Chapter 61: Chapter 61

Annabelle's POV

The next morning Stefan just told me to be ready in the evening. We would be going to his parent's house for dinner and announcing our wedding plans there as well. After he and Arielle left, I walked to my dance institute. I actually wasn't sure whether I would continue here or take a break and then start with my own academy. I just wanted to discuss it with Michael. Hopefully, he will be able to talk to me normally this time. After all, he couldn't hold a grudge against me forever!

I walked over and greeted Cassandra as she sat at her usual place with a smile on her lips.

"Hey! Are you coming over to dinner tonight at mom and dad's house?" asked Cassandra excitedly.

"Yeah, Stefan just told me. Are you all invited?" I asked her. She nodded.

"I'm not sure about Azura," she told me. Well! I knew that Adrian and Azura weren't together and therefore I wasn't expecting her at all. "So is it something special?" she asked, wiggling her eyebrows. I grinned. I wasn't giving away anything now.

"You'll see," I said. "By the way, on a serious note, is Michael in?" I asked her. She nodded.

"He's not in a good mood. I'd avoid him if I were you," she said with wide eyes.

"Unfortunately, I can't. I might resign. So I'll just have a word with him about my notice period," I informed her. Cassandra looked shocked.

"Why do you want to resign?" she asked with surprise.

I smiled at her. "I'll tell you later," I said, walking away.

"Hey, Anna! Wait, are you pregnant?" she asked all of a sudden. I rolled my eyes at her.

"No, Are you crazy?" I asked and walked inside to see Michael. I needed to talk to him and didn't particularly care about his mood. I went up to his room and knocked. Hearing him distinctly grumble, "Come in," I went inside. He looked surprised to see me.

"What brings you here, Anna?" asked Michael, looking at me with a scowl on his face. I didn't particularly like his attitude. He just couldn't bear a grudge against me for what happened. I had never encouraged him in any way. His attitude strengthened my decision to resign from Happy Feet. I couldn't work with him under such circumstances.

"I want to resign, sir. Please inform me of the procedure. Do I have to serve a notice period?" I asked him in a professional tone. Michael looked a little taken aback by her words. Maybe he didn't expect her to take this step. He scowled all the more.

"Why this sudden decision? Is your boyfriend creating problems?" he asked in a displeased tone.

"No, my fiancé isn't creating any problems. I have my own academy in New Jersey. I'm shifting it to New York after my wedding," I just told him bluntly. His face fell for a moment but he soon got over it.

"Mail me your resignation right away and leave. You won't need to serve any notice period. I shall settle your dues immediately," said Michael, dismissing me and going back to his laptop to work. I thanked my lucky stars that I didn't need to serve any notice period. I just couldn't stand Michael's attitude any longer. I went to the staff room and sat down at one of the spare computers to type in my resignation. The sooner I completed it the better. Harry walked in and was surprised to see me. I informed him about my resignation. He wasn't happy but given the circumstances, he couldn't say much but wished me luck.

"I might land up at your institute soon for a job. Don't be surprised to see me," he laughed.

"I can't afford your salary, Harry," I told him truthfully.

"I'll work for you for free provided you make me your partner," offered Harry.

"I'll think about it and get back to you if you're serious, that is," I said.

"I'm dead serious. Call me if you're interested. I can invest time, hard work as well as money," he offered. I nodded since Harry was really good and I needed someone like him to handle my institute.

I emailed my resignation and left the institute with a happy heart. Now I was free to do my 9qn thing, pursue my own dreams. By evening, I was in brighter spirits since Stefan and I were looking forward to announcing our wedding plans to the family. I wore an emerald, full-sleeved velvet dress while Arielle matched my outfit with a dress of the same color. Stefan drove us to his parent's house.

"Wow! Mother and daughter are matching perfectly!" said Cassandra. I grinned happily and so did Arielle.

"You two are looking so adorable together!" Exclaimed mom, hugging us. Gran was already there, having gone there in the morning with nurse Ellie.

"Yes, absolutely. You two cheeky things! You could have told me, I too would have worn green," she complained. Everyone chuckled.

Later when everyone had arrived, they sat down to dinner. "Gran, mom, dad, everyone, Annabelle, and I have an announcement to make," said Stefan. Everyone at the table turned towards him. "We both have decided to get married in a month's time," said Stefan.

"At last! I was waiting for your wedding announcement," said Audrey, clasping her hands together with happiness.

"I know. He's dragging it. If I were you, I would have got married to Anna and produced children by now," said gran, making me choke on my spit. Cassandra nudged me and I blushed to the roots of my hair.

"Then thank God that I am me," said Stefan, making everyone smile.

"You're slow as a snail, Stefan," said gran.

"It's better to take time and be sure about what you want in life," said Stefan's dad.

"I know that son. I'm just kidding. So where do you want your wedding to be held?" asked gran curiously.

"At one of our hotels nearby," said Stefan with a shrug. I gaped at him. At one of his hotels nearby? What did that mean? He told me that he would fulfill my dream of having my wedding on the shores of a lake. Did he forget? I felt a little disappointed but I didn't object.

"That's easy. Just choose the venue and ask them to make the preparations," said dad.

"First talk to the officiant and choose a date," said gran.

"Have you applied for your wedding license?" asked dad. Stefan nodded. The next few hours that we were there, they all discussed different city venues and I felt more and more disappointed.

On our way back, I couldn't help but ask Stefan. "Are we having our wedding at one of your hotels here?" I asked him. Stefan nodded.

"Yes, trust me. You'll love it here. Let this be a surprise," he told me. I waited for him to disclose more but he didn't. For the next few days, I could hear him talk to the hotel which he had finalized but I just didn't catch on to the name. I called Cassandra to ask if she knew but she had no idea it seemed. Even Julian and Adrian had no idea. When I asked mom and gran, they just shrugged.

"It's one of our hotels around New York," said mom. I was disappointed not to have my dream wedding but at least I was getting to marry Stefan. That was the most important thing. Right?