Chapter 3: Forgotten

Annie stood motionless in the middle of the office building. She keeps looking at her yesterday ‘dead husband but now very much alive’ The realization he doesn’t know who she was makes her understood life really does have a brutal harshness that can make you bleed…

“How is this possible? Were the dreams a prelude of what’s about to happen now?”

The only one who has the answers was Aaron Casey.

“I want coffee,” Aaron yelled towards Barnard. He was furiously removing his jacket throwing it onto the nearest chair. “Don’t bring me that lousy coffee you usually make.” He now stood in front of his window.

“Aaron, check your attitude,” Grace said firmly as she closed the office door. There was a slight tremble in her hand she was hiding from the absentminded man. She has to make certain; this woman disturbs her but first she needs to deal with Aaron.

“Miss, come with me.”

Annie keeps looking at the door with a pained expression. She slowly followed the man who gently touches her hand. They walked towards the back of the breakroom. She noticed several curious eyes watching her. The questions about who were she silently whirling amongst them. One thing was certain once she managed to get out of this building, she was going to kill Benji. The strong wording forming in her mind has no outlet since she can’t even yell at the fool. She had thrown him with her cell phone.

“What are you brewing?” she asked curiously. She didn’t even realize she has been looking at what Barnard was doing. Acting on impulse she grabbed a funky mug then placed it on the counter. A quick search tells her the coffee brands might be expensive but is all wrong. Reaching for a notepad she quickly scrawls another brand along with certain instructions. “Who is doing the shopping?”

“What are you doing Miss?” Barnard was puzzled. They are trespassing on Grace Jones’s territory. That woman is like a predatory snake.

“Anyway, in future prepare the coffee like this: two full scoops of coffee his blend along with a dash of cinnamon and a quarter spoon filled with sugar. Also don’t serve it formally for him. Now go before he bites your head off. A pity you don’t have choc-chip cookies.”

Annie sits down on the nearest chair. She suddenly feels extremely exhausted.

“Aaron…” Grace looked at the back of the man standing motionless in front of the windows. It appears he has forgotten she was there.

“What do you want Grace?”

“I would prefer you turn around and look at me when I am talking with you.” She said snappish.

“I presume my mother called.”

“Yes, she did. What nonsense is this about you not volunteering as you have promised. You know this fund-raising is for a well-deserved cause.”

Aaron finally turned to face her.

“How long do we know each other, Grace?” his voice flat with suppressed fury.

“Where are you going with this questioning Aaron?”

“You clearly don’t know me, otherwise you would have recognized this reaction. I would prefer that you and my mother stop pushing me into situations I don’t like. I am no-ones prized idiot to bid on.” Aaron flops down onto his chair.

“Aaron what happened to the man you were before?”

“How the bloody hell should I know. Just for the record, I find you and my mother’s recollection of who I was highly suspicious. Where the hell is my coffee?”

Barnard opened the door on cue. He was nervous in handing over this mug of suspicious coffee. Just as he placed the mug in front of his boss, Grace Jones erupt from her chair.

“Don’t you have any etiquette in serving?” she yelled. She rounds the desk with the clear intent of removing the mug.

Aaron has already reached for it. He took a long sniff feeling happiness washing throughout his body. He senses a door carefully opening in his memory. “This is perfect,” he said with satisfaction after his first sip. “Why didn’t you ever made it this way?” he took another sip feeling greedy as a taste of familiarity rises within him.

“I didn’t make it sir?” Barnard said honestly.

“I want the person in my office right now.” He orders as he leaned back in his chair.

Annie sits motionless in the breakroom. She was afraid if she should move, she might shatter into a million pieces. It had taken much effort and one bossy gay man to made her realize that life goes on. It had taken three years to accept that her life will never be the same. She rarely talks about it just simply moves within the stream of life.

“Dammit Benji, do you realize what you just did?” She angrily gets onto her feet. “The biggest question…Aaron, what the hell?”

“Miss,” Barnard approached her quickly. “Are you okay?”

“I am fine. What am I doing here anyway?”

“I am not sure. The boss wants to see you.”

“Why,”

“You should ask him that Miss.”

“I don’t want to. I might just wring his neck.” She said pointedly.

“Why,” Barnard asked before he realized.

Annie swallows the next answer, instead she adjusts her clothes that rather looked wrinkled and dusty. She refuses to be curious about her hair.

“We should go Miss,”

“Fine,”

“Aaron who is the woman in the elevator?” Grace feels really uneasy.

“My new personal assistant,” he said now licking the last content from the mug. He placed the mug down on his desk.

“You are behaving like a child.”

“You are acting like my mother. I suggest you stop.” He looks towards the door. “Where are you?”

Annie took a deep breath before she steps into the vast luxury office. She simply ignored the woman whose eyes openly judge her appearance. She went and sit down across from the openly curious man.

“I have a question.” Aaron studies her face eagerly. He realized this were annoying her.

“What do you want to know?” Annie looked briefly at her chip nail fighting for control.

“Who taught you how I like my coffee?” he looks eager in curiosity.

“No one,” she looks at him. Her eyes twinkling with an idea. “I judge your temper then I just knew you are that type of boss.”

“What else do you think I like?”

“Choc-chip cookies, but a certain brand.” Annie looks at him. She found his behavior boyish and highly suspicious.

“Aaron…” Grace makes herself aware. She wasn’t certain what’s going on here but she definitely doesn’t like Aaron’s behavior.

“You may leave the office Grace. I am going to conduct a private interview.” Aaron suddenly looks at her with a very stern face. It was clearly conveyed she should get up and leave.

“You are making a mistake Aaron.”

“My choice Grace,” he said flatly.

“Miss, what is your name?”

Annie was surprise with the sudden formality of her husband. She wasn’t certain what was going on but she isn’t planning on going anywhere. She had suffered three years of heartache and biting loneliness.

“My name is Annie Saint-Claire,” she answered softly.

“Is reddish brown your natural color or did you color it?” his eyes seem to have a naughty twinkle.

“What kind of interview is this?” Annie sits up straight in the chair. She just places a stick up her own backside.

“Well now you set the stage for this manner of questioning.” He leaned back in his chair trying his best not to smile. This was a very strange reaction on his part.

“What do you want from me?” her voice frosty.

“How will you start my morning?”

“How the hell should I know?” Annie jumped onto her feet. She feels nervous.

“Is that the general choice of outfit you usually wear?”

“What do you want from me Aaron Casey?” the moment she said his name she realized her mistake. She slowly turned to face him.

Aaron quickly stood from his chair. He now stood in front of her. There was something in the tone of her voice that startled something deeply with him. He can feel the door opening.

“You are hired. Let’s go and get your stuff. I will call mother to prepare a suite for you.”

Annie found herself being marched out of the office. She looked at the man who seemed to enjoy whatever was going on in his mind.

Two can play these games, she thought silently. “Your mind might be scrambled but mine isn’t,” she muttered under her breathe