Saving My Heroine

Chapter 4

15 August 2024

“Celine! Can you stop throwing a tantrum? Even if you can’t trust Coral, can't you trust me?” Michael hissed, holding on to Celine’s hand tightly. Celine let out a mixture of a scoff and laugh.

“A tantrum?” She threw his hand off her, tears of anger, hurt and disappointment welled up in her eyes. She could feel the different gazes of the people around her, pity, glee, amusement and derision. This party was meant to be their anniversary party but now it was just another event that ended with her embarrassment.

Celine’s eyes went from Michael’s face to the woman behind him. Coral, she looked innocent and pitiful making it seem like Celine had been bullying her. Celine scoffed once more. She turned around and headed for the door, taking off her heels as she went. The room was silent, everyone staring at the heels she didn’t bother picking up.

Michael’s parents rushed to him with anger on their face, embarrassed by the fight. Michael ignored them and glared at Coral.

“This is the last time I want to see you around me.” Everyone shuddered at the coldness and restrained anger, even his parents paused in their steps.

Coral stepped forward with tears of grievance, stretching her hand to take his in pleading but his next word caused her to stop.

“Don’t you dare touch me. I have been respecting you because of our childhood friendship but it seems you don’t understand self-respect but even if you don’t, that’s between you and your family.” He hissed in disgust. “If I ever see you around Celine or I, you will regret it.” He turned and left the room, following after his wife.

The room was left in the coldness of his threats, most of the people in the room felt like he was also threatening them.

Michael stepped out of the hall, loosening his tie, he walked a short distance. Far enough that he couldn't hear the sound of music from the event then sat on a side walk letting out a long sigh. He was not surprised at the entire fallout. The second Celine agreed to his parents request to make their anniversary into a big event he knew how it was going to end up and he knew he was part of the problem but Celine didn’t make things easy for him as well.

He sighed once more, feeling very tired, the flights with Celine have become worse. He stared at the empty road, thankfully the hall his parents had rented was located in a secluded resort.

He thought of Celine, she had looked beautiful when he saw her. She had worn a beautiful heart shaped mermaid style dress with gold jewelleries that complimented her dress beautifully and for the first time in a while she let her hair down.

Although he had expected the drama that came next, he had hope that today would be different. He looked at his phone and decided to call Celine to know if she had gone home. His calls went unanswered twice before he remembered that Celine had left her phone at the hotel they had stayed over before coming. He stood up, deciding to look for her on foot. He had only walked a few distance when it hit him that Celine had left for over forty five minutes and she should have gotten to the hotel even if she had walked home. A bad feeling crept up on him as he rushed home.

3rd April 2020

Anna stretched her hands above her head, after hearing a short c***k she dropped it satisfied. She had been typing for over two hours and her back had become stiff, so she stretched to relieve herself.

Her first week was spent familiarizing herself with her work and the company. Celine, Temi and Amy had given her a thorough tour of the company ensuring that she wouldn't get lost. The next week she had joined the new project her team had been given. The project was a government sponsored project and her team were in charge of the budgeting.

It has been two long weeks of calculating, cutting and reporting, she had been so busy she had barely seen Celine. They had made a lot of progress, so today she was planning to have lunch with her. For the past two weeks her lunch had been taken in the finance room. She went back to work but after less than thirty minutes Temi who had spent most of this past week in the development department than in the finance department came rushing in.

She pulled Anna from her chair and out of the department before Anna even knew what was going on. Anna blinked rapidly and asked “What's the hurry?"

“You're good at arguing, I want you to convince Leeno that my idea is the best," she huffed. Leeno was the team lead of the development team Temi was working with.

Anna raised an eyebrow, “You want me to pitch your work?" Temi nodded. Anna laughed, pinching her cheeks

"How do I pitch what the owner can't?”

Temi pouted and pulled her into the development department. To their surprise, Masen was there. He was holding Temi’s plan but noticed their arrival immediately and looked towards them. Anna stared at him, then caught herself. She moved her eyes but still stole glances at him.

He was wearing a suit and had a black shirt under him, his presence was quite overwhelming but it mellowed out when he smiled at them both. His eyes rested on Anna briefly causing her to lose her breath before he turned to Temi.

"This is a great plan, Miss Temi. Keep up the good work.” He praised her. Temi blushed and thanked him, she turned and shot Leeno who rolled her eyes a triumphant look.

“I guess I'm not needed here anymore," Anna said, releasing herself from Temi’s hold. She nodded to the occupants of the room. She rushed outside, Masen didn't seem to be good for her health she sighed.

“Are you okay?" She heard a voice she quickly registered as Masen’s say lowly behind her. She inhaled sharply, her legs going weak for a second before composing herself to turn towards him. He was closer than she expected him to be, so she took a step backward and smiled at him. “I am, thank you." She said then turned quickly and fled the room, not even giving him a chance to reply.

Masen stared at her back and chuckled softly, she was quite cute. He had wanted to invite her to lunch but he guessed he could wait. He turned back and strolled to his office.

Temi leaned back in from where she had been eavesdropping. No, not eavesdropping, she thought, shaking her head. Taking a break, she nodded then smiled. She had seen his eyes on Anna when they entered the room, so when he left immediately after her she had also followed. Satisfied that her instincts had not failed her, she went back to work. That small interaction she watched gave her a boost of strength.

…………………

Anna rushed back to her office causing her team mates to look up. She sat down and placed her head on her desk, her heart beating wildly. She cursed Masen in her head silently, there was no reason for him to have come after her. The fact that she didn't hear him too caused her to frown. She needed to pay better attention to her surroundings.

“Are you okay?" Caleb asked cautiously, she had looked like she was being chased. Anna cursed Masen once more for good measure, this was the second time she was being asked that today and raised her head with a smile.

“I'm fine." She looked around, "Where are the others?” She asked, noticing that she and Caleb were the only ones around.

“Mr James took Tom to check out something and Amy went to get lunch for us all. I would have gone with Caleb but I still have work to do.” Caleb counted. Anna nodded, then "I was supposed to have lunch with Celine today.” She winced and immediately took out her phone to text an apology to her.

“I'm sure she'll understand." Caleb said and refocused on his work. Anna glanced at him, like Amy he didn't talk much but was very helpful. She dropped her phone after receiving a message waving her apology off from Celine. Time to get back to work.

She tapped her laptop and continued from where she stopped, she walked with Caleb in silence. Only talking when either of them were in need of assistance. She worked for a while and paused to take a drink of water then saw Amy working across from her.

“Your food is next to you." Amy said, glancing up at her briefly, “I didn't want to distract you." Anna looked down to see a paper bag, she picked it up and took out the plate of food. Her eyes widened in surprise at the delicious looking meal.

“Where did you get spaghetti from? I thought there wasn't any restaurant in the company?" She said opening the plate in haste, the scent of the food only made her hungrier.

"The cafe added spaghetti to their menu." Amy said, still typing.

“They definitely did it for me." Anna said and turned to give her food her full attention. She noticed that Caleb had already eaten his and was surprised that she hadn't even noticed. She shrugged and refocused her attention to her meal. Nothing was as important as that right now.