Purple Romance

''No, she is just a little girl I met at a school. She is probably 8 years and I am very straight'' Calia said to her and they both laughed.

''I see. When Mona Lisa asked me to come and model your jewellery, I was sceptical at first but after meeting you, all my doubts are cleared. I hope to work with you because your jewellery speaks to me. So, I hope that we will have a good working time together, Miss Banks'' Miss Rihan said.

''Just call me Calia and I am especially glad to be working with you too''.

''Since, you want me to call you by your first name, then you should do the same to with me. We are the same age, right?'' Rihan said and smiled.

''Yes, then, nice to have you on board"

''Nice to have you be my designer, Calia''

Rihan looked at her time and frowned ''Is there something wrong?'' Calia asked after noticing her frown.

''Not really, I was hoping to go to the hospital and visit someone but it seems is way past the visiting hours''

''Oh, I'm sorry for keeping you long here''

''No, is not about that. You see, this person might end up being my sister in law soon so I want to butter up to her''.

''I didn't know you had a boyfriend? The news said you were single?'' Calia asked curiously.

''Well, I am indeed single but that won't be for long. You see, I have my sights set on a man. My ex-boyfriend'' Rihan said and blushed.

''Oh, you mean you want to get back together with your ex-boyfriend?'' Calia asked as they turned to walk out.

''Yes. 10 years ago, I left him to concentrate on my modelling career. Truth is…oh, I am talking about myself again. I hope you don't mind?'' Rihan turned and looked at Calia bashfully.

''No, not at all'' Calia assured her.

''I don't really have a lot of friends, because my industry is constantly changing and everyone is out to replace the other. Is not easy to maintain a friendship with someone who wants to replace you the next second. But, oddly enough, I like you. We just met today but I feel that you are a great person. Your aunt boast about you and Ad-Din all the time, so I get jealous and I always tell her that I will make you my friend when I get the chance to meet you and here we are''.

''You are a great person too, Rihan. Is hard to find a successful model who is so down to earth like you. You express your feelings outright. I like you too'' Calia told her honestly. She really admired and liked Rihan.

''So, are we friends, then?'' Rihan asked and Calia nodded her head.

''Sure, we are friends'' Calia said and smiled.

''Okay, then, since we are friends, can I tell you about what happened between me and my ex? I need your advice as a woman on how to get him back''.

''Sure, you can talk about him, but truth is I am also not too good at giving out love advices. There is someone I also need to make him mind but it isn't so easy going''

''Let's go for lunch then. I saw a café across the road when I was coming in. we can discuss about our love lives together and offer each other tips on how to succeed?'' Rihan said and Calia nodded her head.

Café across the street.

''Really? He said you are allowed to seduce him and he will date you if you succeed in making his heart to flutter?'' Rihan asked curiously and sipped her juice. They had ordered a pizza which was on the way.

''Yes, I wonder what gave him the guts to dare me like that?'' Calia said as she thought about Kobby.

''But, from your face, you seem to really like him? Is he your first love?'' Rihan asked and Calia looked at her.

''How did you know?'' Calia asked quite surprised.

''I just took a guess, but men like that does exist. There was someone like that too in my life 10 years ago. I met him and fell in love with him at first glance. I was sitting in a café like this when he entered. The moment I saw him; I knew he was the one. He was with two friends but I still went up to him and asked for his number''

''Wow, you are quite brave. I still don't even have his number'' Calia said sadly and sighed.

''You don't have his number? How is that possible?'' Rihan asked surprised.

''Yes, I don't have his number. He didn't give it to me. I mean, why do I feel that he is acting hard to get? My brother has his number but I don't want to collect it from him. I was hoping he would give me his number himself. That way, it will be special''

''I understand, but you don't look like someone who gives us easily? Are you going to give up?''

''Off course...not, I finally have his attention, I am not about to give that away. Besides, he is a really amazing man, I won't give him up to any woman''

''That's the spirit''

''So, tell me. What happened when you asked for his number?'' Calia asked and was curious to know about Rihan's ex-boyfriend.

''When I asked for his number, he told me that he will give it to me the next time we met and left, but, I didn't give up. I made sure I met him again at that café the next day and he gave me the number. We had a small chat and then, we kept meeting until he told me he liked me too''

''Whoa. Such a beautiful story, but, why did you break up with him?'' Calia asked and Rihan sighed.

''10 years ago, I just landed my first gig as a model. He was also then a medical student. When my modelling career advanced, we started getting together less because of my busy schedule.

Then, I was offered a chance by an international company to be their model, I was so elated about it and wanted to tell him. He was happy for me alright, but I was the one who messed up first.

You see, in my industry, there are a lot of unspoken rules. I cheated on him with one of the sponsors and he found out later on and instead of apologising, I used that to break up with him. Back then, I was really foolish. He was such a good man who loved me even after knowing I slept with another man but I was hurt instead. I felt that he didn't love me enough that's why he wasn't angry about it. He just told me that it was nothing and that he understood my reasons for doing what I did and even proposed that we got married before I focused on my career but I ran away on the day we were supposed to meet at the civil bureau office and cut of all forms of communication with him"

Calia sipped her juice and looked at Rihan. She didn't know what to say at that moment or who to blame, because it looked like both of them were at fault but the biggest one at fault was her new friend Rihan but, she couldn't tell her that, especially when she knew deep down in her heart that Rihan had probably regretted it already.

'I regret my actions back then. I slept with another man and even got angry at my boyfriend for understanding me. But, funny enough, after 10 years I still haven't found any man that could measure up to him. That's why I am back to claim him. I'm a bitch, right?'' Rihan suddenly asked.

''Well, I can't really say anything about that''. Calia said to her.

''Your aunt was right. You wear your heart out on your sleeves. You can't lie, so you prefer not to comment on it, right?''

''Well, you had your reasons and even though I don't support you cheating on him and getting angry for nothing but due to your own guilt, I still can't judge you. At that time, you made the decision that you thought was best for you. choosing your career over your boyfriend''

''What about you? Would you ever choose your career over a man?'' Rihan asked her.

''No, I am a selfish person. I always want the best of everything so, I won't ever choose between the two of them. I will pick them both. My man and my career'' Calia said affirmatively.

''You seem so sure of your answer. Tell me, would you still choose a man who doesn't support what you do? Maybe, he isn't happy with your work but because he loves you he just compromises for you''.

''I will just make him love my work. As I said earlier, I always want the best of both worlds. If the man I love doesn't like my career, then, I will have the convince him with my talent but, I don't believe the man I currently have my eyes on dislikes my work'' Calia smiled.

''I like that. I really like the fact that you are willing to fight for both love and work. I wished I was like you 10 years ago. Then, I wouldn't have made such a big mistake''.

''So, this man that you are talking about? Have you been in touch with him? I hope he isn't married because that will be game over'' Calia asked her.

''Not really. He was married but he lost his wife in an accident, so he is currently single. That's why I want to make him mine fast before another woman does. He is a really great man; you see''

''That's great. Then, let's support each other'' the two ladies clicked their glasses together and smiled before drinking.