Floating through the air, the smell of bacon and pancakes woke Anna from her deep sleep. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Maxwell sitting next to her bed with a tray full of breakfast food. He had a big smile on his face.
Anna's frown deepened instantly. Memories of their argument from the night before flooded back – his lies, her hurt feelings, and the confrontation. This breakfast-in-bed act? Definitely not winning him any points
"Good morning, beautiful," Maxwell chirped, acting completely oblivious to her stormy mood. "I made you breakfast!" he added quickly, he looked genuinely excited and Anna wasn’t having any of it.
She looked down at the food, and slowly looked up at him, her lips pursed into a tighter line. "Is this supposed to be a bribe?" she asked, her voice laced with ice, trying to act unimpressed by his attempt at winning her over.
Maxwell chuckled nervously, a bead of sweat forming on his temple. "Maybe just a… peace offering?" he replied, making a funny face.
Anna scoffed. Ignoring him felt like the right thing to do, because wasn’t she mad at him? But the aroma of the perfectly golden pancakes was seriously putting her to the test. Finally, after a long, theatrical sigh, she reached for a fork.
By God, she couldn’t care more about brushing first, if she stood up from here to use the bathroom, then it would look awkward walking back here.
There was silence in the room as he stared at her while she did the exact opposite; avoided eye contact with him while she ate. Anna was enjoying the meal but kept the silent disapproval, diligently devouring the delicious peace offering without acknowledging its maker.
Finally, after a few bites, Maxwell cleared his throat. "So, about your birthday…"
Anna's head snapped up. "My birthday?" she echoed, a flicker of surprise replacing the lingering anger.
Maxwell furrowed his eyebrows. “Yes, your birthday is in two weeks.” He announced, wondering why she looked surprised.
Anna immediately grabbed her phone, it was mid-September already, how did this escape her mind? Her 23rd birthday was literally two weeks away. But that was not the only question that crossed her mind, she turned to Maxwell immediately.
“How do you know which day is my birthday? I have never discussed it with you.” she blurted as she pulled away from the breakfast.
“You didn’t need to, aside from the fact that you once were employed under my establishment which gives me access to your information, a quick glance at your social media handles could also give me that information.” He replied with a smirk.
Anna huffed. “Yeah, whatever.” She muttered and turned back to the breakfast which she had leveled already.
“So… What would you like your birthday to look like? Just mention it, no matter how grand you want it, I can make it happen,” he announced excitedly.
“Keep your bribes to yourself, aside that I want you doing nothing for me, I also have no desire to celebrate this year. Why should I celebrate in this state?” she said, pointing to the belly bump.
“What about it?” Maxwell asked, feeling confused.
“Are you serious? I can't have my friends over to see me with a Protruded belly, and not just that, why should I celebrate when I am carrying a child whose father has yet to be identified?” she snapped.
“C’mon, don’t say that. We have already established that the child is mine, we both know that, so can we move on from that please?” Max pleaded.
“Established what? Did we really? Because I remember you saying, it is not possible, I can’t be the father, Blah Blah! Blah!!” she bemoaned.
“I already said I am sorry, I know you heard everything I said last night, so don’t pretend like you didn’t. I am really sorry, Anna. I shouldn’t have behaved the way I did.” He pleaded.
“It is not just about the way you behaved, it is the fact that you lied to me for weeks.”
“Mmm… Not lie, kept a secret.” He interrupted.
“Same thing!” Anna yelled. “The point is that I cannot forgive your lies, because now you hurt me exactly as my ex did with these lies, Max. At this point, I am tired of deceitful and manipulative men in my life.” she spoke from the depths of her heart.
There was a little silence between them and then Maxwell spoke. “You know what I think? I don’t think it is me that you are really mad at, I think it is your Ex.” He said.
Anna looked up at him, “What is that supposed to mean?” she asked in confusion, what does Jimmy have to do with any of this?
“You see, Ann. You are not really mad that I kept my Vasectomy a secret from you, rather you are mad that I denied the baby yesterday. Because by denying that baby, I was implying that Jimmy was the father and that was the last thing you wished to hear, given how much you despise him. So it is not really me that you are mad at, it is Jimmy who is still eating you up.” He explained.
Anna crumpled her face, now even more confused than before. Was he really trying to explain her own emotions? Was he right?
“Wait a minute, Mr. Maxwell Blackwood, are you gaslighting me right now?” she asked with squinted eyes.
Maxwell couldn’t hold back the smile. “Well, is it working?” he replied with a question of his own.
“Huh! Unbelievable!” Anna scoffed and stood up, abandoning what was left of the breakfast.
“Wait! Where are you going?” he asked in a high pitched tone.
She turned around, grabbed a pillow and tossed it at him. “Screw you Maxwell Blackwood.”
He laughed as he watched her head to the bathroom. “I will be here waiting for you sweetheart, we still need to prepare for your birthday regardless of what you want!” he screamed at her.
Annabel groaned in frustration as she walked into the bathroom and slammed the door at him. Would she ever be free of him? Did she even want to be free of him? She could deny it as much as she wanted but she enjoyed his troubles.
TBC!!