CHAPTER 3
1165 Words
THIRD PERSON'S POV
Anika was a fan of lovely dinners, but not this one. The silence at the table was quite deafening, and she regretted not telling the cook to send her food to her room instead.
But now she was stuck with Derrick and Stephanie, the bright lights, Derrick had his face molded in frowns, especially now; his brows dipped so low that she thought they would touch his nose.
Something was amiss. The kind that happens occasionally is when Derrick will become brooding, and at other times however, her sweet friend will become very snappy and irritated.
They will speak in hushes and stay out more often, and when they do come home, they will cool off in each other's arms for long hours; their friendship was laced with strings of infatuation that they were still trying to get a complete grasp of.
She hated those moments. They always made her feel useless and stupid without meaning because she always wanted to rest but Derrick wanted to have her. He always thought he did it well for her, but she was not so satisfied most times.
Anika put down her fork and asked curiously, "Is there anything wrong in the company?" Maybe they lost a deal. She looked on in expectation at him, then at Stephanie. She was still young and felt mature enough to know what was happening in the company since Derrick's countenance was still ready for pain.
"No, my dear, what makes you think so?" Derrick shot a doting smile at her, the type that made her feel pampered, but this time, his smile crinkle was too visible; he was trying too much.
"I don't know; you are the one being grumpy and brooding; you won't even talk to me." She threw a wronged look at Derrick, who rubbed her hair like she was a golden retriever.
"That so?" Steph chuckled. " There's nothing wrong; I'm just tired; you know your girl is getting tired," Anika said as she motioned to one of the house servants, who moved closer and carried away her plate. Anika didn't even touch her baked peas. She liked fried peas a lot.
"Speaking of getting away, Anika, How about a trip to the Maldives tomorrow, for a getaway? A vacation, I know you've been on my neck about one." Derrick was now dabbing his mouth with a napkin.
Anika stilled, surprise dancing across her eyes. Seriously? Were they serious now or just joking about a getaway tomorrow?
Derrick and Stephanie never spoke about the Maldives; it was an unmentioned topic. Since they first became friends, they had never been there. And now? He wanted her as far away as the Maldives, the place he wanted to avoid having to go in the first place just because of a work issue.
She wasn't going to take this bait. Not now! Now, Steph did not want to downplay the seriousness of the issue, but tomorrow was her getaway! And yes, it sure was a very huge deal.
Everyone at home knew that she took her getaways seriously and had been particular about this one for months. She wouldn't let some silly company issue deter her from embarking on it to the best of her knowledge, she had already planned everything out.
It would be the talk of the town for weeks on end, and she would raise the bar so high that any other lady, apart from Steph of course, would have to lose an arm and a leg to reach her standard. She already had it all planned! But not the Maldives! Some other place, please! She must have thought.
Which is why, when her friends smiled widely like they were offering some delicious deal she couldn't resist, she shook her head and picked up her fork as if to continue eating, "I'll pass on everything else right now, Derrick, you of all people know how impromptu that is.
Besides, I already have this big vacation planned out, and you know it, invitations have already been sent out, and I don't know if you recall, but we invited the big names for this party; now you want me to just up and leave for the Maldives..."
The more he spoke, the more agitated Anika got. "Tone." Steph's voice blasted through the diner. She was a few times this curt and cold so that Anika couldn't be bothered by her. Of course, she would insist on Derrick's choice.
They were supposed to be her favorite people at this point, but no. "No , you don't get to talk. And so?" he flashed the most polite smile he could muster, " Can we just postpone this Maldive trip? After the vacation to the Bahamas, I will go invisible, you won't even know I am here, hmm? How about that?"
"Anika, I think you should consider our suggestion," Steph interjected. Urghhhh! Her friends were really cut out for this particular chase! "But I don't want to. she refuted"
"But you have to," he let out, "You just think about it, take all the time you may, but please try to think it through deeply, I know you'll love it in the Maldives, all work issues and what not would be taken care of." He said.
He never did shout at her; he never lashed out. Never. Not even when she snuck into his room(strictly off-limit) and almost lost some important documents. He was really meek.
Anika drew in a sharp breath. Her eyes sharpened in a slight calm, but she was too quick to get over the bad feelings. Before that, it bubbled in her chest so much that she couldn't breathe.
Only harsh breathing could be heard in the room. Even Steph was still, as they waited to hear Derrick's next words."You will go to the Bahamas then, tomorrow, the staff in charge will take you." Her friends said almost too calmly in a chorus.
A gleeful chuckle erupted from Anika's lips, "I can't believe this! I am immensely grateful! The immense happiness I feel now, you can't understand. This means so much to me, and I'm not taking it for granted! Steph! Thank you!"
"My dear, you are no stranger, enough with all this!." Steph added as they burst into laughter. Derrick spoke up, glee in his voice; Anika's eyes glowed with happiness at the sight; she refused to tone it down, not even one bit.
"We are gonna have a good time!" They all chorused as they danced around; for a brief moment, Anika had lost sight of the pain and hurt she was feeling; she had amazing friends, and she knew that for sure.
She only prayed deep down that the infatuation brewing between her and Derrick would not stand in the way of the beautiful friendship they had.
They began getting ready for the trip. They were all they had, after all, one person's happiness was the other's, and that was priceless in itself.
- Writer
