He had gone through a bitter divorce and custody battle. His ex-wife had their two daughters. He saw them over the summer and Christmas holidays. They always had fun when they were together. He took them wherever they wanted. The time they spent together always seemed to pass really quickly and it was hard parting from them. They called him over the weekend and talked to him about school, their friends, etc. Ava was eight and Olivia was six. They meant the world to him. It was too bad that things had ended up the way they did between their mother and him.
His happy marriage gone bad had left a very bitter taste in his mouth and as a result he had sworn off relationships. He buried himself in his work. Occasionally, he would take trips, hang out with friends and attend family functions. He worked out at the gym, played tennis, jogged, read and went for walks on the beach. And he has his faith to sustain him. His church family had helped him during those rough moments following the divorce. His life was as he wanted it–simple, that is until Amelia Johnson walked into it.
Amelia was hired to fill Susanna’s position. Susanna was on maternity leave. Amelia came from Alpha North Group Ltd with excellent qualifications and references from previous assignments. He remembered the first time he saw her as if it were yesterday. When they were introduced, he tried not to stare but her fresh beauty took his breath away. Her braids which framed her face, tumbled down past her shoulders. The red top she wore over the black skirt accentuated her complexion. She was petite and slender. He towered over her. When she looked up at him with those big brown eyes and smiled at him, he felt his heart melt. He knew he was in trouble then. Their handshake was brief but long after he had released her hand, he could still feel its warmth and softness.
During the 18 months she was with them he tried to keep his growing attraction hidden under the veneer of professionalism. No one had a clue that every morning he would look out of his office window overlooking the street below to watch her walking up the sidewalk. He was tied up in knots. He didn’t want to become emotionally involved again because of the pain he had experienced with his ex but the more he fought against his feelings for Amelia, the stronger they seemed to grow. It was a battle that he was losing.
He had no idea of how she felt about him. She was as pleasant to him as she was with the rest of the staff. There was no indication that his attraction for her was reciprocated. And for all he knew, she might already be in a relationship. The thought stung but he had to be prepared for that possibility. How was he going to find out whether or not she had a boyfriend?
He sat at his desk now in deep thought, wondering what to do. This was Amelia’s last week with the company. Susanna was back on Monday. He had to do something before Amelia went out of his life forever. He’d prayed about it all of last week and had gotten his answer last night. He reached for the phone, hesitating for a brief moment before he dialed her extension. His heart was thudding heavily against his ribs. When she answered, he kept it short, “I need to see you.” He leaned back in the chair after hanging up the phone and waited. His anxious gaze was on the door which would open any minute now and Amelia would walk in. There was no turning back now.
After she hung up the phone, Amelia stared at it for a moment. Mark wanted to see her. Why? She was nervous about being alone with him. What if she couldn’t hide her feelings for him? It was one thing to act professional around him when others were around but quite another when they were alone. Slowly, she pushed her chair back and got up, her legs feeling like jelly. She smoothed her trembling and sweaty palms over her skirt and headed for his office.
She knocked on the door and heard him say, “Come in.” Her heart was beating so fast and she couldn’t seem to control her breathing. I must remain calm, she told herself as she opened the door and went inside. He was standing behind his desk. Her eyes traveled over his tall figure as she closed the door behind her. She walked over to him and stopped in front of the desk. She clasped her hands tightly in front of her so that he wouldn’t notice that they were trembling. “You needed to see me,” she said.
He cleared his throat. “Yes. This is your last week with us.”
She lowered her eyes so that he wouldn’t see the sadness in them. “Yes, it is.” She had dreaded this moment. She liked working here and the people but most of all, she hated the thought of leaving him. He was the reason why she enjoyed coming in to work.
“I hope you have been happy here, Amelia. We were very fortunate to have you.”
She looked up. “Yes, I have been very happy here. Everyone has been so great.”
“We are sorry to lose you. You will be missed.”
“I am going to miss all of you.”
There was a pregnant pause during which they stared at each other, each not knowing what to say next or how to act. “Do you have a boyfriend?” he asked suddenly.
She blinked in surprise. She hadn’t expected that. She shook her head at once. “No.”
He looked relieved. “Good to hear,” he said, coming around the desk to stand close to her. “Amelia, I’m divorced and have two daughters. I had sworn off relationships until I met you. You walked into my life and turned it upside down. For the longest time I have tried really hard to fight my feelings for you but it’s no use.”
Her eyes grew wide. “Your feelings?”
“Yes. I’m in love with you, Amelia and I wanted to tell you that before you walk out of my life for good. Do you have any feelings for me?” He braced himself for her answer, his face pale.
She nodded, her heart was in her eyes. “Yes, Mark,” she cried. “I’m in love with you too. I tried so hard not to show it because it never dawned on me that you felt the same way.”
Mark pulled her into his arms and kissed her. When he drew back, they were both breathing hard. “I’m thankful that your assignment here is ending this week. It was the thought of never seeing you again and encouragement from God which compelled me to tell you how I feel.”
She smiled. “I’m very thankful that what I believed to be the saddest day of my life has turned into the happiest.”
Notes to Women 