Annie's Story

Chapter Nine: Trouble in Paradise

Chapter Nine: Trouble in Paradise

Markus never called Annie like he said he would the night before. Cari and Markus spent the night in the park, talking. Cari understood why Markus was at the dinner and now feared for his life. She knew what Raphael was capable of doing to those who didn't meet her father's demands.

She liked Markus. She always had a crush on him and her mother knew it. After talking with him all night, her crush grew stronger. Markus didn't deserve what was going to happen to him.

***

Markus awoke mid-day, regretting his decision to go into business with Luigi. He walked into his kitchen, needing something to eat. He remembered the cannoli. Opening the refrigerator, he grabbed the box out. Taking that first bite was heaven. The flaky dough gave way to the smooth, sweet ricotta center with the chocolate chips. Markus closed his eyes, savoring every morsel. He put the box back in the refrigerator, knowing he was going to be thinking about them all day.

Markus stood straight and stretched. He walked back across the tile floor. His bare feet made little noise as he made his way back to the bedroom. He looked at the digital clock by his bedside, seeing it was close to noon. He scrambled to get dressed. Throwing on a pair of jeans and a blue T-shirt. He ran to the elevator, knocking his thigh into the table in the foyer.

"Son of b*tch," he grumbled as he got past it. He paced the floor in the elevator, willing it to go faster. The door had just begun to open when he squeezed out of it. He ran out of the building. Making a left, he ran the three blocks to the café. There was a line of people waiting to get served. It was unusually busy for a Saturday. He shifted his weight from side to side, impatiently waiting in line to enter the café.

Annie looked up to see him standing there. She smiled and nodded at him. He stopped shifting around. Annie got the three people in front of Markus their drinks and out the door to continue their day.

"Hey, I'm sorry I never called last night. It was really late by the time I left the office, and I didn't want to wake you," Markus lied.

"It's okay," Annie shrugged. "It’s going to happen in your line of work. You have to do whatever it is you can to make up for your loss."

"Thank you for understanding," Markus said. "Do you want to get dinner tonight at the diner?"

"Yeah, let's do that," Annie said as Markus' phone rang. Looking down at the screen, he saw Luigi's number. His jaw clenched. "I have to take this. I'll see you tonight."

"Okay," Annie said with a furrowed brow.

"He didn't look too happy at that phone call," Donovan said, coming over to Annie.

"No, he didn't," Annie said, watching Markus walk in the direction of his office. Annie knew he didn't work on Saturdays, but that phone call may have made him go into the office. Annie shrugged and continued serving her customers. She was locking up the café when her phone buzzed. Markus' name appeared on her screen. She hit the green button.

"Hey, Annie, I'm not going to make it tonight. I am sorry," Markus said.

"Okay, where are you?" Annie asked, hearing all the noise in the clinking of plates, glasses, and lively conversations in the background.

"I am at the office. I headed there after I saw you earlier. These business deals with overseas clients are taking up all my time," Markus lied. The woman beside him laughed, and Markus tried to cover the speaker so Annie wouldn't hear it.

"Okay, call me later, please?" Annie retorted. "And try not to forget about me this time."

"Annie, I am at work, I promise," Markus said.

"Sure you are, Markus. I am going to hang up before I say something else," Annie said, clicking the red button. Stunned by Annie's actions, Markus stared at his phone for a few seconds. He shook his head and put his phone in his pocket.

"Is everything okay?" Cari asked.

"Yeah, yeah, everything will be fine," Markus said, reaching for his glass of wine. He sipped it. Thinking about Annie's reaction to him not showing up for a second night, he knew he needed to leave. "I got to go."

"Where are you going?" Cari slurred. She already had too much to drink.

"There is something I need to take care of," Markus said, standing. He rushed to the door of the restaurant and left. He walked the twelve blocks to the diner, hoping Annie was there. He got to the steps and peered in. Anne was not sitting on her usual stool. Val saw him and shook her head no, indicating Annie was not there. Markus walked the next three blocks to Annie's apartment building.

Markus pushed the button for apartment 405. A faint buzz sounded. He waited for Annie to answer the buzz. Silence. He pushed it again and waited. Again, there was no answer. Markus wondered where Annie was. She was only ever at three places: the café, the diner, or her apartment. Markus tried calling her phone.

Annie's phone lit up, showing Markus' name. She ignored his call and put the phone upside down on the coffee table in Claire's apartment. She would not answer him. He could go be with his lady friend. She couldn't believe she was so stupid to think a billionaire wanted anything to do with her. He had everyone around them fooled with his antics.

"Are you sure that was a good idea?" Claire said, nodding toward the phone.

"I don't care," Annie said. "He was not at work. He was out with another woman. I heard her laugh."

"Annie, maybe it was a business meeting," Claire said, handing her a glass of wine.

"I highly doubt it. I was so stupid to believe he genuinely liked me," Annie said. "I thought I finally found someone who understood me and wanted to be with me."

"Annie, let him explain," Claire said.

"Why, so I can be lied to again?" Annie said. "I bet he was with her last night and not on a conference call."

"Look, I think Markus does like you, hell he may even love you at this point," Claire said. "I have never seen a guy go out of his way to impress a girl and do things she likes just for sh*ts and giggles."

"He is going to have to wait until tomorrow to explain himself," Annie said. "As for tonight, I want nothing to do with him."

"Okay," Claire said, shrugging as Annie's phone began to vibrate. Annie picked it up, seeing Markus' name again. She shook her head. Claire held out her hand. Annie reluctantly gave Claire the phone. Claire pushed the green button. "Hey, Markus, it's Claire. Annie is with me at my apartment."

"Hey, Claire. Can I talk to her?" Markus pleaded.

"I don't think that is the best idea right now as she will probably say things she will regret later," Claire said. "I'll give you my address. Come by in the morning so you two can hash whatever is going on out."

"Is she okay?" Markus whispered, squeezing his eyes shut. He knew he messed up.

"No, you have a lot of explaining to do," Claire said. "Here is my address – 5468 Willowby Ave, apartment 315. We will see you in the morning."

"Thank you, Claire," Markus said and clicked the red button. He sat on the steps to Annie's apartment building. Running his hands over his face. "Sh*t." Markus stood and left Annie's apartment building. He shoved his hands in his front pockets, walking back to his place with his head down. He needed to figure out a way to explain everything to Annie. Markus was concerned about what Annie thought about him.

Annie looked at Claire with her jaw clenched. The tension in her face caused her cheeks to puff out and her lips to go thin. She was fighting back a scream at Claire. She knew Claire meant well and was only trying to help her. Annie took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

"Annie, he is coming here in the morning to talk to you," Claire said. "I will leave when he comes. Please hear him out and let him lay it all on the line. If you still feel he is lying to you, leave the relationship. I don't want to see you hurt. You are my best friend. If he hurts you, he will get a world of hurt from Donovan and me."

"I will. I can't believe he was out with another woman," Annie said, laying her head on the back of the couch. She stared at the ceiling as the tears welled in her eyes. A single tear spilled down the side of her face. She wiped it with the back of her hand. "I'm going to head to bed."

"Okay," Claire said, getting up to take their glasses into the kitchen. She washed them and put them in the drainer as Annie closed the guest room door. Annie lay on the bed, burying her face in the pillow.

She sobbed until she fell asleep.