It was on a Tuesday afternoon, earlier before that week, a week ago, Allen had told her there was going to be a launching lunch party and Anna had been left wondering what sort of party it was and what the McArthur’s company was launching.
It was finally the day, the day of the lunch, while Anna was standing somewhere on the corridor of the lunchroom looking down at everyone from where she was and taking notes of important people and whatever was necessary as Allen had said to her, so here she was doing the whatever was necessary.
She received a text on her phone from Allen and rushes down to their table, it was about time that the partner that McArthur was partnering with showed up.
Anna glanced down at herself and clicked her tongue, she wasn’t looking too corporate, her straight chocolate colored skirt and black camisole with the chiffon jacket looked good on her, she had packed her up in pony tail style, she was looking good.
“You’re beautiful.” Allen commented nonchalantly even though his eyes bore holes into hers, Anna’s mouth curled up into an ‘o’ not knowing what to say.
“You’re welcome.” Allen said out of impatience, he looked at his watch and hissed.
The door of the lunchroom opened and they were both shell shocked, shocked to see each other, Anna’s face drained with color, she turned white, while the partner stood beside their table staring at Anna who uncomfortably shifts in her chair.
She didn’t know how to react, maybe she should cry or faint? Or run out of the restaurant.
“Good afternoon, sir.” Anna greeted with a nervous smile.
A sinister smile clouded his face, “Good afternoon, Anna.”
The idiot wouldn’t act as if he didn’t know her.
Good! Anna thought.
“You know each other?” Allen asked, the other staff in the room perturb as he was, they looked from Anna to the man.
“Yes, McArthur, from way back.” He winked at Anna, he crossed his leg, the sinister look never left his face.
Anna let out a sad sigh, she never thought she had see him again, not now, not ever and ever again since she left the club she worked as a sex worker years ago.
This man seated in front of her, beside her boss, was someone that frequented her when she was a sex worker, he was one of her old clients, for once, Anna never thought she had run into one of the clients or anyone she knew from the club.
This was when life was hard and Anna had to fight to survive, to feed herself and help her family with the little she had.
Seeing this man in front of her, made her remember her past, it was ugly and for so many reasons, Anna didn’t want to think about it, she tried ignoring it.
The club where she worked at didn’t take time accepting her to be one of their workers, seeing that she has the body and she would draw customers for them, they hired her and also with the help of Somme she knew that worked as a sex worker.
For Lincoln, he sees her as a toy, he was never careful, always rough and hard whenever he was with her, turned out she wasn’t the only one he rough handled when it came to sex.
He was more than a beast when it came to sex even though he pays very well but then he usually leave her ended up with bruise and marks like animal claws on her body.
Sometimes, Anna wondered how he enjoys having sex that way, but who was she to question him, he was someone that other women and girls refused just because he was rough and she’d always accept him, for the sake of the money and the fact that he said he likes it with her, that her body wanted and urge him whenever he’s doing with her, Anna would smile, get her money and manage to leave the room.
At the end of the day, every night, she would scrub her body hard, hoping that when she turns on the water it would wash away everything, the pain of the work she was doing.
Back at the table, she closed her past chapter and focused her mind on work, while Mr. Lincoln as Allen addressed him chews gum in a way that mock her, he tore off his gaze from her, uncrossed his legs, leaned forward and clasped his hand on the table.
“Well Mr. McArthur, your company has a good great record and I’m so delighted to be a part, about to be apart.” He corrected and chuckled.
“We’re delighted to have you too.” Allen said and gave the man a small smile.
“But there’s a condition.” Mr. Lincoln grimaces and held up a finger.
Anna’s heart thumped faster than usual.
“Of course, what is it?” Allen asked.
“We can’t partner with a company whose personal assistant is a prostitute.”
“Was!” Anna defends herself, her voice was tight.
“Really?” Mr. Liconln mocked and Anna sent a death glare his way, irrespective of their surrounding, she wasn’t going to let this man pick on her, her chest tightened, Anna was deeply pained.
“I believe, it is only I have that has the right to fire any of my worker.” Allen said, taking a sip of his lemon water.
“I want to be a partner with the McArthur company but I’m afraid that this prostitute… I’m sorry.. your personal assistant will be a barrier to me. Unless she’s fired, I’ll sign the contract.” Mr. Lincoln said.
Without further ado, Anna dropped the tablet she was holding, removed her badge and stood up.
“Asshole! I hope you’re happy I’m leaving.” She said and walked away.
The lunchroom was silent.
Allen frowned, staring at the contract and pen on the table, he scoffed and raise his brows at Mr. Lincoln who was feeling contented with himself.
“Now that the weed has been uprooted, shall we commemorate?” He asked, grinning wide.
“I’m not sorry to say that I can’t have someone who wants to partner with my company desperately gives condition and tries to control in my own company.”
“I was only doing you a favor.”
“No, you were being a bully, if you can’t accept that people deserve second chances at having a better life, you should get the hell out.”
“Hey! Calm down. Don’t let that whore ruin our partnership.”
“You! You’re a whore. Just because you’re in a better position doesn’t mean you should bully people because you know their past.” Allen said, he stood up and tore the contract. “Have a nice day, Mr. Lincoln.”
“Do you have feelings for her?”
“I’d stand up for my staff if it were any of them. Show yourself out, you and your members.”
Allen went back to his office with the tablet and pad, he was furious and he didn’t know why, the last question Mr. Lincoln asked him lingered on in his mind and Allen didn’t know how to place the feelings, he decided he was going to show up at Anna’s house and convince her to take back her post.
Thank you for reading.