Annie
1029 Words
ANNIE
I pinched myself hard. The sting confirmed it. I was awake. This was real.
Too real.
Donavan my new boss?
I wasn’t dreaming. I was living a nightmare.
As much as I craved seeing him again, I didn’t want it to be like this. Not after what we did last night.
Not after I stole from him.
Definitely not as my new boss.
Tears formed in my eyes as I pressed my palms together, my fingers trembling.
My throat was dry, and my heart pounded so hard that I could barely breathe.
"Please, sir," I whispered, my voice pitiful.
"I can explain. Just give me a chance to share my side of the story. I beg you."
Donavan’s gaze made it even harder for me to speak. His stare was cold, making me stammer.
At first, he said nothing just stared at me, assessing.
Then, with a slow, deliberate flick of his fingers, he gestured toward Edgar.
A chill ran down my spine.
Something was about to happen. I could feel it.
Something I wasn’t prepared for.
I could feel Edgar’s hesitation, his eyes darting between us, but after a moment, he gave a small nod and stepped out.
The door clicked shut behind him, leaving just the two of us.
It all came down to this. I had to play my part. The ball was in my court.
He had no clue I was ready for him. But there was something about his demeanor.
It seemed off.
Like he already knew about the plan. Like I was fooling myself.
I didn’t know what to expect.
He sat back down in his chair and leaned forward, clasping his hands on the desk. "Go on," he said, staring intently at me.
A shaky breath escaped me, my chest tightening.
"I never meant to take the drive," I said, my voice cracking.
"Rukky asked me to do it. It was all his plan."
I searched Donavan’s face, desperate for a flicker of understanding, of pity, anything. But his expression remained cold, his silence was unbearable.
My pulse pounded in my ears as I prayed for him to believe me, to see the truth before it was too late.
Then, finally
He raised a brow.
"Rukky?" His voice was quiet, almost too calm. "Are you saying he set you up?"
"Yes," I answered, almost too quickly. The words rushing past my trembling lips.
"He spiked my drink that night just like he did yours."
Donavan's brows came together.
A quick expression of shock crossed his face before vanishing just as quickly.
"He spiked my drink?" He shot back at me, his disbelief increasing the deafening tension I already felt.
"Yes, sir," I whispered, my throat dry.
"I was intoxicated. I couldn't think, couldn't focus. I wanted to back out of the plan, but I…" My breath caught in my dried throat as my vision blurred with tears.
"I couldn’t act rationally." I admitted, barely holding back my sobs.
The silence stretched, short but unbearable.
And in that moment, I knew.
I knew, it would decide everything.
He let out an exhale, running a hand through his hair.
"And yet, the evidence was in your purse."
"I had no idea of its value!" I insisted. "Taking it wasn’t my idea, I swear. I wouldn’t jeopardize my integrity for something I didn’t even understand."
He narrowed his eyes. "You expect me to believe that you had no part in this? That you were just a pawn?"
I stammered, searching for the right words to explain. A cold sweat formed on my forehead.
He gazed at me for a brief moment, his fingers idly stroking his beard.
Before I could say anything, he interrupted.
"Well," he said, clearing his throat. "I've thought about all you said, and I'm glad you came clean with it. Our company needs good and honest people."
On hearing that, hope flickered in my eyes.
He leaned back in his chair, rhythmically tapping the desk.
"I want to clarify something," he stated.
"I never touched your purse, nor did I know its contents."
Was he for real? He was playing me the whole time.
Oh, thank God!
I exhaled, as a huge relief washed over me. I had revealed more than I should. But, that didn’t matter.
He found nothing. He had no further reason to turn me away.
I felt the sparkle of hope. It was all I needed to prevent me from completely falling apart.
"However, I’m sorry, Annie. I cannot employ you," Donavan said coldly.
My heart pounded.
"Wait. What?" I whispered, barely able to process what he had just said.
But, he didn’t say a word. He didn’t even flinch.
Tears welled in my eyes, but I blinked rapidly, refusing to let them fall.
"Sir, I know what I did was wrong. It was stupid, and I regret it deeply. But I was desperate. I needed the money for something incredibly important," I said, my voice broken just like my heart.
"This job means everything to me. It’s all the hope I have."
Still, Donavan remained silent.
I swallowed hard.
I couldn’t believe this was happening.
I had lost the drive that Rukky had asked me to retrieve, the very thing that could have given me enough money for my mother’s surgery and rent.
And now
I had lost this opportunity to get a job at a top company which I dreamed and worked so hard for.
With heavy steps, I turned and walked towards the door, burdened by a broken heart.
I reached for the doorknob, twisting it slowly, hoping and praying he would stop me.
Still Nothing.
I let out a deep breath and stepped out.
Just as I was about to close the door behind me, I heard his voice.
"Annie."
My breath caught in my throat.
That was the sweetest way I’d ever heard my name called.
Spinning around, I hurriedly went back standing before him. My eyes, wide with anticipation.
He leaned back in his chair, stroking his beard as he met my gaze.
"I’ll give you the job," he said, his voice calm and steady.
"But only on one condition."
- Writer
