**** Annie walked through the main door as Maria let her in. "God from your phone call it sounded really important," Annie lets out while she eyed Ben. "well that's because it is," Maria says as she exchanged a glance at Ben indicating him to take over. "Take a seat Annie," Ben told her. "well you two are definitely up to something," Annie stated. "look Annie we know how important it is for you to hold onto what your father had left behind for you," Ben says. "and it's okay to feel disappointed in him for wronging you and you still loving him," Maria added while she sat next to Annie. "But Annie the likes of Dell and men who have complex soul show love in the most peculiar way," Maria expressed as she eyed her husband when she did. "such men like to have control over their affairs and if it meant they wanted to sell you to the devil himself then he would have," Maria added while Annie was taken back by it all. "oh my god you are actually going to make me cry," Annie tells Maria.
"Annie I don't think you realise why Dell nor Gregory had never left anything to you. And I'm afraid Maria is probably right behind Dell's intention," Ben replied. "what do mean," Annie asked. "Annie, Dell knew you couldn't be trusted and that you will probably lose everything he worked so hard for into a big gamble because you don't see the consequences of your actions," Maria reflected which stung Annie a little. "you are just a little child who just wants some love, affection thinking money is going to buy you happiness and love which your heart craves for." "Maria I didn't have a lot to start off with," Annie mentioned. "sweetie you did more than anyone else, you just never believed it," Maria reminds her while Ben listened and watched the two friends. She always managed to get the best out of Annie and still does.
"You know Annie you have made some huge mistakes which has caused a lot of heartache and misery in others," Ben added. "you destroyed a family, you ripped that family apart – not because I wanted to," Annie interrupts. "I didn't set the situation between Olivia and Gregory, they did it themselves," Annie defends herself. "ask Antonio if you don't believe me, they were already in a dysfunctional marriage." Maria and Ben only glance back at each other. "I did them a favour Maria," Annie goes on while they watched how her face crumbled. She did feel remorseful and regretted what she did to Olivia. "I don't expect you two to understand especially when you had your whole life taken away." "Annie I don't blame you for what you have done but I blame your father for setting up this disgusting situation. Your father knew very well what he was doing, but you need to take responsibility of your own action," Maria clarified. "we all have choices Annie some have more and some have less but the choice is still there," Ben repeated with his gaze on Maria.
"I guess the question now is what do you want now Annie, what is important to you," Ben asked his old friend. "I want some closure," Annie says while Maria rubbed her back. "don't we all," Maria lets out looking up at the ceiling and closing her eyes. "With some normality in our lives," Maria added. "Annie, Maria worries that you will probably end up dead like your father," Ben expressed while Annie looked terrified as she searched through Maria's eyes in shock. "you really think," Annie wanted to know. "and she's probably is right, you might end up dead. And Gregory most likely may bail out of prison seeking revenge on you and to see your destruction. But you matter too much to my wife and me in many ways that we can't let that happen," Ben explained.
"What do you suggest I do then," Annie asked. "You sign your father's share over to Maria making her and I the biggest share holder of the liberty co-operation and we set up a standing order for you every month as your father did providing you an allowance," Ben tells Annie. "And that means you still continue working at the Liberty co-operation and pay off the debt you made."
"And on the condition that you can't come and ask me for any more loans either," Maria made it clear. "Ben and I will bail you out from this toxic and imprisoned situation that your father put you in if you promise to move out from the Richards household and you move back in with your Aunt Bette next door," Maria finalised. "I am telling you now that is only way you can get your life back and hold onto Dell and your shares. Otherwise, you can kiss good bye to it all because you will not only lose your father's love forever but you will lose us both too in the process," Maria told Annie firmly.
Annie knew she had no choice and nodded her head...