CHAPTER 8 : Annie Sinclair
1634 Words
By noon, Debbie had completed her first set of tasks. She wasn’t a stranger to hard work, but the way her colleagues ignored her, whispered behind her back, and threw dirty looks at her was exhausting.
Still, she kept her head down. She wasn’t here to make friends.
But during lunch break, things took a turn.
As she entered the cafeteria, she spotted a familiar figure sitting at a private table.
Walter Adams.
And sitting next to him was a stunning woman with long, sleek black hair, wearing an emerald green dress that screamed power.
Debbie’s stomach dropped.
Who is she?
As if sensing Debbie’s presence, the woman turned—and smirked.
Then, to Debbie’s shock, she leaned in and kissed Walter on the lips.
Debbie’s heart stopped.
He has a girlfriend?
No. It couldn’t be.
Walter had never mentioned anyone. And last night…
But before she could process anything, the woman stood up, her heels clicking against the floor, and walked straight toward her.
“You must be Debbie Williams,” she said smoothly.
Debbie swallowed hard. “And you are?”
The woman smirked.
“I’m Annie Sinclair.”
Debbie felt like the air had been sucked from the room.
She knew that name.
Annie Sinclair wasn’t just anyone.
She was Walter Adams’ fiancée.
And she was staring at Debbie like a predator eyeing its prey.
The cafeteria buzzed with chatter, but for Debbie, everything faded into the background the moment she spotted him.
Walter Adams.
He sat at a private table near the back, effortlessly commanding attention even in a room full of powerful people. But Debbie’s focus wasn’t just on him—it was on the woman sitting next to him.
Annie Sinclair.
She was breathtaking, with sleek black hair that cascaded over her shoulders and an emerald-green dress that fit her like a second skin. There was an air of effortless confidence about her, the kind that came with wealth, power, and the assurance that she belonged at Walter’s side.
And then it happened.
Walter whispered something to Annie, and she let out a soft laugh before leaning in and placing a kiss on his lips.
Debbie’s stomach twisted.
She had no right to feel this way. No right to feel… betrayed.
Walter owed her nothing. Last night had been a moment—passionate, intoxicating—but that was all it was. A moment.
And yet, as she stood frozen in place, she couldn’t stop the ache in her chest.
Annie, as if sensing something, suddenly turned her gaze toward Debbie.
Their eyes met.
Debbie quickly looked away, but it was too late.
Annie had seen it.
The way Debbie looked at Walter.
The way her eyes lingered just a little too long.
And Annie, being a woman who knew what it meant when another woman looked at her man like that, recognized it for what it was.
She’s in love with him.
But Walter?
Walter wasn’t giving Debbie that look.
In fact, as soon as Annie turned to him again, he lowered his head, focused on his food, as if unaware of the silent war happening between the two women.
Debbie felt her heart sink.
The weight of it all—the realization, the humiliation—was too much.
She needed to get out of here.
Mumbling an excuse to no one in particular, she turned and headed toward the restroom.
Once inside, she gripped the sink and took a deep breath.
Get it together, Debbie.
She reached for the cold water, splashing it onto her face, hoping it would wash away the emotions threatening to spill over.
A few deep breaths.
A few moments to regain her composure.
She opened her purse and took out her compact mirror, reapplying a bit of makeup to cover the redness on her cheeks.
Then—
The door opened.
Footsteps echoed against the tiled floor.
Debbie glanced at the mirror.
Annie.
Her heart pounded, but she forced herself to stay calm.
Annie walked toward her slowly, a small, unreadable smile on her lips. She reached the sink next to Debbie’s, adjusting her hair in the mirror.
Then she turned to face her.
“I see the way you look at Walter.”
Debbie stiffened.
Annie crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly. “You love him, don’t you?”
Debbie opened her mouth, but no words came out.
Annie let out a small chuckle, shaking her head. “You’re wasting your time. Walter is out of your reach.”
Debbie felt a lump form in her throat, but she didn’t say anything.
Annie took a step closer. “We’ve been together for seven years.” Her voice was soft, but there was steel underneath. “I know him better than anyone
Debbie’s grip on the sink tightened.
Annie’s eyes darkened. “He can play with you, but that’s all it will ever be. We’re getting married soon.”
A sharp pain shot through Debbie’s chest.
Married?
She felt like she couldn’t breathe.
Annie leaned in just a little more. “Your job here is to work, not to chase after men you can’t have. Stay away from my man.”
With that, Annie gave her one last pointed look before turning and walking out of the restroom, leaving Debbie standing there, shaken.
The cold water she had splashed on her face moments ago did nothing to cool the burning pain inside her.
Stay away from my man.
The words echoed in her mind.
And for the first time since stepping into Walter Adams’ world, she realized she might be in way over her head.
Debbie stood motionless, her body still frozen in place, the words from Annie replaying over and over in her mind.
Stay away from my man.
The sound of Annie’s heels echoing in the distance was the only thing that brought Debbie back to the present. She slowly turned to the mirror, staring at her reflection, her face pale and her eyes dull from the shock. The realization hit her harder than she’d expected—Walter was never hers. Not really. He was a part of another world, one she didn’t belong to, no matter how hard she tried to convince herself otherwise.
Her heart ached with every breath, every thought of him and Annie. They had history, a deep bond that had lasted seven years, while Debbie had nothing but the fleeting moments she’d shared with Walter. It felt like a cruel game she wasn’t even meant to play.
Debbie took a deep breath, wiping the tear that had managed to slip down her cheek. She couldn’t afford to be weak. Not now. Not after everything she’d worked for to get this job, to prove herself. She had to stay focused, no matter how much it hurt.
She stepped out of the restroom, her heart heavy, but her face neutral.
The office felt different now. She no longer felt the excitement of the job or the possibility of a future at Adams Enterprises. All she could think about was Walter, his aloofness, his distance, and Annie’s warning.
Debbie sat down at her desk, trying to push her personal thoughts aside and focus on the work in front of her. She was trying to concentrate, but every time her mind wandered, she found herself thinking of him—the way he had looked at her last night, how she’d thought he saw her in the same light. But now, it was all so clear. Walter didn’t look at her the way he looked at Annie. He had made that abundantly clear.
The rest of the day dragged on, her focus slipping further and further. Every time Walter walked past her desk, she couldn’t stop herself from glancing up, but he didn’t even acknowledge her presence.
It wasn’t long before the workday came to an end. The others packed up their things and left for the day, but Debbie stayed at her desk, pretending to be busy, even though her mind was far away.
Finally, she stood up, grabbing her coat and purse, ready to leave. As she made her way to the elevator, she saw a familiar figure standing near the entrance of the office—Walter. He was talking with another executive, but when his gaze shifted toward her, Debbie quickly looked away, her heart skipping a beat.
He didn’t look at her with the warmth she had imagined. He didn’t look at her with anything.
With a quiet sigh, she stepped into the elevator, the doors closing behind her, cutting her off from his presence.
The drive home felt like an eternity. As the car sped through the busy streets of London, Debbie couldn’t stop herself from replaying the events of the day in her mind. The kiss between Walter and Annie. The warning in Annie’s voice.
She had thought that maybe, just maybe, there was something there with Walter. But now, it felt like a distant dream, slipping further and further away as reality set in. He was out of her reach, and she needed to accept that.
That night, as she lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, she tried to push the thoughts of Walter out of her mind. She tried to focus on what she had to do. She had a job now, a career she was building for herself, and she couldn’t afford to let her emotions derail her.
But deep down, she knew it wasn’t that simple. She had feelings for him—feelings that were impossible to ignore. And now, with Annie’s warning echoing in her ears, she couldn’t help but wonder if she had already made a mistake by letting herself get this close.
But it was too late for that. She was already in too deep.
- Writer
