Panic attack

"Ms McKinney?" The high pitched voice of the receptionist cut through her thoughts.

"Are you certain you have an appointment with Mr. Michaelson? I have gone through his schedule, and your name is not here," says the receptionist seated behind the glass and steel desk.

Holy fuck. Annette was in deep shit, and a very nasty one at that. 

Annette McKinney sat in the expansive lobby of the Michaelson Empire and did all she could in order not to have a heart attack. She really did, but it appears that her body have a mind of its own. She could feel the tell-tale sign of a panic attack setting in. 

Trying to control her breathing, she did a little bit of breathing exercise.

Until one month ago, she had never suffered stress or had any problem with a panic attack.

Annette was an independent woman, making her way in the business world.

She may not have an empire as big as the Michaelson but her pastry and small chops business down town was doing well. 

A business she single-handedly established on her own. With her small team of assistants, she flourished creating her own path. 

A business where she cater to events like weddings and parties, and her clientele have been growing steadily so far. 

Shutting her eyes, she let out a long sigh.

Everything was going smoothly in her life until the day her cousin decided to make a stupid decision. Now everything around her is crashing down.

As a result she could lose her home, her business. Fuck, her cousin could lose his life, James could die.

"Yes, I am certain, Mr. Michaelson confirm it himself," she replied, looking straight into the eyes of the woman.

But he did not, Annette lied through her teeth. The last time she had seen or heard from Xavier Michaelson was 10 years ago, when they were both children. Actually, it was Annette who was a child. Xavier was about to turn twenty years when the relationship between her aunt and his uncle ended abruptly. Well, that is saying it mildly since she and her family were thrown out with nothing but what they had on. An incident her aunt had sworn not to forget and has not stopped talking about ever since.

Cruelty. To her aunt the incident was a cruel act. Till this day, her aunt can not believe that Richard had treated her that way. Well, that was what she says when ever she drown her sorrows in a bottle of wine, as if she was an influential woman of social prominent and not a waitress the affluent werewolf had met one night.

Annette had lost her parents when she had been five years old and her aunt, her mother's sister had taken her in, James was her aunt son who was a few years younger than Annette.

The receptionist had stared at Annette with a calculated and indifferent look the moment she had walked in. Seemingly she was not impressed and Annette did not blame her.

"I have a meeting by 3:30 pm with Mr Michaelson," Annette clarified.

It is clear that she did not belong here. Not with her long and simple fading Vintage dress along side the only pair of good shoes her money could buy four years ago. She looks nothing like the classy, graceful and refined receptionist. She might not have the money to buy designer and luxurious clothes anymore, but she sure as hell can identify them from a distance.

The Michaelson's were affluent. When her aunt was married to Richard, money has never been an issue. Her aunt had everything money could buy; Clothes, jewelry, a fancy vacation, until she threw it all away for a quick fuck with one of the pretty male servants.