** Anna’s POV ** **
I was nervous as we walked into the room, the scent of his cologne hit me the moment I walked in. The room was cold and neatly arranged, I thought Mr. Blackwood restricted room service from being inside his room while we lodged, so who exactly did the cleaning?
“Give me your hand.” He said softly, a little smile on his face.
My heart jumped at the sound of that. “Um… okay…” I said reluctantly and then I put my hand in his own.
“Good, now close your eyes.” He whispered.
I wanted to refuse that but then I sighed, maybe I should just trust the process. “Fine,” I muttered and closed my eyes.
He gently pulled me forward and then I heard his footsteps as he went behind me, I felt his hand on my waist and my body jumped nervously.
“Shhh… relax,” he hushed in a comforting voice.
I nodded and swallowed hard, he urged me forward to a point and then held me to stop. I felt his hand leave me and his footsteps began to fade away.
“Where… where are you going?” I stuttered with my eyes closed, with a burning desire to open them. I was scared, why am I trusting this man? Why am I voluntarily doing everything that he says?
“I am here, just stay steady, I will be there in a sec.” I heard his faint voice, followed by the creaking sound of a wardrobe drawer. What was he bringing out? My heart began to race.
I could hear his footsteps as he approached me again, then I felt him hold my shoulders right before I felt something on my neck, a kind of ring, I was guessing it was a necklace, the cool metal sent shivers down my spine.
“Not yet, love.” He whispered to my ears as if aware that I was ready to give up and open those eyes. I felt the warmth of his touch as his hand came in contact with my skin.
“Alright, we are ready. You can open them now,” he said as he took a step back.
I slowly opened my eyes, my view was foggy at first due to having to keep it closed for so long, I blinked twice and then I caught a reflection of myself. I was standing in front of the dressing mirror.
It was at that moment that my eyes caught it and my jaws dropped; the necklace, nestled against my collarbone, its brilliance stealing away my breath at first sight. The diamond, a perfect octahedron of pure light, danced under the room’s fluorescent light, throwing kaleidoscopes of colors across my skin. It was more than just beautiful; it was breathtaking, mesmerizing, a work of art that screamed wealth.
“I asked the company to make it specially for you, I couldn’t wait to give it to you so I had them send it down here.” Mr. Blackwood announced, to my utmost surprise.
I still had my eyes fixed on the mirror as I admired the beauty, there was no doubt this would cost over fifty thousand dollars in the market, and he made it for me?
I was stunned for a moment, the sheer magnitude of the gift rendering my tongue unable to formulate words. My eyes, wide with surprise and disbelief, echoed the diamond's radiance. The air was dense with unspoken emotions, and time seemed to stand still.
“So… What do you think?” Mr. Blackwood muttered, I could see the smile on his face from the mirror. This was really coming from his heart, but why??
I finally found my voice, as if waking up from a dream. "Oh, my..." I exclaimed, my voice scarcely audible. “I… I… I am sorry,” I stuttered
“Sorry for what?” he asked with furrowed eyebrows and scrutinizing eyes.
“I am sorry Mr. Blackwood, but I… I cannot accept this.” I announced.
His face fell immediately, a look of disappointment crawling in. “What? Why not?”
“I am very sorry, I just can't.” I said with teary eyes as I took off the necklace and handed it back to him.
He didn’t take it back at first, he just stood there staring at me in disbelief. “Would you take it if it was from him?” he suddenly asked and my heart sank.
“What… what are you talking about?” I stuttered nervously, scared that I had annoyed him.
“You know what I am talking about Ann, would you take it if it was a gift from Jimmy?” he made my fears true by calling that name.
“No Maxwell, don’t do this. This had nothing to do with him.”
“Of course it has everything to do with him!” He half-yelled, anger filled in his tone.
My heart flew into my stomach but I would not let him gaslight me, he was in the wrong here.
“No! you don’t get to do this, Max. Jimmy has absolutely nothing to do with my decision here, you need to keep him out of this. I am sorry if I hurt your feelings by not accepting this gift but I do have my reasons. I don’t want your expensive gifts, Maxwell, I don’t want your money. And you need to stop making it sound like you are in a competition of some sort with Jimmy because you are not!” I stated clearly.
“He is my boyfriend and I love him, you are my boss and we have a sexual relationship but that is all.”
“Alright, I am sorry.” He immediately said in that accent as he came closer and held my shoulder. I sighed and looked away. “Look Anna, I just want what is best for you, and Jimmy is not good for you., you deserve better”
“Excuse me?” I fired back. “What do you know about Jimmy to say such? Thanks a lot for your concern but I think I know what is best for me and Jimmy is good for me.” I retorted as I pushed the necklace into his palm and turned to walk away.
“I know that he cheated on you!” he voiced out and I immediately froze on my tracks. What?
I turned around immediately in shock. “How do you know that?” I asked almost in a whisper. There is no way he knew about that, I would never have mentioned it to him, not even if I was drunk.
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