Chapter 15: Chapter 15



Annabelle's POV

I tugged in a deep breath as I walked deeper into the room. As I passed the standing mirror by the wall, I caught a glimpse of myself. The lady that stared back looked different with her puffy lips and mangled hair.

Don't look at me like that! I said to my reflection, reprimanding it for putting us in such a dilemma. I walked past it into the shower and sighed as the blasted cold water sent a shiver through my body.

Damn! I was really in a nut.

After the extremely cold shower, which should have helped me loosen up but surprisingly didn't, I moulded the hotel with large white towels around my body and head.

Sighing, I walked to my bed stand and applied some moisturizer on my skin. I didn't bother to change as I pulled down on the bed. The bed felt way more soft and comforting today and I had a sneaky suspicion it was because of the exhaustion and frustration I felt. I didn't want to think about why I was feeling those emotions at the moment because I already knew.

A job was a job. Even if it meant lying to everyone I knew. It's still a job.

I picked up my laptop, set it comfortably between my legs and started a conference call with the gang. While the call was connecting I stood up and went to the fridge, if I was going to endure those crazy girls while telling them the tale about my day, I would need a drink. A strong one.

I got out the champagne from the mini-fridge, placed it on the side stool and poured myself a glass. Just as I sat back on the bed the call connected. Just in time. The faces of my best friends came up.

"Anna!!" Scream Izzy. She was the craziest of our trio. "Izzy!" I replied with faked excitement.

"Don't be like that baby," Izzy said, popping her lips like a child when she caught the fake expression on my face.

"Like what?" I replied, making sure to throw in a grin for good measure as I took the wine glass to my lips.

"Aren't you happy to see me?" She asked, grinning at me like a moron. Silly girl.

"Of course I am! What would make you think otherwise?" I asked with a mocking smile.

"Rita? Do you want to help me out here?" I said to our third and final trio.

She was the level headed one among us. The type to sit and observe the drama. But that didn't mean she wasn't crazy in her own little way.

"What do you want me to say, Anna? You know how Izzy gets. Moreover, she was just excited to see---"

"Yeah I know, I know mum," I interrupted, "You never pick a side which is quite frustrating if I might add," I said, sending a half-smile her way.

"She's right Anna, I have missed you. You just left us in Lagos and went to go have fun in Abuja!" Izzy chipped in that high pitched tone of hers.

She just had to get the last word. She was so competitive, and truthfully I loved the competition. Another reason we got along so well.

"Oh, now you are supporting Rita because it sounds like she is on your side huh?" I asked, raising an eyebrow knowingly.

"Oh, how dare you!" Izzy shrieked jokingly. "If I were to be there right now, I would have strangled you with your pillow. Rita has a mind of her--"

"Hmm hmm hmm, hello girls, I am right here," Rita announced, interrupting our banter by clearing her throat.

Then she continued, "Anna, just as Izzy said, I have a mind of my own and Izzy, don't think I don't know what you are doing." She said sternly, pointing her fingers at us.

"Now can we end the show and talk about how we've been? especially you Anna, what's up with you? How are you celebrating the victory of your case?" Rita asked.

"Yes. Tell us all the juicy details," Izzy chipped in sarcastically, "Have you gotten laid yet?"

"Oh, Lord! Izzy! Just shut up for a minute!" Rita yelled, coming to my rescue.

"What did I do?" Izzy moaned.

"Everything!!" I and Rita cried out at the same time. Then we all busted out in laughter simultaneously.

"I met a guy" I blurted out before the laughter could subside. There was a momentarily pause, we were all dead silent for a minute. Then I went on to add,

"We kissed," then muttered, "In the elevator."

"What?" Both Izzy and Rita screamed. The next second they were both speaking in rushed tunes and at the same time.

Izzy was like. "Oh my God, you bad girl! How good was it?"

And Rita was more like "Oh how could you kiss the guy in the elevator? You just met him."

"Okay stop!" I shouted, making sure my voice was loud enough to get their attention. "I don't know. It just happened, and I liked it."

"Yes! Yes! Yeeessssss!! You liked it! Tell me, is he handsome?" Izzy asked with excitement lacing her voice.

"Yes, he is very handsome," I replied with a sly smile.

I always reserved the sly part of me for a selected few. And the gang was one of them. Truth be told. They kept me sane and human. It was one of the reasons why they would never know about me. Because I couldn't afford to lose them now.

"Oh yes. I knew it!" Izzy moaned loudly, directing her next line of gibberish to Rita.

"I told you she was going to get some!" Izzy exclaimed as pure excitement coated her face. Turning to me, she asked, "Did you invite him in?"

When I didn't answer immediately, she screamed, "What! Don't tell me you didn't invite him in. What's wrong with you girl?"

"Izzy give her a break because she did the right thing. She just met the guy for god sake," Rita said, yet again coming to my rescue, then continued, "What did you do after the kiss in the elevator?"

"I ran into my room, and shut the door on his face," I replied slowly.

"What!" Izzy shouted. It felt like she was about to pick a cane and spank me for being naughty.

"What was I supposed to do?" I implored, looking at Rita for help. But before she could say jack Izzy took over.

"Well, you could have started by inviting him in! How on earth did I become friends with you?" Izzy asked as she squeezed her pillow like she was about to destroy it. She could be extreme sometimes but I loved the way she looked out for my well being. Her anger was for my good apparently.

"Calm down Izzy, you need to understand that she was confused at that moment," Rita said calmly.

She always had a way with words. It was another reason we called her mum because she was always making peace.

Settling her eyes on me she asked, "It was too much for you right?"

"Yes, it was. It was quite intense. The guy is a good kisser."

Rita affected people. She had this motherly nature to her that made people open up completely. It was a gift, and it got me every time.

"Not enough to show them the true you." My mind whispered. I slammed the thought away.

"Oh, how convenient for you that you got confused," Izzy said, using her fingers to make quoting signs in the air. "We have to fix this, you have to fix this Anna. What are we gonna do?"

"Oh don't blame it on me." I fired back. "You weren't in my shoes, how dare you-"

"Calm down, caaaaaaaalm down," Rita coaxed, stressing the words to get our attention. She succeeded. "You guys have to stop fighting like kids, I've got a solution." Focusing on me she said, "You'll have to go apologise to him, with a bottle of wine, as a peace offering."

"What?" I exclaimed and, at the same time Izzy screamed "Yes!"

"Oh no, no way, I am not gonna do it!"

This wasn't a problem. I had to put on a good show for them. This was my plan after all.

"Yes, you are." They both answered.

"You'll do it if you wanna remain a part of the Bella family," Izzy said.

"Isn't that too extreme?" I asked, raising my left eyebrow and directing my question to Rita.

"Maybe," Rita said, "But it's for assurance that you'll do it and do it right now." She said with a smirk.

"When did you become so evil, mum?" I asked her, marvelled that she was in with this."

"I am a quick study baby. When you have two evil besties you are trying to keep in check, you tend to pick up something along the way," Rita replied coyly, playing with her nails in the process.

"Oh, Rita. You've got me turned on right now. You sound just like me." Izzy confessed, sounding impressed. To be honest, I was too.

They thought they had me in a corner when it was the other way around. I really felt bad for the way I was using them. If they knew even half of what I was, they'd do more than flee.

"This isn't fair. I'll get you both for this," I vouched.

"So, are you gonna do it?" Rita asked.

"You guys didn't play fair. I don't like being cornered." I replied.

"No one does and life isn't fair, baby. You are the professional. You taught me that," Rita said, a smile playing on her lips. "Moreover, what you are doing is simple. You are only going to apologize, nothing more."

"But why do I have to?" I implored, lips putted. They had no idea they were cementing my plans for me.

"Baby doesn't be a fish. You are doing this because we don't want you spoiling any chance you get at happiness. Do what I said. Go apologies. Look and smell good while you are at it."

"Yeah, that's right! You are to do that along with crazy, mind-blowing lovemaking. Don't forget the crazy lovemaking it's important," Izzy fused, then adds, "Now get up, put some sexy clothes on and go seduce Mr handsome."

She sent me an encouraging wink.

"Call us when it's done. Love you," Rita chipped, rolling her eyes at Izzy statement.

"Yeah love you too babe, but show more love to handsome tonight," Izzy said with a wink again.

"Oh get out of my face Izzy. Love you both. Talk to you when the deed is done."

I ended the call as the sound of our laughter faded.

Getting out of bed I went to my wardrobe. Picked out a simple blue dress and blow-dried my hair. Then I applied a little makeup and picked a chilled bottle of champagne. Looking at myself in the mirror I smiled. I looked irresistible.

"Perfect," I murmured.

Taking one last look at myself, I stepped out of my room and was about to move towards his door when a figure caught my eyes. Standing in the corridor was a girl dressed in an outfit that was nothing close to appropriate. She was talking to Charles in a way that seemed intimate. Like she was trying to seduce him. I stepped back into my room just a little so I could go unnoticed. I looked a little closer and discovered I recognized the girl. It was the waitress that served my bill at the restaurant earlier today.

How did she know Charles?

Was a second agent sent to finish the job in case I couldn't? Nah, that's not possible. Or was it?

Although I couldn't hear them, I decided to decipher what I could from my position. But before I could grab intelligible words, the girl grabbed Charles and began kissing him. At that point, I silently prayed he'd resist her. I couldn't bear failing on this mission. I just couldn't.

They stumbled inside Charles room and banged the door.

"I'm not going to scream. I'm not going to feel," I chanted in my head as I quietly stepped into my room and closed the door.

I felt a pang of disappointment in my heart. I had thought we had a connection. Regardless of my mission, I had felt something. Apparently, it was all a hoax.

I dropped the wine on the table. Not bothering to take off my clothes as I dropped myself on the bed, face down. After a minute I rolled over. I had to find a way to explain current events to my boss. And I had to find out who the fuck that waitress was.

--With that thought in mind, I dialled my father's number.