CHAPTER SEVEN: SMALL WORLD

LUNCH IS FASTLY approaching on Anna's clock, but none of her work is done yet. Well, with her job of staring stupidly in front of her computer monitor with her mind flying anywhere it wants... How come she would? But her tummy has been rumbling a lot since break time, but she wasn't allowed to go because neither of her tasks is finished. And her fortune this lunch break might be that way again, but still, she turned around to search for her strict and annoying boss.

As usual, he's there silently sitting at his own table and busy working on his dearest computer. This nerd doesn't seem to notice the time, or no plan to take another meal again. And it looks like he's going to include her in his penitence.

"You are done with the reports?" he coldly asked when he caught her staring. The authority in his voice is hard to miss, she's not affected though.

Tom turned this nasty when Anna denied his courtship just last year, simply because he's not her cup of tea. Aside from irascibility as his second name, he also became too strict and formal towards her. So bitter!

A sweet smile slowly flashes from her lips to charm the dragon, she shakes her head while she's rubbing her small tummy. "But I'm too hungry. Can I first take my lunch? Then I promise to come back after, please!"

A deadpan expression stayed on his face, so dense that her charm changed nothing. Despite the thick glasses above his eyes, Tom can still pierce her thoroughly with anger building up in there... What's wrong with asking for a lunch break? It's her right and a necessity too.

"You can't go anywhere unless you're done with your tasks... that's what Madam Astrid exactly told me," he explained while typing back on his keyboard again. "I hope that's clear."

Oh! That old lady witch again? Damn that irksome senior citizen! Did she want Anna to starve to death?

"But it won't take long. I'll just satisfy this starving away so, please, Tom. "

The second that he laid her his ice-cold eyes, Anna immediately shivered. He stopped from his neverending typing on his keyboard just to show her the sparkling temper on his face as if there was something offensive or wrong with what she just told him.

"Sir. Tom!" He exclaimed while clenching his face. "I think it's not too much to ask from you to call me that way every time we're in the office, I hope I'm making myself clear here. And please, finish your work so you won't have to interrupt my work just because you want to take lunch."

In the end, Anna just complied with her BOSS's order; she had no strength to start an argument with him anyway since her grandmother was involved. So, she simply turned back to her own table and continued doing the freaking reports even though her tummy was complaining louder and it was starting to make her feel dizzy. Damn this, but this won't be the end of her!

T'was exactly three o'clock in the afternoon when she printed out the last copy of her marketing report and placed it in its designated folder. Bringing with her the annoyance of not having her lunch, she audaciously dumped the folders on Sir Tom's table. The disturbing thud causes his laughing with her father's secretary some interruption... but she doesn't give a damn.

"Done now, Sir Tom..." she emphasized the last two words very well. She raked her short hair with her fingers after fixing the crumpled part of her dress.

"Good, now take your lunch," was all he could say.

"Lunch?" She sounded horrified at that. "Oh! It's break time already for goodness sake!" Her eyes fell down the folders. "Because of those bitches, my hunger was relieved. Now, tell me what should I do next? I wanna go home earlier today."

"But may I remind you, once again, that I'm the boss here, Miss Contreras," he said, pulling that annoying card again. "And it's me who will decide what you will do next. Now, eating your lunch is your next task. Is that clear?"

Annoying pest!

Her patience for this guy has been wearing thinner each day, not killing him for real is a sort of miracle... The privilege of being her grandmother's puppet has gone too much for this bastard now, he is suiting himself a lot; boasting as if he's the real grandchild there.

Ugh, this motherf*cker!

Anna wants to loosen up and free the bitch inside her, that would probably bring another wave of commotion on their floor and her father won't like it very much... so is she.

So, to avoid creating another world war with her supervisor, Anna just forced herself to follow his order... Just a couple of minutes later, she found herself silently heading towards the canteen located on the first floor of their building.

A lot of heads turned to her as she opened the door and entered the place, this is what her charm could do to men. Some even had their eyeballs falling while others were simply having a hard time swallowing their foods... She looks like a living goddess, she knew. But, her mood was totally ruined today. Thanks to that bastard!

Anna headed straight to the counter and ordered a hot chocolate and mocha cake for her snack. She's about to carry the tray when a guy approaches her to help, based on his formal attire and office identification card he's working under their company.

Did that explain his niceness to her? Because he knows Anna as the daughter of the CEO that's why he's trying to impress her or did her charm catch him badly?

"Thank you," she said in a sweet voice before she pulled the chair near her.

"It's always my pleasure to help you, Miss. Contreras." So, he knows her? He then offered his hairy hand to her. "By the way, my name is Laurence. I'm an architect, and my office is on the 10th floor."

She accepted his hand while nodding. "Oh! Your office is just a bit close to ours. Mine is on the seventh floor, in the marketing department... You could pay me a visit whenever you're not busy."

She proposed that not because she's interested in this cute and chinky architect in her front but to simply annoy her boss as revenge. Tom might look cold-hearted at her and act so serious about things, but his attention can be easily distracted especially when Anna is around. Surely he'll explode in jealousy once he sees her with another guy.

"Oh! Sure, sure." His smile fell wider, turning her eyes into a crescent shape "I'd love to do that. Though I still have a lot of work on the field to finish. But then, I'll try once I get the chance to."

"Great! I'll look forward to that."

Anna settled her attention on her phone after Architect Lau left her alone. She was busy checking her social media accounts while sipping on her drink; trying to fish for some trends or new information from there.

Currently reading some random article about this hot billionaire bachelor when somebody tries to get her attention by faking an annoying cough.

The last person she wanted to see in her whole life came into her view after raising her gaze, her brows automatically arched at the sight of Cherry— the supermodel, the queen of all fakes, the snake— in her front.

So, where did this b*tch get the nerve to show up in her face as if she hadn't done some bullshit to Anna years ago?

"Hey, mind if I join you here?" her tone sounds so friendly.

Her acting can fool someone easily and make them into believing that she's an innocent angel and that she's never been the snake that bit Matty right away after she found out that he likes her, not to mention that this b*tch knew her friend—Anna— likes him too... Cherry trashed everything they have been through just for the sake of money she could get from Matty. Such a gold digger!

"Nope. I don't share a table with snakes, it disgusts the shit out of me."

Anna immediately picked up her expensive black bag to put it on the vacant seat where Cherry's aiming to sit. Teasingly, her eyes jump back on Cherry to give her an annoying smile. But the b*tch tried to keep her fake smile on her face as she crossed her arms and acted as if she wasn't embarrassed.

"Well, I think two snakes can't really share a table... They might bite one another," she said, insinuating something. "Right?"

"What do you mean?" Her eyes narrowed. Anna readied her fork in case she would dare to insinuate something again. "I could only see one snake in here right now..." She never left the girl's eyes nor blinked. "If you know who I was referring to."

An empty smile curled into her vibrant lips. "Do you really think my boyfriend will lie to me just because you two were best friends? Such a desperate, conniving bitch... Did you really pull that on Matty to steal him from me? God, Anna! How pathetic can you get?"

That should make her feel good, it fails but at least it reaches Cherry and that threatens her for sure. Probably the reason why she suddenly showed up... But the pain of hearing how Matty easily betrayed her screwed everything. Best friend, huh? He really did that to her just because of Cherry, how dare he be!

Pain shoots her a little, but never a bit of the tenderness she's feeling shows up on her face. She never lets any emotion flash on her face, she can't be affected and shows weakness... if Anna's a bitch, so is Cherry, they are not ex-best friends for nothing.

"Then after the rejection from my boyfriend, here you are again, trying to prey on Architect Lau? Woah!" She exaggerated the latter word so much that her eyes and mouth went as round as the moon. "You've got a nice list, huh? Aside from businessmen, you have the eyes for Architects too."

"And it's not like a business you should deal with? But at least I just have the eyes for them, compared to someone I know whose eyes were gone directly on their wallets, or bank accounts maybe? Lusting over their money, just what you really feel for Matty." Anna louden her voice so that people around them would hear it. "You’re one hell of a gold-digger, am I correct or correct?

Her lines cause the people around to watch them drowning with sarcasm and hate... They were sharing sharp stares when somebody spoke to break the tension.

"Oh, hey the two of you here!" That voice! "Ms. Salvo, I'm glad you made it here today."

Her happiness was short-lived hearing her grandmother's irritating voice just behind, it made her jaw clench tight. Afraid of getting her day totally ruined, she never bothered herself looking at the old woman... She hadn't gotten the chance to eat lunch because of a bullshit reason, which her grandmother was part of… and now her snack is also in huge danger because of her again. What's really with this day?

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Ivasco." Cherry regained the sweet smile from her face, her tone's back to the polite one real quick. "Of course, I respected you so much to turn you down just like that."

"Oh! such a flatterer. But it's nice to hear that other people respect me, compared to someone I know." From the corner of her eyes, she tried to check on Anna.

Although, Anna didn't grant them any hint that her grandmother's insinuation affects her. This used to happen anyway, it’s just that it still could ruin her day. To be with these two antagonists of her life gives her the ugliest frame she ever had in her life.

"So, shall we sit first?" The old woman turned to Anna's table while cocking her brow at her, indicating something.

What? Is she planning to join her at her table? Dream on!

She acted innocent and continued savoring her slice of cake while scrolling on the large screen of her phone— acting like reading an article about some economic problem and all that... but truth is, she's restraining a grin not because of the bad news from there. But of course, because of her grandmother's sharp stares.

Her eyes were fixed on her phone, but she can imagine it pretty well.

Clearing her throat is what she did first. "Anna, can you remove that bag of yours from that chair because we have to sit. Me and Ms. Salvo here have important things to talk about, it's business."

Whatever that is, Anna doesn't give a damn... but wait!

Business?

And what business is that? Does her grandmother plan to hire this viper in their company? No way in hell!

"It's okay, Madam," it's Cherry and her special acting skills again. "I think Anna wants to have some alone time—"

"Oh, Silly! Of course, it will be my pleasure to share a table with you!" She cut the bitch off and immediately pulled her bag from the chair to vacant it again. And since they needed two chairs, she also exerted some effort to call the staff to ask for one. "Kindly take their orders too."

The two witches shared looks of confusion, they just can't believe how Anna dealt with the situation. The shock in their faces is funny to see, but there's a more important thing for her to know... Both of them take their seats eventually to start the business they want to discuss.

"So, let's start this out now. What business will the two of you be talking about?" Too curious to wait, the question slipped off her mouth. "You're planning to hire her, Grandma?"

"Yes..." Her grandma's smile was as sweet as Cherry's as they kept on sharing a look, and watching that up close pinches her heart. Her grandma never looked at her that lovingly. "Our newly built condo units are ready for some commercial endorsement now, the board is looking for a new model and we're all eyeing Ms. Salvo—"

"But we have Nerizza for that job, right? The company has made her sign a contract."

"And it's done, we refused to hire her again because her spark is slowly dying. In addition to that, she's facing so many controversies and her tiny war with her manager is not helping. The last thing we want to happen is to get involved with their problems."

"But there are a lot of models out there, grandma. Highly professional and nicer, I think you are making a half-baked decision right now." Failing miserably to hide her annoyance, her comments slipped like that. "Did my father even allow this to happen?"

She throws a dagger look at Cherry who can still afford to smile like there's a camera somewhere and her every movement was guarded. This two-faced b*tch really possessed a talent for acting, in making people believe that she's a good and trustworthy person. When the truth is she's the opposite of both.

"Anna, can you be a little sensitive with your tone and choices of words?" Her grandmother glared at her, scolding Anna privately. "Your father is very busy with his loads, I don't wanna add more on his plate. So, I took charge of deciding on this matter, besides taking Ms. Salvo as our new endorser is a wise decision. She possesses all of the qualities we're looking for in a model— that amazing face, oozing body, plus the fact that everybody likes her. She's perfect!"

Perfect her ass! This is not happening!

But it is and Anna can't help curling her eyes and directing Cherry her burning stares. This is very stupid! What else can ruin her day?

Ascending to the right floor of her father's office, she remained seething in anger. She could feel it in her every vein, it was burning hotter, melting all of her rationalities away. She doesn't care about anything else but to have a conversation with her father right now.

So, when his secretary tries to block her way, Anna never hesitates to grip her arm and with all the strength she has, she throws Amelia out of her way.

"Dad, I need to talk to you," she declared while scandalously walking towards his table.

From the corner of her eyes, she caught a man in a coat and tie currently sitting in front of her father's table and the serious air around gives her the sense that the two were talking about something serious. But Anna couldn't care less of anything right now, just the stupid idea that her grandmother is about to execute which she has to stop for crying out loud.

Cherry can't be the next face of their high-end condo units.

"But, baby. I'm still talking to Mr. —"

"I just need a minute or two." She's persistent and stubborn. "Are you aware that our new company model will be Cherry? Dad, she is my foe and I despise her to the moon and back. Please, do something about this."

Her father walked toward her with a small smile, even though he looked ashamed of her attitude he managed to stay calm while handling her.

"I have heard a little about it, but I'm out of the decision they've made. I didn't even know that the board had already made a choice."

"That's it, daddy! Grandma just had a meeting with that b*tch, and it seemed that grandma was sure about her decision. You gotta stop this, dad. This mistake will screw everything up."

"Sure thing, honey. I will talk to your grandma later." He gave her a look of assurance as he pulled Anna by arm to plan a sweet kiss on her forehead. "But for now, let me finish my business meeting with Mr. Zamora here. By the way, I would like you to meet my daughter, Annaztaxia Contreras."

Her eyes lazily walked towards the gentleman, still not feeling good despite her father's assurance. Well, the thought of Cherry entering her realm won't make her feel good... but the anger she’s feeling was easily shaken up by too much surprise, the trembling he caused shocks her core that the only thing she can do is to stare over this familiar, handsome gentleman sitting on the chair with legs squared.

Too much surprise rendered Anna of her capability to think of courtesy and even breathing for some air.

The withheld fury in her heart urged her to attack the bastard, throw him some punches, and strong kicks. She badly wants to fill his handsome face with deep scratches and bruises, the only thing that's stopping her was her father's presence and it's a good thing that she remembered about that before doing any attack. Things might be spilled out once she tries it and that's not a good thing.

Mr. Zamora eventually stood his hunky self and strutted down towards her with that smile that gave her a goosebump. He went near her and even without Anna's consent, he took her right hand with grace and bowed a bit to plant a kiss on it.

Those darn lips of him!

All the hairs in her body raised like hell, she can't contain her feelings while his soft and plump lips are on her skin— kissing it, sending her some familiar sensation she doesn't wanna remember anymore.

Well, most of her memories of that night were kind of vague. But based on the loud throbbing of her heart, no need to investigate further, it can't be denied that the guy in front of her was the same hot and mysterious man at the bar— the asshole who took advantage of her drunkenness and unconsciousness.

"It's a pleasure meeting you, Ms. Anna." The vibration of her baritone voice sounds sexy in her ear. His gray storm eyes were shamelessly staring straight at her face, sending her more shivers down her spine. "I have heard a lot about you, you've indeed got a pretty face."

If Anna was not aware of his identity, she would surely appreciate his compliment but she is not birdbrained... However he plays nice in her face, she will still have her revenge and he won't like it very much. She'll make him regret treating her that low!

Her dark thoughts behind her head ceased when her dad suddenly chuckled.

"Well, of course. She's got a handsome father and a beautiful mother, that is not surprising, Mr. Zamora. Stop being funny here."

His lips twitched, and eventually, the humor flashed over his intimidating face as well.

"You are actually right. Anyways, I think we are done here. I still have papers needing to be signed on my table. I will go now, Mr. Contreras. Thanks for the cup of coffee..." But before he turned himself to leave, his damn eyes of a hawk one again jumped back to Anna. His wicked smile gave her another goosebump. "Again, it's my pleasure to meet you, Miss. Anna."

He then walked away as to what he should do... But despite his absence inside the room, Anna remained speechless, freezing; and with wide eyes.

What a small world they have?