After over ten minutes of knocking, the door was finally opened and Anna walked out with a frown on her face. “Who locked me in there?” she yelled.
“I am sorry, Ma’am. I was actually walking past when I heard you knocking, I have no idea who locked it.” The maid who had just opened the door replied.
Anna sighed and waved her head, instantly regretting why she raised her voice. “It is alright, I am sorry for speaking to you like that. Thank you for opening the door.”
The maid nodded. “It is no problem, Ma.”
Annabel walked away, heading down for the party. She wondered who thought it was a good idea to lock her inside a bathroom on her birthday, perhaps they were playing a prank on her. It could be one of her silly friends, the Cruz twins in particular were capable of such mischief.
As she climbed down the hall, the party was still steaming hot. She found the girls giggling at one end, they waved at her when they saw her and she smiled. Maybe it wasn’t them after all, she could recognize mischief from a distance, they didn’t wear that look on their faces.
Anna looked around, wondering why Maxwell had gone. He said he had something else for her and she was curious to know what it was. As she searched through the hall, she couldn’t find him and so she guessed he went upstairs to his room.
For the next one hour, Maxwell didn’t come out and Anna was starting to get worried. Did he fall asleep? She went upstairs to check him but he wasn’t there in his room, she checked her own room but he wasn’t there either.
Anna dialed his number but he wasn’t answering, now she was really starting to get nervous. She hurried downstairs and asked everybody who might know where he was but none of them had seen him, in fact everyone was still in the room, so he must have left alone.
The party was almost coming to an end but Maxwell had still not shown up or taken his call, Anna was pissed and yet worried. It was his idea to throw a party, so why disappear in the middle of it?
Annabel had to go outside to count the cars, even though the security had assured her that Mr. Blackwood didn’t leave the building, she felt that he must have instructed them to lie to her. But she was disappointed when she found all of his cars neatly parked in the garage.
This was supposed to be her fvcking birthday party but here she was getting all worried and sweaty!
Annabel returned to the hall just in time to meet the guests leaving, she bade them each goodbye and appreciated them for coming as they walked to the exit. Anna ran into her friends, excluding Jennifer as they came in her direction.
“Hey girls, leaving already?” She asked, feigning a smile.
“Yeah, it is getting late and so we should be on our way. Thanks for the party, Anne.” Belle called fondly.
Anna smiled. “Thank you for coming, I love you guys.” She replied as she pecked them on the cheeks amidst hugs.
“So where is our fine gentleman? Don’t tell me you hid him away.” Belle chirped in as they hugged.
“Ha! Maxwell must be upstairs,” she lied.
“Uhhh…” Belle coed. “Probably arranging the sheets for tonight.” She winked at Anna.
“Okay, you girls get out now.” Anna ordered jokingly and they all laughed.
“Bye girl!” The twins chanted excitedly.
As they left, The Forbes Family was the next to approach Annabel.
“Hey Mom… Mr. Forbes, are you leaving?”
“Yes dear, thank you for hosting us. You already have all of my blessings; I look forward to celebrating more birthdays with you.” Mrs. Forbes replied with a smile.
“Thank you Mom, you guys take care of yourself.” Anna said as she hugged Mrs. Forbes.
“So where is the arrogant son of mine, he doesn’t have the Decency of being here to say goodbye to guests? Well, who is to blame him? He didn't have anyone to teach him simple manners.” Mr. Forbes huffed.
Anna smiled in cover up. “Sorry Dad, your son is actually a perfect gentleman and would be here if there wasn’t a good reason not to be.” She said in his defense.
Mr. Forbes smiled. “At least he found a woman who takes his side, I can say that is the one thing he has done in life that isn’t a mistake.”
Anna laughed. Mr. Forbes had a funny way of passing his compliments. She bid them all goodbye, and hugged Abigail who she had managed to form a bond with in the past few hours together.
Just then, Anna saw something that caught her attention. Linda was coming down the stairs, so she was still here? Anna thought she had left during the dance after being unable to stand the love between her and Max.
Anna walked up to her immediately, finding the perfect Victim to take her anger out on.
“Hey, when I told you that you can stay, I didn’t mean you walk around the whole house like you own it. Don’t forget that I am in charge here now, not you.”
Linda surprisingly laughed, she didn’t look the least irritated by Anna’s act. “Oh sweet Ann, you are very right. But let's not forget I used to be in charge too, in fact I can bet that I know this house better than you. From the cushions, down to the kitchen shelves, the bedrooms and Balconies. Maxwell and I used to make crazy love, having sex at every corner we found fit.”
“Shut up!” Anna growled, she wasn’t in the mood for any of this right now.
“Oh but I am not done, Ann. Maxwell is a horse, he never gets tired, he loves it when I moan his name and when I ride him, he would moan all day. I went into the red room today, I could immediately tell that no one had been there in months, you say he wants you, but he has never taken you into the pleasure room, maybe he doesn’t like you as much as you think he does, or perhaps he is just preserving the memories that we made there, not wanting to contaminate it with your foul scent.” She smirked.
“That is enough, get out of my house.” Anna ordered.
“Haha! Oh I will, darling. But it won’t be your house for long, remember what I said about your turn, it is coming to an end soon. You should never have let me stay tonight, I told you Maxwell would come back to me, because he never moved on, he would always want me.” Linda said in a deep scary voice, then she smiles and flings her hair at Anna.
Anna’s heart skipped at her words. What did Linda mean by that? As she takes a few steps away, she pauses and turns back to Anna. “You will get a message shortly.”
Anna huffs. “I would say the same to you dear, you wont like what is ahead of you.” she smiled.
Linda rolls her eyes and walks away grumbling. She gets into her car and hits something on her phone screen before she drives off with a smirk on her face; her work was done!
**
Anna’s phone suddenly dings to notify her of a message, she tries to check it but just then, Marshall and Jennifer walk up to her.
“Hey, Birthday girl.” Jenny smiled, trying to hide her blush.
“I see you were having a good time,” Anna teased. “Are you two leaving?”
Marshall smiled. “Yes, I will take her home tonight. Thank you for inviting me to your Party, it was amazing, you are amazing too.”
“Awn, fine… Just because you are charming, I now approve of you.” Anna giggled. “Make sure to get her home safely, if there is even but a grumble from her, I would find you Marshall whatever your last name is, and I would ruin your life.”
“Oh, I am scared.” Marshall chuckled and they laughed.
Anna and Jennifer hugged and bade each other goodbye, then she walked them to the door. The house was finally rid of guests, but her parents were still in the sitting room upstairs, they were waiting to properly speak to Maxwell but he was nowhere to be found.
Jennifer had to convince them to go to bed because it was late; she promised them that they would speak with Max tomorrow. After that, she walked them to the room arranged for them.
**
Linda had not gotten too far from the Blackwood estate when she noticed a police van trailing her. They waved at her to stop and She sighed, wondering what she had done wrong now, she didn’t overspeed or something.
At first thought, she wanted to bail but what if they caught up with her, then they would have a good reason to detain her. She pulled over by the side and an officer approached her.
“Officer, is there a problem?” she asked rudely, she didn’t want anything to ruin her good mood right now.
“Yes, can I see your ID please?” the officer requested.
Linda hesitated and then did as he asked. The officer looked at her ID and turned back to her. “Ma’am, I am afraid but you would have to follow us to the station.”
“What? Why?” Linda asked with furrowed eyebrows. “You can't arrest me for no just cause.”
“Please step down from the Vehicle Ma.” The police man requested nicely.
“No, you have to tell me what I have done wrong first, I deserve to know.”
“Ma, we have reasons to believe that you just threatened the life of one Miss Annabel Joseph, after weeks of stalking, bullying and harassment. Now please come gently with us or we would have to use force.”
“What? That bitch! She is lying, you cannot arrest me without evidence. I will call your superiors.” She threatened.
“You can do that when we get to the station, but I will do you a favor by letting you know that we have a voice recording of you threatening the victim. Now I would ask you for the last time, step down from the car.”
Linda froze. Voice recording? Annabel had tricked her!!
**
Annabel had helped her parents settle in, she was walking back to her room when she decided to call Maxwell again. As she brought out her phone, she noticed that she was yet to open the message she received earlier.
The message had come from an unknown number. Anna clicked it open and felt her heart jump the next second, she froze on the spot. The message contained seven pictures and one video, and the picture she saw first left her shocked.
She clicked it fully open with speed, her heart racing. This had to be a trick, she knew it. Anna didn’t want to believe it, there were pictures of Maxwell and Linda together in a way that was not proper. They were both naked on bed with her lying on his chest while taking pictures.
Anna felt her heartbeat racing. “No, this can’t be happening again,” she muttered to herself. This must be Photoshopped or something.
She opened the rest of the photos and her heart raced further with everyone, she felt her legs literally shaking, unable to carry her body anymore. These were recent pictures from tonight , Maxwell and Linda together?
She then played the video and that was when her jaws dropped, convinced by the reality of the situation. There was Maxwell moaning as Linda sucked him off on the bed, she recognized the room. It was here in this house, they had made love under this roof while her birthday was going on.
She felt the tears form in her eyes. How could he do this to her?
TBC!!