15
1127 Words
Days turned into weeks, slowly, and nothing eventful happened. Anna's initial embarrassment eventually gave way to a shrug-it-off attitude. She reminded herself that she wasn't the first person to make a drunken confession to her boss, and whatever he thought of her now was none of her concern. It was his headache. His problem. His burden to carry.
She hadn't even seen him since after that day. He was always either on his floor or on business trips. There was no possibility of them meeting again or stumbling on each other. That alone made her relieved. At least, she won't have to set her eyes on him again, or so she thought.
After cleaning the second floor hallway, Anna made her way to the cleaning supply closet with her cleaning equipment. In the closet, she met Gina and another colleague, Sophia, chattering and giggling among themselves.
When Gina saw her walk in, she waved at her, beaming with smiles. "Anna." She called with a tiny voice.
"Hi." Anna waved back and dropped the cleaning equipment in her hand.
Gina motioned for Anna to come over to where she was standing with Sophia. Reluctantly, and with a fake smile, Anna walked towards them. She really just wanted to rest before heading to clean the ground floor, but she couldn't decline their invite.
"What are you wearing for the Williams Group anniversary?" Gina asked immediately Anna stood with them.
Anna's gaze turned confused. "Williams group anniversary?" She raised an eyebrow. "There... is a celebration?" She asked, looking from Gina's face to Sophia's.
Sophia gave her a disbelieving look. "You didn't know?" Her voice sounded surprised. "Who doesn't know of the Williams Group anniversary?"
"Well, I don't..." Anna answered calmly. "I didn't know there was a celebration or even an anniversary."
With a smile, Gina said, "Probably, because you are always busy working that you barely have time to listen to company's gossip. You're not even in the company's group."
Anna rolled her eyes with a smile and shrugged. "I'm just busy... I don't have any time for gist." She said in defiance.
Gina smiled and waved off what she said. "Anyway, the company's anniversary is next month on the 5th of September."
Anna's eyes widened. "Really?" She asked.
"Yes, and Madame Williams is the guest of honour." Sophia answered, smiling proudly with the information she just gave.
"Madame Williams?!" Gina exclaimed and almost covered in her mouth in shock with her eyes wide. "As in, CEO Frank's mother?"
Sophia nodded, looking at both Anna and Gina. "Yes. Her husband is the founder of the company, after all. It's definite she will be here."
Gina's eyes shone with enthusiasm. "I haven't seen Madame Williams physically before!" She exclaimed with a smile, almost jumping on the spot. "What would she look like?"
Anna almost laughed at Gina's excitement. "Why do you look so excited to see his mother?" She asked.
Gina gave her a surprised look. It seemed like Anna had asked the forbidden question. "Did you just ask me that?" She asked with a voice barely audible. "You don't know 'FW mama' on i********:?"
Anna looked puzzled, unsure how to respond because Gina's question implied she should know who Frank's mother was, but unfortunately, she didn't.
Gina seemed to have read her confused expression because she immediately exclaimed. "She is a legend! Everyone loves her and everything about her, even down to her shoes."
Anna and Sophia couldn't help but laugh at how Gina was dramatically telling her how much she loved Madame Williams. Gina is an obsessed fan.
After a while of laughter, Sophia turned to Anna still with a smile. "So what will you wear?" She asked calmly.
Anna seemed to be thinking for a while before letting out a breath. "I'm just getting the information of the anniversary, so I have no idea... yet." She answered.
Gina immediately locked hands with her. "Great!" She beamed. "I have no idea either, but Sophia suggested we shop for new outfits."
Anna's heart skipped at Gina's words. Why? Why did it seem like the whole world fell on her shoulders at the word 'shopping'?
Shopping? The word was simple but yet, strange to her. When was the last time she went shopping? All she has ever done was to save money for her father's surgery. She couldn't remember the last time she bought something for herself. She couldn't remember the last time she went to a mall, tried on clothes and paid for it. Spent money on something she liked.
"Emm.." Anna stuttered while thinking of a possible excuse. "Well...I..I can't go with you guys." She said politely.
Gina's face fell, disappointment etched on her features. "Why?" She asked.
Anna hesitated, her mind raced with a valid excuse. She couldn't tell them she was too busy saving up money for her father's surgery to indulge in something as frivolous as shopping for new clothes. "I'll... I'll probably have a nice dress to wear at home." She immediately came up with an excuse.
"Oh..." Gina muttered.
"Well, yeah, that's true." Sophia said with a smile.
"I thought it'd be fun to go shopping together." Gina chimed, her voice laced with disappointment.
"I'm sorry..." Anna smiled, glad they bought her excuse. "Maybe some other time?"
Gina's face brightened a bit. "Yeah, definitely. We'll plan something else soon." She smiled, and Anna nodded before excusing herself from the group.
Anna walked down the hallway until she got to the lobby. She sat on one of the chairs before letting out a deep, sad breath. So much for living the life she had planned.
Her phone rang, jolting her back to reality, and she reached for it in her side pockets. When she saw the caller ID, her heart sank. It was Dr Sam. She took another deep breath and answered the call.
"Hello, Dr. Sam. Is my dad alright?" She asked with a panicked tone. Dr. Sam only calls when there is trouble. His calls always made her heart beat rapidly.
"Anna." His voice boomed from the speakers with excitement. "Where are you?" He asked.
"At work, doc. Is my dad alright?" She repeated.
"Yes, he is fine. And I have good news." Dr. Sam said.
Anna looked sceptical. "Good news?" She repeated, still breathing in and out panicked.
"Your father's surgery has been paid." He told her. She guessed he was smiling widely from his voice.
Anna jumped up from where she was sitting in surprise. "What?!" She exclaimed. She couldn't believe her ears.
"Someone's paid for your father's surgery." He repeated with excitement.
It took all her willpower not to scream in excitement and throw her phone across the hall.
**********
HELLO, GUYS. CAN YOU GUESS WHO PAID FOR THE SURGERY?
- Writer
