Chapter 10: "Disobey... just one more time."

A few hours later, Annette and Mr. McKenney arrived in Greece, captivated by the ancient ruins and the stunning Mediterranean views. As they strolled through a bustling market, a distressed child approached them, tears streaming down her face. She spoke in a mix of Greek and broken English, clearly lost and separated from her mother.

Annette's heart went out to the child. In a gentle voice, she switched to fluent Greek, a language she hadn't revealed she knew, and asked, "Ψάχνεις τη μητέρα σου;" The little girl's eyes widened in surprise as she nodded eagerly.

Mr. McKenney, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow at Annette's sudden linguistic prowess. "Annette, you speak so fluently. You speak Greek?" he asked, both impressed and slightly puzzled.

Annette nodded, her attention still on the child. She spoke with the little girl, calming her down and finding out her mother's name and description. With this information, Annette intended to seek help from the market's security personnel.

However, Mr. McKenney's stern voice cut through, "Annette, I told you not to get involved. We're here for work and to enjoy ourselves, not to play heroes." He seemed irritated, his features tense.

Annette looked torn between her empathy for the child and Mr. McKenney's instruction. She glanced back at the girl, who clutched her hand tightly, a mixture of hope and uncertainty in her eyes.

In a hushed voice, she whispered to Mr. McKenney, "I can't just leave her here. She's scared and lost."

His frustration was palpable. "Annette, we can't help everyone. We have our own plans, our own trip to enjoy."

Annette's gaze flickered between the child and Mr. McKenney. At that moment, she made a choice. She gently pried the child's hand from hers and crouched down to her level. She spoke to her in comforting tones and pointed towards the market's security office. The little girl nodded, wiping away her tears before slowly walking in that direction.

Mr. McKenney sighed in exasperation as he watched the scene unfold. "You're impossible, Annette."

Annette stood up, a mixture of determination and sadness in her eyes. "I just wanted to help, Mr. McKenney. Sometimes, we need to do what's right, even if it's not in the original plan."

They continued their stroll through the market, the tension between them palpable. Annette couldn't shake off the worry for the child, while Mr. McKenney seemed bothered by her disregard for his instructions.

After they were finally able to find the child's parent the mother thanked Annette profusely in Greek before walking off with her little girl in her arms, while Annette was happy that she had done something good Mr McKenney was furious a the fact that she had disobeyed a direct other and went to look for the girl's parent.

Right after the incident, Mr McKenney's chauffeur came to get them. Through out the drive down to the hotel, the atmosphere was awkwardly quite and tense. As they alighted at the hotel's parking lot, the chauffeur went around to help Annette in carrying all her luggages into the reception hall, while McKenney carried his. It only took a few minutes to register and be shown into their rooms.

Annette was surprised and very much relieved when she was handed her own keys, which meant she was going to enjoy her privacy. But how come the receptionist gave them separate rooms? Didn't she see they walked in together? It was surprising that Mr McKenney didn't reject the idea of lodging in a room different from hers. Maybe he just didn't want her to be his companion after all. She thought as she took the key and the bellboys took their luggage to each of their respective rooms.

After Annette had got dressed and freshened up, there was a knock on the door, when she went to open it she saw Mr McKenney on the other side of the door with an angry expression on his face.

"Welcome, Mr McKenney. What do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" Annette asked at her stared at his angry expression.

"We need to talk," Mr McKenney said as he barged into the room, not even waiting for her to welcome him. That warned her instantly that she should be ready for more his unwelcomed visits. The little distance turned out to be nothing to him, she reckoned.

"Annette, I can not believe you. Do you not know that I hate people disobeying me?"

"Mr. McKenney, I understand that my actions at the airport were not ideal, but I had my reasons for what I did.

"I don't care for your reasons. The contract says you're to do as I say without any objections," Mr McKenney said through gritted teeth, his anger evident in his tone.

"I wasn't trying to disobey your orders, but I couldn’t have left that poor girl wandering the streets alone. I had to act on my instincts." Annette said, tucking her hair behind her ears as she tried to reason with him.

"Instincts you say? You're not a mother, Annette, so you have get ride of such useless instincts. They do nothing for you. You're only here because I want you to be. So the sooner you get that into that thick skull of yours the better" Mr McKenney said, laying emphasizes on the last line.

Annette was furious. Her ocean blue eyes glared back at him, with sparks clearly flying out of them. She could feel her blood boiling, not only because it was an insult to her person, but also because what he said was kind of the truth, and she was so much ashame of it.

But regardless of her own anger, she lowered her head and muttered an apology, "I'm sorry I will not go against your orders again." While she spoke, she clenched her fist by her side, trying get a hold of the raging emotions within her.

"Annette, you think that half-assed apologizing will make me forgive you?" Mr McKenney said as he stared at her with an angry expression.

"Then what do you expect me to do? Go on my knees and beg you?" Annette asked, and when she moved her gaze to him, she saw a mischievous look in his eyes

"Yes, that will suffice for an apology." Mr McKenney said as he took a seat on one of the couches in the room.

"You must be joking?" Annette asked, but the look on Mr McKenney's face wasn't the least bit playful; he actually expected her to go on her knees and apologize to him.

"I'm waiting, Miss Zachary," Mr McKenney said, and Annette had to swallow her pride as she gently went down on her knees and apologized to him

"I'm sorry for disobeying your orders, it won't happen again" Annette said as she felt her eyes well up with tears but she held them back not trying to cry in front of this man.

"Good, disobey me just one more time and you'll be so displeased at what I'll do." He sulked in a deep breath, raking his long lean fingers through his thick jet black hair as they cascaded over his face.

"We have dinner in an hour, dress appropriately." With that said, Mr McKenney got off the couch and walked towards the door, leaving Annette on her knees.

Once he left, the tears she had been holding back came rushing down her cheeks. Did she really think he was a changed man after what happened in the plane? He was still the bastard she met on the first day, and that would never change— Annette thought to herself as she went to wash her face before starting to get dressed for the dinner he told her to get ready for.