Anabelle

chapter 9.

Anabelle retired to her bedroom thinking that there was nothing she could do to change her sister's mind.
Imelda was determined to believe that she was deliberately meeting up with Mr. McAllister and it was not for business.
Far be it for her to try and tell her otherwise, but now she would really have to try and get herself off that project, she didn't need all the drama.
She went straight to her bedroom, said her prayers and went to bed. She didn't bother to freshen up, it'd been a long day.
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It's been a week since her last misunderstanding with her sister, she avoided Imelda like a plague and focused on other things, like her budding friendship with Maria.
The woman was fun to be with and her son was a bundle of delight. She cherished the moments she spent with them thinking it a blessing, all her friends were in the UK so having new ones here was a good thing.

She went to work as usual and attended to all she needed to attend to putting the awful dinner and subsequent events behind her. She met with new investors, dealt with new clients with ease and when her father asked about the McAllister project, she told him it was well taken care of, her father of course trusted her judgement so he didn't pry.
But he knew that there might have been a reason for her earlier reluctance.
The days went by quickly and a new week began.

Tuesday morning of the new week, Anabelle sat working In her office, sorting out files her father dropped off earlier. She was so engrossed that the ringing of her phone made her jump. She patted her hair in a bid to calm herself and picked up the call. She didn't say anything as it was a strange number, the person spoke first and Anabelle fought the surprise and dread that rose quickly.
" Miss mcAvery, I wanted to see some of the properties you listed on the proposal, I think you should come along with me. Wednesday wouldn't be too bad, would it?" Dorian's cold voice resonated over the line and Anabelle resisted the urge to hang up on him. Seriously?! What time was it? A good morning never killed anyone before and what was it with that tone of voice?! He always acted like she was one pest he had no choice but to tolerate, yet he was the one calling. Anabelle thought furiously as she heaved a sigh and started to respond.
" And who might this be?" She asked cooly even when she already knew who he was, she would know that voice anywhere. His taunts and mockery were among the many things she tried hard to forget. No way she was letting him treat her badly today not when he called her first. A long suffering sigh came over the line before he spoke.
" It's McAllister." He said simply. Anabelle injected enough saccharine into her voice and replied.
" Ohh, good morning Mr McAllister, how nice of you to call."
" Yes, nice indeed considering that I will never call you otherwise.." Dorian said maintaining his cold tone.
" Of course Mr McAllister nothing would ever bring us together apart from business. I understand completely." What she really wanted to say was I wouldn't be caught dead with you too but she decided to be professional.
" I spoke about seeing the sites listed in the proposal. Wednesday?
" I will check my schedule and get back to you, sir." Anabelle said coldly and promptly ended the call. Well, that was certainly satisfying. She set the phone down and sat back on her swing chair, trying to swallow her annoyance at the condescension and disdain. He didn't even know her that well, what on Earth was his problem? Anabelle knew she was free on Wednesday but she just wanted to let him know that he certainly didn't run her life even if he was a high profiled client.  Anabelle made a show of going through her schedule even when she already had it figured out just fufill righteousness.

Dorian sat in his immaculate office staring at the phone in shock. Did that red haired witch just hang up on him?
Few minutes later, his sleek phone rang. He picked up immediately, pissed.
" You hung up!"
" Did I?" Anabelle said still in her affected sweet tone.
" I told you I was going to Check my schedule. Was I supposed to wait?" She asked him. Dorian was beyond irritated, but he decided to let it go.
" Well?" Dorian asked, his tone biting.
" Yes, Mr McAllister. I will be free on Wednesday. We can check out the sites then."
" I will be looking at the one near the bed and board on Choco street. Meet me there at 9am." Dorian said and hung up.
Anabelle heard the beep and shrugged . Now they were even.

Wednesday Dawned bright and early for Anabelle. She said her prayers, did her morning routine and was very well prepared by 8am. She went downstairs to eat breakfast before heading out to meet Dorian McAllister for their rendezvous. On getting to the dinning room, she discovered that her dad wasn't around. She tensed up a little bit, it was only her mother and Imelda. She prayed silently that all would go well and approach cautiously. She just wanted to eat breakfast and usually , if her dad was there she would get away without any foul comments and/ or a cat fight. But her dad wasn't around. She hoped Imelda was in a good mood, she really didn't want a fight today, it was such a glorious morning.
" Good morning mother, Imelda." She greeted quickly and sat on a chair far from there. She greeted the maid that was present, Betty, they were good friends. Betty smiled and proceeded to serve her breakfast.
" Thank you Betty." She said as Betty nodded and left the room.  She blessed her food and dug in quickly, she just wanted to eat and run. She noticed eyes on her and looked up to see Imelda staring at her with disdain.
" Good morning, Imelda." She greeted again, just in case Imelda didn't hear it the first time. ' please let me it my food in peace' Anabelle begged silently.
" Look at you, stuffing your face with food. You don't think the reason you are so ugly is because of your insane love for food?" Imelda asked twirling her fork. Anabelle stared at her, surprised. Love for food? She didn't even eat that much if we were being honest. Anabelle thought. She decided to stay silent but Imelda wasn't quite done yet.
" Where are you going looking like a neon sign in that impossibly red pant suit?"
" I have a meeting by 9am." Anabelle answered, hoping she would grow bored and stop, Imelda didn't care about business at all.
" A meeting, with whom?"
" A client, Imelda. I'm showing him properties up for sale." Anabelle saw the disdain in Imelda's eyes give way to suspicion.

" What client?"
"Since when do you care?"
"Since now! And it better not be Dorian."
Anabelle grew pale with dread. Imelda dropped her fork and stood up immediately, realization marring her features.
" Didn't I warn you to get your self off the contract?" Imelda asked spitefully. Anabelle sat watching her wishing she  was anywhere else but here.
" I told you father asked me to execute the contract with him, I don't have a choice." She replied with a calm she didn't feel.
" You withered cactus plant! You sit there pretending to be some business woman when we all know what you are."
" Imelda I just want to eat breakfast."

" You are just a freak, pushing papers around in that office that you don't deserve just to make yourself feel like you have a purpose."  Imelda continued without stopping.
Anabelle stood up, having already lost her appetite and blinked back the tears threatening to spill.
"What exactly is your problem with me Imelda? I am just trying to have breakfast, it's barely morning, why the insults?" Anabelle said raising her voice unconsciously and Wondering why her mother was sitting there, sipping tea without saying a single word.
" I told you I want you no where near Dorian and you are just using the business as an excuse!"
" How many times will I tell you that father put me up to it? If you have a problem with that you tell him yourself, why are you attacking me?!"
Anabelle shouted in defense . What was it this morning? Now she couldn't even eat breakfast in peace? And her mother just sat there completely unbothered.
" Of course, use dad as an excuse. It doesn't change what you are, a useless  piece of furniture father uses to decorate his office space."
" Imelda that's enough, I've done nothing to warrant this ill treatment."
Anabelle said already crying, she couldn't stop herself anymore. Imelda just watched her with an intense hate. Their mother didn't flinch.
" It doesn't matter what you do anyway, Dorian only sees a stick paleface hiding behind Daddy's money.
I will get you out of there quicker than you can blink you just watch." Imelda said coldly, and stalked off, breakfast forgotten. Anabelle was sobbing from the pain. I did nothing wrong, I just wanted to eat breakfast, she thought as she watched Imelda leave angrily.
" Why won't you say anything mother?!" Anabelle yelled at her mother who sat eating asparagus without a single emotion on her face.
" What would I say Anabelle?" Gracia said in a tired tone and looked up from her plate, finally.
"Anything mother! Anything! I literally did nothing wrong. I only wanted to eat breakfast. Why would you let her insult me like that?"
Anabelle said still sobbing, he face full of agony. Gracia dropped her fork and finally gave up all pretence of eating.
" You should have never come back here, Anabelle." Gracia said and stood up, Anabelle grew quiet as her face drained of color. Gracia watched her daughter for a few seconds, her face betraying no emotion and then left the dining room quietly. Anabelle sat in her chair with a force so strong, the table shook. She sobbed, the tears falling faster, her heart ripped to shreds.