Punjab watched with dismay as he saw his boss march away leaving Miss Grace alone on the terrace. He didn't know what had happened but it was clear something unusual was going on between the two. Punjab cared very deeply for Oliver Warbucks and had sworn long ago to do anything for him, but since Grace had become Warbuck's secretary he had come to care a great deal for the young woman too. And he hated seeing her sitting there, looking so distraught.
As Annie and her friends finished their breakfast and ran into the house, Punjab made his way over to Miss Farrell. She looked up and he could see the anguish in her eyes.
"Miss Grace." he spoke sympathetically. "You are sad."
She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
"Has Sahib done something to upset you?"
"No." Grace replied. "Yes. No, it's me – I've been so foolish Punjab. I let myself start thinking that maybe..."
Punjab, rightly sensing that something rather personal had transpired between their employer and the secretary, tried to give some advice.
"A wise man once said that silence is not golden if two people are unhappy. Talk to him."
"Thank you Punjab." Grace nodded non-committally, stood up, and the headed toward the house.
Oliver pretended to be working when Grace came into the office. He had surrounded himself with stacks and stacks of papers, and seemed to be madly scribbling away at something when she sat down on the opposite side of his desk.
Determined to simply erase the events of last night, or perhaps pretend that they never happened, Grace presented her employer with the files he wanted and readied herself to take notes.
"Here are the files you requested sir."
"Just put them there Miss Farrell." he said, indicating the top of the one of piles of paper he had thrown together on his desk. And somehow he managed to bark out a list of instructions that soon had his secretary making phone calls and taking dictation, and on the surface it seemed as if things were as they always had been between them.
Every time there was a moment where they might have had a chance to delve into anything personal, something managed to come up. Annie and her friends asking if they could go swimming or play on the tennis court, an phone call from the President asking how Annie was doing, a lengthy visit from the New York Board of Orphans to ensure temporary accommodation for the girls was available at the Warbucks mansion, and a variety of other business and household issues that were a regular part of running a large company and staff.
As the day wore on, Grace's tight bun began to loosen and strands of her hair began to fall softly down her neck and around her face. And when at last they found themselves alone in the office, with a door shut and guarded discreetly by Punjab, Oliver escorted Grace over to one of the settees by the window.
"Grace." he spoke softly, reaching up to touch one of the tendrils of hair escaping from her once tight hair.
Inwardly wishing she could melt into it but instead stiffening at his touch Grace tried to move away from this intimate pose. She watched the look of confused hurt cross Oliver's face and wished things didn't have to be this way.
"Sir, please. Stop. We can't do this."
Oliver dropped his hand. "What's wrong Grace? What have I done to upset you? I thought, after last night, that we...well, that we understood one another. That we had a future together."
Grace squeezed her eyes shut as tears welled up and looked away from the man she loved. Clasping her hands tightly and wringing them together she spoke in a pained voice.
"We just can't Oliver. I do...I do care for you, very much. But this will never work, don't you see?"
"No Grace! I don't see!" Oliver stood up, frustrated. "I love you! I want to be with you. I want to marry you Grace, if you'll have me."
"I'm sorry Oliver." The tears that had been pooling in her eyes began to fall down her face, and Grace stood up too. "I am so sorry."
And with that she fled from the room, opening the door and practically running into the foyer and up the stairs. Oliver followed her as far as the door, where a gentle hand in the air from Punjab stopped him.
"Punjab." Oliver spoke to his trusted servant. "What am I going to do?"
Punjab, who had by now had his suspicions about the changed nature of Oliver and Grace's relationship confirmed, ushered his boss back into the office and shut the door once again.
"If I may Sahib, I think Miss Grace is worried about you."
"What the devil do you mean Punjab?"
"I believe she is concerned about what kind of impression that a relationship with your secretary will have on your business. How it will affect your image. And about how that might affect Annie."
"That's ridiculous Punjab! I don't care what people think of me! I love that woman and I want to marry her!"
"Sahib." Punjab spoke softly, smiling to himself at his employer's declaration of love. "What has one of Miss Grace's jobs been since you hired her? To protect your image. And she has done that impeccably."
"Yes, Punjab. She has."
"And what will marriage to your secretary do to your image? You know how some people talk."
"Blast my image! I don't care what they say Punjab!"
"Perhaps not, Sahib. But Miss Grace, she does. And think what people may say of her. What rumours will spread about your relationship. She has lived here for many years – what will wagging tongues do with that? Many in this world do not look favourably upon secretaries who marry their employers."
Oliver was finally struck dumb with realization as Punjab's words sunk in. He knew how hard Grace had worked to be his personal secretary. She was from a good family and was well educated. She had dedicated her life to his home, his business, his life for the last several years. She had most likely put his needs ahead of her own on many, many occasions – he knew what a tyrant he could be. It was that doggedness that had earned him his billions. But what did that matter now, if Grace wasn't there to share it with him?
She hadn't come from the streets, as he and Annie had. She had family and friends in high society. People that might not approve of their union. People that might suggest she had earned her way into his bed for reasons other than love. He began to consider all the thoughts that might have been running through Grace's head – ideas that had never occurred to him before.
"I need to speak to her Punjab!" Oliver marched towards the door with determination. As he reached forward to open it, Annie burst in with tears streaming down her face.
"Oh Daddy Warbucks!" Annie flew into his arms.
"What's wrong Annie?" her soon-to-be-official father asked, setting her down on the ground and kneeling so he was at eye level with her. "Are you hurt?"
Annie shook her head, tears still making tracks across her freckles.
"No Daddy Warbucks. Miss Farrell, she's...she's gone."
"What do you mean she's gone Annie?" Oliver tried not to panic.
Sniffing, Annie replied. "Miss Farrell came running outta here a little while ago, went to her room, packed a suitcase and left. I tried calling to her but was going so fast, I don't think she heard me. And she was crying Daddy. I've never seen her like that."
Oliver pulled his little girl close.
"It's okay Annie, we'll find her and bring her home. Then we'll be a family Annie, would you like that? A real family."
"Oh yes Daddy!" Annie threw her arms around the billionaire. "I love Miss Farrell as much as I love you!"
"So do I Annie." Oliver set the girl down. "So do I."
And then, turning to the hallway where his servant had headed upon hearing of Grace's departure, he shouted "Punjab! Find out where Miss Farrell has gone. And let's bring her home!"
