"He's not gonna find me…"
It had been already five days since that teambuilding reclusion. Since the morning three days ago, Kristoff and I had breakfast together. Every morning he woke me up punctual like clockwork. I knew I wouldn't be late for work; I didn't even set my alarm. I could trust that he would be there, wetting my face with a nasty rag, covering my nose, or, one day, simply gently brushing my hair away from my face. Breakfasts were fun with him. We were all the time playfully fighting, throwing food at each other, and licking the other's toasts to claim them. But he wasn't gonna go with it. I could eat them anyway. It is not like I wanted to eat his saliva, but… I didn't really care doing so. He seemed pretty impressed the first time, but it didn't take him a lot to catch up and eating mine too… He'd never let me win so easily.
After breakfast and working a few hours, we all had lunch together. I had never felt so close to the company staff. I must admit that, supermodels or not, they were great people. Everyone had their own problems, and their virtues; and they all worked hard to reach their goals, and they didn't work with their awesome bodies but with their awesome brains. I could have felt small by their side, but, somehow, those days were making me feel more grateful for having them than envious.
Mr. Blue was right. I was needing something like that. Probably, we all were. I couldn't imagine us laughing together before as we actually did every single day at that point.
Besides, our campaigns were progressing successfully and, honestly, I still couldn't believe how impressive our jump from the waterfall looked since Vanellope did her magic with the computer. I could have spent the whole day seeing our bodies all in sync jumping in the most natural and wild way. Not a sexy but a powerful jump. I loved it!
And, again, Elsa seemed delighted with Kristoff and Jasmine's work. I think she wasn't expecting them. They made a great team. Jasmine was like an explosion of crazy ideas, and always so clever and crafty. And Kristoff was always so focused and always ready to contribute the perfect turn to make the work shine. Her new perfume 'Snow' was going to triumph even more than 'Ice' and "Avalanche" did.
I was also grateful that Jasmine seemed less centered in hanging from Kristoff's neck and opening her view field to a different target. Not that I was worried or bothered about it, it was just that it didn't seem so professional…
Of course, Sven kept being a total sweetheart with me, and, the time I spent with him and Olaf while working, was super fun. Still, there were times when I felt like the third wheel between them. They got along so well… they seemed to always know what the other was thinking.
And, yes, there was still Hans around there. Always present, but, luckily, always far. He didn't dare to approach me while Kristoff was near, and every time I wasn't with Sven ad Olaf, Kristoff was there for me. I felt bad for him, I didn't want to be a burden, but it was also nice to see how he cared about me. It was strange and weird, but I felt that, in the end, he didn't hate me as I thought…
At first, the idea of being locked up with him seemed horrible to me, but at that moment, I thought I wouldn't mind if it lasted a little longer…
'But now… Now I'm alone in this room waiting for him, and I know he doesn't know me enough to find me. I just hope Hans doesn't find me either… This is been obviously his idea, but Mr. Blue seemed so happy with it that I didn't want to refuse.'
"It is Sunday, my sweet family!" he said that morning clasping his hands. "And do you know what that means? No work!"
"So, are we free to spend the day doing what we want?" Sven asked innocently.
'Of course, not…'
"Of course, not! Ha ha! I got something better for you!"
"And what is it?" Jasmine suspiciously asked probably sensing that what would come next was not going to please her.
"We made up a game!"
"A game?" Kristoff frowned.
'We?'
"I'm going to give you a piece of paper with the name of your target partner. One of the two will have only the name of the other and the other one will have the name of their partner and a room assigned. Whoever has the room must go directly there and wait for their partner to find them. The one who only has one name, must show how much they know their partner by going to table number one and looking at the blackboard to see which statement corresponds to them. The statement will be followed by a table number. When you decide which statement is the one that corresponds to your partner, you will go to the table indicated in that statement and you will find another blackboard full of statements. There you should do the same. This way, you will go through five different tables. But, the last one, instead of a table number, will have the name of the room where your partner is waiting for you. Your mission is to find them and bring them back to the cafeteria where we will all share a delicious meal. What do you think? Exciting, isn't it?!"
"What if we don't find our partner?" Mulan asked crossing her arms.
"Well, both of you will be hungry until the deadline, which is half an hour before the kitchen closes."
"Is this even legal?" she muttered.
"I have no idea! But isn't it fun?!"
No one knew how to tell him no.
And then, that rigged lottery assigned me to Kristoff as a partner and told me to wait in the basement. Probably the only room without windows or glass walls apart from the refrigerator room… The perfect place to be accosted by Hans without anyone noticing and without Kristoff being able to make a barrier of any kind. Hans certainly knew how to play his cards, and he had known how to use Mr. Blue for it.
"Finally, some time alone with you. We've been looking forward to it, don't we?"
Speaking of the devil…
"I didn't know you were playing too, Hans."
"I'm not. I'm just making sure no one needs anything."
"That's sweet of you. I'm fine, thanks."
"Well… it seems that this thing is gonna last a while, so we can just relax and spend some time together."
"Oh, do not worry for me. I don't want to disturb your work."
"C'mon, Anna. Let's be honest. We both want this time alone, and now we can have it."
"What for?"
"You know I've been drooling over you since I saw you the first time. And I think you like me too. And, even if that's not the case, you know you won't have any better chance."
'Excuse me?'
"And why is that so?"
"Oh, Anna… you aren't blind, are you?"
'Not that I have perfect eyesight, to be honest.'
"With that physique, you'll never get a better man than me. That's what your women partners are for. You've seen them, they are sexy, intelligent, and have good character. What makes you think someone would choose you? I am the only one who knows how to see what is in you. Do not think that you will have this luck again."
'Oh, wow…'
"It will seem strange to you, but I am not feeling particularly flattered by your words and I don't feel like having anything with you, Hans. I may not be able to aspire to anyone better than you, but then I'd rather be alone."
"Ouch! That hurts, you know?"
"You don't seem hurt."
"Okay, let's go with the truth, then. No one loves you enough to be with you. Even your sister has left you aside for her business and spends the little spare time she has drooling after your partner Honeymaren. Who, by the way, is indeed a real woman, not just a try as you are. But, if you agree to be my witness and sign some papers, together we will threaten Mr. Blue to sue him for all these illegal activities and will offer him a ridiculous price for his company in exchange for his freedom. He will be in our hands! And, that way, you will finally become someone and the world will see you. That's my offer."
'Here they are. His true colors…'
"Such a dirty play, don't you think?"
"Well, I want you to be part of my dirty play."
"Why me?"
"You need me."
"I do?"
"You know you do. Otherwise, I will leave the company and you will remain invisible, and then, you will grow old, not even your cats will pay attention to you, and you will die alone; all alone as you are now. C'mon, Anna, join me. I can make you happy."
Maybe he was right: maybe no one saw the glasses girl; maybe my only family was too busy with her work and her catch to spend time with me; maybe my Saturday nights will always be just eating popcorn and chocolate while I watch a rental movie all alone in my room. But I wasn't alone. I knew there was at least one person who, although in a bad way, had been watching me from the moment I met him.
"Okay, Hans. Let's play your game."
