and they were all supposed to meet at her parents' mansion. Her father had arranged for his private jet to take them all to the destination, her parents' Anniversary celebration was taking place in Bali, a beautiful Island in Indonesia. Keke and her boyfriend, who had flown in from France, were due to be there soon. Venice was on her way to pick up her pretend boyfriend, the famous actor; Richard Harmony from the airport. She had been instructed to keep his whereabouts a secret, as Richard wanted to keep a low profile and not attract public attention.

Venice was in the car with her driver, she was staring out the window, anxiously waiting to meet Richard Harmony.

As the car got closer to the airport, her driver informed her that they were approaching the airport. Just then, her phone vibrated, it was her best friend, Nina. She answered her call and before she could even ask how she was doing, Nina broke into the conversation, she had some urgent information to share with her. The information had her in complete shock and nothing had prepared her for the update she received from Nina. The news was deeply saddening and all of a sudden, everything froze. She felt like turning the car back and calling her family to inform them that she would not be able to make it as it was difficult for her to keep her calm. Her head was spinning and she felt like her world had come crashing down on her. The shock of the news threw her off balance, and with sudden sadness, she began making her way out of the car.

Venice had been anxiously waiting for this Family vacation with her entire family; her parents, her sister, and her brother for days. Little did she know that her perfect plan to flaunt Richard Harmony as her successful famous boyfriend would totally fail. As she stumbled out of the car, a sharp pain stabbed through her chest, the pain of disappointment. She had expected to see Richard waiting for her, but now, she had to meet a stranger who wasn't famous at all.

It all came crashing down when she heard her friend, Nina, on the phone informing her that Richard had cancelled due to a last-minute acting session. Tears gathered in her eyes and threatened to roll down as she tried to make sense of the situation.

"Well, he couldn't even find a friend or a notable person to fill in for someone of my class," she mumbled, her voice echoing across the parking lot. "He had to send an assistant."

"This is ridiculous!" She yelled into the phone.

"Nina, can't you please find someone else? Someone more important than Richard's assistant to pretend to be my boyfriend for the week?'

"I'm sorry," Nina said sympathetically. "I've called everyone I could, and no one was available. Richard said his assistant is actually a cool guy. You can trust him."

Venice hung up the phone, feeling defeated. She quickly looked around, desperate to find a handsome, confident man that she could introduce to her family as her "boyfriend" for the week but there was no luck. As she continued to look around, she saw a casual-looking man standing in the middle of the parking lot. He took a few steps towards her and smiled.

"Hi," he said, extending his hand in greeting. "My name is Mike Riceland. I'm Richard's assistant."

Venice took one long look at him, sizing him up from head to toe. His shirt looked like it was bought two centuries ago, his trousers had faded completely and his shoes, his funny looking shoes looked like the boat that Moana had sailed in. The sight of him increased her anger. How could this shabby-looking man represent her? She gave him a stern look and crossed her arms tightly over her chest.

"Get in the car," she hissed.

Mike was taken aback by Venice's cold reception. He decided to try again and he spoke up.

"Look, I know this isn't the best situation," he said. "But I'm here to help. I can even pretend to be Richard. I might not look like him, but I can try. With your help, I think we can pull this off. What do you say?"

Venice looked around, carefully weighing her options. She wanted to keep up appearances, but she knew that being stuck with someone she disliked was better than going to the family vacation on her own. After all, it was only for 7 days.

"Okay now get in the car, we need to quickly get you new clothes," she finally replied. "But you can only do this because I'm desperate. You better not mess this up or I'll make sure you won't have a job with Richard anymore."

"You have my word," Mike said. "

Venice instructed her driver to stop at a luxurious boutique to shop for some clothes for Mike, since he was going to play pretend boyfriend to her for the week, he had to at least look the part. The car stopped at C and A boutique and they got inside.

Venice looked around the store, she knew she needed to give Mike an urgent makeover, at least in the clothes department, something to make him look the part. She quickly found several items she thought would fit the role.

Mike followed Venice around the store, feeling slightly overwhelmed by the situation. He had never been in a store like this before, and he felt out of place. He looked at the prices and his eyes grew wide with shock. He knew he could never afford anything here.

Venice was oblivious to Mike's discomfort. She quickly grabbed several outfits and shoes, and handed them to Mike. "Here, take those rags of and try these," she said firmly.

Mike nodded and reluctantly took the clothes from her. He went into the fitting room and changed into the new clothes. He couldn't believe how expensive they were. He admired himself in the mirror, feeling a bit more confident.

When Mike emerged from the fitting room, Venice nodded approvingly. "You look a little bit better," she said. 'Now we need to get you some accessories to complete the look.'

Venice quickly found a few items that she thought would help to complete Mike's transformation. She paid for the items, and they left the store.

Once they were back in the car, Venice and Mike began to rehearse their story. They were to say that they met at a charity event in New York and Mike was an actor. They went over the details until Venice was satisfied that everything was in order.

They drove to Venice's family mansion, and Mike was amazed at the size of the property. Venice had meticulously planned this elaborate charade to impress her family during their trip to Bali. She knew her mom could be nosy, and her sister, Keke, was always quick with sarcastic remarks. As they arrived at her family's luxurious mansion, Venice's heart raced, knowing that her carefully crafted web of lies was about to be put to the test.

The car pulled up to the grand entrance of the mansion, and Venice's parents came out to greet them. Her mother, Mrs. Wilson, a sophisticated woman with a keen eye for detail, took one look at Mike and raised an eyebrow.

"Venice, dear, is this your assistant?" Mrs. Wilson asked with a confused expression.

Venice felt embarrassed and she struggled to regain her composure. She glanced at Mike, who was dressed in the new clothes she had bought for him at the boutique. He looked a bit uncomfortable but managed to compose himself.

"No, Mom," Venice replied, trying to sound convincing. "This is Mike, my boyfriend."

Mike extended his hand with a warm smile. "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Wilson. Venice has told me so much about you."

Mrs. Wilson studied Mike for a moment before nodding. She ignored his request for a handshake completely and she turned to her daughter. "Well, this is an interesting choice."

Venice's heart skipped a beat, relieved that her mom seemed to buy their story, at least for now. However, she couldn't ignore the sarcastic grin that was spreading across her sister Keke's face as she walked over.

Keke, always the mischievous one, couldn't resist making a snide comment. "Wow, Venice, you didn't tell us your boyfriend was so... charming."

Venice shot her sister a warning look as she responded, "Hello Keke."

Mike, trying to diffuse the tension, added, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Keke."

Keke chuckled softly and turned to her parents. "Meet Venice's boyfriend, wow!"

Venice let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. It seemed like they had passed the initial test, but she knew they still had a long way to go to maintain this charade.

Mike did his best to blend in, but it was evident that he was uncomfortable.

As they climbed into the private jet, Venice couldn't help but feel the awkwardness in the air. Mike didn't seem to blend in well with her family's luxurious lifestyle, and it was evident to everyone on board. Mrs. Wilson made small talk, trying to get to know Mike better.

"So, Mike," she began, "tell us more about yourself. What do you do for a living?"

Mike, in addition to being an actor, Mike had also fabricated a story about being a successful businessman, he replied, "I am an actor and I also run my own businesses, in tech and investments."

Venice's father, Mr. Wilson, raised an eyebrow. "Impressive. What kind of business?"

Mike had to think on his feet. "It's a venture capital firm, investing in innovative start-ups."

Venice silently applauded Mike's quick thinking, but she couldn't help feeling anxious about her parents' curiosity. She knew that one slip-up could unravel everything.

Throughout the flight, the tension between Venice and Mike continued to mount. They struggled to maintain the facade of a loving couple, often stumbling over their rehearsed stories. Keke, sitting across from them, couldn't resist being sarcastic.

"So, how did you two meet, again?" Keke asked, her tone laced with sarcasm.

Venice glanced nervously at Mike before she delved into their made-up love story. "Well, it's a bit of a fairy tale, really. We met at a charity event, and sparks flew instantly."

Mike chimed in, "Yes, I couldn't take my eyes off Venice. We danced the night away, and the rest is history."

Keke smirked and leaned closer. "Sounds like something out of a romance novel."

Venice's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She knew Keke was enjoying every moment of their discomfort.

The flight continued with forced smiles and strained conversations.

Venice, made a desperate attempt to shift the attention away from her, she decided to engage her sister, Keke, in conversation. She knew that Keke had been dating a basketball player, and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to ask about him.

"So, Keke," Venice inquired, "How about your boyfriend, Why did he not show up?"

Keke's eyes lit up with pride as she talked about her boyfriend. "Oh, he's amazing, Venice, my star player. He couldn't bear to be away from me, but he has a game today. He'll be joining us tomorrow, and I can't wait for you to meet him. He always wins every game."

Venice acted unimpressed. "What's his name?"

Keke leaned in with a sly grin. "His name is Bryan. Bryan Gonelli. You must have heard of him."

Venice racked her brain, pretending not to know him. "Well the name sounds familiar, but I can't place it. What team does he play for?"

Keke smiled as she rolled her eyes. "He plays for the Eagles, Venice. They're one of the top teams in the league, and everybody of importance knows who he is."

Venice calmly responded. "Oh, the Eagles?"

Keke nodded proudly. "That's the one! Bryan has been instrumental in their success. He's a true superstar on the court."

The rest of the journey was quiet with Keke occasionally throwing Jabs at her sister and laughing in an attempt to mock her for choosing Mike as her boyfriend.

The plane touched down at Ngurah Rai International Airport, and Venice stepped off the aircraft onto the tarmac. The air in Bali was thick with humidity, and the sweet scent of tropical flowers passed gently through the night air. She could feel the tension in her shoulders slowly dissipating as she took in the lush surroundings.

Beside her, Mike looked equally relieved to have arrived. He had endured a lot of jabs and unpleasant stares during the long flight, he quietly asked himself, if he made a huge mistake coming here. Although his boss Richard Harmony was paying for his time, he couldn't understand why he would pay so much attention to helping Venice out with her family situation, it was supposed to be her problem, not his. Venice's Dad had completely ignored him like he did not exist, her mother Mrs. Wilson was staring at him as if she wanted to swallow him alive, and her younger sister Keke was busy throwing jabs after jabs at him. "What a wonderful family," he thought. The most annoying part of playing pretend boyfriend to Venice was that she wasn't appreciative at all.

Venice was particularly bothered by her father's silence throughout the journey, he only asked a few questions then he kept to himself, which was unlike him. She glanced over at her dad, who was walking a few steps ahead of them, seemingly lost in thought. He hadn't said a word to Mike since they had arrived and his expression was one of intense scrutiny. It was almost as if he were sizing Mike up, trying to figure something out. Venice couldn't help but wonder what was going on in her father's mind.

As they made their way through the airport, Venice's sister, Keke, was busy capturing the moment with her camera. She was always the one to document their family vacations, and this one was no exception.

Venice leaned in closer to Mike and whispered, "My dad has been acting strangely. Do you think he suspects anything?" Mike nodded, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Yeah, I noticed, He hasn't said another word to me this entire time. It's kind of unsettling."

Venice sighed. "I honestly hope, he doesn't suspect anything. I don't know what Richard was thinking sending me a mere assistant. It's so easy for them to find out, even with the clothes, you still don't look the part."

A gentle breeze swept over them, and Venice felt a slight sense of relief as the night wind blew across her face. She wished her family would cut her some slack and allow her to relax and enjoy this vacation. After all, this trip was supposed to be a way to unwind and forget about her troubles. They climbed into a waiting van that would take them to their hotel. The drive was filled with the rhythmic sound of the waves crashing

against the shore and the occasional distant hum of music from beachside bars. Venice gazed out of the window at the darkened streets of Bali, her mind troubled with thoughts of how to successfully navigate this trip and maintain her sanity because her younger sister was driving her crazy.

When they arrived at their hotel, the beauty of the island was even more evident. The lobby was adorned with traditional Balinese artwork, and the staff greeted them with warm smiles and flower leis. Venice managed to smile back forgetting about her thoughts for a moment. They were shown to their rooms, and Venice's heart sank when she realized that she and Mike would be sharing a suite. She had hoped for some space because Mike seemed to irritate her, she couldn't stand his poor sense of style and lack of class. She had to endure the madness because requesting for separate rooms would raise suspicions from her family.

As she entered into the suite, she cringed and snarled at Mike, unable to hide her frustration. "Seriously, we have to share a room?"

Mike shrugged, trying to remain calm. "It's not a big deal, Venice. We only need to stay out of each other's way and I am so good at that,"

She shot him an intimidating glance, "The room is big enough and it has two beds so stay on your side of the room and do not encroach into my space."

The room was spacious and beautifully decorated, with a large floor-to-ceiling window that opened up a breathtaking view of the ocean. It was hard to stay mad when she was surrounded by such beauty but she could not ignore the rage that was burning within her, she was mad at Nina for disappointing her, mad at Richard Harmony for canceling last minute and most importantly she was mad at her sister for having a perfect life and making fun of her.

Venice's sister, Keke, had a room next door, and Venice realized with a sinking feeling that the walls between their rooms were probably paper-thin. That meant she'd have to be careful about what she said and did if she wanted any privacy.

Nina had been calling her nonstop since they arrived, leaving messages and texts to apologize and find out how things were going. Venice knew she needed to respond, but right now, she needed to get settled in and figure out a plan. She couldn't just let her sister's drama consume her entire vacation. After unpacking and freshening up, Venice decided to step out onto the balcony. The night air was warm and inviting, and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore was soothing. She took a deep breath and tried to clear her mind. Mike joined her on the balcony, and they stood there in silence for a moment, both lost in their thoughts. Finally, Mike broke the silence. "You okay?"

Venice turned to him, a hint of vulnerability in her eyes. "I just needed some space, you know? This whole situation with my family and Keke... it's a lot to handle."

Mike nodded in understanding. "I get it. But hey, we're in Bali. Let's not let any of that ruin our trip. I would improve my acting but you should try to relax and enjoy this beautiful view"

Venice managed a small smile, grateful for his support. "You're right. I would do my best"

They stayed out on the balcony for a while longer, taking in the beauty of the island. Venice knew that she would have to confront her family issues eventually, but for now, she just wanted to relax.

Inside the hotel room, her phone buzzed with another message from Nina, but Venice ignored it for now. She had a feeling that the days ahead would be filled with challenges and she needed to brace herself up for it.

The next morning Venice woke up early, feeling a mixture of frustration and anger surging through her veins. Her hotel room was bathed in the soft, early morning light, slightly illuminating the elegant furnishings. Mike was fast asleep in the other bed. She knew she had to clear the air with Nina, her best friend, and she was also desperate to stretch her legs after all the traveling. She had arrived at the Balinese Island in the middle of the night the previous day with her family and Mike. They had all come to celebrate her parent's 50th wedding anniversary and although she wanted to take the day off to relax after the long trip, Venice was too angry at Nina to do so, she needed to deal with that first before she could focus on other things.

Venice quickly slipped into her workout gear, she tied up her long, ginger colored hair in a bun, slipped on her running shoes, and left the hotel room. She had decided to go for a jog, not just to clear her head but also to find a quiet, secluded spot where she could have a private conversation with Nina. As she jogged along the beautiful trees and the slamming ocean waves, her thoughts revolved like the water beneath her. Once she was sure she was alone, Venice let out a deep sigh and took out her phone. She knew what she was about to say was not going to be easy, but she dialed Nina's number anyway. The second she heard her friend answer, she unloaded her fury.

"Hey, Nina," Venice said, her voice filled with annoyance. "We need to talk."

Nina sounded concerned on the other end of the line. "What's wrong, Venice? Is everything okay?"

Venice took a deep breath, trying to calm herself before speaking. "No, everything is not okay. I'm mad at you, Nina. How could you disappoint me like this?"

Nina's voice took on a soft tone. "Venice, I'm really sorry. I never wanted this to happen. It was beyond my control. Richard had a last-minute scheduling conflict. He couldn't make it and because it was last minute, he didn't inform me in time."

"Nina, do you have any idea how embarrassed I am? You promised me, Richard Harmony, for the week, but instead, I got Mike his assistant! What were you thinking?" Venice demanded.

"I'm sorry my love, you know I am always here for you, I thought Mike would be a worthy replacement." Nina said.

Venice rolled her eyes, " A worthy replacement? Nina, I had to scramble to buy new clothes for Mike just to make this charade somewhat believable. But even with the fancy wardrobe, he still lacks class, and my parents were unimpressed. Keke, on the other hand, was taking jabs at me the entire time, making me feel so uncomfortable!"

Nina continued to apologize, despite Venice's continued complaints. Venice knew that her friend was only trying to help and her anger began to disappear gradually, she realized that holding a grudge would not make things better and she finally forgave her friend.

"I guess I should stop complaining so much," she said softly. She paused before adding.

"You'll never guess what happened yesterday. When Mike and I went to our hotel room, he started scratching his balls right in front of me!"

Nina burst into laughter.

"I bet he was just itchy, you would have helped him out as a caring girlfriend," she said, unable to contain her laughter.

Venice couldn't help but laugh as well. "If I catch you when I get back, I will deal with you," she playfully threatened her friend. Nina finally advised Venice to go easy on herself, she assured her that she only had a few more days before she could return home.

"You just have to make sure to keep Mike in check. Otherwise, the next few days could be even more embarrassing!"

Venice sighed and thanked her friend for the support. She ended the call and tucked her phone away, feeling a bit better than she had earlier. Now it was just a matter of surviving the next few days with Mike and her family. The little exchange between her and her friend helped to ease the tension she felt in her head, she felt a great sense of relief and she was ready to face the new day.