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Dear readers,

Hope you're all OK and had a nice start in this New Year! :) All the best once again ;-)

So, as promised, here is another extract of my story. I'm not completely sure about the title yet but will let you know. :)

Previously, we left Elsie,  one of our main character, in the doctor's office, being made to take her maternity leave and having to stay on bed rest...:) despite the fact that she has a very demanding boss...

Read what happens next! ;-)

Meanwhile...

Ethan knew something was different. He just couldn't pinpoint what it was exactly. It had been a week. A week of people telling him there was nothing out of the ordinary. Yet, somewhow, it did seem different. 
Not his personal life. No, that part was going fine. Better than fine. Women were always interested in him. He had no problem getting regular dates. Whether or not it was serious was another matter. Ethan liked his life the way it was. Maybe one day, like his older brother Paul, who had recently gotten married, he would think about tying the knot. Just not right this moment. He didn't feel ready to settle down. 
It was more of his professional life that looked...not the same. At first, Ethan hadn't noticed. Why would he? Everything was always ready when he came to work. Everything was neat and tidy. Everything was working like clockwork. Usually. 
Not this time apparently.  Although he did appear to be the only one noticing something was out of place. Everyone else was focusing on their work. Well, Ethan thought, good for them. After all, that what I'm paying them for. However, there is something going on...I just don't what that is! 

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. 'Come in' Ethan said.

'Ethan Martin! If you don't stop right this minute, I'm going to strangle you or personally ruin every future date you're going to have!'

'Sarah!' Ethan's face, lightened-up. Finally something normal. He'd missed it for the past week. 

'Erase that smile of your face! How many times do I have to say I'm not interested!'

'Well, if you aren't, why are you here? Yelling at me in my office?'

'Oh please! Do be serious for a minute! You know as well as I do, that...this' Sarah pointed out at both of them. '....won't work! Besides, I already have an...overbearing mum who can't wait to marry me off and a...well, never mind...um...so, please...stop sending me flowers and such because I-'

'I-flowers?'

'Yes! Flowers...why?' Sarah frowned.

'I do send flowers sometimes, although not that often, I'm more a jewellery kind of guy, but...I, um, haven't send you flowers recently'

'Y-you didn't?'

Ethan shook his head. 'Sorry'

'Oh my...God! How...embarassing!' Sarah put her head between her hands. She groaned before raising her head. 

'Maybe but it got you to come to my office'

'Not helping!' 

Ethan chuckled. 'So, what made you think I had...?'

'...sent me flowers?'

He nodded. 'Oh, er...there was a card attached and...' Sarah took it out of her jacket. 'I...it's silly really' 

'May I?'

'Sure...' Sarah gave it to him. 

'Oh my, this guy is really...cheesy! He even signed 'Your secret admirer'!'

'No need to-'

'And...how could think it was from me?

'i don't know! OK! I just-' Sarah exclaimed 'I'm sorry...I-'

'It's alright' Ethan assured her 'It could have been from me...if I was seventeen and very-aouch!' Sarah had punched him on the shoulder. 

'That's for making fun of me!' 

'I wasn't-'

'You were going to!'

'OK, OK...just please, don't punch me again'

'Fine. I'll let you go back to work'

'Thanks' 'So, any clue as to who it could be?'

'No...' Sarah said softly 'maybe...I-I'm not sure...anyway, it doesn't matter...probably just a prank from...someone'

'Mm...' 

'OK, I'm off...and could we keep that between us?'

'I don't know...what do you offer in exchange for my silence?'

'Ethan! I'm not in the mood to-'

'I was kidding! Your secret's safe with me'

'It better be...' Sarah glanced around, frowning.

'What?'

'Er...nothing, it's just...um, nothing'

'No, what?'

'Your...um, office looks...different'

'It does? I haven't noticed any....changes' Didn't he?

'Not that I know, I rarely come to your office...so, I'm probably wrong'

'Yeah...' Ethan wasn't sure either. 

'Anyway, have a good day'

'Mm...thanks' 

And Sarah left. Ethan sat down at his desk, lost in his thoughts. He didn't notice Elsie going in the elevator. She had to come to the office, as there had been a misunderstanding with her maternity leave. Elsie sighed. What a week...

'Could you hold the elevator please?' Came a voice. 

'Oh...' Elsie pushed the button to hold the door just in time.

'Thanks' the woman said, smiling. The elevator door closed just as Ethan risked a quick glance outside his office...

To be continued...hope you still like it!? :) Take care and see you soon for another extract...:) xxx

Work in progress

Dear readers,

Hope you had a nice Christmas and that Santa spoiled you this year...:)

I didn't think I'd write today, but there you go...sometimes inspiration can surprise you and what better way to end this year with a smile :) hopefully you'll like this article as I'm listening to a few christmassy songs and enjoying a little fire in the cheminey...;-) can't help it, probably am still in the Christmas spirit! :) Never hurt anyone, did it?

Anyway, as the end of the year approaches, my head is still full of questions but no answers just yet...hopefully I'll figure it out soon...I don't know exactly...I do like my current job, it's quite interesting and I'm learning a lot but the enthusiasm (if you could say that) isn't there anymore...my head is full of dream of writing and going back to England if possible (bloody Brexit though!)....in one word, I quite apprehend the next year...but enough about me-at least for now (rire) let's enjoy the rest of the day and prepare ourselves to go into 2018 peacefully...:)

So to do just that...here is a little surprise for you...please bear with me...no I haven't met anyone special yet, nor am I getting married (rire), OK, I know that was silly! I'm sure you weren't assuming lol :) I meant I wanted to share a story with you and as it is just coming out my head (not literally), you have guessed, I'm writing it as I go along...that's why! :) this story (like others) has been in my mind for while and I don't know...just taking a leap of faith and hope you'll like it as much as I do enjoyed writing it...:) although, this will only be a (short) extract as I decided to write the other extract over the next few weeks or at least soon...if that's OK with you?! :) let's hope so! ;-)

Here it is then....
But before I start, I will just add that one of the character will appear in another one of my stories...don't worry, you won't be lost, he only makes a few brief appearances.  So it won't be too difficult.

'So, that's why I decided to put on-' the doctor was saying but Elsie wasn't listening. Her gaze on the poster, on the wall behind. '...rest. I think it's best for now and-' What is it how it happens exactly? Could you actually feel it? Actually, how were you suppose to feel? Happy? Estatic? Overwhelmed? And more importantly: Did it hurt? Did you need so many painkillers you couldn't remember what had happened whilst giving birth to your first child?  Oh boy...'take it from here...I'll see you in a few weeks to check-up on...Mrs Fitzpatrick? Are you...listening to-' her doctor paused, following her gaze. '....Oh, I see. This is just to show how...the baby grows inside of your womb and...how it changed position before-'

'I know' Elsie replied, trying not to panic. She really did love her baby. No doubt about that. Since the first scan actually. She could never forget seeing her baby for the first time, nor could she forget hearing its heartbeat. It was simply magical.Yet it was also...going all so fast. Everyone seemed to expect something of her and Elsie was trying to make everyone happy. It wasn't easy though. This baby hadn't been exactly planned, nor had she planned to meet the dashing and handsome (in his own way) Ned. A friend-well more of an acquaintance- had introduced them (well, it had been more a happy accident) at the Christmas office party. He was actually trying to avoid Alice, consequently bumping into her. A wirlwind romance had ensued and the rest as they say is history...

Not long after, as they were only suggesting they might go on a holiday together for more than a week-end, the unexpected had happened. Elsie had find herself pregnant. Despite assuring him he didn't have to be involved as she certainly didn't want to tie Ned up, especially as they were still learning to get to know each other, Ned had surprised her. He actually didn't run in the opposite direction. He stuck around, making sure she and the baby had everything. Which was more than great as Elsie certainly hadn't expected it. They hadn't been dating for long. She sighed.

'....I read all the...pregnancy books and stuff...' She continued. 'And I went to the...lamaze classes'
'That's great...see, there is nothing to worry about...you'll be fine as long as you stay on bed rest, keep your feet-up and relax'

Keep your feet-up, relax...um, maybe. Elsie wasn't sure. Her work as an executive assistant did keep her busy or she was just a bit...too perfectionnist sometimes, as her mum would always say 'you don't need to make everything perfect, Elsie' Yep, story of my life. Stay in-wait!
'Did-did you say...bed rest?'
'Yes, why? Is there a problem?'
'Er...well, no...but-'
'Mrs Fitzpatrick...that's not negociable. It's bed rest or you going on labor earlier than planned..and personally I'd like to avoid it if I can...so, your boss will have to'
'It's Miss...I'm not married or Elsie, but-'
'No but...I'm not taking the risk...I'm sorry'
'Sorry? You're not the one who has to stay on bed rest...and deal with your...boss' Well, OK, not directly. As Elsie hadn't dealt with him personally. He had his own assistant for that. She was just a small fish in a bigger pond. No doubt he'd never even heard of her anyway. He had many people working under him (no sexual connotation intended), answering to his every whim...twenty four seven...
Nevertheless, Elsie still needed her job. Ned might make enough money for the both of them but Elsie had insisted she wanted to give her share too. No way she was letting Ned pay for everything.
Also why, she kept pushing back her maternity leave date, telling herself, she was mostly sitting at her desk anyway. Yet, it didn't seem enough. Her doctor was insisting she stopped working right now and enjoy the rest of her pregnancy. Barely two months anyway...Oh bugger!
'Fine...' Elsie reluctantly agreed. 'I'll do as you say...but if my boss fires me, that's on you'
Her doctor smiled. 'If you want but I'm sure it won't come to that'
'You certainly haven't met my boss, doc...' Elsie sighed again. Her hand slowly patting her belly. I'll be lucky if I have a job...but hey, at least, I'll have you...

To be continued...:) Take care and see you soon for another article! And of course, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! All the best! ;) xxx

P.s: As you can see...this article has been published in 2018...:) as it took me a little while longer to write it. Anyway, happy new year again! ;-)