His Knees, His Pleas, But Our Son's in Peace

I started to walk closer as I was eager to see the artistic beauty on her canvas. But before I could get too far, Blair suddenly appeared beside me. He gently grabbed my arm and said, "Doris, we have to go. The client is waiting for us inside. We can not keep them waiting

any longer". []

I hesitated, glancing back at the painter. "But.."]

Reluctantly, I allowed Blair to lead me into the meeting. The client, a distinguished older woman, sat in a grand room. She was waiting for us. She greeted us with an air of authority, introducing herself only as 'manager.[]

"Please, call me 'manager," she said, her tone leaving no room for pleasantries. She didn't waste time, jumping straight into business.

Her questions were pointed and technical, and I did my best to answer them clearly and confidently. But as the conversation progressed, the questions became harder, pushing my knowledge to its limits.]This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

Manager's sharp gaze didn't waver. "You'll need to solve these issues if we are to move forward with the order. The large contract is ready, but it depends on how quickly you can handle the technical problems."]

Blair, sitting beside me, looked uneasy. He leaned over and whispered, "Is she deliberately making things difficult?"

I shook my head slightly and whispered back, "It doesn't matter. If we secure this deal, we'll be able to update production and make the business more profitable. It'll help us provide better security for the PACK members." I was determined. Securing this order was critical.

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Blair seemed reassured by my resolve, but the tension in the room was still there. The meeting dragged on, with Manager probing deeper into the technical aspects, but eventually, she seemed satisfied.

"Very well," Manager said as she stood up, signaling the end of the discussion. "I expect quick solutions."

I exchanged a glance with Blair. "We must provide technical assistance and solutions to the issues, right?"

Blair nodded, her expression serious. "Yes, we definitely will."

After the meeting, Blair and I exited the building, and as we walked through the garden again, I couldn't help but think about the young woman painting earlier. I looked around, hoping to see her again, or at least her artwork. But when we reached the spot where she had been, the easel was empty-there was no trace of her.

Just as I was about to ask Blair about it, a housekeeper approached me, holding a large painting. "This was left for you," she said, handing it to me.]

I took the painting from her and was struck by the image before me. The image was serene, almost magical, and it stirred something deep within me.]

It depicted a woman standing in a vast field of sunflowers, her arms wide open, embracing the horizon.

I picked up my phone, feeling the weight of the day pressing down on my shoulders. The meeting had been a whirlwind of stress. It was filled with unexpected challenges that left me reeling. I needed to talk to someone who understood. I dialed Vesta's number, my heart racing a little as I waited for her to pick up.

"Hey, Doris! What's up?" Vesta's cheerful voice broke through the tension in my chest, like a warm ray of sunlight. "Oh,

His Knees. His Pleas. But Our Son's in Peace

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Vesta, you won't believe the day I've had. The meeting was so stressful, and there were some bizarre things happening. I just need to vent."

"Sounds rough! Why don't I come up to your office? We can chat about it in person," she suggested without missing a beat, even though our majors had diverged since high school.]

A flicker of excitement stirred within me at the idea. "Really? But are you sure you want to do that?"]

"Of course! Remember how we used to talk for hours about everything and anything back in high school? I miss those days. It'll be like old times," Vesta replied, her voice warm and inviting.

Her words wrapped around my heart, pulling me back to afternoons filled with laughter and late-night study sessions that turned into deep conversations. "Okay, let's do it! I'd love to catch up."[]

After hanging up, I gathered my papers, my heart fluttering with anticipation. The familiar surroundings of my office felt comforting as I prepared for our reunion. I was eager to share what had been weighing on my mind. []

"Doris!" Vesta exclaimed, beaming as she opened the door. We hugged tightly, and I felt my worries begin to fade away. "I'm so glad you're here!"]

"Me too! I really needed this," I said, taking a seat at her desk.

We settled in, and I dove into the details of the day, sharing the challenges I had faced. "It's just so overwhelming sometimes," I confessed, running my fingers through my hair.]

Vesta nodded, her expression serious yet kind. "You're handling a lot. But you know what? You're not alone in this. We'll figure it out together."

"We'll brainstorm ideas. That always helps," she said, a determined glint in her eye.

As we began brainstorming, we shared some laughs, reminiscing about our high school days. "Remember that time we got lost on the way to the science fair?" Vesta laughed, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "We ended up at that random pizza place instead!" "Yes! And we were so late that we didn't even get to present our project!" I giggled, the memory bringing warmth to my

heart.

"Good times!" she said, her laughter infectious. "Sometimes I wish we could go back to those days."[]

"Me too. Life was so much easier then," I replied, sighing a little.]

"True, but we've grown a lot since then," Vesta reassured me. "And we can still make time for each other, no matter how busy life gets."

Her words resonated deeply, filling me with hope. "You're right. Thank you for being such a supportive friend," I said sincerely.

Just then, Carlos appeared at the door, bringing a tray of coffee.]