Mood: tap the media box above to listen to You Need To Calm Down by Taylor Swift.

Lord, what fools these mortals be!

— William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream

Friday morning, one week later.

After spending the past week in Abu Dhabi with one of Hudson Engineering's major clients, Castello Consolidated Industries (CCI), I was jet-lagged and tired.

Earlier in the week at CCI's main auditorium, I presented the company's latest well integrity technology that aimed to reduce environmental risks and minimize non-productive time for jobs performed on the rigs.

Of course, I didn't do this alone—I took Elise Blatt, one of Hudson's chief engineers responsible for this new technology, to answer the in-depth technical questions from CCI's engineers after the presentation was finished.

It was also an opportunity for Elise to really shine during a meeting later in the week, where she engaged directly with the client on trialing her work on selected oil fields.

It was our teamwork that contributed to securing bigger projects with CCI later down the track, elevating Elise's position at Hudson Engineering.

One of the important things I learned in my career was the importance of women supporting women in the workforce. It did far more good than the contrary.

As the plane landed, I switched off the fly mode on my phone, waiting for messages to come through.

Ping!

Maddy BFF: R u back yet? I miss u, babe. Coming to the Koala Bar tonight? ❤️

Eva <3 : Aww, I miss u too, hun. Sure. What time?

Maddy BFF: 8pm?

Eva <3 : Cool. C u there. 😘

Ping!

Sven Handsome: Babe, I can't wait to see you. How was your flight?

Sexy Lady: I've got a stiff neck. The plane landed. I'll catch a cab home.

Sven Handsome: I'll see you soon. 😍

Sexy Lady:  Aren't you supposed to be at uni?

Sven Handsome: Yes. 😉

Ping!

Mary Work: Are you coming into work today?

Crazy #bosswoman: I've got the day off. Is everything okay?

Mary Work: I just need your approval for the seats for the Brisbane Corporate Ball.

Crazy #bosswoman: I emailed you with the approval last night. Add a plus one for me, though.

Mary Work: Oh. Sorry, yeah. Okay, all's good. Enjoy your day off! 😊

As I walked past the doors through to the arrival hall with my suitcase, I noticed a certain someone standing in the crowd, holding a bouquet of assorted flowers, and wearing a smile as wide as the Grand Canyon.

"Oh shit, Sven, you're here!" I gasped, temporarily letting go of my luggage, before strolling it toward him.

His arms stretched wide open, inviting me for a hug, which I couldn't refuse.

"I missed you so much, babe," he whispered, peppering my head with kisses, as I breathed in his fresh, spicy scent.

"You missed class for me?" I wondered, breathing the sweet fragrance of my flowers before pressing them to my chest.

This guy was a magician with a bag full of surprises.

"Yeah. You're worth it. I'll return your car to you in a moment. I took care of it, you know?"

"Thank you. The first thing I want to do when I get home is shower."

"Can I join?" Sven's mischievous grin made me believe that he willed what he wanted by charming people with that Colgate smile.

"I need my shower space today," I replied.

"Can I watch?"

"My, you are relentless, Sven!" I pinched his butt as we walked toward the car park.

He retaliated by giving me the tickle of the century, which created an air of comedic chaos in the car park.

I hated tickles and he knew it.

***

The Koala Bar, eight p.m. on Friday.

Move those hips, baby. I love the way you work.

I watched Sven shake his hips to the upbeat tune of the blaring music, as he moved up and down the bar, taking orders and making drinks. He smiled at every person and paid attention to their orders, as if nothing else mattered.

A bunch of college girls giggled and whispered as they eyed Sven, who was oblivious to their interest in him.

He was now mixing a delicious cocktail for his next customer.

Was this guy always so happy at work?

"Here's your drink, gorgeous," my sexy bartender handed me a margarita.

"How much is it?" I asked, as I fished out my Visa card.

"It's on the house," Sven insisted, flashing a sexy grin, before turning away to take the next order.

"Sooo, you're getting free drinks from the bartender. I should report this," a familiar voice snarled at me.

Fucking Cyborg. She really had the pitchfork ready to stab me.

Tonight she wore a skintight white mini-dress, not leaving much left for the imagination. I noticed some fake tan marks along the sides of Ingeborg's dress.

"Nice outfit. You know, the fried Barbie look was never in fashion," I snapped back, referring to her orange makeup and electrocuted blonde hair.

"Sven bought me this outfit." Ingeborg smoothed her dress in a sensual manner.

I took a sip of my margarita and rolled my eyes. Why won't she leave me alone?

"My, my... You are quite the cradle snatcher. Everyone in our social circle knows that he's with you because you're buying him. In reality, he's not into some washed out Australian like you, trying to steal our men," Cyborg spat.

"You're a cougar and he just turned twenty-three. You should be ashamed of yourself," she hissed at me.

"How old are you, Ingeborg?" I asked.

"Twenty-two. I'm still in my prime." She laughed at my face.

"You may look twenty-two but you behave like an eight-year-old brat. Grow the fuck up, Ingeborg. I have nothing more to say to you." I took another sip of my margarita before placing it on the bar.

"Heisann!" Kaya sprung up from behind me and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Eva, Maddy's been looking for you," she declared.

"Du er en ku," Cyborg barked at Kaya, before storming off.

"Kaya?" I was confused at what was going on.

"She just called me a cow. Come with me. Maddy's in the courtyard having a smoke," she answered.

Kaya linked her arm around mine and waved at Sven, who returned the wave from behind the bar before serving another customer.

A minute later, Maddy, Kaya and I stood outside in the courtyard, smoking cigarettes.

"I don't normally smoke, but I needed one after running into Cyborg," I confessed.

"Yeah, she has that effect on people," Kaya sympathized.

"What's her issue with you?" I asked, while Maddy bit her lip.

"Kaya and Sven used to be friends with benefits," Maddy revealed.

"That was before he was with Ingeborg," Kaya added.

"So? What's the big fucking deal then?" I didn't understand Ingeborg's problem.

"Um, I was the one Sven cheated on Ingeborg with..." Kaya rolled her eyes, inhaling her cigarette.

"Oh wow," I stammered.

"It was just a little fun. Sven was about to break up with her and he came to me for advice," Kaya confessed.

"Eva, are you feeling okay?" Maddy asked.

"I never saw cheating as a bit of fun. Not for Ingeborg, and not for anyone," I argued.

Phew, I shot another pink elephant in the room. However, I knew how it felt to be cheated on, and it sliced my heart like a gigantic razor cutting through layers of bleeding skin.

The courtyard air was enveloped in silence and the hazy smoke from our cigarettes.

"But the past stays in the past. Tonight and every other night from here on." I released a slow smile at Kaya and Maddy.

"You're pretty cool, you know that? I always thought you had a bit of bad-ass in you, especially after karaoke night." Kaya smiled back.

"You were there?" My eyes shot up in surprise.

"Yeah, we were all there!" Kaya giggled.

"Sven adores you," she declared.

"Oh Kaya, you crack me up! You're full of jokes tonight." I laughed, feeling the invisible wall rise up to guard my true feelings.

"No, Eva. He really does," Maddy added. "I was wrong about my younger man/older woman stigma, by the way."

"Oh?" My mouth formed the perfect O.

"You're right about Sven and your dad. I remember when your dad screwed over your family with child support and how upset you were at school that week. Sven would never pull a dickhead move like that." Maddy patted my arm.

"Damn, you know I'm right about Sven." I grinned at my best friend.

"You were right about something else. I'm going to miss Jonas when he leaves," Maddy admitted.

"Have you guys talked about it?" I asked.

"Yeah. Jonas wants us to stay as friends when he leaves at the end of the year." Maddy's eyes flickered with pain and her chin began to quiver.

"Oh shit, Mads. I'm sorry." I reached out and hugged Maddy.

I felt a warm tear drop on the back of my left shoulder. I refused to let go for a solid minute, hugging her tighter, while her shoulders shook with pain and more tears spilled down my shoulder.

Sometimes the best thing to say was nothing at all in moments of grief and comfort.

Kaya patted Maddy's shoulder, muttering, "we are all fools at one point in our lives."

Maddy drew back, wiped her eyes and smiled at us.

"I love you both. You've got my back," she stated.

"We love you too, Mads. I've always got your back," I assured.

"Alright, I'm going back inside to find Jonas. I'm going to ask him to take me home," Maddy said, leaving just Kaya and myself alone in the courtyard.

Under normal circumstances, I would tell Maddy to stay longer. However, her heart was heavy with feelings that she needed to unload in her own private sanctuary.

"I overheard what Ingeborg said to you about our social circle. Not all of us share the same opinion as her. Sven's a genuine guy. I know him," Kaya affirmed.

"I figured that," I replied, chuckling at my own joke that referred to Kaya's last sentence.

"There's no danger of me stealing him from you," Kaya purred, taking one step forward.

My breathing raced faster as Kaya took another step closer to me.

She caressed my cheek and gazed intently into my curious eyes. Her sky blue eyes were now dilated, dark circles, deep with desire.

"I want to kiss you," she murmured, still stroking my cheek.

I wanted to kiss her too, but I couldn't do that behind Sven's back.

"Um, I'm really flattered, but I'm kind of seeing Sven and I'm not the cheating type," I took one step back and gently placed Kaya's hand close to her body.

"You're blushing." Kaya's eyes glittered playfully, as she stroked my hand.

I was speechless.

I felt as if I was in a scene of A Midsummer Night's Dream, with the fairies dancing around me, Oberon, Titania, and Puck, weaving their ways of trickery in an enchanted forest.

Only then did I realize that there was something that I needed to ask Sven.

He tried to tell me something that seemed important to him, but I was too far gone in my deep sleep earlier that day, due to jet lag and overwork.

By the time I woke up, he had already left for work. I needed to know what Sven wanted to tell me.

I couldn't get enough of him. My feelings for him were uncontrollably insatiable.

I was considering a life-changing decision that would stir, shake, and rock my world.

"Kaya, there's something I have to ask Sven!" I proclaimed.

I ran back inside the club faster than a lightning bolt, like an idiot in love.

A/N: What's your favorite Shakespeare play? I love them all, with my top three being: Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, and A Midsummer Night's Dream.