Pearls and Chains

Chapter3

Judith was called from her office that the new employee was fighting and her heart dropped. She knew Anna's rules about being touched, and she totally forgot. She should have put her in the Presidential Reserve. She ran so fast on her heels and the scene that greeted her was Anna screaming at the man while in tears, and the man on the floor holding his head. She quickly grabbed Anna and pulled her away while signaling to her assistant to help the man.

“Rabbit, Rabbit, calm down, it's me and you now.” Anna was shaking and crying uncontrollably.

“I'm sorry Judy, I didn't mean too” she was starting to hiccup and Judy knew she was genuinely scared because Anna had been molested as a teenager. She had triggers.

“No, no, I'm sorry for this, I didn't know they were like this”. Judy hugged her tightly while stroking her hair.

“Judy, I can't lose the job please…”

“Shhh.. calm down”, Judith hugged her more tightly, “You won't, I promise.”

“I'm sorry” Anna said as she withdrew from their hug, “I won't react violently anymore.”

“Oh common that bastard has probably harassed more ladies here, so it's good he got a test of his own medicine” Judy smiled.

“What if he sues you and the Bar?” Anna looked worried.

“He can't, his dad is only a secretary to an official setting, and he was just here to escort his boss, who is in the Presidential Reserve right now.”

“So he is a nobody and a piece of sh*t?” Suddenly the anger Anna felt before came rushing back, and she felt her veins about to pop.

“Well, the weakest dogs bark the loudest”, Judith sighed. “I'll go deal with it, you stay in and clean your body, you reek of wine Rabbit” she smiled as she walked to the door. “Also, don't forget the most important reason why we are here” she winked as she finally left.

Anna looked at her body and clicked her tongue like she had just got an idea. She ran towards to follow Judith…

She caught up with her just before the elevator door closed,

“Can I join you?” Anna smiled.

“Oh my God, you scared me”. Judith was jolted out of her thoughts as she didn't notice when Anna caught up with her “geez next time a heads-up.”

“Fine, fine, you still get scared like a cat”, Anna taunts her.

“Yeah, yeah, taunt your boss. Why don't you?", a look of mischief flashed her eyes.

“Sorry madam sir”, Anna raised her hands like a child caught stealing candy.

They both laughed as Judy held her hands gently.

“I'll fix this..”

“Noo, we will fix this”. Anna held her hands tighter.

“So what's the plan?”

“I'll go apologize to him”, Anna sighed.

“Well, you don't need to if you don't want to”

“No, I can't always depend on you for everything”

“And what's wrong with depending on your sugar mummy?” Judith crossed her arms on her chest as she raised an eyebrow in question.

“Well, this sugar baby needs to take responsibility sometimes too.”

“Fine just this once tho”

“How's your brother doing?” The air suddenly turned suffocating for Anna. Judith had instantly regretted her question.

“He is good, I guess”

“Sorry I had to ask”

“It's fine, Judy” she sighs as she prays silently.

“So we'll stick to the plan, right?” Judith wanted to make sure they were on the same page.

“Yes” Anna gave a weak smile so as not to worry her friend.

“I love you, Rabbit, hope you know that?”

“I love you more Judy,” Anna quickly embraced her.

Just then, the elevator chimed and the site that greeted them was the man's friends demanding to see the manager. Judith felt like her veins were about to pop. She hated insolent men.

“Good evening, I am the manager” she walked elegantly as she walked elegantly, swerving her beautiful curves that stood out right with the black dinner gown she wore and a pearl necklace.

“Are you the manager?” a bald short man who looked like he was in his late thirties, wearing a black suit asked, blazing with fury.

“Yes sir”, Judith faked a smile. While tightening her palms into a fist. She's utterly disgusted. He reeked of alcohol.

“That b*tch just tried to kill my boss”, he pointed at Anna, who was behind Judith with her head bowed.

“Excuse me sir, but I'll kindly ask you to refrain from using those words on my employees.” Judith was barely keeping her anger in check.

“What the hell did you just say?” Another man in a gray suit with a buzz haircut but short like the other man cut in.

“We are sorry about the trouble earlier, we'll take full responsibility for the medical charges and your bills for tonight are cleared”. Judith could hear her bones cracking.

“So you want to bribe us?” the men roared out, laughing sarcastically.

“Excuse me, but can you afford to pay for the damages Mr Jerry Fletcher and Mr Tyler Yun?” They both went silent. They knew they needed names for reservations, but expecting the manager to know their full names was a bit too much and the way she said it sent chills to their spines.

“So what?” The one in a gray suit looked even more angry but wasn't raising his voice anymore. “ What are you trying to say?”

“Jerry, calm down, let's accept what she's offering and get out of here” the other man in a black suit tried to whisper to him.

“What the f*ck are you yapping about?” Jerry snapped at his colleague. “You let a b*tch walk all over you?”

Judith casually walked over and bent silently close enough to reach Jerry's ear, she whispered and the man's reaction was enough for everyone to know that whatever she said scared him.

He just quietly turned, picked up his car keys and went away, while Tyler followed him, half-jogging to catch up…

In the corner where two men were elegantly seated, one who seemed interested in the scene and the other who looked bored and uninterested.

“Wasn't that epic?” Tristan smiled as he continued looking towards the place where the scene had just unfolded.

“It's not that intriguing”, Henry just sipped his wine as he leisurely checked his time.

“Don't be such a bore”, Tristan chuckled as he continued staring at the scene. “Oh, that's one fine lady.”

“Stop staring, or you'll be getting the next bottle”, Henry said nonchalantly.

“Won't it be funny though?”

“That would be a sour site to see”

“I'll probably have her for the night”, he finally turned to look at Henry, who was staring aimlessly at the city outside the window. “You are not a man of many words, but tonight, especially, you seem a bit preoccupied.” Tristan had his legs crossed and his chin on his knuckles.

“Yeah”

“Trouble in paradise”

“Paradise, huh?” Henry chuckled, ‘has there ever been a paradise for me?’ he whispered.

“Yeah Henry, Paradise”

“Henry, what's wrong?” Tristan wasn't particularly in the mood to be a therapist, but he knew his friend doesn't stay two long hours in the same place, except if it's business or his grandfather's house, and this was none of the two.

“How long do you plan on staying in New York City?” Henry was still staring at the window as if searching for something.

“I don't know, probably a month give or take”, he shrugged his shoulders as he stretched his other hand for his Champagne glass.

“That would be enough”

“Enough for what?” he paused before the wine glass touched his lips.

“Enough to get what I need right now” he sighed as he turned to look at Tristan.

“You are starting to sound like a dying man,” Tristan smiled as he took another sip of his drink.

“I need a wife Tristan…”