Maranya returned to her office after morning rounds to find a neat pile of hardcopy correspondence on her desk. She shook her head in faint amusement. "By the Beyond, these seem to multiply like Tribbles every chance they get," she murmured, and picked up the stack to flip through.

After much contemplation over her third mug of WonderCoffee that day, her long fingers played her keyboard like a piano while she typed up a draft response to the correspondence from the director of admissions at Pendleton University. Then she picked up the last envelope in the stack, with her name written in red ink on it.

This is my week for personal correspondence, it seems.

She removed the sheet of white parchment and read the letter. Soft laughter escaped her, and she set the parchment aside.

In some ways, Maranya felt like she was married to her fianc's already when it came to presenting gifts for various events. Antonio gave her full run of his warehouses to "plunder", and she made sure to select presents that reflected his thoughtfulness, as well as that of Alper and herself. She routinely signed the gift card with all their names.

This deserves the personal touch.

She removed a sheet of cream colored paper from her desk drawer, and began to write on it in a neat, precise calligraphic handwriting with her black fountain pen.

Dear Darcy, I am glad that you enjoyed the platinum peacock jewelry, matching silk dress, and gift certificate to a day spa. 'Tonio, Alper, and I thought that you would enjoy them.

I had a marvelous time at your party.

Thank you for being my friend.

Best wishes always,

Anya

Once the ink was dry, she carefully folded the letter in thirds, slipped the paper into an envelope, and addressed it in the same neat calligraphic handwriting. Then she set the envelope aside, to go out with the afternoon mail.