Anna stared at the ceiling. "You really did forget your proposal to me when we were kids."
"How could you hold me for a promise I uttered as a young child?" The disgust in his voice was apparent. "So, I guess that means I can't count on your vows, as well?" she turned to him. Dalton straightened himself. "I won't hurt you nor humiliate our families, if that's what you're worried about." He stopped on his way out of the door. "But you're on your own, starting now." Without another word, he left. He left her on her own, as she cried herself to sleep. The next morning, Anna woke up to the breezy hum of the sea. She quickly dressed herself and stalked out of her suite. The cruise ship their family picked for their honeymoon wasn't too large, but it was not exactly small either. It was lavishly decorated, and largely spacious. Every corner of the ship screamed luxury, something she was used to all her life. As far as Anna knows, there were only three cabin crews on board including the captain, and three helpers. They all stayed on their part of the ship, unless they had to do something. Their families gave their instructions very clearly. Anna was quite sure that she wouldn't knock into them when she descended the two-side stairway down to the lounge. Imagine her shock when a butler suddenly appeared, handing her an envelope when she reached the bottom of the stairs. "What is this?" she asked. "Master Dalton asked me to hand you this letter." He bowed at her. "And where is he?" He looked at her curiously. "He left last night. He talked about an emergency." "Ah yes, of course,” she gave a smile. "I remember now. Thank you." He bowed at her again. Anna fell to the nearest chair. Does this mean he went to find Lara, after all? she thought bitterly. She never told Dalton about her family's financial crisis. He didn't want him to pity her. She just never thought that he would actually despise her. All this, she thought bitterly, for a girl she doesn't even care for. Lara Kelly was a known beauty in Dalton’s university. She positively glowed amongst all of the business students. She was pretty, famous, and talented. People can not shut up about her. But Anna Delgado was famous in her own university as well. She was known to be smart, beautiful, and fierce. Not to mention, rich. She was rich and well-known. People marveled at her. Her fame did not stop at her university, but she had always been a media-favorite growing up. The spotlight was not new to her. People can't say the same for Lara. Beautiful and famous as she may be, no one knew exactly about her status. No one knew about her family or where she came from. And Anna's got to hand it to her, she has extremely succeeded in keeping her life private. That was something not quite easy to achieve with the current media they were dealing with. But people know, or at least people assume, that Lara is rich, as well. Truth be told, not everyone can afford to go to Dalton's university. Only people who either had a lot of money or connection, and in some cases, both, can manage to be accepted. Being the two known beauties of the two universities, people somehow found a way to make the two compete. There would be comparisons, polls, and competitions about Anna and Lara. Anna had found it ridiculous, considering she thought, that the two hadn't even met that time yet. The results of those excursions would vary, sometimes Anna would win, sometimes it was Lara. She never commented on it. Never entertained it. She never let anyone know whether it was bothering her or not. Dalton once told her that Lara thought it was a silly thing that needed to be stopped. Anna only rolled her eyes while sipping on her frappe. Dalton laughed. "Do you enjoy it when you win?" Anna made a face. "An obvious winner, really. Miss Anna Delgado wins the poll!" Dalton mimicked the announcer from a recently closed poll about something she doesn't know about. Anna picked up a grape and hurled it towards Dalton. He escaped from the single fruit, laughing. "Come on! You've got to enjoy it at least!" he said. Anna never knew that Dalton was actually serious all those times. She thought he was just joking. But apparently, he had been observing her, trying to see her reaction. She felt disgusted. How could someone she knew all her life think of her like that? As if he forgot all about her personality. Imagine, he really did think that she was indeed trying to compete with Lara! Anna laughed incredulously. She doesn't even have an opinion about the woman! He was just like those drama-hungry media people. Who had nothing better to do in life, and so made money poking their noses on other people's business. Thinking ill about people who never did anything to them! Why would she even compete with Lara? She was content with who she was. She doesn't need validation from anyone. And to get it against someone she barely even knows! If Dalton likes that girl, why did he have to paint Anna in such a bad light? And why does he even like her that much? She had only talked to Lara once, and that wasn't a good experience for her. She can't imagine what Dalton sees in the girl that made him throw away their entire friendship in a heartbeat. Well, she thought, if Dalton wants to torture himself with that girl, then he can. We'll see what that will get him. She got up, and went to a nearby drawer, looking for some penknife. She found one in the second drawer, and opened the envelope. She quickly read the contents of the letter, a smile forming on her lips.Rachel and Anna sat inside a restaurant. "I'm not going to ask you how Paris was, since the media already took care of that.”Anna rolled her eyes. "They do seem to think that reporting my life's affairs is their prime responsibility.”“Seriously, they're getting intrusive. Why don't you sue them or something? I heard your family did something like that before.”“Yeah, a media company had to shut down after my dad pulled a couple of strings. But it was because they not only crossed a line, but were also becoming a danger to us.”“So, why not do the same thing? I'm sure no one would miss them.”"It was messy. I've actually been letting things slide to avoid it from happening again.“Anyway, do you already have an outfit for Nora's party?” Anna asked, changing the subject."Yup, the dress is quite lovely." Rachel took a bite of her food.Anna watched her. "So, who were you with?”Rachel pretended like she didn't hear her.So Anna tried again. “Did someone help you pick your outfit?" "
"And you really do need a vacation,” Anna continued. You should have a week off in Paris.” Leanne's eyes widened at that. "What?! Are you serious?” "Of course, why wouldn't I be?” Anna took her phone, and booked Leanne a first class flight on their airline. She then turned to Leanne. “I'll give you the keys tomorrow, you can start to move your things then." Leanne was in shock, so she only managed to nod her head slowly. She wasn't sure if she was hearing things right, but she was in cloud nine just thinking that it might be true. Anna had always been a generous employer, she just never realized the extent of it. She thought back to the time she first saw Anna. Anna found her when she was scrambling for a job. Leanne had traveled to Ghersine City to try her luck right after graduation, but reality had smacked her right across the face. She faced rejection after rejection. No one wanted her. The day she was about to give up and accept her failure, she had met Anna.
Anna sat at her office desk, reviewing files after files. Leanne would sometimes linger by her side, seeming like she wanted to ask Anna something. But when Anna would look up from her disk, Leanne would hurry off without saying a word. On the twentieth time she did that, Anna felt like she couldn't take any of her scurrying off anymore, so she called Leanne. “Leanne, come here," she called. Leanne appeared in front of her desk. “Yes, ma'am?" Anna put down her glasses. “Is there something you want to talk about?" “Er," “Don't lie, just say it." “I just wanted to ask how Paris was." “How did you know about that?" Anna was surprised. “Well, it's all over the media. It's what everyone kept on talking about." Anna was about to ask how, but then she remembered the tenacity of the paparazzi, especially when it comes to stalking high-profile individuals. “Well, what did they show?" “Oh," Leanne exclaimed. “They showed pictures of you and sir Dalton at a café,
Anna and Dalton sat at the couch again, while Ms. Jeave was showing them various outfits. She held up a silver gown that dropped like a shower of rain under the lights. It was matched with an elegant cut of a mask, highlighted with tiny details of gem stones. Anna's breath caught at the sight. This was the outfit she was looking for. It was almost too perfect. She slowly walked over to touch the dress. She felt like the dress was whispering to her, enchanting her. The material was perfect, the design was elegant. It was everything she was looking for in a dress. She felt Dalton at her side. He must have stood up when she did. “I guess we found the dress," he said. Anna turned to smile at him, extremely grateful to him for dragging her to Paris. Ms. Jeave nodded in delight. “I really do admire your taste, Mrs. Guevarra. Now Mr. Guevarra,which suit would you like?” "The one that complements my wife's silver dress, of course.” He responded as if that should have been obv
Dalton and Anna sat on the exclusive fitting room lounge in Jeave boutique. In front of them, is a female attendant showing them various designs of their outfits. The attendant held up a design, and smiled widely at them. “This one was personally designed by Miss Jeave herself,” she said. Anna slightly shook her head at the complicated purple and silver costume adorned with feathers. She didn't like the material. “Can you show us more designs?” Dalton said. "Why, yes of course, sir. Miss Jeave sent us a number of designs according to your request.” The woman eagerly left to fetch more designs. Anna turned to Dalton. “What did she mean by that?" "I called Jeave to design us a couple of outfits,” Dalton replied. Anna looked at him in shock. "You know her?” "Yeah, I met her two years ago, back in The Isles. I'm actually quite surprised that they didn't add her to my list of mistresses.” Anna looked at him sideways. Dalton laughed at her. “Come on, you don't think it
Anna and Dalton sat on one of the terrasse, outside a french café. Anna took a sip of her hot chocolate, topped with marshmallows and whipped cream. She always indulges her sweet tooth. On the table, crepés, croissants, baked eggs, and quiches were laid out. Dalton insisted on a quick brunch before they head to the well-known Jeave boutique. “So, I guess Madeleine still remembers us,” Dalton commented. "Yeah, she seemed a bit upset that we 'abandoned' her for five years.” Anna added. Dalton chuckled softly. "She knows how to hold a grudge.” Anna smiled at him. Then she concentrated her attention at the view in front of her. The Eiffel tower seemed so clear from where they were seated. She always loved this view. It was a good thing that Dalton did so too. She was grateful to have someone to drag to Paris with her. Dalton never complained, and it had been one of her most favorite things. Then, she noticed something. Popular as this spot is, it's almost always a guarantee