*Alejandro*
Anna was in pain, though she was trying to hide it, and for some unknown reason, I felt a tug in my heart seeing her flinch because of it.
I opened the door of my study in the apartment. I walked to the table and placed my hands on it.
I closed my eyes and opened it, then stood up straight and loosened my tie.
Anna is not the type to be troublesome. Not that I’ve known her for a long time, but from the little moments we’ve spent together, I could tell that she wasn’t that type. But the truth is that you can never really know a person.
Scratch that.
Whether she is troublesome or not doesn’t matter. The fact was that someone had raised their hands on her, and I was surely going to make that person pay, whoever they were.
My phone rang.
“What’s up, man,” Williams’s voice rang from the other end.
“Why are you calling me at this time?” I asked. It wasn’t usual. “Do I need a reason to call you when I want?” He asked back. He was speaking at the top of his voice. He seems to be in a club.
“I can’t hear you properly. Are you drunk?” I asked.
“Just a little tipsy,” he said. He walked out, and I couldn’t hear the background noise as much as before.
“You never called me without a reason. What do you want?” I asked him.
“You won’t believe who I met here,” he said. His voice was between surprised and excited. “Jane is back. She was here.” My eyes widened.
“Jane?” Jane was the biggest investor in the city. You can simply say she is the wealthiest. She had branches all over the world.
Rumors had it that she was a puppet who killed her ex-husband for money, but no one truly knows. But what will she be doing in a club?
“Don’t make silly jokes, Williams,” I said.
“Jane is nothing to joke about. I sent you a picture an hour ago. You didn’t check it. That’s why you are having doubts,” he said.
I must have been busy with Anna then.
“I don’t think it has gotten to the media yet that she is in town. This is our chance. It seems her arrival to the country is still a secret.” Williams said.
It began to make sense now.
“We have to set up a meeting with her,” I said.
“Should I handle that?” He asked.
“I have a P. A.,” I said. That was Anna’s job. She may be new, but I trust she can do well.
“But she isn’t competent,” Williams said.
“Who said that?” I paused; that sentence sounded familiar. Realization dawned on me. “You spoke to Clara?” “calm down… it’s not what you…”
“You’ve been keeping in touch with her?” I asked.
“Well, she’s a friend,” Williams said, and I nodded. I was standing in front of the ceiling to the floor window. A hand dipped in my pocket as I stared into the busy city lit by headlights from cars, buildings, and street lights.
“Anna is competent,” I said.
“Anna, the girl from the bar?” He sounded surprised.
“You remember her, so no need to tell you more. She may have just started, but she is competent. She will set up a meeting with Jane.” I said.
“Alright.” He said.
“And…” I removed my hands from my pocket and moved my legs. “I have something for you,” I said. I may have said I wouldn’t ask about what happened and who had hurt Anna; that’s because I didn’t need her to tell me before I knew.
I told him about how Anna was bullied and told him to look into it. “Aren’t you going too far for a secretary?” He asked. “Or is it because it’s Anna?”
“I’d do the same for anyone, I mean any staff member of mine. I owe them that.”
We ended the call.
I walked back to the sitting room to find Anna fast asleep. I walked towards her and squatted close to the sofa.
She must be tired and drunk as she reeked of alcohol. I should have taken her to her place, but then I had to wake her to get her address, and I had no intention of doing that. I studied her face.
Her brows arched, and her nose, which I traced with my finger. I traced her lips, too. It was rosy and pout, inviting me to taste. I felt my cock hardened with the mere thought of kissing her.
I took a deep breath, slowly leaned down, and planted a little kiss on her lips.
She turned, and I stood and stepped back before kicking myself mentally.
Carefully, I picked her up from the sofa. Taking her bag along with her.
I’ll put her to sleep in the guest room today. I opened the door and placed her on the bed. She mumbles some words and turns on the bed. She seems fast asleep.
Should I bathe her? She seems to need it.
No. It’s better to leave her here. I placed the duvet over her and sat by her side.
Her phone rang. On the screen was the name ‘Alison,’ it was her friend. I picked it up. “Babe, it’s late; where are you?” She asked.
“Anna is asleep,” I said.
A pause.
“Who is this? Isn’t this…”
“I’m Alejandro. She won’t return tonight. I just wanted to let you know so you won’t be worried,” I quickly explained why I answered Anna’s phone.
“Oh… that’s fine. Please take good care of her.” She said and hung up.
There was something about her that pulled me to her. She would be surprised when she wakes up tomorrow, and I couldn’t wait to see her cheeks flush from embarrassment.
I found myself smiling as I took a shower and retired for the night.
The next day, I asked my driver to get a dress that would suit her.
I was dressed early that morning and was seated on the sofa when she came down. Her hair was a mess. She kept rubbing her eyes with her hands.
She stopped in front of me. It seems her brain was yet to register the fact that I was seated in front of her. She stopped rubbing her eyes.
“You are awake,” I said.
“Yes,” she said and walked to the sofa like it was the most natural thing for her to do. “How was your night?” I asked.
“Well, it was…” she paused and squinted her eyes.
Her face went through different shades of emotions in a second. “Christ!!” She yelled and leapt out of the chair, and I worried that she might lose a foot and fall.
“What am I… how is this…” her eyes wandered around before they settled on me again.
“Good morning. How did I end up here?” She buried her hands in her hair briefly before looking out the window.
It was still early in the morning, but the sun had begun to rise. “You tend my foot, and I…”
She begins rambling.
“You fell asleep on the sofa, and I thought it was unfair to wake you up.” I helped her. She looked cute. Her face had a rosy hue.
“I’m deeply sorry for the inconvenience,” she said.
“It’s alright,” I said.
“I’ll get my things and quickly rush home,” she said, and began walking when I stopped her. “There is no need for that. Your clothes will be here soon. You can use the bathroom in the room you slept in. We’ll go to work together.” I said.
“Won’t that cause…”
“No. You are supposed to go to work with me as my P. A.,” I said. She made an o with her mouth and left.
I smiled as I watched her until she disappeared.
When her clothes were brought, I laid them on the bed.
The ride to the company was silent, just like last night. I wanted to talk to her. We had never been silent together before she came to work for me. We always had something to talk about.
I thought of something, anything.
My phone beeped, and I checked it. A message from Williams. There was a detailed summary of what happened to Anna at the bar she visited last night and why her cheeks were red.
I felt my rage building as I read it. I turned to watch Anna, who was looking out the window. She was young but, simultaneously, more mature than most older ladies.
I traced her side view with my eyes. She is looking out the window. She may try to put up a brave outlook but is so soft and fragile. I felt like drawing her in and giving her a tightly long embrace.
I watched her all through the ride. When we stepped out, she hurried to keep up with my pace, so I slowed down. She brought out her phone and began stating the schedule for the day.
I had a meeting at 10 am.
“I went through the report for the amended contract on the line we are attempting to open.” She said.
“The legal department sent them already?” I asked.
“Yes. I’ll send them to you immediately. The meeting will center on…” She went on and on, and I began wondering if she had been doing this job forever without my knowledge.
And someone out there was calling her incompetent?
The meeting was with all the directors and significant shareholders in the company. Clara was one of them. The meeting lasted until noon. I tried to concentrate but couldn’t help staring at Anna occasionally.
From time to time, she whispered things to me concerning the meeting. She seems to have a lot of knowledge in this field.
After the meeting, I left first. Anna was behind me. “Ms Wilson, to my office,” I said.
The plan was to commend her for what she did and ask her to have lunch with me. We didn’t have breakfast when we left and now I felt like a jerk. I should have ordered something.
“Okay, Sir,” she said.
And again, the Sir, she is constantly adding to my name, which makes me sick to my stomach. It was much better when she called me Alejandro.
After taking off my suit jacket and hanging it, I sat behind the table. “You…” I met her gaze, “I have something for you to do.” I said.
She smiled and nodded, “right,” she said.
“There is this…” the door opened, cutting me short.
Clara stepped into the office. “You can’t just walk in here, Clara; learn to knock,” I said. I was still angry at her about yesterday, and she is already adding to the list.
“Don’t treat me like a stranger.” She said. She eyed Anna, who didn’t even spare her a look.
“What do you want this time?” I asked. I was sick of her.
“Let’s have lunch together,” she offered.
“I have no time to spare,” I said.
“Alright, I’ll order something so we can eat here then,” she said and started touching her phone.
I inhaled sharply. I wanted to ask Anna to go eat lunch with me. Why was Clara here? Or Why now of all times?
“Don’t bother. Let’s have lunch.” I said.
“Really.” She squealed excitedly. “I made a reservation at a restaurant.”
I wasn’t surprised. Sounds so much like her. She began walking. I took my suit. “Anna, come along,” I said.
“It’s fine, I’m not hungry,” Anna said.
“You are. You’ve not had breakfast. Remember, we didn’t eat before leaving the apartment,” I said.
Clara stopped and turned abruptly. “Before leaving the apartment? What does that mean? Did you stay together last night?” She asked.
I looked her directly in the eyes, “Yes.”