When I was done about thirty minutes later I went out afraid of the dilemma I was about to face but instead there was a mountain of boxes next to the reception booth. I asked, “Is this a wrong order?”
“I thought that until I saw the invoice and noticed two things. One, it had your name on it and not the practice’s; and two, we don’t buy from the company that’s on the logo. Here’s the card that came along with it.” Sharon handed me an envelope. The stationary was thick so I could tell it was of high quality. I opened the card and it read, I hope these count as your own.
Sincerely,
A.D. Jacobs
I took note of the company’s emblem on the envelope and immediately asked, “Could you ask Pedro to put these boxes on a dolly and bring them into my office?” I couldn’t believe what I thought was in the boxes.
I grabbed a smaller box of the bunch and moved warily to my office. When I went in, I closed the door and started opening the box I carried in. My mouth fell open when I saw the Icare, a shoulder bag. As I held it up and was gawking at the beauty of it there was a knock at my door. I yelled for them to come in. It was the remainder of the boxes. I opened them all and lined up every piece of luggage—six in all.
Along with the shoulder bag, it was the Eole 60, Pagase 45 and 65, Garment Cover bag, and Keep All 55. I had to sit for a minute to make sense of it all. My daze was broken when I was notified of my next client. I gathered all of the boxes and plastic that was inside of them and placed them outside of my door so they could be discarded. It took me until the end of the day to call Azmir to say something. I didn’t think a simple thank you would do. The man just bought me over $11,650 worth of luggage!
I wasn’t accustomed to men gifting me and when Azmir sent the phone a few weeks back a small part of me didn’t like it because I didn’t see why. This luggage was different, I’d slipped and shared a personal and private experience with him and he listened. He actually listened, even when I shouldn’t have shared. I couldn’t deny that unnerving side of me that questioned whether or not he did this so that I would go away with him, or wondering if he pitied me. I fought my determined doubts and figured that even if that was his motive, it was still a vacation for me—a nice gesture. So what he gifted me to gift me again! Either way, I gave in to accepting the gifts—again. I knew I needed to acknowledge it. So, I called and got his voicemail. I didn’t think it was appropriate to leave a message for this so I texted him to call. Nothing.
I didn’t hear back from Azmir until almost midnight. He called and woke me out of a sound sleep. “Hello…” I answered.
“I’m sorry to bother you this late, sleepy head.” His voice flowed velvety through the phone igniting every cell in my body.
“Azmir?” I was all breath as my body had become fully awakened at the sound of him.
“Yes. I was in the air for most of the day. Between being in meetings and in bad areas with no reception, I wasn’t able to use my cell at all today. After seeing how many times you tried to contact me, I figured why you were calling.”
“I don’t know how to say it. I wanted to thank you for the gifts…” I tried.
“Oh, you got the Nike’s I sent you? Oh, that’s what’s up!” He tried to use humor to lighten the moment that he could sense was awkward for me.
“No, no, no…for the luggage, silly. You really didn’t have to do that, Azmir. You have to stop this…bounteousness gifting thing. I can’t compete with that. Plus, it’s not like I’m your lady and should expect these lavish things.”
“Like I told you before, you’re not my lady…yet.” My heart nearly leaped from my chest and my breath caught. “Nah, I’m just kidding. It’s nothing…don’t sweat it.”