Chapter Four

Anna's POV

The following days at work were horrible, the new boss barely responded to my greetings, and when he passed beside me, he always had his nose scrunched up as if I smelled bad.

 He had done that again today and I couldn't help but sniff at my polka-dot chiffon blouse. It didn't smell bad. I sniffed my hair that was let loose past my shoulders and it didn't smell bad either.

“Trevor, do you think I smell bad?” He was carrying a file.

His cheeks turned red immediately and I realized how that must have sounded. My cheeks turned red too, redder than his.

“You smell nice Anna, you always smell nice”

I didn't think my cheeks could burn any brighter but they did and I had to bite my tongue to keep me from smiling like an idiot.

Trevor left me standing there, hurrying off to submit the file he was holding.

Apart from the sunshine and roses Erica and sometimes Trevor added to my life, it was mostly dark. Just like the days you could feel chaos slowly creeping in on you, waiting to engulf everything in its grasp.

I could see the shadows grow darker and darker with each passing day and sometimes I'd even wonder if I was living in a nightmare. I wondered why I hadn't woken up yet.

 But it would be silly to wake up when I didn't know anything was wrong or when I had to pretend nothing was wrong. I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was being watched though. The hairs on my neck and arms would stand on end.

There was never a time I felt safe enough to look behind my back to confirm that I wasn't being followed but it was still there, lurking in the darkness.

 I didn't know if he was watching me now or before. I didn't care to find out.

 I was afraid. Afraid of what he might do next, afraid of where he might appear, afraid of how he might make me scream and cry in agony and regret, afraid of everything.

The only thing I could be sure about was that I never forgot the look in his eyes when kicked me out and he left me on the streets. It was one of complete hatred, complete loathing. He looked like he wanted to kill me at that moment.

“Anna!” It was loud enough to jolt me out of my thoughts.

“Are you okay?” Trevor's grey eyes were boring into mine.

“Yes. You scared me” I couldn't even pretend that my heart was skipping loudly as I placed my hands over it.

Trevor took in my appearance as if doubting me

“What is wrong with you? Did you sleep late yesterday?”

“No!” I exclaimed a bit too abruptly, probably sounding a bit too desperate “Everything is fine. I am fine!”

“The boss wants to see you,” He told me and I froze.

“Why? Did I do something wrong?” I squeaked.

“Calm down Anna, I think he just wants to see you, okay?” His hands were on my shoulders.

I gulped before nodding.

Why did he want to see me? I sniffed my hair and blouse again, even my underarms. What? Maybe I was oozing down there but everything felt and smelt fine.

I knocked on his door, not sure I wanted to go in anyway, and opened it when he said to come inside.

“Good day Sir”

He didn't even look up from what he was scribbling on his desk.

“Miss Mackenzie? Have a seat please” He said instead, still not sparing me a glance.

So rude.

I sat down on one of the chairs in front of his desk, my leg bouncing impatiently on the floor.

“From the report here, you are due for your annual leave, am I correct?” He wasn't scribbling, he was drawing something that looked like fine patterns that were strangely intertwined.

“Yes sir” I answered obediently. I felt like a dog.

“I am afraid that wouldn't be possible” This time he surprised me by looking up at me with those… Those intense blue eyes!

“Why?” I was surprised at my calmness. Because I wasn't calm on the inside, I wanted to tear those stupid papers he was drawing on. I needed this leave, I needed to clear my head!

“You know Monica just had a baby a few days back, it will be inconsiderate of me to ask her to resume immediately. That is why we have two of you, you can't go on your leave. Moreover, we will be having an opening soon and I need all hands on deck”

This had to be the dumbest shit in the history of dumb shit. Yes Monica my colleague just had a baby, couldn't he just employ another receptionist.

“You can't do that Sir. That would be unfair” I didn't care if I sounded like a five-year-old and why did he have a blank stare?

“I can Miss Mackenzie, you know I can”

Was this his way of trying to get back at me for the rainy evening?

You are so full of yourself Anna why will he want to get back at you? You are not worth looking at and his explanation is valid enough. My subconscious reminded me.

But instead of leaving like a sad, wet puppy, I sat there glaring at him and hoping to magically shoot lasers at him and watch him disappear into some sort of disgusting liquid. But damn it! I wasn't Superman and it wasn't working.

He seemed unfazed by my glaring, if anything he was amused. He knew I couldn't do anything about it and all of these were just tantrums, drama, whatever he thought it was.

Feeling defeated, I couldn’t help but ask “Is there anything else Sir?” those words sounded like bile on my tongue.

“No Miss Mackenzie, you may leave now”

I stood up too fast and that stupid chair had to make a weird sound. And I tried not to slam the door so hard but I failed and was surprised I didn't get called back for it.

I didn't see Erica until it was time to go home and I couldn't help but vent to her.

“He hates me! He hates me! I am telling you” I cried not minding how I sounded like a dramatic character from those cliché books.

“He is being reasonable Anna and you are being dramatic” Erica smiled.

Why should one person smile so much again?

I faked a gasp “ I can't believe you are taking his side, you are supposed to be on my side!” I wailed.

“You know I am always on your side and by your side”

“I hate you” I gave up on her.

“Love you too, come on, let’s get changed. Danny will be here anytime soon, he’s ordering pizza” Erica announced.

“Ouuuuuu” I wriggled my eyebrows suggestively before we left the living room but not before Erica playfully smacked my head.