Waking up like always, Anna sluggishly step down from her bed, she stretch her hands out and hurried into the washroom.
She freshened up, stride out, and dressed up for work. She tied her hair into a ponytail, wore a blue office suit, black heels, and picked up her channel black bag, complimenting her outfits.
She head out to her parkings, got into her car and drove off.
After an hour drive, she arrived at her company, parked her car in her reserve slot and strode Inside. As she stride into the lobby all gaze landed on her, and the crowd started murmuring, not that she cares, this is like a routine for them to murmur whenever she walks into the company.
She's stiff and doesn't smile at her employees, to her is strictly business. She just walk pass them and got into the elevator to her floor.
Immediately she walk into her office her eyes landed on a figure seated on her chair while he twirls around. "Goodmorning." He greeted and wink at her. She stood there in daze with her mouth wide open.
This is becoming a routine for them to come to the office before her and sit on her chair. She dropped her bag on the floor, walk up to him and grabbed his ear.
"How many times have I warned you and Khalifa to stop sitting on my chair? How dare you sit on the the CEOs chair." she said, her voice echoed in the room.
He cry out in pain and fight for his release but she didn't let go. "I'm sorry, can you please let go, you're hurting me." She chuckled and shove his ass before letting go of his ear.
She picked up her bag from the floor and took a seat on the couch. "Why are you always this cruel? When is it a crime to seat on my sister's chair? Can't you be nice for once?" He whined and pouted.
She chortle and relax on the couch, spread her hands wide and entangle her legs, her gaze on him "Romeo you don't have to act all cute, I'm not one of those girl's that squeal in excitement when you talk to them."
"This isn't fair sis, you should atleast have some respect for..." He didn't finish his sentence.
"You, out of my office, go get me my secretary." She cut him off. He knitted his brow's and stood there, his gaze on her with his pinkish lips slightly opened.
She stood up and start to walk to him, before she could get to him he scurried out of the office and jam the door so hard. "Jerk." She mumbled.
She stride back to her chair and plopped on it, put on her laptop and start to type on it. Minutes later her secretary walk into the office with her pad. "Goodmorning Miss Lee." She greeted with a shaky voice.
Anna look up at her and back to her laptop. "Morning, please get me my coffee." She responded.
Her secretary bobbed her head in response and strode out the office to do as instructed. She came back with a cup of coffee and drop it on her desk.
"Thank you. What's my schedule for today?" she asked taking a sip from her coffee.
"You have a meeting with the employees by 10am, you're meeting Mr Andre at 12pm." She said.
"Okay, please inform everyone to come to the board room." She nodded and strode out of her office.
An hour later the meeting was over, she walk back to her office and plopped on the couch. Minutes later the door flew open a figure walk in smiling sheepishly. "Hey sis." Khalifa said and walk up to her.
"Why are you just coming to work? Do you want to drop in your resignation letter?" She asked with a straight face, making him chortle.
"I have been around, I was with Romeo at the lobby."
"The both of you need to get sacked..... " She was cut off by a knock on her door. "Come in" she answered.
"It's almost time for your meeting." Her secretary informed her. She bobbed her head in response and signaled her to leave.
"Get ready and meet me in the parkings i will drop you off." Khalifa said.
"Who will be in charge when you're not around? Don't worry I will head there myself."
"No I will, Romeo will take over." She wanted to protest but said nothing, she picked up some documents and her bag before they exited the office.
Fourty minutes later they arrived at the restaurant "Go inside, call me when you're done. Khalifa said. She beamed at him and nod her head in response before walking into the restaurant.
"Welcome to emjay's restaurant." A male attendant greeted immediately she walk in, she smiled at him and stride to the VIP reserved room.
She walk in expecting to meet Mr Andre, but to her surprise he wasn't there, she dropped her bag and sat on the wooden chair, hoping to wait for him.
She closed her eyes, lift her legs up and place it on the table, her mouth slightly parted as she sing a song and wiggle her hair to it.
Mr christ walk into the restaurant, he was greeted by an attendant. He nodded and walk to the reserved room alongside his PA. He got there and opened the door, he fidgeted by the figure he just saw, her slender legs on the desk, her brownish long curly hair wiggling as she sang a song, her fair skin radiat the whole room.
A smile escape his lips but he quickly masked it up. His gaze fixated on her, he cleared his throat and walk into the room. " Hello." He said assuming she would shuddered but got the opposite.
She slowly opened her eyes, dropped her legs and stood up from the chair, with her hands In her pocket. "Hey, how can I help you?" She asked with a raised brow. He gaze at her getting more fascinated, did she just called him hey? She doesn't know who he is, a lady asking him how can I help you? Something he has always ask others, this is going to be interesting, he thought.
He stride more into the room and stood a bit close to her "You're in the wrong room, I booked this room, and as you can see it's a VIP room, go back to the receptionist and make inquiries." He said.
She turn around and back to him, her hands on her mouth with her gaze on him, locked together "Did you just say I'm in the wrong room huh? Shssh Where's your manners? You walk into someone else room and claim you booked it before me, goodness thing's are happening."
His mouth gasp open but he quickly masked it up with a slight smile. This lady is interesting, he's loving every bit of this, where's he's manner's? Who the hell is she? She got nerves and audacity to talk back at him. His PA wanted to make a move but he quickly make him halt.
"I'm sure your secretary made the reservation why not call and confirm from her, maybe you're the one without manner's." She clench her fist in anger and picked up her phone, putting it on speaker.
A smile curved his face as he watch her dail a contact and placed it on her ear "Hello, what's the room number you reserved for me?" She asked in an angry tone making her secretary cringe.
"It's room 406." Her secretary responded and she hung up and turn to the figure standing in front of her with his crystal blue eyes fixated on her. "You heard it, so I will appreciate if you take your leave now."
He gulped and turn to his PA who has been standing watching the two exchange words. "Go get me the receptionist." He ordered.
His secretary dash out of the room and came back with the receptionist. "Sir you sent for me." She said immediately she got there.
He turn to her "What's my room number?"
"It's 405 sir." He felt embarrassed. They have always reserved room 406, why was today different? He thought.
She looked at him with a raised brow.
"You can go now." She said and the receptionist walk out of the room.
"Since you heard her, kindly take your leave, before I call in the security." She threatened.
A smile grace his face, is she trying to threaten him? It doesn't end here, he needs to find out about her. "I hope to see you soon." He muttered to her.
"We won't cross path again, even in your next life." She blurted out. They turned on their heels and walk out of the room.
"Find out who she is, where she works, her background and everything." He ordered. His PA bobbed his head in response, and quietly followed behind.
After the meeting with her client, she called khalifa to come pick her up. Minutes later, he drove her back to the company.
"Do you need anything? Should I get you lunch?' khalifa asked.
"No I don't need anything, I want to rest now." He nod his head in response before striding out of her office. She plopped on the sofa and took a nap. After the long nap, she stood up and got back to work.
She sat on her chair and start to review some documents until it was time to go home. Khalifa walk back into the office, "Sis it's time to go home." He informed.
She stood up and pick some documents and her bag before striding out of the office. They hopped into the car and drove home.
An hour later, they arrived at the mansion and parked at the parking lots. She walk into the house alongside khalifa, they were greeted by the scent of food. "Billie is at it again, doing what she knows how to do best." Khalifa said and she nodded in agreement.
He walk to his room while she stride to the kitchen. "You there." She said with a smile etched on her face, leaning on the door. "Welcome back home sis, how was work today?" Billie asked, her focus on what she was doing.
"It was fine, what are you making for dinner?"
"Go and freshen up, dinner will be ready soon." She said ignoring her question.
Anna shrug and walk to her room to freshen up, she strip off her clothes and walk into the shower, minutes later she walk out and dry her hair, change into a baggy t-shirt and sweetpants.
She walk back to the dinning and took a seat beside romeo "You when did you get home?" She asked and nudging him.
A sigh lips through his lips. "Not long after you came home." Remeo responded.
"Let's eat." Billie announced. They ate quietly, minutes later they were done, the guys helped wash the dishes while the Ladies walk to the living room to watch an evening show
Khalifa and Romeo quickly do the dishes and walk back to join the Ladies, they were engross in the movie they were seeing when Anna's phone rang, she check the caller ID, and got a bit confuse. Why was he calling at this time of the night?
"Hello." She said immediately she picked up.
"The.. the..store.. house.. is..is on fire." He stuttered.
"What?" She yelled. The phone slip from her hands and fell on the floor making the others looked at her.
Christ was in his office, busy going through some documents When his door crept open. He lifts his head up to see the figure, he's gaze landed on his PA holding some files with a sad expression. "Boss, these are the information you asked for, he said and handed it over to his boss.
Everything about her is in there, her name is Anna Lee, she's the CEO of Simon furniture company, she started the company six months ago, and already doing well in business. A little of her background is hidden, there's no information about her family."
"And Something bad happened to her last night." Christ lift his head up from the document, and gave him a look of go on, her store house was set ablaze." Christ clench his fist at the mentioned of her store house set ablaze, he wanted to rip the document he was holding, but he quickly controlled himself and look up to his PA.
"What do you mean her store house was set ablaze, who was behind it? How did it happen?" He asked, getting furious, thoughts of how she would be feeling runs through his mind.
Seeing his reaction, his PA cringe, and took a few steps back from him, whenever he's boss react this way, he would eliminate anyone who steps on him. "I'm sorry, boss, I don't know how it happened, she was supposed to have an audition by the end of this week, but everything got burnt down." Christ picked up his remote control and put on the TV, and just like expected it was already on the news, the paparazzi are all over her company.
"When did this happen? Who is behind all of this? Who dare to do such a thing?" Christ asked all at once.
His PA was surprise on how he got affected by the incident, they just meet yesterday but here he is trying to look for the person behind it. He has never seen him react in such a way over a woman, but here he is furious over the incident, because of a woman he meet yesterday.
"It happened at night, I don't know the person behind it, I didn't check up on it because you didn't ask me to." Christ retracted his gaze from the screen, packed the documents on his desk, and through it to him. His PA hurriedly squat to the floor to pick them up.
"Idiot, do I have to ask you to check who was behind it? What are you still doing here? Get lost, I need to know who was behind it before the end of today." He yelled, making his PA fidgeted.
He nodded, drop the flies on his desk, and turn on his heels and exit his office. Immediately he walks out, the door crept open again. "What are you still doing here? Didn't I tell you to..." He was cut off when a figure walked in with a smile curved on her face.
This is going to get more bad, he thought. She walks to him and sat on his desk, placed her bag behind with her hands on his cheek, "Hey cutie, I miss you." She said, caressing his cheek.
He exhaled and release his fist that had been clench, "Ashley what do you want? I made myself clear the last time we met, what are you doing in my office and who gave you the validity to walk in?" He asked and stood up from his seat, leaving her on the desk.
She stood up from the desk, walk to his couch and plopped on it, "I have missed you, Is it a crime for me to come see my baby? You have been ignoring my calls, and all I could think of is come see you, you should be happy someone like me wants you." She said, playing with her long pink nails.
He chortles but quickly masked it up, who cares if a girl like her wants him? She's a beautiful woman who couldn't be resisted by men, but he's not just interested in her. "Ashley I'm not pleased someone like you is interested in me, we can't be together, you're not my type of woman, stay away from me before I do something we both will regret." He said in a calm tone.
She burst out laughing hysterically until she started choking on her laughter, she stood up from the couch and walk close to him their breath inches away, she lean closer to him and whisper in his ear "I Know you want me just as much as I want you, stop playing hard to get. Let me love you, I want to make you mine." She said and claimed his lips.
He was starting to give in but quickly shoved her away "Listen this should be the last time I see you here in my office, if you dare show your face to me again, I will have the security throw you out of my office, hope I made myself clear? Now take your bag and leave my office."
Tears start to well up from her eyes, she started feigning pretence to be hurt. "Who is the bitch in your life that's making you turn me down? Who the hell is she? I want to teach her a lesson, she should stay away from my man, if I can't have you, any one else would." She said, and threw the documents on his table, they all came flying to the ground.
"You don't even stand a chance with the bitch you're referring to, yes she's a bitch, but she's my bitch, this should be the last time you call her with such names, if there's any bitch here, it's you." She raised her hands to slap him, but he quickly held it back and pulled her hair back. "Don't ever think of laying your flirting hands on me, if you do, you will regret the day you were born." He said and shoved her to the couch.
The sound of someone clapping their hands got their attention, they diverted their gaze to the door, Liam walks in grinning from ear to ear while he claps his hands. Liam is the eldest son of Salvador, and also the dumbest among the three sons. "Fascinating, I never knew the both of you could act pretty well, I should open a film industry where you both would come work for me."
Christ was already having a bad day, and yet another drama is about to unfold." What are you doing here, I don't remember doing business with you or being your business partner for you to be here, and you clearly know you're not welcome to my office."
Liam looked at him with a puppy eyes and pouted, "Is that how you welcome your big brother? We haven't seen each other for months now, you can't just sat and not come say hello." He said fixing his tux.
Christ was boiling inside, the sight of his brother disgust him, he gets irritated anytime he set his eyes on him. Before he could respond, Ashley stood up from the couch "What are you doing here? Do you miss me that badly that you have to follow me around? Are you tailing me?" She asked all her once. Liam has always wanted to make Ashley his girlfriend, but has never once gotten what he wanted.
Liam's demeanor changed, he grits his teeth and a small scoff escape his lips "Kitty I'm not following you around, and it wouldn't be a bad thing if I do, at least I want you unlike some folk who don't care if they hurt your feelings, I want you to be happy."
She closes the space between them and pointed her nails to his chest, "I won't stand here and watch you insult my man, he's better off than you pig." She blurted out without feeling remorseful.
Liam's fist was clench, he fake a smile at her and shook his head. "Ain't you ashamed of yourself? You should be ashamed of yourself, the man you're defending doesn't want you, but here you're defending him. Do you think he will like you just because you do that, huh?"
Christ got feed up listening to their gibberish and step in, "Brother Liam, please take your leave before I call the security, you're not welcome here." He said and pointed his hand to the door for him to leave.
He chuckles, his gaze fixated on Ashley, "I will leave, but I will be back." Liam said and dash out of the office.
Christ heaved a light sigh and turn to Ashley. "Please, you should also leave with him, I have had enough of the drama."
She picked up her bag from the desk and fixed her hair, "I'm going to give you a second Chance, call me when you make up your mind, and don't keep me waiting for too long." She said and turned on her heel's.
Immediately she was out of sight, he heaved a loud sigh he never knew he held inside. He picked up the documents his PA brought him and walk out of the office.
Anna kept pacing back and front, different though hasten through her mind. Who would do such a thing to her? Who is planning to tarnish and sabotage her? The one people she could think of right now, didn't recognize her the last time they met at a banquet, and she has not been in touch with them for years now, so there's no possibility that they are behind it.
Just six months into starting a company, they are trying to ruin her, everything she has worked hard for is crumbling in the blink of an eye. Who is going to help her? She's about to go bankrupt. Where is she going to get the money to put things back together?
She can't go to the bank and take out loan, if the paparazzi find out, it will ruin the company and her image, but right now, that's the only way out, she doesn't have anyone to lend her money, putting her mansion as collateral would be the best, She thought.
Khalifa and Romeo just sat down and stare blankly at her, both of them deep in their thoughts. Romeo felt guilty about everything, he was the one who gave her a go ahead to reveal herself as the CEO of the company, if he hadn't done that maybe all this probably wouldn't have happened, the exhibition would have been successful. But now he has cause so much lost to the company.
Khalifa had warned her not to reveal the CEO of the company, until the exhibition, people should find out when they grace the occasion. He also felt guilty, even when he had no fault in it. Possibly someone might have eavesdropped on their conversation and use it against her. He heaved a loud sigh he never knew he was holding, stood up from the couch and walk up to her. He halt in front of her and turn her to look at him, their gaze locked together. "Sis Anna..." He said, and the remaining words never came out.
She quickly pulled him into a hug and allow the tears that welled up in her eyes to stream down. She sobbed uncontrollably while Khalifa just held her and pat her back slowly. Likewise, she cried until she couldn't cry anymore, finally she stops. "I apologise for everything, if I had listened to you all this wouldn't have happened, if I had not revealed myself as the CEO of the company, I'm sure the store house wouldn't have been set ablaze. I'm sorry I didn't listen to all you said to me." She said in between sob.
He just hugged her and continue stroking her back gently, truly maybe if she had not revealed herself as the owner of the company, this wouldn't have happened. But no one is to be blame, she has done nothing to deserve this after working hard for four years, everything is trying to crumble in the blink of an eye.
Who would have done such a thing? What had she done to deserve this?
What has she done and to whom?
Just within six months into the business, she was able to rank second in the business world, but that doesn't give whoever did that the right to set the store house on fire, Khalifa thought.
"What do I do now." Anna asked, bringing him out of his deep thought.
"Where do I start and how do I start? It took me four years to get to where I'm today, who do I go to? I can't even show my face to my father, not after what happened." She said, and started sobbing again.
Romeo stood up from the couch and stride a few steps to where they were standing, he pulled her out of the hug, and turn her to look at him.
"Sis, this isn't the time to give up, the company hasn't crumbled yet, we can still work hard and get everything we just lost. I know it won't be easy, but that doesn't mean we should just give up. I believe in you, and I believe in what you can go.
You were the same person that picked me up from the street 17 months back, and you're also the same person that picked Khalifa from the street 12 months back, you took us in when you had nothing, I met you when you were still striving to start up this company, and you had nothing then.
But yet, you were still able to do it with hard work, dedication and determination. I still believe you can do it, we can't give up yet, whoever did this would be happy they ruin you, but now isn't the time for you to give up, they would be happy you did, and I can't stand and watch that happen, not when I'm alive." Romeo said, hoping he had convinced her.
"Sis Romeo is right, you worked hard for this when you had nothing, but you still strive to make sure you won, all hope isn't lost yet, there's still a lot of hope, we will stand by you and make sure you regain everything you lost. I'm sorry this had to happen, I just feel I'm responsible for everything that is happening." Khalifa added.
She sniffed and use her hands to wipe the tears from her eyes, a small smile appeared on her face. She excuses herself and walk to her restroom to clean up, she came back with her face cleaned from the tears, but her eyes were a bit swollen from crying. "We shouldn't give up, right? When we feel there's no hope, and we can't get one, we should make one for ourselves, isn't it?" She asked, and the two other figure bobbed their head in response with a smile on their faces.
"Yes, when all hope is lost, we should make one for ourselves, we're all in this together, we will do anything you ask of us."
"Good, what's the time now?" She asked and Khalifa checked and notify her. "Okay let's talk after my meeting with Mrs Maria, she texted me yesterday that she would be at the company, she should be here any moment from now." She informed.
"Alright, if you need us, we will be outside waiting to hear from you." Romeo said. She shook her head and watch them leave the office.
She quickly touches her face up and sat down in her chair, when a knock was heard on the door. "Yes come in." She answered.
Her secretary walk in, "Mrs. Maria is here to see you." She informed her.
"Right on time, I was expecting her, please let her in." She responded. Her secretary walk out and Mrs Maria walk in with a sad expression.
Anna stood up to welcome her, but she halt when she noticed her expression. "Are you okay?" She asked her.
Mrs Maria took a seat and lift her head up to her, "I'm sorry about what happened, I just saw the news on my way here, why didn't you call me? It must have been hard for you."
Mrs Maria is an old friend of her late mum, and she was like a mother to Anna. After her father threw her out from the house, Mrs Maria took her in to work for her as a receptionist, she even offered to help her, but Anna declined because she never wants to be indebted to anyone. "I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking straight, I don't know who I should have called." Anna responded, feeling a bit guilty she made her worry.
Mrs Maria stayed quiet before she finally spoke up "Okay, I know you don't like taking help from me even if I'd like to, so I won't force it, you never did four years back, and I know you won't accept it even if I offer to help."
Anna smiled, "If I need any help I will contact you right away. How is the opening for the hotel going? Is the construction completed?"
Mrs Maria heaved a light sigh "That's the reason I ask to meet with you yesterday, the construction is completed, I just need to furnish the whole rooms and I want you to be in charge, there are one hundred and thirty rooms, and I will need all the rooms with your best furniture, soft and lights ones that can withstand years of use." She said and rested her gaze on her Palms.
Anna's face brightens up, just when she thought hope was lost, she's already having work to do, which will cost a Fortune. But it still won't pay for what she had lost. "Okay, when is the opening?" Anna asked.
"As soon as your work is done, I won't waste another day to announce it's opening. You can come over to the hotel and take a look at it before you start the work. Just make the calculations and how much everything will cost, I will send my secretary to you for the check." Mrs Maria said and stood up from the chair.
"I will do just that, thank you for choosing my company, we're honored." She said with a light smile.
"It's okay, I will choose you a thousand times, over and over again. And make sure you find a solution to all this, don't just sat in your office and cry your eyes out."
Anna was taken aback, was it still obvious she has been crying? "Okay, I won't, thank you." She said.
Mrs Maria pat her softly before she turned on her heel's and exited the office. Anna sigh and plopped on her seat, just when she was about closing her eyes, she heard a knock again and release a grunt. "Come in."she answered.
"Ma'am, someone named Mr Christ is here to see you." She informed.
"Mr Christ?" She asked with a raise of brow's and eyes wide open.