A CEO'S OBSESSION

5

Anna sat on the bench at the lounge, swinging her legs back and forth while waiting for Julie. It's been two days since she started working as a cleaner, and she has loved her job so far.

She sat there for a few minutes before she sighted Julie walking towards her dressed in a blue chiffon top tucked in a black free trousers. She looked professional with her hair tied in a messy bun and her black heels showing occasionally as she swinged her legs towards her.

"Anna, have you been waiting for long?" Julie asked when she stood in front of her. She was panting like she had raced down to meet her.

"Not so long. Where is your bag?" Anna looked at her shoulders. She was expecting Julie to be ready to go home. It was past 7 pm.

Julie sighed. "I won't be going home tonight. You'll have to take a cab home."

Anna was surprised. "Why? What happened?"

"I am working overtime."

"Why?"

"The CEO has asked my department to come up with a new product by the end of today."

Anna's eyes widened at her. "By the end of the day? That's impossible!"

Julie shook her head. "Not to him. It's not impossible to him. You know, sometimes I just feel like quitting."

Anna stood up and patted her on the back. "You will be fine."

Julie hugged her. "He is so mean..." she almost cried.

Anna smiled and kept patting her back. "You will be fine, okay?"

Julie nodded her head from the crook of Anna's neck and disengaged from the hug. "Will you be okay? I mean, with taking a cab?"

"Of course." Anna nodded. "I will be fine. I'll go home straight and prepare a meal for you."

Julie smiled. "Thank you so much, Anna. You are my best friend." She hugged her again, and they remained that way for some time before Julie pushed back from the hug. "I have to go now. Get home safely."

Anna nodded and waved at her as she watched Julie walk back the way she came.

Anna collapsed back on her seat and sighed. After sitting there for a while, she got up and walked to the elevator. When she got into the elevator, her phone rang. Reaching for the ringing phone in her bag, she tapped on the elevator buttons without looking.

On the screen, 'Doctor' displayed on it. She took in a breath before answering. "Hello, sir."

"Anna," She heard his voice. "How are you?"

"I'm fine, doctor. How are you? How is my dad?" She asked.

She heard him clear his throat before he answered. "I'm fine, but your dad, I am not so sure."

Anna's heart sank as the doctor's words cut deep, her mind racing back to the two-year battle her father had been waging against his ailing heart. The memory of countless struggles and desperate attempts to raise funds for the life-saving surgery now seemed futile, the weight of impossibility crushing her.

He continued. "Your dad needs this surgery, Anna."

Anna sighed. "I'm...I'm trying to raise the money." She said slowly.

He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "If you're free from work, you should stop by at the hospital."

"Okay, doctor." Anna replied, and the call dropped.

She stepped out of the elevator and didn't bother to check the floor number, her mind preoccupied with her troubles. She dabbed at the tears that had gathered in her eyelids with a handkerchief as she made her way down the hallway.

After a while, she realized she was lost, having not seen the exit door. With confusion etched on her face, she looked around before deciding to head back to the elevator.

Anna turned around and walked back the way she came, but before she could get to the elevator, a door swung open, and she collided with someone emerging from it.

She landed hard on her backside, the impact jolting her, as the person she collided with failed to catch her or break her fall.

As she sat there, dazed and rubbing her sore backside, she looked up to see the person she had collided with standing over her, his eyes locked on hers.

Anna's embarrassment and pain were evident on her face. The man's expression was stern, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in her dishevelled appearance.

"Watch where you're going," she complained as she got on her feet.

The man's piercing gaze lingered on her, his eyebrow arched in a mix of confusion and annoyance. His aura exuded an intimidating coldness, and he seemed distinctly displeased to have collided with her.

Anna dusted herself off, her movements brisk, and met his gaze with a hint of indignation. "You're just going to stand there and stare? Don't you think you should apologize?" she asked, her tone firm and laced with annoyance.

Frank's eyes narrowed. Did she just ask him to apologise?

Anna stared at him for a while, waiting for an apology. When she didn't get any, she hissed. "So rude." She said as she looked sideways, trying to locate the elevator.

Frank's silence was unnerving as he continued to study her, his gaze piercing. He seemed to be trying to place her, wondering how she'd ended up on his floor. The way she was dressed suggested she was a staff member, but he knew his floor was off-limits to most employees. Her feisty tone and lack of deference hinted that she might not know who he was, a notion that only added to his curiosity.

Anna squinted her eyes at him like she was daring him. She didn't look scared of him or the aura emitting from him. "Well, if I wouldn't get an apology, at least, tell me how to get to the ground floor. I'm trying to get out of here."

Frank raised an amazed eyebrow at her, but he didn't give a reply. He didn't know why he couldn't answer her. Was it surprise or amazement? He didn't know.

Anna stood for a while, waiting for him to say something, but when he didn't, she hissed again and walked away from him. What a waste of time!

After a few minutes of walking along the hallway, she finally located the elevator. Phew! She tapped on the button on the wall, and the elevator door opened. She got in, and that was when she checked the floor number. 15th floor? How careless! She pressed on the ground floor button, and the elevator door closed.

Meanwhile, Frank stood at the doorway completely taken aback.