A CEO'S OBSESSION

11

"Oh my Goddd!!!" Anna screamed from the bedroom and ran out to the sitting room, holding her phone in her hand. She met Julie lying on the couch with a face mask and cucumber peel covering her eyes. "Juliee!!!" She screamed again.

Without taking off her mask and still lying down, Julie asked. "What is it?" Her tone carried her displeasure at being disturbed. It was a Saturday, and she was off at work. She needed rest.

"I just got an email!" Anna exclaimed, jumping up and down in the sitting room. The sitting room had simple, middle-class furnishings.

"What email?" Julie asked.

"It's from William group." Anna beamed with smiles. "I was asked to resume my position on Monday."

Julie took off her face mask and sat up. The cucumber peels fell off her face, and her eyes widened in surprise. "What?!"

"I'm serious!" Anna exclaimed and moved closer to her and handed her phone to her.

Julie read through the email, and her eyes shot up. "You are serious." She stated. "But... but how?"

Still beaming, Anna answered. "Maybe your jerk of a boss realized he made a mistake."

Julie shook her head, still holding Anna's phone. "That's impossible. You destroyed his car, remember. He must be looking for you by now to probably arrest or assassinate you."

Anna laughed at Julie's expression.

"That man is ruthless. I am not sure this email is his order." Julie said with disbelief dancing in her eyes.

Anna raised an eyebrow. "So what are you saying?" She asked.

Julie passed Anna's phone to her. "I can't conclude yet until I get to work on Monday." She said.

"I am really excited about this. I was so worried as to how I would raise the money for my father's surgery." Anna smiled.

Julie sighed and picked up the cucumber peels on the floor. "You are sure that email is from Williams Inc.?" She asked.

Anna eyed her. Why was she being so dramatic about it? "Why would I lie about this?" She asked.

"I'm just surprised. It's unlike the company to re-employ a fired staff. Anna, are you sure you didn't do anything?" Julie's voice was laced with suspicion.

"And what would I do? Threathen the CEO in his sleep?"

Julie laughed. "You wouldn't even get past the gate of the Williams mansion."

Anna moved to sit beside her. "It's possible he realised he made a mistake by firing me and decided to re-employ me. That's possible, right?"

Julie nodded, accepting her point. "Whatever. Just make sure that this time, you stay off his path."

Why was Julie always warning her to stay off his path? With a serious expression, Anna said. "I stayed off his path. He came to mine."

"Admitting to a mistake you didn't commit wasn't staying off his path."

Anna pouted. "I had to cover up for her. Gina really needed the job."

"And you didn't?"

Anna rolled her eyes dramatically.

"Well, just be careful this time. The CEO is not someone to be trifled with. Stay away from him."

Stay away from him? That should be easy.

**********

Frank flipped the page of a file with a frown on his face. It was the information Ian gathered on Anna Yates.

"A marketing degree holder?" He observed the information on the file.

"Yes, sir. A second class graduate." Ian added.

Frank's left eyebrow rose. "Interesting." He said, but his expression didn't show his amazement. He flipped the page again. "...very interesting."

Ian nodded. "She graduated from college two years ago. Managed to secure a job as a marketer in LN printings but got fired three weeks ago." He said.

A knock on the door made Frank raise his head from the file to the door. The door opened and revealed John walking delibrately to the table.

John bowed his head when he stood beside Ian and said. "Mr. CEO, you have a visitor."

Frank raised an eyebrow and dropped the file he was going through on the table. "What visitor?" He asked. It was rare for anyone to visit him.

"Your fiancee, Emily Don." John answered with a serious expression.

Frank expression turned to that of annoyance at how John addressed Emily, and amazement danced in Ian's eyes. His fiancee?...This must be his mother's scheme.

With gritted teeth and reluctance, Frank said. "Let her in."

John nodded and bowed before leaving. Ian followed behind him to exit the office.

Frank picked up his phone and quickly texted his mother.

Frank Williams. 3:43PM: Emily is not my fiancee.

Madame Williams. 3:45PM: That's my potential daughter-in-law. Now, son, be nice to her.

Frank closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. His mother was the one person who could push his buttons like no one else. Her constant pressure for him to get married makes him feel like he was breathing down his own neck, just trying to escape her nag.

Ian opened the door to Frank's office, and Emily walked in. She was wearing a dark knee-length free gown and matching heels. Her hair was tied up in a messy bun, and her glittering black handbag complimented her style.

Frank stared at her until she got close to the table and flashed him a bright smile. "Hi." She greeted.

He didn't smile back at her. His expression remained impassive and nonchalant. "Please sit." He offered, and she drew out a chair in front of him to sit.

She dropped her bag on the table, leaned back on her seat, and let her gaze sweep around the office. "Nice decor. I love it." She complimented.

Frank nodded and closed the file containing Anna's information when he saw her gaze lingering on it. He couldn't help but wonder what his mother had planned. Why would she send her here, pretending they were engaged?

"So, Emily, what brings you here?" Frank asked, his tone neutral, trying to hide his discontentment.

Emily's lips twisted in a wide smile. "Considering how you left the restaurant the last time, I figured you would want to make it up to me."

Frank's eyebrow knitted. Make it up to her? He didn't even think about that.

"Dinner?" She asked with that smile that he found suspicious.

With a serious expression and stern tone, Frank said. "I'm afraid I am quite busy, Emily. I-"

Emily cut him short. "I spoke to your mother about it. She booked the restaurant herself."

Frank studied her for a while with his jaw clenched slightly at the mention of the arrangement. Did she just use the 'mother' word on him? How did she know his weakness? Did his mother tell her?

He didn't want to be tied down to anyone, especially not someone his mother had chosen for him. But he didn't know how to refuse her. With a defeated sigh, he said. "Dinner would be fine."