“Did you see City People today?”
“No, I was too busy. What‘s the latest gossip?”
“What if I tell you that your star is rising?”
Gladys raised her eyebrows in disbelief and Ola nodded. She brought a copy of the magazine and opened it on the table to the page she wanted. Gladys craned her neck for a good look and almost choked.
“You are serious!”
Ola laughed at her. “Did you think I was joking?”
Gladys tried to cobble her thoughts together. She‘d been dating Edward for several months now and though some smaller tabloids had alluded to her, this was the first time on the premier gossip magazine. The picture was of both of them arriving at the music album launch. She was glad it wasn‘t taken in the upper room but cringed when Ola read out the accompanying text. It wasn‘t different from all the others; they noted that she was an unknown compared to his former escorts. The reporter only stopped short of calling her a gold-digger. Gladys dropped her fork and fell back against her seat.
“Don‘t be like that. Not many people read the paper or take them serious.”
“Ola, this is City People. And look at that caption.”
“I understand how you feel Gladys, but really what the paper and its journalists write doesn‘t matter to the people that know you. The more important thing is how you both treat your relationship and each other.”
Gladys decided to confide in her. They‘d gotten close in the past months. Also Ola had been in the same relationship for several years now and was getting married just after the New Year. “Ola, who is to say Edward won‘t share the same sentiments with time?”
“You would‘ve seen signs by now. What do you think?”
“We do have our misunderstandings.” Gladys didn‘t give details of their last quarrel. She‘d accepted his apology and their relationship was better now compared to how it was before that day. But those unexpected words still rankled sometimes.
“No issue is too difficult if you‘re willing to work at it.”
“The main problem is that I worry he doesn‘t respect my wishes because he‘s more wealthy. See, at the beginning of our relationship I insisted I didn‘t want him to buy me anything. However, after a trip to the States, he gave me an expensive gold link watch plus a bottle of designer perfume. Please, I hope you understand that I don‘t mean to boast.”