10. “I'm sorry, sir.” She bowed apologetically. Roland sighed and folded his hands. As much as he hated his employees coming late to work, he didn't want to yell at her, but he wasn't going to let her go scot free either. “What should I do with you?” He sighed and licked his bottom lip. Annabel found it cute and lowered her head immediately. She didn't want to get any weird thoughts. This was the man that caused her a whole lot, she wasn't going to admire anything about him. She should be resenting him. Roland thought for a while and an idea popped up in his head. Since he found her familiar, it would be good to spend some time with her and get to know her better. “Well, I'm not going to fire you,” He said. “Do you fire your employees when they come late?” She asked, her eyes not leaving the floor. Roland sighed and tucked his hands into his pockets. “Yes, but for you I can make an exception.” He replied. She looked up and he winked. She scoffed. Was he trying to flirt with he
11.“What the…” Annabel snapped the minute she got to her desk and discovered that what she just finished printing had been shredded to pieces. “Who could have done this?” She asked no one in particular as she took the shredded pieces from the ground.Brian rushed to meet her. “Are you okay?” He asked but she couldn't say anything.She quickly sat down and switched on her laptop. She was to submit them to Mr. Carl before work hours were over and she only had 2 hours left. She went to where she had saved a copy of them but they were no where to be found.“No,” She said as she continued to look for them. She searched everywhere and even went to search places she knew on a normal day, she would not save anything there, but there was nothing.“Shit!” She exclaimed when she realized she'd have to start over.She wrote those reports from her head. How would she remember everything she had written?“Annabel?” Brian called.She couldn't answer him. No one needed to tell her that someone was b
12.“Olivia, why would you ask such a question?” Annabel asked, trying her best not to cry. This was the second time the little girl was asking such a question. The first time was when she was schooling in Greenville and now this? Annabel had to pretend like she hadn't heard the question before, so Olivia wouldn't bring up their conversation the last time.Olivia looked at Annabel, her eyes turning glittery which broke Annabel the more. “My friend usually talks about how her daddy comes home from work and buys all kinds of things for her. She also asked me what my daddy buys for me but I couldn't tell her because I don't know where my daddy is. Mummy, where's daddy? You told me the last time that he went on a business trip and would be back soon, but I haven't seen him. I want him to buy things for me so I can show my friends too. Don't you know where he is?” Olivia asked again and Annabel could feel her heart breaking into pieces. Tears rolled down her cheeks and she used her hand
13.NEXT DAY…Annabel walked into the office feeling nervous about the day. Coupled with what had happened last night was tonight's dinner date with Roland. She had told Sophia about it that morning and the lady almost screamed her head off.“I think he's interested in you.” Sasha had mentioned that morning.“Don't be silly. What the heck will he see in me?” Annabel asked.“He saw a lot. You're beautiful and independent, you're caring, loving and damn, you're cute. Do you think I wouldn't date you if I were a guy?” Sasha teased and Annabel laughed.“It's just a harmless dinner, Sasha.” Annabel argued again.“I don't think so. Alright, picture it like this; Roland D. Ville is known as a ruthless Billionaire who doesn't like when his employees are tardy. He either cuts their pay or suspends them. Worse case scenario, he might even dismiss them. You were tardy and instead of cutting your pay, suspending you or even firing you, he asked you out to dinner. How does that sound?” Sasha aske
14.Annabel was busy clearing her up her table since it's close time already and then Brian suddenly popped up behind her, startling her a bit.“Hey!” She scolded, lightly slapping his arm. “What was that for, Brian? You scared the shit out of me.” “I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to scare you.” Brian apologized, while laughing at her.“Anyways, shouldn't you be leaving already, why are you here?” “Oh, I thought we should hang out tonight, you know, have a little celebration to celebrate our victory over Carl and his daughter.” Annabel shook her head, she was literally trying to contain her laughter. “I seriously can't believe you, Brian, her being demoted isn't something to celebrate and besides, it's not like I wished for that to happen to her.”“That's the thing with you Anna, you're just too kind, she didn't think twice about ruining something you suffered for, so why shouldn't you be happy she got the punishment she deserved? if I were in your shoes, I would have hoped for more th
15.“Wow.” Annabel whispered in amazement as they walked into the restaurant Roland had reserved for them.The whole place was decorated so beautifully, it also had some heart shaped balloons hanging around.“You did all this?” She asked, still looking around, and she also noticed they were the only ones present, except for the waiter who was patiently waiting to take their orders.“And it's just us here?” She asked.“Yes, I figured out you'll love privacy since you're so concerned about what people will say if they see us together. Why don't you take a seat first.” He replied before pulling out a chair for her.Annabel didn't know how she should take his words, was it an insult, or he was just casually saying that, all the same, she said her thanks before sitting down.Roland then took a seat afterward, and soon the waiter arrived with the menu. She wasn't in the mood to have anything, she just wanted all this to be over, but she had no choice than to choose something.They made thei
16.When Annabel got home, she met Sasha watching a movie, she was so into the movie that she didn't even take notice of Annabel's presence.A mischievous smirk appeared on Annabel's lips as she decides to use this to her advantage. She sneaked up on Sasha and scared the hell out of her.A loud scream escaped from Sasha's lips as she jumped up in fright, causing Annabel to burst into laughter."Why the hell did you do that Annie? And when did you even get here?" She asked with an angry pout."Just now. You were so into what you were watching that you didn't even notice me come in, good job Sasha, you're such a great nanny." She teased and Sasha mentally face-palmed herself."Olivia is fast asleep already, although it wasn't so easy getting her to go to bed." She sighed."Why? What happened?" Annabel asked."Nothing much. She just kept on asking about you and I had to do a lot of things to get her to fall asleep since she insisted on saying goodnight to you before going to bed." She ex
17.Roland's car pulled up in front of the airport, then he and Ashton got down.Ashton had this grumpy look on his face and he kept on glaring daggers at Roland who pretended not to notice how upset he was."Why the hell are you doing this to me Roland!? I don't want to go to China, can't we get someone else to do this?'' He grumbled.Roland walked to him, then he tapped his shoulder lightly. "You should be willing to do this much for me, you're my best friend." He smiled, but Ashton wasn't finding anything funny.As if Roland knew he wasn't going to travel today, he suddenly showed up at his doorstep this morning and forced him to make this trip to China, he even surprised him with a flight ticket."It's not like you have much work here, you should be thankful I'm letting you go on this trip, just see it as a vacation." Roland said and Ashton rolled his eyes at him."It's not a vacation if I'll be running the streets of China looking for one man, how the hell do I go about this? You