CHAPTER 8: Achilles Heel

As soon as the show was over, Annalia walked straight to the VIP area to relax and cool off. She was ready for the hosts' and the audience's questions. However, when they were answered—particularly the ones that were out of the line—Annalia was forced to provide a safe response even though she was already finding it difficult to express her annoyance.

"Are you hungry? I'll order food for you. You didn't eat this morning, did you?" Don enquired with concern. Donovan's offer was declined by Anna, who instead responded by saying that they should phone their father. There is still the matter of her father's plans for her to take Adam on as her personal bodyguard, which they need to discuss.

"Where's Dad?" Annalia asked Don.

"He should arrive any minute now."

Annalia responds with a simple nod of her head before returning to nap. In the meantime, Donovan left the VIP room to get some lunch for Anna. While she was taking a moment to relax, the door abruptly opened, which caused Anna to frown. Inside this room, only she and Donovan are permitted to be there.

 "Donovan gave me permission to look over you," Adam said after closing the door. 

Coldly, Anna replied, "Well, I didn't allow you to come here." Adam couldn't help but smile in amusement at Anna's comment, but he didn't let it bother him even a bit. 

Adam answered with a mocking shrug and commented, "You are still not my boss." Annalia gave a sarcastic chuckle as she crossed her arms over her chest. This guy always has a response ready for what she has to say. It's driving her crazy!

"So, was that exactly what happened to you when you were kidnapped?" Adam asks after a brief silence. 

"What do you think?" A snarky response from Anna to his question. Adam can only look at her helplessly and shake his head at her behavior. If her fans saw this, it would be the end of her career. Tsk. Silas Santiago had just arrived while Adam was in the middle of eyeing her. 

"Dad." "Mr. Santiago."

"Annalia, my daughter!" Mr. Santiago cheerily exclaims from across the room to his daughter. Instantaneously, he focused his attention on Adam, and with a broad grin, he said, "Adam, it's great that you're keeping a tight check on Anna."

Adam responded with proper courtesy by saying, "My pleasure, sir." After talking for a bit, Adam hurried off to join the other security personnel standing watch inside the building.

"How's your day, mi hija?" Mr. Santiago affectionately stated. Anna gives him a condescending eye roll before getting to her feet and walking over to the vanity. She slowly scrutinized her face while she reapplied her signature red lipstick. Beautiful yet damaged.

"Are you going to elaborate at this time?" Annalia inquires in a tone indicating apathy. She overheard her father heaving a sigh of defeat as if there was no point in concealing the information from her. Tense was clearly visible in Mr. Santiago's eyes as he looked at Annalia. 

"Anna, he is completely ignorant about everything," Silas began. Annalia maintains her silence, which serves as a cue for Silas to proceed with the sentence. "He wasn't there when the incident happened."

Annalia replied to her father in a matter-of-fact tone, "He's a Delatorre,"

"That's why I hired him to work in our company." 

In response to what Silas stated, Annalia can be seen staring coldly at him through the reflection of the mirror.

"Let's commence with Adam,"

"What?"

"Let's get started on your plan of vengeance with him; doing so will bring you closer to the Delatorre without requiring any effort. Marcel already knows that Adam is working in our company and he is coming back. Marcel Delatorre is a tyrannical and proprietorial bastard, Anna. When he hears the news that his cherished son is working with us, he will get enraged," started Silas. Annalia frowns as she attempts to take in everything that her father has discussed with her. "Nonetheless, Marcel is always Marcel. He constantly looks to increase his prestige. He takes great pleasure in manipulating other people for his own ends. The mere fact that Adam is in your inner circle will ensure that his name is spread far and wide, particularly given that you are in a more powerful position than you were before."

Annalia couldn't stop thinking about the outcome of the plan while she was analyzing the information. Marcel is such a power-hungry individual; you can be sure that he will stop at nothing in his quest to strengthen his image and reputation. And he will make use of her for that purpose. 

Keep your enemy closer.

Annalia will consent to Marcel's exploitation of her for her to con Marcel into believing that Annalia is an acquaintance. 

Exploit his weaknesses. 

In the same proportion that Marcel covets his wealth and power, he is very territorial over his sons. It's not because he genuinely cares about them; instead, he views them as an asset to be exploited. Marcel will be put in a vulnerable position if one of his sons decides to side with her. But why should she acquire just one when she can get both of them?

"Anna, I am certain you are already grasping what I am trying to say. I am aware, more than anybody else, that you are already formulating your plans for everything," Silas stated while exuding an air of pride and contentment. Anna gave a sly grin herself. Silas is never at a loss for what to do next.

"Keep in mind that I am right behind you if you need anything. This is Marcel Delatorre, Anna. He's not easy to beat."

I know. But...

The door instantly opened, revealing Adam's face to the people inside. "Here's your food, Ms. Davis. I'm sorry it took so long."

Donovan followed closely behind Adam, furrowing his brow as he did so.

"Ann, I just got an email from someone," Donovan replied, giving the impression that he was perplexed. Anna was given a glimpse of Donovan's cellphone. Upon reading the email sender, Annalia's smug grin of triumph was impossible to suppress.

When it comes to Marcel Delatorre, I have the upper hand...

"Antonio Delatorre," Anna said under her breath. 

His Achilles Heel.

-

In the end, Silas confirmed Adam to be Annalia's personal bodyguard after receiving authorization from Annalia. They came up with a contract and set of instructions that needed to be followed when serving in her stead. Following their negotiation, Annalia decided to return to her penthouse. To her great relief, their company wasn't strewn by the media. They were likely too busy writing articles on her.  Whatever. Although Anna is relieved that she will not be bothered by the press or anyone else, the problem is that Adam is the one who is now shadowing Anna.

"I beg you, do not follow me. I have already committed to having you serve as my bodyguard. However, following me around all the time is utterly overgoing," Anna sharply whispered as she turned her head slightly to glance at Adam, who was in her peripheral vision. 

"You can't blame me; I am still on duty. I was tasked to because your manager isn't here,"  Annalia's frustration level increased as a direct result of Adam's flippant response.

Anna scoffs, "Okay, whatever! But don't drive me to the penthouse." 

Anna flounced her way out of the building, leaving Adam behind. Her car has been waiting for her, and she is quick to get inside before Adam takes the wheel. On the other hand, Adam pauses in his walking and watches Anna with a grin as he watches her stomp out of the company building.

As soon as Annalia arrived at the place, Adam immediately exited his car and started following Anna inside. Annalia sneers to herself under her breath. Even after entering the building, she can't believe Adam is still following her. What am I? A 5-year-old kid? God! She is scolding herself for agreeing to go along with this plan, which involves letting Adam serve as her bodyguard. There is no room for individual privacy!

"I advised you to back off of following in my footsteps, Delatorre. I have already arrived inside the building. Don't tell me that you're going to follow me from here all the way to the entrance of my penthouse, are you?" Annalia's brows wrinkled as she stared straight ahead and muttered an angry response under her breath. Although Adam did not respond to her complaints, it is clear that he enjoyed making Anna irritated. 

Even though it's still in the 3rd floor, Annalia steps out of the elevator as soon as it opens. She wanted to know if Adam would follow her. However, in contrast to what she had suspected, it appears that Adam has no intention of following her. Before the elevator door closed, Adam muttered something that made Anna feel so humiliated that she wished she might be devoured by the ground.

Adam said with a sarcastic wink and a broad grin, "Mines on the sixth floor. Bye, Ms. Davis. See you at work."

Just great, Anna.