When Love Runs Away

Merry Christmas!

"Anna! Anna!" Hans screamed across the hallways, almost tripping on the red Turkish carpet.

He opened the door to Anna's bedroom to see her sleeping in tranquility. Annoyed, he stormed up to her and shook her vigorously, making her wince in pain.

"Ow! Hans! You're hurting me!" Anna screamed.

"What did you say?" Hans asked her, raising his hand in the air.

"Nothing! Nothing! Please don't hit me!"

Hans put his hand down and took a step back as he watched Anna get out of the bed, rubbing her eyes.

"Are you aware that it is Christmas Day?" Hans asked her.

"I am fully aware." Anna replied.

"So why aren't you dressed?"

"Well, first of all, you don't give me any presents and secondly, we don't even celebrate it. Christmas is just another business gathering for you."

"Is it me that you are talking to like this?"

Anna immediately bowed her head.

"I'm s-sorry."

"That's what I thought. Now, speaking of the business gathering. Yes, some important clients of France will come to our house today. Some you may know, some you may not."

"Is Olivier Daimont coming?" Anna asked eagerly.

Hans looked at her with disgust. Watching her face light up when mentioning Mr Daimont's name made Hans want to kill Anna and Mr Daimont with his bare hands.

"Why do you ask?" Hans asked, rather coldly.

"Just asking. He's the only one I talk to." She replied.

The one you like to flirt with, Hans thought to himself.

"Oh is it?" Hans asked, "he is coming by the way, however that's not why I'm here."

"Why then?"

"I've come to tell you, that you are no longer invited to our business gatherings. You'll stay in your room, I'll give you leftovers once the men have gone."

"Wait, what? Why?"

"Because I said so. Besides, didn't you say that business gatherings are boring?"

"I never said that."

"Whatever. You aren't invited and that's final. Merry Christmas."

Hans walked out of the room and slammed the door in Anna's face. She gasped a little before slowly walking to her bed and sat down.

"Ugh! That fat prick." Anna muttered under her friends.

The feast table had no space for even a fork to lay on it. In the middle, was a succulent turkey garnished with some herbs. It sat on a golden platter and glistened under the silver chandelier above. Next to the turkey, were roast potatoes and some stuffing. Ham, honey, vegetables and of course glasses of red wine were distributed wisely on the feast table.

"I must say. This is splendid! I'm surprised that you peasants can actually organise things well." Hans told Marie.

I want to kill this morbidly obese man. As if you could do any better, Marie thought to herself.

In an instant, the businessmen rushed into the house like a herd of bulls. A grin was displayed on Hans' face as he walked to his clients and began to greet them.

"Merry Christmas, my fellow clients. Please, have a seat." Hans said.

Hans smiled but his face immediately dropped when he saw him, Olivier Daimont. He looked really handsome, Hans had to admit, with his dark chestnut hair slicked back and parted. The ends of his moustache were perfectly curled. It was understandable that Anna had a tiny crush on him, but it made Hans resent Olivier Daimont.

"Mr Schmidt. Your house is splendid!" Olivier remarked and extended his hand to greet the fat man.

Hans eyed him up and down and reluctantly shook his hand.

"Thank you." Hans replied in a monotone voice.

Anna and Marie watched the whole gathering through the slightly ajar door of Marie's bedroom.

"The food looks really good." Anna told Marie.

"It really does. Too bad we have to wait after they finish."

Anna sighed and giggled a little when her belly began to rumble a little.

"You didn't even eat breakfast?" Marie asked her.

"Yeah. Hans wouldn't let me."

"What? Anna, sit here." Marie said, motioning for Anna to sit next to her on the bed.

Anna sat down next to Marie, not sure why she had told her to do so.

"Anna, when are you going to stand up to your husband?" Marie asked her.

"What kind of stupid question is that? We know that women can never stand up to men." Anna told her.

"I know, but I'm really concerned for you. I've only been with you for three days and I fully know what Hans is capable of. I mean, he could hit you."

"That's no surprise. I get hit by him all the time. Don't all wives get hit?"

"What? Where are you getting that information from? Hans isn't good for you."

Anna furrowed her eyebrows and distanced herself away from Marie.

"Who are you to tell me that? My parents chose him for me! They know what's best for me, you don't!"

She walked to the door to get a peek of the business gathering and her heart melted at the sight of Olivier.

"A toast! A toast to Hans and his business!" A client, Mr Schmeichel shouted.

"To Hans and his business!" The clients shouted in unison as they chugged their red wine in one gulp.

"This is some fine wine, Mr Schmidt. The Lord just keeps blessing you." Olivier said.

"He does." Hans replied, but his eyes were not on Olivier.

"Oh, pardon me for asking but ... where is your wife? You know, I didn't see her when I entered."

Hans' eyes widened at the question. The audacity for him to be asking about his wife, when Olivier knew fully well that Hans didn't want him to be anywhere near her.

"Yeah, let us see your wife." The others begged.

"They're calling for me, I should go!" Anna exclaimed to Marie.

"Don't go!" Marie yelled, "Hans doesn't want you to be there, remember?"

"But they seem desperate. I must go or their business gathering is ruined."

"Anna! Don't go or you--, oh my God!" Marie exclaimed with her hands on her head.

Anna ran into the dining room and squealed like a little girl, putting her arms around Hans' neck and kissing him on his cheek.

"I'm here sweetie."

Hans froze and turned to Anna, his eyes full of frustration and confusion.

"Anna." Olivier said softly.

"Olivier."

They both gazed at each other for what seemed like an eternity. Hans was bedazzled as he turned to Olivier and back to Anna and then back to Olivier only to find out they weren't breaking eye contact.

"Hans, you are a lucky man. Anna is beautiful." A client mentioned.

"She's like a piece of art!"

"She's an angel!"

"She should be mine."

All the compliments directed to Anna were like stab wounds to Hans. He just watch them all gush over, his body trembling at every word spoken. He turned to Anna, to see her blushing and smiling, thanking the clients for the compliments.

You are so dead, Hans thought, you are really dead.