The fallout and the staff meeting.

Yui comes and puts her hands on Piya’s shoulders. “You knew this was coming dear,” she says comforting her.

“I did. It just hasn’t seemed real up until now. I’m going to miss you both so much that’s all. I’ll be gone for three months,” Piya says as she holds back a tear.

“I can come with you and help you get settled in,” I offer.

“No, it’s fine honestly. You both have so much on over here. Wait until I get set up properly and you can come and visit me then,” Piya tells us.

“Of course,” Yui agrees, “whenever you want. We’ll be there.”

Piya seems to steel herself and pull back together.

“Can you stay with me today though,” she asks us.

“I have to be at school today otherwise you know I would,” Yui says with great regret.

“I have a staff meeting at The Loft to announce the takeover but you could come along with me,” I offer Piya, determined to be there for her. Feeling 100% responsible for her distress as I’m the one that made the decision to send her overseas.

Yui promises to come look after Piya the second she is done with school for the day, promising to help her sort and pack everything she could possibly need for the first three months away. Knowing Yui’s amazing organisational skill, Piya will be leaving with twenty extra suitcases if Yui is left in charge of packing.

Once Yui leaves for work, Piya solemnly takes me back to bed for a lay-in that morning. With just me there she finally allows a few tears to fall at the thought of being parted. Even in her distress, she assures me that I made the most amazing choices for her and she is genuinely so excited to begin work, a part of her will just miss being around everyone.

Later in the day, we take a swim together, the water helping to lift her spirits. Then we take a walk to a nearby deli for some wonderful fresh rolls for lunch.

In the early afternoon, an hour before staff would normally be arriving for work, Piya and I drive to The Loft in her car for the staff meeting. Walking into the venue through the front entrance that has been left unlocked for everyone to come in, I’m spotted quickly by Aaron who makes a beeline to me.

“What are you doing here? I made it pretty clear I fired you on the weekend,” he says puffing himself up like a peacock.

“Listen, Aaron, Holly and Jessica want me here for this so you might as well just wait until you hear what they have to say,” I tell him.

I can tell he isn’t happy with me being there and what I said but doesn’t have the balls to go against Holly and Jess just yet.

Leaving him to stew until the announcement, I lead Piya, who can’t get over the nerve of that guy, to the office where the girls would be. Knocking hello, we’re shown in where I tell them about the shock of Piya’s flight details arriving this morning and that Piya is going to stick around with me today. They accept this without question and immediately go and give Piya a big comforting hug that I am tugged into as well.

When they’ve given it long enough for everyone to arrive for the staff meeting, the four of us leave the office ready to break the news to the staff. Piya spots Dawn in the crowd and waves her a hello before Dawn, excited and surprised to see her there, beckons her over to come and stand with her. Holly, Jess and I make our way to the front of the group with Jessica the one to do all the talking. I’m sure I see a few faces a little confused by why I’m standing there with the two managers.

“Alright thank you all for coming,” Jess begins which quietens everyone down, “so as you might be aware the owners of The Loft have been looking at getting out and divesting themselves of the business.”

This draws a round of boos from the group and a look of worried faces on some of the crowd.

“We’re here to announce today that The Loft has officially been sold and changed hands. I’d like to meet your very new owner’s!”

At this Jessica raises Holly and my hand in victory which causes a big celebration and cheering to erupt inside the closed main hall of the venue. The three of us are beset by a rush of well wishes and congratulations with each of the many staff members coming to hug us and shake our hands. Telling us they are so excited for us and can’t wait to start working for us. The announcement almost uniformly received with shock and overwhelming happiness.

When the flood of well-wishers has almost completely died down and Jessica has yelled for everyone to stop slacking and get ready for their shifts, we’re approached by a very sheepish looking Aaron.

“Soooo, hey, looks like you’re going to still be working here after all. That’s great news,” he mutters.

“About that,” I say, “you’re not going to be needed here anymore so feel free to see yourself out.”

Aaron looks frantically to Holly and Jessica for help.

Holly adds in response, “you heard him. Fuck off!”

His face turning red with rage Aaron storms out, hopefully, never to be seen at The Loft again. With him gone Jessica chastises her fiancée for her language but Holly is wholly unrepentant. The girls say they should really go and see how the staff are doing with the set up soon before we head over to Piya and Dawn.

If I thought Dawn had a crush on me before, after seeing me just fire Aaron, it’s doubled, no, tripled now.

“That was the hottest thing I’d ever seen. I thought you two were doing to fight. I am so wet right now,” Dawn says right in front of my girlfriend.