Ana's POV
Today I woke up to the sound of the alarm. I switched it off and went to use the bathroom. After I freshening, I went to the kitchen to make coffee but surprised to see my brother sitting near the breakfast bar, dressed in his suit and drinking coffee.
'Good Morning. You up early.'
He turned to the sound of my voice and smiled.
'Good Mornong.I have a breakfast meeting.'
I went to the coffee machine and poured myself a coffee. Then I went and sat next to him.
'How are you, Ana?'
His face showed worry and concern. He is always worried about me. And i hated to worry him.
'I'm fine, Alex. So stop worrying about me.'
'I will always be worried about you. And I know you are not fine. Don't lie to me.'
'Can we please not talk about this right now?'
'Okay.'
'So what do you want for breakfast?'
'I will order something at the office. I gotto go.'
He went and put his cup in the sink. He came and gave a kiss on my forehead.
'Goodbye, An. Have a good day.'
'Goodbye, Alex. Same too you.
Then he left leaving me alone. After I finished my coffee. I went to prepare breakfast for myself.
I ate pancakes and bacon. After i finished eating, i loaded the dishes into the dishwasher and went to get ready as it was already 7.45am. I was ready by 8.30am. I texted Tom, my CPO to get the car ready. Then I got into the elevator when he replied that the car was ready. So I took my things and locked the front door and called the elevator. Since we lived in a penthouse, we had our own private elevator. After the door opened, I went inside and pressed the button to go to the ground floor. The elevator door opened after it reached the lobby. I got off and made my way to the entrance. The doorman, Greg opened the door. I gave him a smile which he returned and walked out of the building to where Tom had parked the car. He opened the back door.
'Good Morning, Tom.'
'Good Morning, Ana.'
I got inside the car and he closed the door behind me. Then he went and got inside the driver seat. After settling inside, we made our way into the traffic. I'm staring outside the window, watching people and vehicles pass by. We stopped at red light when I saw the building I see and admire everyday while I go to work. It is just a piece of art, beautifully designed and stood tall like every other skyscrapers in Manhattan but with its own elegance. This reminded me of a certain building back in a place which ruined my life. I immediately snapped out of that line of thought which was to painful to think of.
I reached my office and placed my bag in the bottom drawer of my desk. I sat in my seat, and put my head in my hands with my elbows on the desk. Im really tired as I didn't get much sleep last night.
'Good Morning, Miss Steele.'
My assistant, Jessica came into my office and placed the pile of work on my desk.
'Good Morning Jess. Are those the new drafts?
'Yeah. And you have a meeting with that new author, Rick Fields at 11.' She said with her thick Brit accent.
'Thank you, Jess. Can you fetch me a cup of coffee?'
'Coming right up, Boss's
Then she left. I groaned and picked the pile of work which I think of finishing by the end of the day.
...
Rick Fields was a new author, SLP signed recently. He was in his late-20's, a few years older than me. When I read his manuscript, I immediately fell in love with the story. The story was about two lovers who were separated due to unfortunate circumstances but were still able to get back together by passing all those difficult hurdles.
At 11, Rick entered my office. He was dressed in a dark blue shirt and black jeans.
'Good Morning, Miss Steele.'
'Good Morning, Rick. How are you?'
'Im fine. You?'
'Im fine, too. So let's get started.'
He nodded. For an hour, we discussed about how the book may need a little bit of editing, the book cover, the date for publication and the release date. We even discussed about all the events that may happen after the book is released so that he can arrange his schedule according to it. Then we finished the meeting.
'Thank You, Miss Steele. I will give you a call if I have any more questions.'
'Yeah sure.'
He got up and shook my hand and left.
I released a deep breath. And streched by hands and legs as it was paining from sitting in the same place without any movement. My office phone started ringing. I picked it up
'SLP, Ana Steele speaking.'
'Hey Sis.'
It was Alex.
'Hey'
'How has your day been?'
'Productive. I had a meeting with the new author we signed last week. How about you?'
' I had 2 back to back meetings. Both were boring.'
'Okay. So What was the reason you called?'
'Do I need a reason to talk to my lil sis?'
'No, but still.'
'I thought we could have lunch together.'
'Yeah. Where do you wanna go?'
'We can go to Bryant Park Grill.'
'Yeah okay. I will meet you there in 20 mins.'
'Cool.'
'Bye'
'Bye'
I placed the reciever back called my assistant. She came in after few mins.
'Jess, I'm going out for lunch. I will be back in an hour or two. You can take your lunch early too.'
'Okay Ana.'
'And once you finish, can you read this manuscripts.'
'Yeah I will.'
'Okay'
Then she left. I picked my bag and went to the elevator. I walked out into the lobby. Tom got up from where he sitting in the reception area.
'Tom, We are going to Bryant Park Grill.'
'Okay. I will bring the car, you wait here.'
'No, I will come with you.'
We went out and went to the parking lot a block from SLP. When we reached the car, he opened the back door and I climbed inside. He closed the door behind me and went to the driver's seat and started the car. We went into the traffic. After 25 mins we reached the grill. I saw my brother standing outside, typing in his phone. I went to him. He looked up when he saw me approaching. He gave me a smile. I smiled back and gave him a hug.
'Good Afternoon, sis.'
'Good Afternoon, Alex'
'Lets go inside.'
We went inside. The manager showed us the seat and went to send the waiter. The waiter came to take our orders. Alex ordered two glasses of Pinot Grigio and a Beef Tenderloin. I ordered a Grilled Fillet Mignon. The waiter left after the the orders.
'So tell me what was the real reason you wanted to have lunch with me today?'
'Okay. It's just I'm really worried about you,Ana. Not just me everybody are.'
'Its k, Alex. I'm fine. Everybody needs to stop worrying about me.'
'Dad told me that you stopped going to therapy, Why?'
'Because I didn't want to waste my time, sitting there talking and answering the same questions over and over again every Wednesday.'
'It's for your own good. I can't see you like this. You tell me that you are fine but you are not. You hardly sleep or eat. And your nightmares are not going to stop if you don't take any help.'
'I don't need to go to therapy. I can manage without the help of a shrink. I'm just stressed due to work. That's why I have the nightmares.'
'Stop lying. You have been having nightmares since you moved here. You are always sad. And I hate myself that I can't do anything to take all your pain away. I want to see you happy. I know I wasn't there with you for 22 years of our lives but now I'm there so please don't push me away. We are worried because we care about you so much.'
'I know Alex. But like I said I don't want to go to therapy and talk and relive all those things again. I just want to forget it like it never happened.'
'I know you want to forget it but you can't if you don't talk about it. I don't want to pressure you into going back. Just think about it, okay. All I need is for you to be happy like everyone else.'
'Okay'
Our food arrived. We were in silence for the rest of the time. After we finished, He payed the bill and we left. He walked me to the car. He gave me a hug and kiss on my forehead.
'I will meet at home in the evening.'
'Okay. Bye bro, thanks for the lunch.'
Then I climbed into the car. After settling in, I opened the window and waved to him. He waved me back and stood there until we took off into the traffic. I was thankful that there was no Paparazzi lurking near by. We were back in the office. The rest of the day went by me reading some manuscripts. By the time I finished, the office was already empty with only me and some of the employees as it was 6 pm. Jess left an hour ago. So I packed all my things and locked my office door and left to go home. I was so damn exhausted. Once again I went to get the car with Tom. We reached home after 30 mins. He dropped me in front of the building and went to park the car in the garage. I went inside and directly to the elevator. I put in the code and the elevator started its descend. I leaned against back wall and closed my eyes. I opened my eyes when I heard the ding. I dumped my things and took off the shoes on a table in the foyer and went to the kitchen. Mrs. Scott, our housekeeper and Tom's wife was in there preparing the dinner. She gave me a smile when she saw me enter the kitchen. I smiled back and went to the wine fridge. I pulled out a white wine and turned to keep it on the slab. Mrs. Scott gave me a glass. I said thanks and poured the wine into the glass and returned the bottle into the fridge. I picked the glass and went and stood in front of the floor to ceiling window and gazed into the view of the Central Park.
...
Longest Chapter!
I hope you all like this chapter. Until next time.
XOXO
Niharika
