63.After work that day, Roland insisted Annabel stayed with him.“I do have things to take care of, you know right?” She asked.Roland sighed. Spending time with her today has been one of the best things that's ever happened to him. And he didn't want to lose that. “I know but…” He trailed off and sighed. He should just be appreciative of the time he had spent with her today. And he was going to cherish this day.“I'll go call Ashton to come take you home. The doctor asked that you stay off work for a week so you can rest well. Please, do not disobey her.” She warned.“But how do you expect me to stay at home all day doing nothing?” He folded his hands.“Doctor's orders and you have no choice but to accept it.” She glared at him and walked out of the place.When she got to Ashton's office, she met him working on some files.“Aren't you going home? Work hours are over.” She smiled at him.“Yeah, but I need to get these files sorted out before tomorrow morning. I think I'm going to w
64.“Where are you?” Annabel asked, standing up to pick her bag quickly.“At the airport, duh. Where else would I be?” He chuckled and her face lit up with smiles.“Stay right where you are. I'm coming to pick you up.” She ended the call.“Where are you going?” Roland asked when she attempted to leave.“A friend of mine just returned to this country. I need to see him!” She exclaimed.“Him?” Roland asked.“Yes. Goodnight, sir.” She smiled and skipped out of the house, leaving Roland wondering who that person is. Why did she smile so brightly on hearing that he had returned?“Who could this “him” of a guy be?“ He massaged his temple as he thought hard.With a sigh, he laid back down on the table, flashing back to the kiss he had with her a few minutes ago. A smile found its way to his lips but the smile faded the moment he realized that she just went to meet a guy.He quickly sat up. “Should I follow her? No, that'd be too weird,” He massaged his temple. “Should I stalk her then?” He s
65.Annabel got to work the next day feeling excited than usual. It was a Friday and she wondered if it was because Carson was around or because she'd be going off work early that day to spend some time with him. He had promised to take her, Olivia and Sasha out that night, though Sasha declined since she'd be working late, she asked Annabel to bring back goodies for her.She entered the elevator and just as the door was about to close, Lucinda entered as well. Annabel sighed, wondering what the heck was wrong with this model.“Go on, aren't you going to press the floor you're headed? I'm pretty sure we're heading the same direction.” Lucinda smiled at her.Annabel rolled her eyes and pressed the button that'd take her to the last floor. “So how has life been treating you?” Lucinda asked.Annabel didn't answer her. The least thing she wanted today was drama and she wasn't in the mood for Lucinda's trouble either.“Hey, I'm talking to you.” “Last time I checked Lucinda, we aren't fri
66.The day went by faster than usual and before Annabel knew it, work hours were over. With a smile, she switched off her laptop, arranged her desk and set to leave when she remembered that Roland was still in the suite.She facepalmed and opened the door. She found him asleep on the couch.“How is he even comfortable like this?” She asked no one in particular and stood, looking at him. She tapped him. “Hey, get up. Work hours are over,”He didn't budge. She sighed and ran her hands through her hair. What exactly was wrong with him? He was asked to stay off work but the disobedient dude still came to work today. She wondered what he was trying to prove. “Roland,” She called but he didn't answer. She bent to his level and placed her hand on his forehead. He wasn't hot or cold. She sighed in relief, at least nothing serious was wrong with him.She stared at his sleeping figure, wanting to look away but it just wasn't working for her. He was just too cute to look away from. She didn't
67.“Do you know him?” Annabel asked but he didn't answer her.She couldn't understand his sudden change of mood when she mentioned Roland. She tapped him and he gasped, looking at her.“Are you okay?” She asked and he nodded. “By any chance, do you know Roland D. Ville?” She asked.“Of course I do. Who doesn't know Roland D. Ville, the business tycoon?” He said that last part through gritted teeth.“I mean personally.” She replied.He smiled at her. “Let's forget about that. I just remembered something and that's why my mood changed.” He lied, knowing that she had noticed his mood.Annabel nodded innocently and continued eating. They talked about other stuff and laughed, forgetting about Roland in an instant. When they were done, he bought some things for them to take home and also the things he had promised Sasha, ignoring Annabel scoldings because he had bought too much.He dropped them at home and pecked Olivia's forehead while his guards took what he bought for them inside.“Than
68.The next day, Annabel returned to work but was surprised to see Noel in the office with Roland. She thought she had gotten it over with with this woman, why was she here again?A frown found its way to her face immediately.She walked to her desk and took a seat, ignoring them. It wasn't her business so she'd stay out of it.“Good morning, Annabel.” Roland greeted with a smile and Noel frowned. She felt that employees should show high level of respect, and didn't like how aloof Annabel was. And the worst part was that, Roland was okay with it. She folded her hands, determined to talk about this and shame Annabel.“Is this how you treat your employees in this company, Roland? This is not like you.” Noel smirked.Annabel only rolled her eyes. Roland cleared his throat. “She isn't just an employee, Noel, and I'd appreciate it if you strictly focus on why you're here in the first place.” Annabel didn't know when a smile found its way to her lips. She looked at Roland and he winked a
69.That night…Roland paced around his room, lost in thoughts. He wondered how and where Annabel got to know Carson?“Could it be in California?” Roland asked no one in particular as he paced to and fro.He and Carson had never gotten along. They were best friends right from when they were kids, but when things worked out for Roland, Carson always got mad and that soiled their friendship.Roland was smart and was the type to always take risk, making him excel higher and better than the rest.Carson always lagged behind and started distancing himself from Roland. He refused to answer Roland's calls and always did everything he could to sabotage and jeopardize Roland's efforts.Roland endured it all until the day Carson said they were no longer friends. He made it clear to Roland that, he didn't like that things were going well for Roland and he was stuck. Roland offered to help him but he refused and cut off their friendship, becoming rivals in business with Roland. Because of Roland,
70.They all waited in the reception as the doctor attended to Noel. Ms. D. Ville pulled Roland to a corner when the waiting was becoming unbearable.“How are you going to fix this mess?” She asked.Roland raised an eyebrow at her. What was his mother talking about this time around? “Why are you acting as if I'm the reason why all these is happening? Why are you making it look like it's my problem?”Mrs. D. Ville sighed. “You're the reason why this happened, Roland. If you had accepted this girl, she wouldn't have gone back to a lifestyle she gave up.”“Can you hear yourself speak, mum?” Roland couldn't believe his mother wanted him to accept a drug addict as a wife. “She's a drug addict. How could you suggest such a person to me?” He questioned. “She's no longer one, Roland. Your rejection triggered whatever happened today.” She placed her hand on his shoulder but he moved away from her.“Your desperation for me to get married is getting out of hand, mother. I have already said it a