Finally, Anna was back at the office. Mr. Blackwood had given both she and Megan a three day break starting from the day they arrived back at New York and the work break had expired, so she was back at the office. Although the office break was much needed, Anna couldn’t help but wonder if MB was only trying to avoid her for a few days.
Things felt different today, for the first time since she began working at this office, she was actually friends with the secretary. Anna had spent a considerable amount of time at Megan’s office where they gossiped about their holiday.
Megan had kept touch with Ugochi and she had extended her greetings to Anna who seemed to be the third wheel in the friendship. But of course, it became more than just a friendship to the other two parties, they had sex!
Was it just for fun or they felt a deeper connection? That, Annabel couldn’t tell but it was the least of her problems; they had left Botswana now and like Megan said, what happens in Botswana stays in Botswana
The office had been properly tidied up but at the expense of disarranging the files, so now Anna was occupied with fixing the files back where they belonged. The keyboards felt cold and deserted in her absence, their buttons begging to be touched by something other than dust.
Anna was very happy to be back at the office, although now she had a pile of unfinished work to handle, and a lot of emails to respond to, she loved the feeling of sitting behind that desk like the big boss.
Just then, there was a knock on the door; speak of the devil, since she had only just left Megan’s office, it had to be Mr. Blackwood at the door. It is surprising that he finally learnt how to knock, he has changed a lot recently.
“Come in,” Anna said as she sat properly, crossing her legs behind the desk. She didn’t want to give him any reasons to bend her over.
Although they had barely made eye contact since the last night they spent together. All the way back to New York, he didn’t say a word to her.
Mr. Blackwood pushed the door open and walked in. He wore a solemn expression on his face, and his eyes were not as bright as usual. It was obvious that he had not been getting enough sleep. Anna wondered how someone could be a multimillionaire and still have sleepless nights.
“Mr. Blackwood,” Anna uttered and stood up as a sign of respect. They might roll in the sheets but he was still her boss.
“Hey… I brought you this.” He said calmly and handed her an envelope.
“What is this?” Anna asked as she took the fancy envelope from him.
“Why don’t you just open it? See for yourself, Miss Owl.” He said with a bit of sarcasm.
Anna huffed silently and then began to unveil the content of the envelope. However she didn’t get a chance to read it as Mr. Blackwood continued right away.
“Anyways, that is an invite to my birthday Party.”
Anna’s face lit up with the announcement. “Oh wow, I am invited? Or you want me to give it to someone? Jenny perhaps?”
“Shut up Miss Owl,” he said nonchalantly; of course he didn’t find it funny. “I will be holding the birthday party at my house, you are invited, the invitation says you can bring a plus one.”
“Sorry, are you inviting me as a Boss or a friend, that is if it is even the right label for our relationship when you are not giving me orders.”
Mr. Blackwood groaned, not understanding why she was so difficult and inquisitive all the time. “What does it matter?’ he asked in a deep voice.
Anna smiled and stepped out from behind the desk. “You see, if you are inviting me as a Boss, it means that for one, I can't refuse and secondly, I will see it as a work duty, which means I will permit everything that is expected of me as your employee. But if you are inviting me as a regular friend, then I will come like any other guest and I will act like one all through the event.”
“Has anyone told you that you are weird?” he asked suddenly.
“Weird? Freak? Owl? Yeah, I have been called a lot of things.” She smiled.
“Well if you want to know, I am inviting you as someone I know, not as your annoying Boss. So do come celebrate with me if you feel so, but if you would rather not, then it is fine by me as well.”
Anna grinned. “Okay, good then.” She said in a rush of words and a quick wave of head. “I will be your guest, Mr. Blackwood. I might not be fit for such a gathering but I will try to look decent enough, hopefully your guards don’t throw me out at first sight.”
Mr. Blackwood growled inwards and walked away. This lady would drive him insane!
** **
A man dressed in black shirt and pants walked into the Forbes Mansion, heading straight for the massive reading room. He greets every servant he comes across with a gentle nod of his head, like a perfect gentleman. As he looked up, his face revealed, anyone could tell that he was in his late forties, but he still rocked that age.
Walking into the reading room, he met Maria Forbes seated at her reading desk while going through a book with her eyeglasses on. She was an avid reader since her youthful days. The woman looked up at the sound of the mysterious man’s footsteps and her face brightened up.
“John… any reports?”
“Yes Ma’am. Your work has been done, I saw to it that Dave returned to New York City and it has been confirmed that his birthday party would be held here as planned, the venue is his house, came as a surprise to me but even compliments our plan to perfection.”
A wry smile appeared on the aged woman’s face. “Good, I knew you would deliver. Are you certain that the party would be held at his building?”
“Yes Ma’am, he has begun the circulation of invitations, my sources confirm it.” John replied.
“Invitation? Of course it has to be an Invite-only event. How do we deal with that?”
“Oh leave that to me, Ma’am. I have people on the inside that can secure us an anonymous invite.”
“Whatever it takes, John. You have worked with my family for years and you have been very effective, I know I can rely on you.”
“Be rest assured I will get the Job done, Mrs. Forbes. Thank you for your trust in me, I must take my leave now.” He said with a gentle dip of his Hat.
Mrs. Forbes nodded, urging him forward. She watched him as he left and she felt a spark of excitement run across her old bones. She would do whatever it takes to see her boy, after all, a mother would never stop loving her child.
!