I woke up with a pounding headache,like a tight band around my skull,every sound and light felt too sharp, making my eyes and ears ache.
Beside the bed was a glass of water,I stood up, drank the water and found my way to the bathroom, the water wraps around me like a soft, steady hug,easing every sore muscle and melting tension away.I was carried away in thoughts on how I ended up in the hotel room, the buzzing sound that came from my phone brought me back,I left the bathroom,picked up my phone to check the missed call,I realized it was Helen and called back.
"Hey girl where are you?"
"Hi Helen I will call you when I get home",I definitely didn't wait for her response and ended the call to avoid further questions.
I slipped into my clothes and stepped out of the hotel,the city humming like a restless beast.The streets stretched ahead and I made my way to the store.
THE STORE
Everywhere felt so quiet and calm,guess Mrs Williams was already there,I was about settling in when Sarah walked up to me.
She looked so worried and disturbed,"good morning Sarah ",she replied with a faint smile"good morning Anna",Mrs Williams wants to see you. She left after informing me,my stomach dropped like a stone,and my heart started shaking as i walked towards her office,I knocked and a sharp clipped"come in"cut through the silence like a blade.
"Good morning ma"I greeted Mrs Williams
She replied with a straight face"Good morning"Mr Trenton's goods were tempered.Her tone was flat,but her eyes held a flicker of something unreadable,l stood still for a while confused and dumb,she broke the silence,"pass your next deliveries to Frank,I won't tolerate delays or incompetence.
"Yes Ma",my chest tightened as I turned away,the weight of her words pressing down like a stone, each step out of the office felt like leaving a part of myself behind and bruised.
I went to Helen's place after work,she was so excited to see me,we had dinner together,after that I told her how my day went, Helen's fierce energy flared,she clenched her fists,voice sharp"Ann I always had this hatered for your boss"always mean,well that comes to the end of your job there she said,eyes flicking to Anna"tomorrow we go job hunting".
VINCENT'S MANSION
Vincent sank into plush couch,a sigh escaping his lips, suddenly,a flashback hit him like a wave-last night's show,the tipsy lady who'd stumbled in,her laughter echoing in his mind.
Just then Franco burst into the room, snapping Vincent out of his thoughts."Yo, Vincent,you never linked up with that young lady last night?"he asked, eyebrows raised. Vincent sighed, recounting how a tipsy stranger had shown up,and he'd left her safely in his hotel room before heading out.
"Any meetings today?"Vincent asked ,and Franco shook his head,"Nah,just an interview with the candidates for your personal assistant position. Vincent raised an eyebrow"hope they're ready for the madness".
Vincent's personal assistants never last more than two or three weeks-his strict orders and rentless expectations burn them out fast.its like a revolving door of talent,each one trying to keep up with his chaos but eventually wiping out.
🖤🖤🖤~
Helen caught wind of the personal assistant vacancy at Vincenzo syndicate holdings and nuged Anna to go for it. Anna, initially hesitant,agreed after Helen's pep talk and now she's prepping for the interview.
Anna arrived at Vincenzo syndicate holdings by 7:45am, stepping into a sleek lobby where a line of hopefuls already snaked around the reception desk.she clutched her resume,eyes scanning the polished marble and the hushed chatter of other candidates.As she waited,a security guard called out numbers,and Anna's heart thumped with each step forward.
Anna's number finally flushed on the screen,and she was ushered into a glass-walled office where Vincent lounged behind a massive desk,eyes sharp as steel. He glanced at her,a flash of the tipsy lady's face flashing in his mind,but he kept his expression stone-cold, playing it cool.
Anna caught a glint of recognition,yet his unreadable stare left her doubting-was it really him? The tension hung thick as she tried to read his poker face.
Vincent flipped through Anna's file with a stone-cold stare, making her feel like she'd already lost.He finally said "my secretary will reach out if you're qualified". leaving her hanging on that thing thread.
Anna went home a bit disappointed and told Helen the interview felt like a dead end.Helen squeezed her hand and said,"don't quit yet-sometimes the silence means they're still deciding".
That little boost lifted Anna's mood just enough to keep hope alive. They were both making dinner when Anna's phone buzzed,she told Helen to check it out and Helen's screamed"You've been hired, honey!" Anna's disappointment melted into shock and excitement as she grabbed the phone,eyes wild."looks like Vincents secretary finally came through", Helen laughed, hugging her.