Annabel's POV
I woke up the next morning, feeling a severe headache from the excessive crying last night. I sluggishly lifted my body from the bed—mentally tired and exhausted.
The thought of Jame's naked body on Stephanie's crawled into my head. A few stray tears escaped my eyes but I furiously wiped them off.
For a moment I wished it was all a dream. I wished that James would come in here professing and reassuring me of his love. I wish Stephanie would tap me, as usual demanding I see a doctor, just like every other time I tell her about my nightmares.
I still can't wrap my head around why Stephanie will want to go for James. She has once told me about her billionaire boyfriend.
She also told me that he would be proposing to her once after graduating.
So why James? Why my man of all people?
I was about to break down again when I stabilized myself. "No, Annie, they don't deserve your tears anymore…just move on". I encouraged myself.
As a part-time delivery girl, I had decided to resume work again while I keep surfing the internet for a job and maybe find a company that would like to invest in my app—The evergreen dating app.
This app is all I got left, and I promise to put everything I have into it just to see it come to life.
I got to my workplace, and from the way everyone was busy, I knew I was late.
Turning to drop my luggage at my counter a voice drew my attention. "Annabel, you are late". Our manager, Mr. Andrew, questioned me.
I turned to meet him, his dark eyes showing that he was unimpressed by my behavior, arms crossed, legs parted like he was on a battlefield.
"Sir…Good morning…sir" I managed to find my first word. "I promise it will never happen again".
His eyes roamed over me from head to toe. "You better not repeat this. Meanwhile, you have a package to deliver. Return sooner for other deliveries".
I gave him a simple nod, my eyes not meeting him as I departed to go deliver the package.
When I got to the building. I checked the delivery code to confirm if I was at the right address.
Because why would someone in this luxurious penthouse still order food when they could easily employ numerous people to be at their service?
Well, what do I know?
I'm here to do my job and that's all. I moved closer to the house and a security man took me in.
When I got to the gigantic glass door, I stopped for a moment, trying to compose myself, unsure of the weird feeling I was having.
Placing my hand on the handle to open it, the door miraculously opened. Fear took over me as I trembled and was about to fall, but a hand gripped me.
I finally got to look at the man that saved me from falling and there he was.
Daniel.
The man from the same night that I caught my ex cheating on me with my best friend.
Our eyes locked together. We did not move for a while. At some point I thought he was going to kiss me and seriously, I don't think I will even mind.
I just want to forget James. I need a distraction to forget him.
That was when a voice cut us off, making us both separate anxiously.
Confused at who I was seeing. "Wait…Steph. What are you doing here?"
Stephanie moved closer, her eyes moving from me to Daniel and then back to me. "I should be asking you that. Because this is my man's house. Annabel I'm in my fiancé's…. house". She sang it in my ears, then moved closer with arms crossed. "Now, Annabel, what are you doing in my man's house".
The mysterious man from last night is her fiancé?
This must be the most shocking news of all the unfortunate things I'm passing through right now.
Because why on earth will Stephanie choose James over this hot dude. I could recall she told me about her billionaire boyfriend but I never knew he was this filthy rich judging from the luxurious stuff I'm seeing here and not only that he is wealthy. He is gorgeous, like he is everything any woman will wish for.
James is not even half a man that he looks like.
I cleared my throat searching for the best way to put my answers when Daniel's voice stopped me.
He moved in, taking a protective stance against Stephanie, then came to hold my shoulders. "Well, since my woman is here, I will advise you to leave now".
Wait, what?
Did he just refer to me as his woman in front of his girlfriend? I saw how surprised Stephanie looked and I don't need to be told how heart broken she felt.
Fine.
Let her feel the pain I felt last night. Watching her moan under my man's touch with no remorse.
She made a move to touch Daniel, but he pulled away instantly. Then she stepped back with a flash of guilt on her face. "Dan, I told you I'm sorry, James meant nothing to me. I want you not him".
Ohh, now I get it.
So Daniel also saw his woman in the arms of my man that night.
Stephanie rushed and held his hand forcefully. "Dan, you can't pick this whore over me. She has nothing to offer you".
Did I just hear her right? Stephanie must be insane. I moved closer to her to challenge her, but Daniel blocked me.
He placed his hands on my waist pulling me closer and then placed a long hungry kiss on my lips. Swallowing my mouth like this was the only thing he was born for.
At first I did not return the kiss but looking at how shocked and annoyed Stephanie looked I played along.
After a long romantic scene we displayed. We broke the kiss and Daniel finally turned to her. "You see, we are lovers. And if you don't mind we need some privacy, we have business to finish up here".
Stephanie curled her hands into furious fists. "Annabel, you will regret this". She then faced Daniel. "I'm never letting you go!!" She yelled, slamming the door shut as she left.
I turned to Daniel, my anger boiling up and then dashed him a slap. "This is for putting me in this silly mess". Then landed another slap. "And this is for kissing me without my permission". I threw the package I had brought to him and left not even waiting to hear why he was calling me back.
My delivery for the day was over, and I had just retired home, taken my shower and was ready to sleep, but the thought of my dad's countless messages and constant calling worried me.
This was not the plan.
I had wanted to reunite with James. Then we will go and visit my dad together. While he introduced me to his new wife—my step mom, I would introduce James too as my life partner.
But the whole arrangement has been thrown into shambles.
I can't even bring myself to face my father. He never stopped reminding me why I should get married at an early age. And I had promised him that I would be bringing a man home.
I was still thinking of the way out when an email entered my phone. I scrolled through the message and couldn't believe my eyes.
My chest twisted in joy. I have been shortlisted by the Stroke's development company. They will be giving young creators the opportunity to present their work and anyone whose app got approved will be sponsored fully and their app will be funded.
I jumped up from my bed, excited at the news but not too sure about it. The fear of facing other competitors is what I can't control.
This might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I must utilize it to my benefit.
I arranged my file. Even though I had practiced for this moment my whole life, I still went to my laptop to cross-check every detail and put my words together so as not to fumble.