More weeks passed by and Annie didn’t hear from the man. It had been a month now: They neither communicated on the form and her previous texts to him were read seen.
If she was bothered by his absence, the girl didn’t show it though. With the man’s absence, it was as if the events of a few months ago didn’t come to pass. The only things that kept reminding her of him were his things in her apartment.
Annie’s eyes were fixed on the desktop of the computer in front of her. Yet, she seemed to be spacing out.
Layla who was sitting beside her in her cubicle waved in front of the girl, however, she didn’t blink.
“Annie,” Layla yelled out her name, breaking her out of her thoughts. “What have you been thinking? Didn’t you hear what I just said?”
Annie pulled herself together and stared at the girl. “Sorry, I got carried away. What were you saying?”
Layla sighed. She wasn’t even sure if it was necessary to tell her friend. The girl had been doing alright and didn’t show any sign of apprehension. What happened between her and her brother some months ago must still be on her mind, right? Sometimes, Layla would think her friend was already over the issue. And some times, she used to think that Annie was just hiding her emotions.
“I was wondering if you’re planning to change departments. You could do well in the Productions team, you know. Compared to the Arts Department, you won’t have to go through the strenuous task of drawing characters in the Productions Department.”
Annie didn’t answer her question for a while. She just stared at the girl with a small smile. “Layla, if I’m not mistaken, you want me to leave the Arts Department.”
Annie went straight to the point, making Layla a bit uncomfortable. Actually, that was what Layla wanted. If her friend remained in the Arts Department, she could only foresee future troubles.
“It’s not like that, Annie. I was just wondering. I won’t force you to change departments if you don’t want to.”
Annie laughed softly and continued working on the character on her desktop. “Don’t worry, Layla. I’m okay here.”
Layla sighed again. Didn’t she realize she was only trying to save her from emotional damage? That witch was back with her brother. Layla had overheard her parents speaking about them last night.
She opened her mouth to say something, but her words were cut shut when gasps came from the employees.
Annie also found the employees’ behavior strange. She was tempted to look up from her work and see what they were gasping at. As for Layla, she wanted to cover her friend’s eyes or maybe run out of there.
But it was too late…
As Jason stepped out of the elevator with Priscilla clinging to his side, the employees began murmuring.
“Hello, everyone! We are back! And guess what? We just came from our honeymoon! Guess what again, we had the best time of our lives!” Priscilla’s shrill voice rang in the department.
With a haughty look on her face, the girl walked arrogantly, flipping her hair.
The employees gasped again. At first, they had been confused to see her with the Manager. Because they no longer recognized the girl. Until she opened her mouth and spoke, they could never tell that it was the same Priscilla Wang.
“Aiya, Ms. Wang- I mean, Mrs. Ju’an. The saying is true that a marriage changes a lot of people.”
“Now that Mrs. Ju’an is the Manager’s wife, she looks even more beautiful.”
“Mrs. Ju’an, I hope you had a great honeymoon. Mr. Ju’an surely is a gentleman. He took great care of you.”
The employees had not forgotten what happened a few months ago when they bad-mouthed this girl leading Mr. Wang to exert his authority in the company.
They didn’t dare offend her anymore, despite the girl giving them a scornful look. So they decided to butter her up. At least, they could save their jobs.
“Haha, you guys are pathetic!” Priscilla scoffed. “Didn’t you all laugh at me some months ago when I expressed my feelings to my darling hubby?”
When she spoke, she held Jason’s arm and smiled sweetly. “From now on, let me see who dares laugh at me in this department. You must all bow to me because you have no choice!”
“Hey, don’t make a scene,” Jason said softly in a tone that only she could hear. He only looked at Annie once before pulling Priscilla into his office.
After the pair left, the employees began murmuring:
“Why is my heart breaking at this sight? Priscilla is still the bratty girl she was.”
“I thought Mr. Ju’an would rub some of his personality on her. Yet, she only got more arrogant.”
“Did Mr. Ju’an do something wrong that he was blessed with this kind of wife? See, she already wanted to pick a fight.”
“Guys, watch your tone. What if they hear us? Do you want to get into trouble?”
“Seriously, you guys should switch to a broadcasting company. Being a paparazzi will suit you more,” Layla scoffed at the employees. The girl was irritated by their gossip.
When the employees quieted down, they brought their attention to Annie. This time, they didn’t gossip loudly. The employees could be heard murmuring words to each other. They would look up now and then to stare in the girl’s direction.
Layla became more worried. She looked at Annie who had resumed what she had been doing without showing any hint of concern.
To Layla, this girl was acting too reserved. “Annie, it’s okay if you don’t want to stay. I didn’t know they’d resume work today, I would have given you a headstart.”
Layla was sure that if her friend decided to go home now, it wouldn’t cost her her job. After all, she could just call in sick.
“Relax, Layla.” Annie stood up with some documents in her hands. “Why should I go home when nothing is wrong with me?”
Layla watched her leave her cubicle. “Where are you going, Annie?”
“To the Manager’s office.”
At that moment, Layla’s heart almost stopped beating.