Love me again

It's already 10 in the evening when the flight from Hongkong landed on the airport. Though tired and exhausted, Anna quickly grab her luggage. She wanted to go home immediately. She misses her son, Enzo, and Gabriel, her husband. Gabriel was her high school sweetheart, her first love, first man, and father of Enzo, a three-year old smart little boy. She is not supposed to be home this date but because the business meeting with the Asian Mall manager was rescheduled due to some reasons. Feeling frustrated because of the postponed contract signing yet excited for going home. She hasn’t seen her family for 4 days already. The taxi she hailed stopped in front of their gate. After paying the driver, she gets inside using her key. It's 40 minutes passed 10. The house is dark, indicating that her husband and Enzo were already asleep. They did not know she will be coming home tonight. She wanted to surprise them. She first entered Enzo's room. He's already asleep, wearing a blue pajama hugging his favorite panda bear stuff toy. She kissed the child's forehead. Not long after, she heard something fell off on the floor. The noise was coming from the master's bedroom. She hurriedly left Enzo's room to go to the next room. She opened the door hurriedly and saw an unexpected scene. The lampshade on the bedside table was lit but already on the floor. Maybe it was the one that fell off. Because of the light coming from the lampshade, she can clearly see what is happening in the room. Gabriel is facing the bedside table, naked. In front of him is a naked woman, bent down and leaning on the table where the lampshade should be located. They are moving as if dancing on their own rhythm, both panting and moaning. Anna froze because of what she saw. She felt as if her feet were rooted on the ground. Her phone fell off and made a crushing sound on the floor. The noise made the two people get back on reality and turned around to see what was going on. "Oh sh*t!" Gabriel uttered, startled. "A-anna. Why are you here?" “Oh my..” the naked woman turned and shocked to see Anna standing at the door. Mandy, Gabriel’s secretary, quickly gathered her clothes on the floor and put them on. She side-glances Anna she walked through past her. Anna never bothered to look at her. Feeling overwhelmed of the crime she witnessed, she felt blank and frozen on her feet. Feeling numb and weak, Anna sat on the floor, clutching her chest. It was so unexpected. Gab was so sweet to her. No signs of cheating or anything that will break her heart. With so much pain in her heart and disbelief in her mind, she punched her own heart. Tears are constantly falling like a stream in her face. She cannot believe it. She hit herself again, if this is a bad dream she wants to wake up. Pain is so unbearable... Two years later… Beep! Beeeeeep! Crash! Thanks to the seatbelt, Anna did not bump her head. She hit the car infront. It stopped with any signal. Good thing she brake on time. But still she bumped the car. “Sh*t!” she cursed loudly. She got out of the car and about to knock on the car window when the door on the passenger’s side get down. “Hey, Miss. You want to kill us, huh?” Said by the Man in Dark Grey suit. Looking neat and homesome but the thick brows are frowning. He looked foreign for his accent. “What? Excuse me, Mister!” she was annoyed. “You are the one who halted without any warning! Do not know how to drive huh?” She is so enraged specially looking at her bumper’s damage. “Whatever! Stupid lady driver.” He smirked and get on the car and speed away. “Hey! How about my damaged car?” she shouted. Cars behind her were honking for her car is on the road. She furiously gets in and slammed her car door and drive her way to the office still cursing the man. "Anna, Mr. Daniels wants to meet us. He wants to discuss with your proposal. Be ready, he is coming tonight. Wait… what’s wrong? You seemed upset?” Marie, her boss, asked seeing her frowning and seemed upset. “Some random i***t alien wrecked my car!” she exhaled. Exaggerating the statement. “Where’s your car? What’s the damage?” Asked Marie concernedly. “At the parking lot. Not much damage, just the bumper but it could cost some money.” She sighed. “Bumper? Meaning you hit him?” asked Marie, confused. “Technically yes, but he stopped suddenly. That i***t called me stupid woman. Grr…” she’s still furious. “Enough of that, you can deal with that later… We will be meeting the big boss tonight. Make sure to wear a good dress, and put some make up, dear, from what I heard, Mr. Daniels is still single…" says Marie, teasing and grinning. Anna works at Q’s Wardrobe, a fashion company under the Daniels’ group of company. According to the company profile, Matthew Daniels named the company himself after her late mother Lucila. She called him ‘my little prince’ when he was little that is why he saw her as a queen. That’s where Q came from. Anna is the assistant marketing director to Marie. Marie will be transferring to Australia soon, after her marriage with Levi, an Australian. She asked for resignation but the company president asked her if she wants to work for the company in Australia under the Daniels. She gladly accepted it. That is why I have to win this proposal so I will be promoted to director after Marie’s transfer. "I'm not interested... I'm done with men." Anna sighed and lift one brow higher. She and Gabriel’s marriage were annulled after tiring and exhausting court trials. There is no divorce here in the Philippines. Annulment process is so difficult but thanks to good lawyers, the process took only 20 months. Gabriel cooperated during the whole process. "Well, let's see…" says Marie while smiling. The meeting preparation was arranged by Marie’s secretary, Candy. It will be held on a 5 star restaurant in Makati City. It’s 5 in the afternoon when she bid goodbye to Marie to pick up Enzo from school. For sure traffic is like hell at this hour. She sighed seeing her car’s bumper. She was about to start her car when her phone rang. It was Gabriel. Although they were annulled, they still talk for the sake of Enzo who is now 5 years old and already in Kindergarten. But they were not friends either. They do not talk about anything else except about their child. “What is it?” she asked dryly. “Hi, Anna. Uhm... I am on my way to the Kindergarten. I was from my meeting nearby, can I pick up Enzo and have dinner with him at Mom’s?” he asked in casual tone. The court decided that Enzo’s in my custody. That is why, every time outside visitation, he has to ask my permission. “Oh, I am about to pick him up also. But if you’re already on your way, it’s okay. Anyway, I have a dinner meeting later. I will pick him up later at your Mom’s.” She said. “My mom’s…” he sighed. “He at my Mom’s”. He is still not used to her calling his Mom like that. Before she used to call her Mama Glenda. He let another sigh. “That’s all then.” She ended the call and let out a sigh. She never imagined her marriage life to end like this. Although Gabriel asked for her forgiveness and second chance before, she cannot really take it to sleep in the same bed with him after what she saw what he was doing with that woman. She get out of the car and went back to her office. She has some papers to review and check for some emails. “Hey, gorgeous! I thought you already left.” It’s Marie. “Gabriel will be picking up Enzo. So, I’ll wait for the time to go to the meeting here.” She said pointing at here table. “You’re not going to change your dress?” she asked. “No. what’s wrong with this dress?” she was wearing a black sleeveless dress, knee length with a gold belt to accentuate her slim waist, black shoes and she will wear a black coat later. “Well, you look gorgeous with anything.” Marie said smiling.”But if I were you, I will be wearing something extra elegant to impress our boss. Who knows…” here she goahain, teasing Anna. “I’m going to present a project proposal not my self, duh?!” She chuckled over Marie’s idea. “Why don’t you put some make up?” she suggested. “Marie, I am okay. Okay?” Anna assured Marie. “Well, so let’s go. I mean, together?” Suggested Marie. “Sure. 5 minutes?” She is going to shutdown her computer and check herself in the m[D1] irror first. “Okay.” Says Marie. Anna applied some face powder and put on some shade on her lips. Not to dark, just mild color that will enhance her natural beauty. Marie is in her car with her secretary Candy and driver Mang Ben. Anna is following their car. She drives her own car. After more than an hour, they stopped at the parking lot the Restaurant. The place could be reached in 20 minutes but since traffic is heavy, it took them this long. They entered the restaurant and look for their table. “You ready?” Marie asked Anna. “Huh?” Anna frowned. “For the presentation, what else? Don’t tell me, you are expecting something.” Marie chuckled. Before Anna could respond, Candy whispered… “I think they are here.” Says Candy. “Holy sh*t!” Anna cursed loudly looking at the door. [D1]