"AJ I am sorry I haven't been around much to support you with running of the Liberty Co-operation," Ben apologised. "It's not your fault Ben, you have had a lot of hurdles that you had to get through and it's quite understandable," AJ stated assuring Ben. "Besides I had Jude to support me manage the everyday running." He can't help but remember his wife's words echoing about how she doesn't trust Jude and her judgement tends to be correct about people.
"He has been a great asset to this company," AJ mentioned. "Question is can we trust him?" Ben asked. "I know it is probably difficult for you to trust people Ben and I don't blame you," AJ goes on. "but Jude has been great for this company and keeping Annie on her toes too."
Before they could carry on, Annie walked in with Jude looking very cheery. "Hi English," Annie greeted him. "Annie don't call me that," Ben reminded her. "English?" Jude repeated it. "it's what his wife calls him," Annie told him. "I like it, it suites him," Jude complimented as he walked up to Ben. "it's been a while Ben," Jude says taking his hand out to shake it as Ben did. "where have you been Annie?" Ben questioned her dead seriously. "I've been busy Ben," Annie says recognising that tone. "Maria has been trying to get hold of you for days," Ben informed her walking up to her. "I would have thought after everything you went through for her, she would have been top of your priority," Ben grilled her. "and she is Ben," Annie snaps getting angry. "then how come you haven't come to see her nor called her?" Ben continues questioning Annie while Jude tried to make sense of the situation.
"Because I know she is disappointed in me and I can't make things right for her," Annie confessed as Jude could see how sentimental Annie was towards Maria. "Annie she doesn't hate you nor is she disappointed in you," Ben tells her. "You are just a little misguided and misunderstood like many among us," Ben repeats his wife's words. "she said that," Annie wanted to know as everyone watched her blue eyes twinkle and soften as Ben nodded his head.
"And other things too such as, you should have been the best female attorney of Southern California," Ben added while Annie heart melted. "I tried to Ben but it was never the same I couldn't carry on, you know that," Annie reminded him. "We all lost our soul when we lost her." "Ben we need to make a start on this meeting," AJ tells him. "you're right this can wait Annie." "Annie I have never seen you like this," Jude says as Ben walked back to take seat on the black leather sofa.
Just then Bette barged into the office with Maria while everyone looked surprised to see them. "well if it isn't Poopsi," Bette greets her niece while Maria and Ben both exchange stare at each other. "aunt Bette, it's nice to see you too," Annie greets her. "but you don't sound too pleased to see me." "where have you been, Bonita has been trying to get hold of you for days now," Bette questioned her.
"I already know aunt Bette, Ben has already filled me in and I already got an earful from him okay," Annie says not wanting to hear anymore, while Maria and Ben exchanged a glance at one another as Jude watched them. It was other they were reading each other's mind. "you know Annie I would of thought your friendship will be top priority – oh here we go again!" Annie interrupts her aunt snapping as Maria touched her forehead and shaking her head losing the countless times her father had lost his temper with her and Bette. "Tell me something that I already don't know."
"Bette It's clear Annie has been really busy," Maria dives in trying to save Annie's neck as usual. "It seems so the Agent that she is dating has been keeping her on her toes and placing healthy competition in her life," Maria stated as an amused smirk appeared on both their faces. "Healthy competition," Ben repeats laughing at the phrase. "it's true," Maria tried to assure him. "These two words don't seem to go together for Annie, I would rather change it to toxic or intense competition," Ben suggested while Maria burst into vivid laughter. "you got her all figured out haven't you," Maria says raising an eye brow at him teasing him at the same time. "will you two stop laughing at me," Annie was getting annoyed while Jude really was enjoying the entertainment Maria and Ben were giving. "Annie couldn't change herself even if she tried," Ben added as Maria beamed. "Do you think she still talks to herself saying her thoughts said out loud?" Maria asked as Ben laughed more. "I think her habits definitely has rubbed off onto us," Ben agreed. "Hello I am still in this room you know, you two are going on about me as though I am not even here," Annie lets out feeling even more annoyed.
"What are you doing here anyways," Ben questioned his wife as she walked up to him ignoring Annie. "well Bette and I were planning to take our best friend out for a brunch," Maria filled him in. "oh really how comes," Ben wondered carrying on and knowing Maria was intentionally trying to remove Annie from this meeting. "really!" Annie was surprised herself. "I can't I have to stay for this meeting." "well of course you don't. I think the men have control over the situation and won't be in need of your fine admin skills," Maria implied eyeing her husband manipulatively while Ben realised what Maria was suggesting. "well Ben it seems like your wife is more aware and in tuned with the changes then you are," AJ declared. "it seems so AJ," Jude agreed. "look it wasn't my idea, it was Jude, he made me take this poxy secretary job and replace Meg Cummins. I could do this in my sleep and it's so boring. I don't know how people do this," Annie says annoyed. "well I guess we will have to really thank your father for teaching you so well and the likes of Meg Cummins have only embedded the skills of following great leader's instructions," Maria complimented Ben and insulted his ex fiancé at the same.
"Oh my god Maria that's exactly how it was and is," Annie laughed while Ben felt spell bounded as she slowly walked up to him. "how is that you manage to compliment one soul and insult another within the same sentence?" Ben questioned her. "well it's the fine arts of the English language," Maria reminds him. 'passionate and free-spirited souls are able to express themselves in most unimaginable, dignified and honourable way," Maria explained as she removed dust off Ben's black jacket and blew softly next to his hear lobe making him feel ticklish. "Does it impress you," she asked her husband with their eyes locked in his. "more than you can imagine," Ben emphasised and their lips only a few centimetres apart. "Annie you are right they better than watching a soap opera," Jude confessed to his girlfriend. "They are my favourite soap opera Jude," Annie reminds him.
"well you my beautiful, impossible wife better make sure you keep her out of trouble," Ben warned Maria. "I don't go looking for trouble, surely you should know by now that trouble always ends up finding me," Maria stated as Ben, Annie and Bette burst into laughter. "God you are still so funny." "it's one of the many things we have in common," Maria told him. "well I have admit Annie, Maria and I feel very proud of you that you managed to turn yourself around," Ben announced while a grin appeared on both Maria and Bette's face. "I don't think you will be staying too proud of her once you learn the real truth of her new job," Bette revealed while a frown appeared om Ben's face.
"well is that the time we should really get going," Maria says walking up to Annie and trying push her out of the office. "How much do you know," Annie whispered. "everything, and enough to know that lion will actually pounce on you," Maria revealed while Annie looked worried. "I can explain okay," Annie tried to tell her. "well you Poopsi can explain over Brunch," Bette says as she held Annie by the arm hard and exited out of the office door. "Toodles!" Bette greets them while Maria walked behind them but glanced back at Ben with a serious and stern look. "I'll see you at home and I am sure both these gentlemen will brief you in," Maria tells him. "Things are not what they may seem." "they never are around here," Ben lets out while Maria shuts the office door behind her...