How things change.

Back in my school days, I was put down almost every day by Elizabeth and her friends. Continuing into my college years. I passed out at the top of my year, and she just passed. I went on to a good career, but she started a slow track to nowhere. No career, just one low-paid job after another. We were both 31 when she came into my life again. I was still working in the same company as I had started with after college, but promoted. I needed a personal assistant, and the job had been advertised the usual way. One of the applicants was Elizabeth, looking dejected, less assertive than when we last saw each other. Neither married nor in any relationship, she was shocked when she first found out who she would be working for. Didn't think she had a chance, but was desperate enough to stay in the hope of getting some type of job, if not the one she came for. I could have easily dismissed her, but she was the only one of the applicants who was available on short notice for travelling. Others had children to arrange care for, so, more out of need than her abilities, she got a trial. After a week, an urgent meeting came up on the other coast, and I was sent as I was able to travel on short notice and was across the subject. Of course, Elizabeth had to accompany me, and it was just supposed to be a fly-in, fly-out, same-day. But as with most plans, they fail almost straight away. The meeting was extended to three days as we were flying to attend it. It wasn't a real problem for me, except that I needed more clothes, same applied to Elizabeth. But there were two big games also on, and hotel rooms were limited. Only one room was available close to the required area I wanted to be. At least it had two beds and clothes shops close by. Shops Elizabeth couldn't afford to shop in, but that didn't concern me. We booked in and left straight away for the meeting. Then I heard the CEO had arranged a dinner for everyone to attend on the second night. After the meeting, we bought clothes at the shops in the hotel. Clothes to cover our needs for our stay, I paid for all of Elizabeth's clothes as well as mine. We were getting on fairly well, and I am not one to dwell on the past. We attended the dinner and enjoyed ourselves after returning to our room. We continued and ended up sleeping together. After the last day's meeting, we flew back home. She stayed with me the night we returned, and moved in with me the following week, and since then we have married and now have 3 children.