HIS SUBSTITUTE WIFE

Chapter 5

Afternoon came about very quickly that day. Of course, her friends were still very on edge, really wanting to know everything and Anna had completely refused to say anything. Not until she was in a particular space that Anna loved. As of now, Anna and Romi and Autumn were on the way to a beautiful cafe that they have always been to since they were in high school together. Anna was the one driving her black Mercedes ,while Autumn sat right next to her and Romi behind the car.

The silence in the car was a little too sharp and a bit drastic. Autumn had had enough of this and so she sat up straight, fixing her skirt as she turned towards her best friend.

"Okay, this is it Anna. Spit it out...."

"I told you, I am not going to say anything." Anna said.

"I don't care, we can't wait." Autumn said, feeling a little irritated and agitated on her seat. While Romi sat behind, and she was just like a mother here, trying to control her family. She was placing her hand on Autumn and was trying to calm her down, to not pressurize Anna into anything, but it seemed hard now.

Anna let out a long huff.

"We are almost there, just calm down." Romi said, hoping something would change in Autumn. However, she was a little upset as of now, but understood that. Crossing her hands, Autumn sat there and Anna honestly did not know what was going on as of now. Her mind was running everywhere, and she was letting it run everywhere as well. But in no time, the car stopped right outside of this beautiful small cafe, that looked tiny on the outside, but it was very massive on the inside.

Anna and the girls quickly walked out of the car, and there Anna saw how this place truly looked. She saw plants decorated outside of the glass windows, making it have a beautiful aesthetic. There were two floors to this cafe and there were massive creepers piercing down through the roof, with plants and flowers coming from everywhere. It just smells heavenly in here, a great place to calm a mind and the reason why Anna was quickly rushing here.

Immediately, all of them walked up as Autumn pushed the door open, walking in smelling the beautiful scent of bread, cookies and pie. It was just all overwhelming. But in the best way, everyone's mood seemed to have shifted almost immediately. Anna knew this was the right decision to make. However, right at that moment, the owner of the cafe saw these three girls walk in. Mason, the same boy who started in high school with all three of them. And back then this cafe belonged to his older sister, and now he was also a part of this place, helping the franchise grow in multiple states, helping his sister with her bakery as well.

His dark eyes went bright open as he walked past the cloud of girls that were surrounding him. He didn't like that attention from that because he wanted it from someone else.

Mason was just built like this large man, it was very difficult for him to pass away as a normal human. He was just as large as Arthur, but Arthur was much more masculine, larger. While Mason had a very calm and pleasant eyes and face, but Arthur had this roughness, pain, and arrogance in him that reflected very clearly on his skin. Anna couldn't help but mix them both into this equation.

Something she didn't know she was doing. And now here she was judging them, find the differences in these two men.

However,instantly Anna blinked her eyes, trying to think why did she even bring him up. Trying to think why that was even something she was considering.

Blinking her eyes multiple times, Anna sat up straight, controlling her anger and expression and forcefully bringing on a smile as Mason walked up to her. Smiling brightly, his dimples were going deep into his cheeks.

"Nice to meet you girls here again, do you want to sit inside or in the same space on the roof." He asked, pointing up.

"It's always reserved for you girls." He said, smiling but mostly his smile was diverted to Romi and Romi only.

It was clear from his expression that he wanted her attention. Well, ever since he saw her in high school he has wanted that. But Romi being Romi, she never recognised these things.

Autumn rolled her eyes, seeing her looking here and there, completely oblivious of what was right in front of her eyes. Never the less, Autumn nodded her head.

"Yes, we will be upstairs and I will get you guys something to eat." He said.

"Hot chocolate for me please." Anna said, wanting something warm so bad.

"And for me..." Romi said, turning towards him.

"I know, apple pie and a blueberry pie, right?" He said, knowing almost everything about her. And like a small child her eyes were growing bigger and brighter, just happy to eat sweet stuff. However, that expression on Romi's face was beautiful, honest and seemed to have made Mason's day. His smile was just beaming out because of her face.

Anna and Autumn looked at each other, at this stage Kdrama s**t that was going on here.

"Okay then," Authum said, pushing Romi out of there forcefully. Although, Romi had no idea what was going on.

Within no time the girls reached the roof. It was quite elegant up here. White marble all over the floor and everywhere, beautiful cream and green chairs and a large umbrella on top. They all sat down on the edge, right next to the glass cover. So that they could see the outside world.

"Okay.." Romi said, looking at her best friend.

"I saved you up until now from Autumn, so now spill everything." Romi spoke up and Autumn nodded her hand. Anna slowly took in a deep breath, scaring both the girls.

"Don't freak out," Anna said and Romi was panicking.

"We will not freak out." Autumn said, frustrated now.

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"ANNA.." Autumn screams.

"He wants me to marry him now that Ruth is gone." She said, and as those words came out, immediately Romi's body went wide, and white as well. She put her hands on her face, pulling over her skin and she was in complete shock. Her eyes going as big as anime characters. However, Autumn just sat there not saying a word. She was giving her a, "what the hell? are you sure? I didn't hear this right? shocked look."

But she could no longer opened her mouth. Not to say anything was harsh.

However, after this long pause, Autumn quickly sat up straight like she had come to a conclusion.

"Okay, you know what, your family is crazy and I knew this all this time. That's all I have to say." Autumn said, drinking a glass of water in front of her, and finishing it entirely.

Anna turned to Romi. And Autumn shook her head.

"No, don't look at her. Don't go for support from Romi or any sort of an answer. She even knows your family is crazy." Autumn let out.

"This rich people's world is just shitty. I mean, what are these people thinking ? Autumn said, done with all this.

"What did you say to him? is that what he asked you even today?" Autumn asked multiple questions and Anna nodded her head. She took a small sip of her drink while the waiter brought in all the orders.

"What are you going to do then, Anna?" Romi asked.

"I don't know?" She said, almost immediately and Anna was panicking.

"The company is under his hand. Mom has already signed all the contract." Anna let out, looking at the drink in front of her, concentrating only on it. Romi was so confused and Autumn, thinking through.

"I don't understand why Ruth ran away then, and put you through all this." Autumn said.

"Ruth was screaming all around social media, around parties and everywhere. Saying she is marrying into this billionaire's house and now she got afraid?" Autumn let out, sarcastically.

"She scares everyone around her and now she is afraid........ perfect." Autumn let out, frustrated and immediately sat back, folding her hands to her chest. She was just done with the world now.

"And where did she go ?" Romi asked,

"I don't know," Anna said, equally frustrated.

"Okay, you run away as well." Autumn said, Romi hated this idea.

"I am not going to do that, what....... just leave mom, papa and mimi.If like this people start running away from problems.." Anna let out, but Autumn stopped her.

"But this isn't your problem. He isn't your problem now.." Autumn said, defending her.

"But.... but I think this may be.." Romi said, getting all their attention.

"I mean, he is your problem now, Anna. You honestly have no other way and if you say no, he gives up and people will lose their jobs, the stocks will break and you will go bankrupt." Romi let out as the CA of her company. She was being practical here.

"What?" Autumn let out...

"Listen to me first. I know this is not all about money, but in life some things are about money. And a lot of people have a lot of money invested in us. You and I can go ahead find work everywhere else Anna, but what about all those factories and the people, and all those companies around the world. People will go job less, and they have life. They have children, schools, hospital bills," Ruth said, suddenly making Anna and Autumn sit up straight. Both of them looked at her and this time not with anger, irritation or things like that but her words went too deep in them.

"Life is unfair to you right now Anna. It is, but what did you expect from life. You can't honestly have a great things every time. No life is fair. You have accepted it before as well, things are not under your control every time and that is also true for Arthur. He was supposed to marry someone else and have this company, but Ruth left him at the Altar Anna. That kind of humiliation, you can understand that must be bad." Romi said, and Autumn glanced at Anna, feeling sad for her.

"But Anna, the man still didn't take revenge on it, he came and talked to you. But life isn't fair to him as well and we all can see that but it is going to be more unfair to other people under you if you don't say yes." Romi let out, explaining it all, and Anna was listening carefully.

"What, she has no opinion in this?" Autumn asked.

"No, no longer." Autumn said.

"The moment Ruth left. And for a long time Autumn, I, your mother, everyone were thinking about you, were worried about you. But Anna, don't you think this is so much bigger than you and him. Even he understands that, and it's time you understood this as well. think of your people. I know you just broke this news to us. I should care more about what you are thinking but at this moment something suddenly hit me Anna." Romi said, moving closer to Anna now, as she looked right into her eyes.

" Not nobody is a billionaire like you Anna. You know where I come from. And right now life is great, amazing for me." Romi said, feeling a little emotional and both Anna and Autumn saw that clearly. Remembering that she was the only one there who came from a very poor family, but built all this greatness by her on hands.

"He is not wrong here, neither Anna, and not even Ruth." Romi said, and Anna flowned.

"The people who are wrong here are the parents who decided everyone's future for them, and now the parents have backed away and now for children start fighting. Sisters to run away and you have no other choice here. Anna I know it sounds horrible, but now it's time for you to think about the people for whom you have fought for years, your employees. They were everything to you back then, and they should be everything to you now. So please, think over this." Romi said and Anna sat there listening to it, just dumb founded.

"So that mean for Anna to get married to him, Romi?"Autumn reminder, angry now.

"Do you have a better idea?" Romi asked, taking a bite of her pie. And for that one moment Anna too had something to say. But suddenly, it seemed like words were sucked out of her.

"Tough times come in everyone's life and right now it's your tough time. If you say yes, you still fall in a hell, and if you say no, you still fall in a hell, Anna. You just have to decide which and where you want to go. Because there is no other way. And I wish that there was." Romi said, giving her the reality of it all. And for the first time in Romi's life, she was speaking up this way. She was always so calm and quiet, but now her words brought silence in everyone.

Slowly, Anna placed her hands on her warm hot chocolate, feeling something. This at least brought some life into her. She took the cup, taking a small sip. Wanting that kind of heat.

Once again, everyone stayed quiet.

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"Life was so different when we were kids, right?" Autumn let out and Romi chuckled softly, nodding her head.

"High school, college. We didn't have to worry about earning money, didn't have to worry about family, we just had a crush on........."

"Atlas.." Romi remained Autumn. Making Anna let out a small smile, everyone remembering those old, simple days. Sowly, Romi placed her hand on Anna, giving her that support that she needed.

"It's not the end of the world, Anna, and life might seem so difficult now, but things always change. And now you have your family with you, us with you." Romi said, and Anna heard it all, but still the fear, the pain and all didn't go away from her. She only wished to see her sister.

Anna was wishing, praying for Ruth to come back home. Praying that this was all to be a bad dream. All because Anna didn't want to live through this. All because she always assumed she would get married, and of course, she would marry for love and for a future. Suddenly, consuming that silence, there came a ring from her phone, bringing her out of those nightmare. Anna looked down at her phone to see it was her mom.

Although, Anna wanted to get out of the call, she was still angry with her. Immediately as her name popped out, there was a frown growing on her face. But there was something inside of her that made her want to pick it, and so she did.

"Hello.."

"Anna, we are at the hospital right now....... it's your granny, she just fell." Rebecca said, frantic on the other side.

"What?....."