Narrator: It's Sunday, Mary's house in the kitchen, Mary stands still in front of the stove lost in her day dream with yesterday's event still playing effect in her mind she most be feeling blessed. She is unaware of the hissing kettle in the kitchen. Mrs Richards walks into the kitchen and jolts Mary back into reality.
Mrs Richards: Mary Richards, what are you doing standing unfazed in front of a hissing kettle.
Narrator: Her mom takes the kettle down from the stove, switches off the stove and brings out two cup and fills the coffee maker with coffee, she pours the water from the very hot kettle into the coffee maker.
Mrs Richards: You are standing there as if you are been placed in a trance while the kettle almost dries up.
Mary: I'm sorry mom. It just that everything is looking like a dream to me. The man I've always had hatred for, is the same man I've been flirting with on that useless dating app.
Mrs Richards: Oh, is that why you decided to set us ablaze along with the house? Come on it's love, you should be happy and not thinking about it. Honey live the love life and enjoy it.
Mary: No mom not trying to copy you. I see why those young boys keep disturbing your phone.
Mrs Richards: Young woman have you been eavesdropping and going through my phone?
Narrator: Mary is chased around from the kitchen into the living room. They both crash on the couch. They share laughter for a while.
Mrs Richards: Do you really love him? Not like kid,love. Do you honestly love him? It's okay to go after his money.
Mary: Mom, come on. I do like him,wouldn't say love. I've liked him since I started working for him, it just that he was a focused guy. Too focused that he had no time for relationships. But when he told me he showed up as my date, I felt like he had made a mistake.
Mrs Richards: Now, if you felt that way let him know that you don't need his pity, okay. You are a woman of pride.
Mary: I don't know mom,I'll confront him tomorrow at work.
Narrator: Mary appears to work the next day with a determined mind. She walks into the office, there are side talks with fingers pointing at her. She walk straight to her desk and finds flowers and a note.
Note: Please don't take it the wrong way, couldn't bring myself to tell you my feelings because of the kind of personality I have. Please don't deny me the love you've always given me. I LOVE YOU. Signed Eric.
Narrator: She picks up the flowers and takes them to Eric's office. George is in the office having smiles on his face gets up and walks to Mary.
Mary: Where is the boss?
George:Oh he went to take a look at the place the twins will be staying. He said he is on his way back here, he'll be her before lunch, so there is no need to worry much love.
Mary: Alright,I'll be in my office when he gets back. Thank you.
Narrator: Leaving the office, Sam and Ella rushes her looking for the latest and hottest gist. They accompany her to her desk.
Sam: So tell us Mary, how does it feel to be the CEO's girlfriend.
Ella: I think I now know the reason why the boss never spoke about his woman. He didn't want anyone to know he was single.
Narrator: The two girls laughed, and Mary only looked. She is not sure his love was genuine. She had always liked him, even when he never noticed her. She was contemplating if she will be fine or not in the relationship. She could not concentrate on one thought or on what she was going to do. She gets up and leave the girls to themselves and head to the closet to think.
Mary: I can do this. Yeah I'll show him. After all the attitude he displays to me. I'll teach him.
Narrator: Recalling what her mom had told her, she decides to walk up to Eric when he gets back and say to his face that she was not some one to be toyed with. Concluding that in her mind, she walks out of the closet. At the corridor to her desk, she comes face to with him. Eric had just gotten to the office and was walking down the corridor when he saw her. For a while they stood looking at each other without saying anything. Mary gathers courage and walks to him.
Mary: Good morning sir. Hope you slept well?
Eric: Erm… yes I did, did you?
Mary: At first I couldn't but after I let you know my intentions now I think I'll sleep like a baby.
Eric: Okay.
Mary: Right. I want you to know that I don't need your pity neither am I weak. I'll be fine without your pity.
Eric: What are you saying? I've never pitied you and you are a very strong woman. Look I'm sorry I didn't come out with my feelings and that I made a fool out of you, but I love you dearly Mary, I really do.
Narrator: Those words made her loose the courage she had and made her reconsider her thoughts about him. She made to run out on him but his firm hand grabbed her arm and pulled her close to his very well built body. Crashing into his chest, she places her hands on his chest and looks at his sincere face. He hugs her letting all the tears she held back pour on his suit.
Eric: Your tears may ruin my suit.
Narrator: She took notice and moved away, brings out some dry wipes from her bag and tries to clean off the tears on his cloth. He stops her.
Eric: Don't clean off your feelings for me. Don't ever let it run dry for me. I'll be the one to wipe the tears off your face when you are sad.
Narrator: These words of assurance make her weep the more, disregarding her thoughts of rejecting his feelings, she hugs him. He smiles and hugs her back. In the moment, George, Sam and Ella who were watching from the end of the corridor walked to the hugging couple.
Ella: Awwn.
Sam: So cute the two of you. We always knew this was going to happen the moment you guys started walking home together after each of Eric's date.
Narrator: the couple looked surprised at what Sam said. Eric looked at George who was pretending not to know what the look was for.
Eric: George, don't tell me you were in on this?
George: Hahahaha, come Eric you thought we wont know? Come guys it's time for lunch, I'm starving.
Mary: Thanks guys. You are the best.
Sam: You are welcome honey. I for just want to see some kissing.
Narrator: The couple froze a bit and laughed looking at each other. Mary was ready for it but Eric's timid mind only made him peck her forehead and nose. Disappointed at what happened now…
George: Come on man what was that? Do you call that a kiss? Let me show you what a kiss looks like.
Narrator: George grabs the surprised Ella by her waist and kisses her deeply. The other opens their mouth in shock. Ella's face is red and ready to pop. If it were an animation, the smoke on her head would be visible. Eric turns over to Mary.
Eric: So Mary when are we getting married?
Narrator: There is a great silence and shock among them. To think Eric will bring that up this quick. Mary froze still, eyes wide open and mouth opened. Everyone looks at Eric. Timid Eric changes the topic immediately.
George: What's up with you Eric? Let's punish him.
Sam: What do you think would be the best punishment?
Narrator: Ella who finally found her tongue,gave her suggestion.
Ella: His paying for lunch for the month.
Eric: What? Come on guys, George?
George: I'll always support my woman. Two months.
Eric: Fine let's go get lunch.
Narrator: It is a happy moment for the gang. There are laugh,giggles and smiles within the friends. If only John was here, it would have been a party. While the merriment went on,George's phone rings, it's John. George sets the phone hands-free and places the phone on the table.
John: Yo George, what's up, you good?
George: I'm good, how are things going over there?
John: Well not as it is going there. Has he told her yet?
George: Yeah, you've got to see his face when she hogged him in the office.
Eric: Wait, so John knows too?
Mary: I think everyone in the office knows about it.
Narrator: Been kept in the dark made Eric feel abandoned by his friends in the office. They all laughed and conversed about Eric's recent attitude at the office.
John: We need to celebrate this. How about a party? Sounds good right?
Eric: It's been a while I celebrated something. But we have some people coming over to the company tomorrow. So when do you think we can have the party, Party Master.
John: Wednesday will be good as it my birthday. Hope you guys didn't forget.
Narrators: John's birthday was something they would never forget. But now it's different, everyone was busy with something else. There was tension and each person looked at the next person to him or her.
Eric: Nope. Your birthday is not something we can forget that easily. We'll be at your place tomorrow evening.
John: Alright, I'll be expecting not only you guys, but you and my gifts. Alright I need to get going, erm Sam, you'll be there right?
Sam: Yeah, why do you ask?
John: There are somethings I'll need your help with. And Eric, take good care of your love. Bye guys.
All: bye.
Narrator: George and Ella gets smoochy and leaves the table. George gives Eric a look that says "hell yeah" making Mary laugh loudly. Sam reads the room and heads to her office to tidy up some paper works. This leaves Eric and Mary alone at the table. He moves closer to her and pulls her in for a side hug.
Eric: Will you go with me to John's birthday party?
Mary: Yeah we are all going right?
Eric: I know, but will you go with me.
Narrator: At first she was confused, but the look on his face said it all. He was asking her out to the party. In a sweet, shy and humble voice…
Mary: Yes I will go out with you to John's birthday party.
Narrator: Mary reaches to kiss Eric. He timidly moves his face making her lips land on his cheeks. She giggle at his reaction. Seeing her happy made him smile, he loved it whenever she was laughing or giggling. The office closes and everyone is dismissed for the day. Usually Mary would have been on her way, she walks into Eric's office. He was in thought and smiling as she walked in.
Mary:Are you ready to go home? Why are you smiling?
Eric: Yes I am. I was just wondering how a dating app could actually help one fine true love.
Mary: I never needed an app or a computer to tell me that I was in love with you. I love you, always have and always will.
Narrator: Mary walked to him and sat on his lap. She wanted to kiss him but remembered how nervous he was when she had tried it in the cafeteria. Eric reached to kiss her,but George walks in on them.
George: Really guys, you can't wait till you are home or married before you start putting up a show?
Narrator: They quickly arrange themselves. The scene was as a child been caught in the act of something bad by it's father. They laughed over it.
George: I actually came to tell you that I already handled the people coming tomorrow. Told them we'll be seeing them, but didn't tell them when. So get back to the now and arrange a date for the meeting.
Eric: Dude you are the best. Would you like to be the CEO while I become the manager?
George: Done. Now get out of my office.
Eric: That's fast.
Narrator: The three of them laughed to their heart's content. Eric walked to George giving him a warm hug. George has always been there for the company in terms of ideas, and business strategies. And together with Eric's brains and John's jovial attitude, the company has been doing well ever since. It felt like they all owned the company.
George: So we can go to John's house to night and begin preparations for his birthday. You have gifts right?
Eric: I'll get mine on the way. Mary what about you.
Mary: I never forgot his birthday, so I already have a gift.
Eric: How about Sam and Ella? Where are they?
George: They are waiting outside. Come on let's head out already.
Eric: Sure.
Narrator: Everyone exit the office and heads for the waiting girls downstairs. The road to John's place was a long and interesting one. At John's place, everyone starts to prepare for his party. The girls handled the kitchen and decoration while the guys went in to the yard to start the grilling the meats they bought on the way. When all that was done, they went in for the night.
Morning came quickly, it a day off for Maxwell Company. Further preparations were made for the upcoming party. John comes home to find George and Ella making out on his couch.
John: Really George, on my couch.
George: Hey John, hahaha what's up. You are back so early. Guys John's back.
Narrator: There was no response. The three of them went in to the yard to know the reason for the silence. Only Sam could be found in the yard sitting on one of the chairs. John see how well his yard was decorated.
John: Come on guys I was not expecting this much from you. Thank you, I love you guys.
Narrator: Sam rushes into his arms to welcome him. Pleasantries were exchanged but still no sign of Eric and Mary. Their absence was noticed.
John: Where are the two love birds?
Sam: Eric snatched her from her while we were decorating.
George: Oh My God. He wouldn't let her be. He is been clingy.
Ella: No his just finding love for the first time. It happens, have you forgotten about yours?
Narrator: George shushed her with a kiss. John went to the kitchen to get a beer when he saw Eric and Mary making out. He quietly goes out to call the other. They all stand by the door and watch Eric in action. Suddenly shutters and flashes of light came to play. It was John and Sam, they were taking pictures. Eric noticed and stopped.
Eric: Come on guys, that's not fair. Who took those pictures? Hand them over now.
Narrator: No one paid attention to Eric. Rather John and Sam shared the photos with the others.
Eric: Hand them over or you are fired.
Narrator: That caught their attention, but instead they laughed and ran around the house. Eric gave the chase to recover the photos. The merriment of the party already began before the D-day.