Perfect disguise by Elizabeth A (speld decodable readers .txt) 📗

Dominic.

After that night, we went to shop for new clothes. Diana claimed it would suit my new position. She had brought more than a handful of suits, ties and other necessary office wear that I actually needed. I wasn't surprised by her excessive shopping anymore. This is bound to happen when your girlfriend is a fashion designer and also loves mass shopping. 

I had driven her back to my apartment after the shopping and we spent the night together in each other's arms. 

Weeks went by and soon the day I was to change office came. My team members were so happy for me and also didn't want me to leave. To be honest, I was very efficient at my job as their team leader and had worked very hard to improve the department. I was glad they noticed my hard work and I was more than ready to prove my worth too. 

They organized a send off party at the bar close to the company and we got ourselves drunk. It was fun and it made me realize how much I was going to miss working with them. Adeline even sang a farewell song to me. She cried throughout the song till I started wondering if they thought I was dying or something. Her tears were very genuine and I kept patting her shoulder as she rested on mine, obviously drunk and wasted. 

"Easy, Adeline." I said softly and took the shot glass from her hands, "I'm still going to be in the office."

Just as I looked down to pet Adeline, a drunk Kenneth came out of the crowd and pulled me in for a tight embrace.

"I can't believe you are leaving us," he said, his voice already sagged from partying too hard, "I'm going to miss you!"

As he kept pouring his heart out to me, the only thing on my mind was if people at the bar were thinking I was dying with the way my team members were acting.

 I even noticed a middle aged woman giving me a sympathetic look from across the bar. I had to force my hand out of Kenneth's tight embrace. I waved it and smiled at the woman. "Don't worry," I said to her, "I not dying."

She smiled sadly and nodded her head. She said something to the lady beside her, but I could tell she wasn't convinced.

I forcefully pulled back from Kenneth and held his shoulder as he threatened to fall if I let go of him. It was a good thing that the day was Friday because the team members wouldn't be able to work properly at the office if they were to resume work the next day. 

He staggered in my hands and I had to steady him at the same time being conscious of Adeline who was still resting on my shoulder. 

I looked around at the mess of the aftermath of the send off party and decided with a puff that it was about time we called it a night.

"Listen everyone," they stopped what they were doing and looked at me, "why don't we all go home and have a good night's sleep?" I suggested.

One of them shot up and shook his head. He lurched as he tried to come out of his booth.  "No, we have to give you a proper send off party."

They nodded, agreeing to the drunk man's objection. 

I sighed and insisted until they started to lurch to their feet.

A petite lady took Adeline from my shoulder and we tottered out of the bar. We departed by the entrance of the bar and I walked Kenneth who was leaning heavily on me to my car. I didn't drink much so I was sober and was able to drive. 

Kenneth had knock off on the sofa the moment we entered our apartment. I didn't have the strength to carry him to his room so I helped him to remove his shoe and covered him with a warm blanket. 

I looked at him sleeping peacefully on the sofa and rubbed my face. And yet I thought I was worst than him.

Diana called the moment I slumped on my bed. I reeked of alcohol and was just about to take a quick shower because I was stressed from the party. I took my phone from the nightstand and brought it close to my ear. A smile made it way to my lips as I heard her voice.

"Hey, Sweetie. Are you back from the bar?"

I grabbed a pillow and laid across the bed. "Yes, I just came back."

"I wished I went with you." her voice perked up, "so was it fun?"

She would have come with me to the bar, but she couldn't because she was very busy preparing for the launching event of her latest collections which was holding the next day. I knew how important it was to her so I understood everything.

"Yes," I pinched the bridge of my nose and sighed. "But it stressed me out."

She chuckled. "That's because you don't usually party."

"I don't have enough time for that."

"I know," her voice softened, "I'm just glad you had fun."

We continued talking until I drifted to sleep. The phone fell from my hand and I ended up not showering that night.

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