Hey guys sorry for the wait was a bit caught up with my hectic schedule. Thank you for all those reviews. Great to know that you all love this little piece of my imagination. Thank you now read on
Chapter 5
I was crying my heart out when I heard a ping from my mobile, indicating that I have received a new text message.
*hey girlfriend, hope you are home soon. I am taking off back to New York and I just wanted to let you know that I did a bit of research about you and boy I am impressed. I can't help but be proud to have one of the hottest publishers on my arms to show off. Bye girl see you soon.*
He might have been miles apart but that single text touched me deep, there was someone other than my dad who was proud of me, who was impressed by my bookishness, who like that nerd Ana. My face lighted up with a smile while my heart grew warm
*hey hunnybumpkin: P kidding kidding thanks for those words. Researching about me hmmm am I having a stalker ? Have a safe flight and try not to bang any oldies in the bathroom*
I kept my phone down and undressed myself and walked to the bathroom, it was the same filled with all my shower products. I filled my tub with the right amount of water in the correct temperature and poured some bubble shampoo in. I went back to my room to see my phone blinking
*stalker I don't think so well not until I get the background check I ran. Kidding kidding! Well I will try not to bang anyone but you should not complain if I do, my girlfriend has banned me from sex with her. Taking off text you later*
I smiled and returned back to my washroom and stripped completely. I got into the tub and switched on my iPod and soft music started flowing from the speakers. I leaned back in the tub and closed my eyes to enjoy some peaceful minutes while I regrouped my mind. I had two options in front of me, be the pathetic and helpless girl that Elena and Leila think of me or I can embrace myself that strong and efficient publisher I am. I am intelligent and smart enough to run a company having 60 employees under me dealing the publishing activities of 100 small and big authors including 10 best sellers. I am good looking and sexy that I have a lot of invitees to events, I dress myself to my best in events and I do turn some eyes, only when I am in my casual self I look like a fashion disaster but I do that to be home, close to that little girl who dint give a care in the world about what she wore. I am strong; oh my Pilates and kung fu master can vouch to that, I am not that meek, unattractive, incompetent girl I was when I was 20, I have grown up the hard way and it has groomed myself so much. Yes I am not romantically linked to someone, hell where is it written that to be successful you need to have a man on your arms. I don't have to justify my life to anyone, yes I hired Christian to make my 3 weeks peaceful, if he doesn't turn up by any chance which is a possibility I don't care. I am happy the way my life is and I am not changing it for anyone.
Feeling super confident and peaceful I completed my shower and got out, I opened my closet to see my clothes neatly arranged by helpers done while I was taking my bath. I selected a red casual dress, applied a bit of makeup, and put my head in a messy bun; I completed my look putting on my grandma's prized bracelet. It was a very rare one, gifted by my granddad on their wedding day, it had a single stone in the middle; a sea shaded diamond designed in the form of a heart. It was a very coveted Steele trinket and Leila had tried her best to make it hers by going behind grandma, she was a clever women who understood her motive and gave it on to me with all her other jewelry. Another of my treasure from grandma is her wedding veil; it was a beautiful piece one I hope on wearing on my special day someday. It was a small veil attached to the headpiece studded with pearls and stones and the veil itself was so pretty that it gave an angelic touch to the whole look. I closed my closet and took a sandal from my shoe rack and wore it and hopped down to dinner feeling really good and ready for a fight if someone said anything bad about me. The person I saw standing in the foyer snatched my breath away.
"José" I whispered more to myself, there he was the love of my life, the person who took my innocence, the guy whom I dreamt of being my child's father one day but well he ended up being my brother in law in a way. Time has done him justice, he looked mature all his boyishness gone and he looked all like the director he is, he was wearing a blue suit and it looked marvelous on him. His eyes were the same green as before, his hair usual black mess, everything about him made something ache in my heart. "Annie, come down we were waiting for you" dad called out loud, only then he turned to look at me. His eyes rounded with shock, and his face broke into a grin while he stood up and walked to me, "Ana how good to see you again, lord you have grown up into a beautiful lady I must day", he hugged me and I was still in a trance like state, I had expected it to hurt but not this much. "Hi José, thank you. Hope Mr. Rodriguez is doing well" I mumbled when I broke away from his hug still not looking up. "Dad is awesome, a bit of old age troubles still wonderful. I dint expect to see you today Ana and it's such a surprise" he replied. I smiled, "oh baby, come on lets have dinner Ana would be starving you know" Leila said pulling him away with her.
I walked to the dinner table and sat at my dad's right while Elena sat at the left side with Leila near her followed by José. "Well I am happy that all of my family is here today especially my Annie, I missed you so much little girl" dad said and raised his wine glass to me. I grinned and pressed his hands, we ate silently with only the voice of knives and forks was heard. " have you decided on where you will be honeymooning Leila?" dad asked "oh we are probably sticking on to new Zealand ray, such a good place for party and fun, and if we change plans we have our jet right to take a detour" Leila replied in her butter wont melt voice. The devil in me came up, ya bitch you steal my boyfriend and now you want to screw him in my jet, in your dreams "dad about the jet, I wanted to ask you if I could borrow it I have a conference in aspen in 3 weeks like the next day of wedding, I was hoping on showing of our jet and make a grand entrance. It's about a movie making discussion of one of our books; I was planning on returning day after meeting to Seattle and return back to New York in that. I would also be having a conference in California a week after the wedding and I was so banking on the jet. So can I have it dada?" dad looked torn "and you know nowadays private plane staff are really weird, today a steward almost came on me when I was asleep. I got pretty scared by that too" I added sealing the deal, throw in a small word that my safety is affected my papa bear gets activated. "Really! Damn assholes. Annie you are taking the jet, from now on I don't want you travelling in private ever. Understood young lady. Leila you can take the private plane for honeymoon, I will have Amy book the ticket"
Leila dropped her fork, Elena stared at me shocked and José looked puzzled, and I smiled back flaunting my victory, Ana 1 Leila 0, "but ray we haven't fixed on New Zealand, cant Ana manage in the private for a week or so" Leila whined. Uh oh wrong thing to say, dad drew a long breath "Leila Richard Lincoln, you had 3 months to fix on your honeymoon destination and still you don't have an exact place, its gross incompetence and inefficiency from your part. Look at Ana she has her whole month planned and that's why she is a great success. It's my jet and I won't allow my baby girl to fly around unsafe so you can have fun. It's my final decision". No one uttered another word, Leila looked crestfallen and Elena looked like she swallowed a toad, José on the other hand was impassive about it all. Daddy finished his dinner and left the table to continue his work "you bitch, what is your problem. Argh Ana is a success, yes Ana doesn't have a life, she lives by her stupid schedule all the time and don't even have a guy in her life, you pulled it off well Ana" Leila sneered. I smiled and replied "yes Leila I am a success, I own a 3000 square feet apartment in New York, I own an Aston Martin and a BMW convertible, all with my own hard work and what have you earned discount coupons at the Gucci store? Grow up for heaven's sake "I get up and walk to my room.
I change to my night wear, a baby doll set from Victoria's secrets and take a few manuscripts from my bag to read till I fall asleep. Christian hadn't contacted me for a while and it has been 8 hours since the last text, 'come on Ana he is not your boyfriend' my subconscious reminded. At that same moment I got a ping
*hey gorgeous I am back in New York, heading out for a party thrown in by my friend. Hope you settled back there see you in two days*
I smiled at my phone and was going to type a reply back when I heard a knock at my door, I wore my night robe over my dress and opened the door and I was surprised to see José standing out. "Hey Ana, hope you weren't asleep, I just wanted to apologize for what Leila said, it was very rude of her, we are okay to fly private. I just also wanted to tell you that you have done a great work with your life". I was shocked, of all the persons I dint expect José to come up to my room, "uhm its fine José, it's not a new thing that Leila is acting rude, I am sort of used to it" I whispered back. "You look really beautiful Ana, Elena told me you got a boyfriend, he is a damn lucky guy I hope he doesn't make my mistakes and repent like me thinking about what I lost. Goodnight Ana" José said and leaned in and kissed my cheek. I inhaled his scent, it was the same as old times and my heart pained with loss "night José" I replied and he went down the stairs.
José s POV
Damn I was a fool to let her go away and there won't be a greater moron than me to cheat on her. Ana has changed a lot, she looked beautiful just like a goddess, she was intelligent, smart and adorable and moreover rich. Money it was a main factor, if only he hadn't cheated on Ana that day, if only she dint see me with Leila I would have been marrying her in 3 weeks, I would have been the heir of Steele industries. On that fateful day I had come to Ana's house to take my mobile I had forgotten the previous day, I was returning back home when I heard the shower running, thinking Ana might have been back earlier I knocked on her bathroom door. After a few minutes Leila came out naked, well I was a hot blooded male and the usual thing happened, I had just finished with her when I heard a sob and turned back to se Ana running off. I knew I had lost her then and there itself, but I wasn't sad I had carried around Ana for y future dream of starting something new myself and escaping from my dad's watchful eyes. There was no other reason I suffered the nerdy, round glassed, pale, curly haired girl, it's a miracle seeing how she looked now. I still remember after seeing Ana run off I had sex with Leila 2 more times before heading home. Even though I used to see Leila occasionally only 5 months before we had regular meetings, by those I came to know that she would be acquiring a share of her dads wealth when she get married and well Ray Steele has also bought her some pretty good investments to be turned in when she gets married. In 2 months I proposed and now I count the days to the wretched marriage to get over, but seeing Ana changed everything. 'I have to win her back' I said to myself, but Elena had told she has a boyfriend but I guess he will be some dumb fat looking nerd who has got zero chance next to me. I smile thinking of how in 3 weeks I would be marrying Ana and getting on the top stratum of Steele Industries.
Christians POV
"Quit it Chris, she won't reply if you stare at the mobile for 10 minutes straight" john sniggered "fuck you bro" I replied throwing a paper cup at him, we were at his apartment were my colleagues had thrown a 'get lost grey' party for me celebrating my resignation. It was only me and john left as the rest had trickled away for buying more beer and food "you like this chick man; I can see it in your eyes. You have never been this crazy about anything before, but now you are going to act as the boyfriend of someone you barely know, it's so not you Chris" john said "stop it john, don't get all shrinky on me just because you are taking a psychology course, I want money and this is easy money and the girl is pretty decent. I haven't told her but I ran a background check on her with the help of my friend Welch and its pretty clean other than a driving ticket" I replied chugging down my beer. "Hmmm still I would say you have found your match with this one Chris" that idiot mumbled I was going to reply when I hear a ping
*oh I am all settled in ready to turn in for the night grey. Yes 2 days and I would lose my peace by having you here. Ooh a party do I see any hookers? Behave! Nighty night*
I could feel the grin on my face when I saw her message, it was like she could touch that special place inside me, I could remember her innocent face devoid of any makeup, her attitude and her cute little way her blush would creep up. "You got it badddd," john sang from the corner. Suddenly my phone started ringing and a name came up on the display, a name I haven't seen for 6 months to be exact it was my fathers, Carrick Grey.
Hope you guys liked it, leave a review if you did. Sorry for any errors.
Rachael XOXO