ANNAMy body stiffened, just as if cold blood rushed down my spine at the utterance of his words. I was moving from frying pan to fire, messing up the deal with a stranger is as bad enough as it could be, but coming back home to tell Daniel would be worse. I swallowed hard, my throat dry like a desert although I tried not to show it, but my facial expression would have given me up. With the little strength in me, “I will try my best according to what Anthony has taught me”, I replied, twisting my fingers badly, I had never been this nervous. He chuckled lightly, raising a glass at me like he wanted to cheer me, “Good girl. You better not, off you go”. What was I expecting, after all, he was about to make a huge amount of money, and it is normal for him to be happy about it. I started to imagine different scenarios in my head as I walked towards the door, “What if, what if, just what if it goes wrong, would that be the end of me? Would Daniel try to avenge me?”, my thoughts collided
ANNAThe Anthony never included that we would go further than where I stood, if I went with the man, how would he see me from afar? I walked slowly behind him, counting my steps as I did.“S…sir…sir”, I stammered as I tried to call his attention. He turned back abruptly, “What is it!”, his voice loud and scary. The little courage I had to call his attention flew out of the window, even though I needed to ask him where we were headed. “The… the instruction was to meet under… under the o… oak tree sir”. “This is why I don't like to work with newbies”, he lamented. “Just come with me and quit the stupid questions!”, he shouted at me, I wondered if he ever talked in a calm tone. I hastened my footsteps to catch up with the margin between us, I looked around in the hope that Anthony would keep with his promise. We walked for a few minutes in the bush, there were footstep trails everywhere we passed which meant only one thing, it was a regular path. I followed him quietly this time ar
ANNAI walked faster, I didn't see any reason why I shouldn't hasten my steps. I do not know anybody here and the voice doesn't seem to sound like Anthony’s. “Hey!”, I heard again, this time around, my heart skipped two beats and I stopped to look behind me. Behind the blonde lady I saw in the exchange room earlier was a man who seemed to be in his thirties. He stood at about 5’7 feet, broad shoulders and toned arms bulging out of the tight T-shirt he wore which signified he worked out regularly. He approached me, and the more he got nearer, the more I was able to catch on his looks. He has a strong jawline and a fair skin tone that harboured his full beard and moustache. Each stamp of his foot on the grass was like a war between his boots and the poor grass that bent beneath his steps. “Do you not hear been called?”, he questioned, maintaining a straight face while the blonde lady walked up to us. “I.. I… I didn't hear my…my name”, words almost failed me as I replied. He mimick
ANNAMy eyes sprung open, only then did I realize it was a dream. Although the chances of this dream coming to pass are high. I yawned as I rolled over to the edge of the bed and I picked up my phone, I had gotten a message that gave me clarity that my nightmare would soon come to pass. The message was from the loan sharks my mother had borrowed money from, a threatening message at that, the content of the message contained things they would do to me if I didn't meet the deadline. I dropped my phone, cupped my face in my hands and I let out a loud sigh. What did I ever do to be birthed to someone like my mother? I have always felt out of place and unlucky ever since I was born. My father worked as a security guard, he lived his life as best as he could, although he had his faults. He sometimes came home drunk or ran into debts sometimes, only later did I realise it was to keep up with the mounting bills. He died in a motorbike hit-and-run accident, an autopsy proved he was drunk
DANIELI returned the picture frame to the drawer, locked it in and reached out for my suit blazer. I sent a quick text to Anthony to get the car ready outside, I haven't been to work in a week now, nothing beats appearing out of the blue to your workers once in a while. I built Matt's investments from sweat, I wouldn't allow any worker to mismanage it for me. According to Anthony, the workers nicknamed me Cold Matt, I do agree and I don't find it offensive either. I went downstairs, and my chef, Ray made pancakes for breakfast. I took the one with syrup toppings, ate half and walked out. I checked my Hublot wristwatch as Anthony drove inside the company, it's a few minutes past 8 a.m. Immediately I entered the building, I noticed my employees started running helter-skelter. I had always been seen in the light of a dreadful boss, I come off as an arrogant man because I sack workers for the slightest mistakes, I wouldn't be where I am if I made mistakes constantly. I walked towards
ANNATears welled up in my eyes immediately, my hands shook uncontrollably from fear. I put my phone in my bag, wiped my face and hastened my steps towards the bus stop. I had just two weeks to come up with fifty thousand dollars, I felt devastated. I opened the door to my house with full alertness in case I was being traced to where I lived, I locked the door behind me immediately after I entered. I took a sit, unlocked my phone and searched for who I could call for help, the only contact that stared at me was Cassie's. I couldn't bring myself to call her to lend me money, after all, it wasn't like the regular two hundred dollars she would lend me. I met Cassie in high school, she was transferred because her parents relocated to our town, Aurora. We clicked pretty well and we have been friends, she often came through for me whenever I needed help. I was able to get my current job through her, I could say she was the only person who truly cared about me and I couldn't ruin everythin
ANNAI repeated after her, "Sixty thousand dollars?" Perhaps I didn't hear her right, and she confirmed it to me again. "You will be given half payment upfront and it will be completed when you carry it out successfully", Pamela added. I needed time to think about the offer which she accepted and left. I sat on the bed, folded my legs and gave the offer a deep thought. I'd be able to pay off the loan sharks and still have more than enough. Yes, this was the only way I could pay the debt and settle other important bills. At exactly 8 a.m. the next day, I called Pamela to let her know I would do what she asked, I felt the excitement in her voice while I hung up. I felt like a huge burden was about to be lifted from my shoulders. As the day got nearer, I started meeting with Pamela and Daisy more often for the preparation. The plan was to wear two-inch heels to match Daisy's height and to have my hair styled exactly as hers.I also trained my voice and walking steps to fit into Daisy
ANNAI took a step back, I tried to think of what to say while twisting my fingers. It didn't stop him from getting closer to me and before I could say, Jack, he removed the veil and tossed it on the floor. He lifted my face and asked, "Who the hell are you?"I went mute and shaky, Daisy didn't prepare me for this stage. Daniel had a terrifying look on his face which made my mouth dry up immediately. "Answer me!" he yelled at me. I lost my composure and I blurted out the words without giving it a thought, "Who are you and why are you here?" I yelled back at him but he didn't move, he kept the furious face. Without hesitation, "I am betrothed to someone who I assume is not you, you wouldn't be asking me such a question of it were you" I added. He looked at me and laughed wickedly, "You're trying to play smart, I'm not dumb little miss", he grabbed me by the arm. "I think we both got the wrong partners, we can't keep going back and forth. Let's annul this mismatch tomorrow" I fire