Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

"Alright, call me before coming. I'll wait for you." Ryan glanced at his watch. "I should go now, I have a meeting."

"Sure, I'll call you later."

After Ryan left, George chuckled and helplessly shook his head. "This guy is still so smitten with you."

"It's nothing like that," Rachael remarked. "Stop saying weird things."

"Oh come on, even you know that he likes you." George grinned at Andrew as he got up. "Alright, I'll leave you two alone now. I have meetings to attend."

Before leaving, he patted Andrew's arms. "Look at you sulking now while I am laughing. This my friend is called ``turn of events." He then left the room without waiting for his reply.

"Don't listen to him," Rachael looked at him. "Whatever he says is a bunch of exaggerated nonsense."

"I didn't mind," Andrew shrugged his shoulders. "So what if you share a twin plant with someone when you don't share anything like that with your husband? Big deal."

Rachael: " "

He then picked up the small indoor plant from the table. "It's cute though, you can keep it on your new table."

"And you can hang that dream catcher on the wall right behind your back," he added. "I am sure it will go well with the interior."

Before she could say something, Andrew threw another question at her. "Does he have the same dream catcher too?"

"Are you seriously being jealous of Ryan?" Rachael sighed and helplessly shook her head.

"Jealous?" he scoffed. "Who is being jealous?"

"And besides there is nothing to be jealous of that guy," he added. "He is obviously shorter than me and I am way more good looking."

Rachael: " "

"Come on now, let's help you pack your stuff."

...

[Afternoon, Collins Corporation]

[Rachael's office]

After finishing her last meeting of the day, Rachael slumped on the chair and sighed. She had back to back meetings as soon as she came back from her dad's office.

She then picked up her phone to check her notifications. She pouted her lips and frowned when she did not see any message from Andrew.

As soon as they reached office, they had parted ways to complete their day's schedule and she hadn't seen him since then.

Just then Ben arrived. "May I come in madam?"

"Yes." When he came inside, the first thing she inquired was about Andrew. "Where is your boss?"

"Boss is in a meeting," he answered. "I am here to inform you about the meeting which has been added to your evening schedule."

"Okay, what is it about?"

"It's regarding the big scale project we are starting with Watson Enterprise," Ben explained. "Representatives from Watson Enterprise will be coming and the boss will attend the meeting with you."

"Oh okay, send me all the details you have about the project," she instructed him.

"I have already emailed it to you."

"Alright, I'll take a quick look." When She saw what Ben was holding, she inquired, "Is that new?"

"Oh this?" he quickly kept it on her table. "Boss sent this for you."

"For me?" Rachael chuckled as she lifted the cute plant in her hand.

It was a red moon cactus in a small black pot with the initials 'Mrs. Collins' written on it.

"When did he get it?" She found it cute as well as surprising at the same time.

"He drove over after his morning meeting to get it." Ben glanced at his watch. "Madam I have to go now."

After he left, Rachael took a picture of the plant and sent it to Andrew.

[Rachael: Thank you, Mr. Collins ♥]

After a few minutes, he messaged her back.

[Andrew: (Thumbs up)]

His brief response made her chuckle.

[Rachael: Is my handsome husband still jealous?]

[Andrew: Not jealous]

[R: Really?]

[A: (Thumbs up)]

Thinking for a while, she took a selfie and sent it to him.

[R: Compensating with a cute picture now. The real compensation is on the way (wink emoji)]

...

[Meeting room]

Andrew smiled as soon as he saw the selfie he received from his wife. She had a cute pout in her lips which made her look adorable.

The fact that Rachael shared an identical thing with someone else didn't bother him but he couldn't shrug off the feeling. He also wanted them to have a twinning thing too.

Without wasting any time, he drove to the nearest store and grabbed two identical red moon cactus indoor plants. He even got a customised black pot with their initials 'Mr. Collins' and 'Mrs. Collins' written on it.

Seeing that their boss was busy doing something, the presenter stopped midway. Not knowing whether to continue or not, he nervously looked at his supervisor who was equally confused.

When Ben entered the room, everyone looked at him except for Andrew who was still staring at the screen.

With zero clue of what was going on, Ben frowned at everyone. He didn;t understand why he was getting all the attention as soon as he stepped in.

After a few seconds, when he finally managed to analyse and understand the situation, he quickly approached Andrew.

"Boss?" He called him out in a relatively lower voice.

When Andrew looked at him, he said, "The meeting…?"

Andrew kept his phone on the table and looked at the presenter. "Why did you stop?" Before the employee could respond, he gestured him to continue.

After the meeting, the head of the event manager approached Andrew.

"Boss, I wanted to talk to you about the upcoming company Gala next month."

"Wait a second—" Andrew looked at Ben. "What is Rachael doing?"

"Madam is in her office."

"Did she finish all her meetings?" When Ben nodded, he looked at the event manager. "Go and look for Rachael after some time. Run everything through her and take suggestions. She will be able to help you better than me."

"Okay boss."

...

[Rachael's Office]

As per Andrew's instruction, the event manager approaches Rachel with the tentative plan his team had prepared.

Looking at the sample pictures, Rachael frowned, "I like your idea but why is everything so dull?"

The company Gala was set to be organised at the Jaxus Hall, which was well known for its extravagant event halls, where many big scale events were organised.

When the manager did not say anything, she added, "The colours which you have selected are very neutral and more on the darker side. It's really not giving me any party vibes."

The colours that dominated almost all the sample pictures were grey, black and all shades of two colours combined. Even the curtains were dull colored.

"That—" The manager awkwardly cleared his throat. "Boss doesn't like bright colours so—"

"So it's him?" Rachael sighed and helplessly shook her head. "I should have guessed earlier."

"Anyway, we can't continue this way," she remarked. "People who attend the Gala should get cheerful vibes and the decoration plays a major role in it."

She then handed the photos back to him. "Change everything and come with a new plan. Don't feel restricted with the colours or other choices, be as innovative and creative as you can."

After giving a few more instruction to the manager, Rachael walked out of her office along with him.

…..

[Andrew's office]

When she entered the office, Andrew was nowhere to be seen.

Thinking he might come soon, she walked towards his desk and sat on his chair.

Just then, her eyes landed on a familiar structure.

She chuckled and picked up the red moon cactus with the initials 'Mr. Collins' written on it.

He didn't just get a plant for her but also the exact same one for himself.

Could her husband be any cuter?

"Are you planning to steal my new plant?" Andrew tossed his blazer on the couch before approaching Rachael as he loosened his tie.

"Is it weird that I want both of them on the table?" She sighed as she carefully examined the cute plant.

"Well—" He grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him. He then sat on the chair and made her sit on his seat. "Three plants might make your table look like a nursery, don't you think?"

"Hubby—" she cupped his face. "Do you want me to bring that plant here and keep it on your table? Because if you mention it one more time, I am really gonna do it."

"No need, you can keep it." He placed his hand on hers. "I know it's special to you."

"And how exactly do you know that?" She raised her brows.

"Didn't you buy that plant during your first business trip which was your first success after joining the company?"

Rachael widened her eyes in shock. "How do you—?"

She had indeed bought the plant to always remember the first business deal she had cracked for the company.

He smiled and kissed the back of hand. "Why are you so surprised? I just happen to know the important events of my wife's life before I became an official part of it."

...