Chapter 91

\- - - - - - - - THE NEXT MORNING * * * * *

Anna awoke to the brightness of the sunlight piercing her eyes. As her gaze adjusted to the light, memories of the previous night's events flooded her mind. It had been a while since she and Marcus had shared such a pleasurable night together. She turned to face the other side of the bed, only to find it empty. Perhaps he had already left for the office, she thought.

Anna stood up from the bed, eager to freshen up. As she opened the door, she came face to face with Maya. Anna's curiosity was piqued, wondering what Maya was doing in Marcus's suite. "Good morning, Miss Maya," she said, trying to sound composed.

Maya's eyes narrowed slightly as she gazed at Anna, her expression cold and unfriendly. "Good morning, Anna," she said, her voice dripping with disdain. "I see you're already up and about."

Anna felt a flutter in her chest as she detected the underlying tension in Maya's tone. "Good morning, Miss Maya," she replied again, trying to sound neutral.

Maya's gaze lingered on Anna's disheveled hair and the faint flush on her cheeks. "I didn't know Master Marcus was... entertaining guests in his suite," she said, her voice laced with subtle accusation.

Anna's face grew warm as she realized that Maya was implying something. She tried to explain herself, but Maya cut her off.

"I don't need an explanation, Anna. It's clear what's going on here." Maya's voice was icy, and her eyes seemed to bore into Anna's skin.

Anna felt a surge of defensiveness, but she bit back her retort. Instead, she stood tall and met Maya's gaze, her expression calm. "I'm not just any guest, Miss Maya," she said, her voice even.

Maya's expression didn't change, but Anna could sense the disapproval emanating from her. "Sooner or later, we will know who is the guest.“ she said before turning back to leave.

Anna felt a shiver run down her spine as Maya turned and walked away, leaving her feeling uneasy.

She watched Maya walk away, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside her. Anna was annoyed that she seemed to think she had the right to tell her who she was to Marcus, but at the same time, she was a little intimidated by her confidence and authority.So she discarded the thoughts then turned to return to her room.

She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her hair was a mess, and her face was still flushed from last night's... activities. She looked like she had just rolled out of bed, which, of course, she had and in different postion.

But as she began to get ready for the day, she couldn't shake the feeling that Maya's disapproval had left a mark on her. Anna found herself wondering what she had against her, and whether she would cause problems for her and Marcus.

She pushed the thoughts aside and focused on getting ready for the day.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

As Anna walked downstairs, she was greeted by the warm smile of Mrs. Julia, who was busy arranging a platter of pastries and fruit. "Good morning, Anna dear! I see you're up and about early today." She said as she emphasise the word early.

Anna smiled back, feeling a sense of comfort in Mrs. Julia's presence. "Good morning, Mrs. Julia. Yes, I slept so late last night." She replied as her gaze turned towards the wall clock.

Just then, Vera, burst into the room, carrying a tray of freshly brewed coffee. "Good morning, everyone! Oh, Anna, I'm so glad you're up! I was just about to come wake you up."

Anna laughed, feeling a sense of camaraderie with Vera's infectious energy. "Well, you're just in time, then!"

As they chatted, Anna couldn't help but feel a sense of relief at being surrounded by such warm and welcoming people. It was a stark contrast to the tension she'd felt with Maya earlier.

But just as she was starting to relax, Vera's expression turned curious. "So, Anna, how was your night with Master Marcus?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Anna's cheeks flushed, and she felt a flutter in her chest. She wasn't sure how to respond, but Mrs. Julia intervened, saving her from having to answer. "Vera, dear, that's none of our business," she said, her voice firm but kind.

Anna smiled gratefully at Mrs. Julia, feeling a sense of gratitude towards the older woman.

Suddenly, Antonio burst into the room, his energetic presence filling the space. "Mummy said I could have pancakes! For breakfast" he exclaimed, his eyes shining with excitement.

Anna smiled, charmed by the little boy's enthusiasm. "Well, hello there, Antonio," she said, trying to sound friendly.

Vera laughed and ruffled Antonio's hair. "Hey, kiddo! Yeah, Mrs. Julia made some delicious pancakes for breakfast."

Antonio climbed up into a chair, his eyes fixed on the pancakes. "Yay! I love pancakes!"

Mrs. Julia smiled and handed Antonio a plate. "Here you go, sweetie. Enjoy your breakfast."

As Antonio dug into his pancakes, Anna couldn't help but smile at the little boy's antics. He was a bundle of energy, and his enthusiasm was infectious.

Vera leaned over and whispered to Anna, "You know, Antonio can be a bit of a handful sometimes, but he's a sweet kid."

Just as the breakfast conversation was flowing, Maya walked into the room, her eyes fixed on her watch. "I have a meeting I need to get to," she said, her voice brisk and efficient.

No one looked up or responded, too caught up in their own conversations. Antonio, still munching on his pancakes, didn't even notice his mother's arrival.

Maya didn't seem to expect a response, anyway. She simply grabbed her briefcase and headed out the door, her heels clicking on the floor.

As the door closed behind her, the room fell silent for a moment. Then Vera spoke up, "Well, that's our fearless leader, always on the go."

Mrs. Julia chuckled. "Yes, Maya's always been a driven person."

Anna knows Maya's attitude must be from their conversation earlier.