CHAPTER NINE

　　It was the beginning of a new week. Annie was full of life and super excited. Spending the weekend with her friend Naomi had been the best idea.

　　Annie got to work earlier than usual. She had a full desk and needed to finish up before her boss arrived.

　　She was working on a file her boss needed for a business deal with a potential client when her phone rang. She picked it up without checking who the caller was.

　　” Hello”

　　“Good morning. Am I speaking with Miss Anna Gilbert?” a female voice said.

　　“This is Annie Gilbert” she corrected as she sighed. This wasn’t the first time someone referred to her as Anna.

　　“How may I help you?” she added

　　“I am Dr West’s Assistant and I’m calling on his behalf, your result is ready and the doctor will like to know if you can come down to the hospital to discuss things,” the voice said.

　　Annie frowned as she wondered what could be the issue. Knowing her boss, she knew she wouldn’t be able to rush down to the hospital.

　　“I don’t think I can make it to the hospital this morning. I am currently at work. What is the result about?” she asked wearily as she bit her lips. An act she does whenever she’s worried and nervous. “Can’t we discuss it over the phone?” she added

　　“I don’t think so, ma’am. It’s important that you are here” the voice said.

　　“Hmm, ok, I’ll be there at 4 pm. Is that fine with you?” Annie said

　　“Sure, I’ll book an appointment by 4 pm. Thank you for your time”

　　“Alright, I’ll be there,” Annie said and hung up.

　　Annie became tense all of a sudden. She wasn’t thinking straight at this point. She thought of calling Naomi so picked up her phone and dialled Naomi. On second thought she ended the call.

　　She must still be asleep, she thought.

　　She knew Naomi wasn’t an early bird and hated to be disturbed.

　　She sat down and tried to relax but it wasn’t working. She was scared to death. She wondered what could be so important that needed her attention. Was she dying? Different thoughts flooded her mind.

　　She jolted when the telephone rang. It was her boss. She gave a long sigh and left the office. Getting to his office she said a silent prayer. She wasn’t in the mood for his callous attitude.

　　“Sir, you called,” she said. She was still shaken from the call she had received earlier from the hospital.

　　“Of course I did,” he said burying his face in his laptop. “I need you to book a flight to LA this morning. I’ll be meeting with a client there to sign the contract. Also, get those documents I sent to you readily, I’ll be needing them now” he added as he lifted his head to look at her.

　　“You look sick, are you okay?” he asked feeling concerned. He had gotten so used to her and saw how good she was with her job.

　　“I’m fine sir” she answered looking surprised. She wasn’t expecting him to care.

　　“A’ight, go on then,” he said, waving her off with his hands. She left his office in a hurry and bumped into Esme on her way out.

　　“Just the woman I’ve been looking for!!” Esme exclaimed. She smiled and hugged her. Esme had been out of town for weeks. Damien had asked her to supervise one of the construction sites. He trusted her to deliver a good job.

　　“Esme!! When did you return? I’ve missed you so much. It’s been so boring here without you” Annie said. Truly she did miss her. Esme had become a friend, one she cared about.

　　“Aww, my darling. I’ve missed you too. We have a lot of catching up to do but right now I have to report to the Big Man. I’ll meet you after the closing of work today”. Esme said to her.

　　“Uhmmm, I have to be somewhere by 4 pm. It’s important” she said as she harkened back to the call earlier, “we can do that some other time. Probably tomorrow if you won’t be too busy” she added.

　　“Where are you going? A date huh? Tell me” Esme teased, Annie shook her head “c’mon, tell me” she pleaded.

　　“I have to be at the hospital. I’ve been having these crazy migraines so I wanna go check it out today”

　　“Do you want me to go with you?” Esme said feeling concerned for Annie. She knew Annie had been working herself out just to please Damien and she felt sorry for her

　　“Nah, it’s fine. I can go on my own” Annie said. She didn’t want to bother her about anything. “I have to get back to work now. I have a lot to do today. We’ll talk about this tomorrow I promise”.

　　“Alright, take care of yourself, babe, I’ll see you tomorrow then”. She said as she headed towards Damien’s office, and then she remembered.

　　“Oh that reminds me, how’s Angie? You told me she was due for surgery, how’s she now?” asked Esme.

　　“She is better now, she had the surgery on Saturday though she’s still at the hospital. Hopefully, she’ll be home soon” said Annie as she left for her office. She got to her desk. She couldn’t get her mind past the situation at hand. She braced herself up and continued with the day’s work. She quickly booked the flight as ordered by her boss and focused on the documents on her desk.

　　Checking the time, it was almost 4 pm, she grabbed her bag and hurriedly left the office. She wasn’t supposed to leave the office until her boss called but she couldn’t take the chance. Her health was more important.

　　I pray he forgets to call, she mumbled as she increased her pace and walked out of the building. Thankfully her boss had left for L.A and would be returning in two days. She hailed a cab as soon as she was out. She had given her car to Naomi, she needed it for something important.

　　“Golden hospital,” she said as she entered the cab.

　　Soon she got to the hospital and quickly rushed to the doctor’s office. She knocked and entered.

　　“Good evening doctor” she greeted

　　“Oh! Miss Gilbert,” Dr West said as he smiled a little. “How are you feeling today?’ he asked.

　　“Very well doctor,” Annie replied in a nervous tone. She bit her lips nervously as she stared curiously at the doctor waiting to hear what the result was.

　　Dr West looked at her sadly. He could tell she was tense and was trying to hide her nervousness and didn’t know how to break the news to her. Although he is a doctor and encounters many patients every day, still he isn't used to breaking bad news. He sighed as he adjusted his glass, he had to tell her anyway.

　　“Miss Gilbert, you have Fibromyalgia,” he said

　　“What do you mean?” Annie asked, looking frightened, she was shaking now. The news came as a shock to her. She felt her heart stop for a second, and her stomach twisted. She couldn’t comprehend what she had just heard. Suddenly her heartbeat increased as she was shocked, she wasn’t able to move.

　　“Wh-what do you mean doctor?” she stuttered as tears rolled down her eyes. “It’s not true, it’s just migraines nothing more. How can it be possible?” she said

　　“Stress, Miss Gilbert,” the doctor said “it’s obvious you’ve not been sleeping well for weeks now, physical stress, emotional stress and so on are not good for your health”.

　　Annie was crying now. She couldn’t hold her tears anymore; she knew he was right; she had been stressing herself at work just to please her boss now she was going to face the consequences.

　　“Is it curable?” she asked

　　“There’s currently no cure for fibromyalgia, but there are treatments to help relieve you and make the condition easier to live with. I’ll also recommend you go for cognitive behavioural therapy; it’ll help along with the medications” he said as he wrote something on a piece of paper.

　　“Get those drugs, make sure you take your medications and you’ll be fine. This is the therapist's number, do give him a call will you?” he added as he handed the piece of paper to her.

　　“Thank you, doctor,” she said as she collected the note from him. She left his office feeling a bit relaxed, at least she wasn’t going to die soon.

　　She looked at the note as she walked out of the office, she didn’t like the idea of meeting a therapist but if meeting one would make her feel better then she had no choice.

　　Annie had stopped by the hospital pharmacy to get the drugs prescribed by the doctor when she bumped into James, the former assistant to Damien. He looked pale and out of shape.

　　“Hi, uhmm…. John, right?” she said, trying to remember his name.

　　“It’s James Miss Gilbert” he corrected smiling at her

　　“James yea, I’m sorry”

　　“Don’t be” he cuts in “how has it been, I mean working for Damien?” he asked

　　“It’s been good, what are you doing here?” she asked

　　“Uhm, I came to see my Nana here. She’s been ill so I bought her flowers” he answered

　　“I’m sorry, how’s she now?” Annie asked as she turned to the counter “I’m really sorry you had to lose your job because of me” she apologized as she handed the note over to the attendant and in a few minutes, the drugs were given to her.

　　“Nah, it’s not your fault. I should have done my job better. It’s nice to meet you again” he said.

　　She smiled as she stared at his hand, and then she noticed the tattoo on his wrist.

　　“Same here, nice tattoo by the way. I have to be on my way now. See you around” she said as she left him.