Chapter 61 Plans in Motion

Anna and John spent the next few weeks works working to rebuild the trust that was damaged between them. John was doing everything in his power to show her that he was ready to make a change but something held Anna back form really moving past it. She knew it was her own hang-ups, but something inside her kept shouting at her to be careful.
“I am so screwed up.” She thought to herself as she got ready to leave John's office. She put the paperwork on his desk and turned to leave, bumping right into John.
“Hey beautiful, just in time to go home with me.”
“I would but I have some things to finish. I have to get the proposal done for the Bennington.”
“Any chance I can convince you to play hooky?
“No, the boss is such a slave driver.”
John smiled and pulled her closer.“ So I’m a slave driver?”
“Who said you were the boss, Stella’s the boss.”
John put his hand to his chest as if wounded. “I thought I was in charge.”
“It’s something women let men believe.”
“You could be in charge any time you want.” He growled as he wiggled his eyebrows at her.
Anna smiled as she felt something spark inside her that had been sleepy and dormant for weeks. The idea of being in charge, getting to demand whatever she wanted to sent chills down her spine. The image of him on his knees in front of her made her sweat.
She dug her hands into his hair and gently pulled is head back, “Go home and wait for me in our room, be ready for me.”
“I’m always ready for you.” He growled as his sensual mouth spread in a smile. Playful Anna felt like maybe they were making some progress. He hadn’t seen this side of her in weeks. He leaned in and tried to kiss her but she pulled on his hair and kept him back. John groaned and tried to grab her hips but she danced away wagging a finger.
“I’m in charge remember?” She said as she swished her hips as she moved to the door. “Be a good boy and listen to the boss.”
“I’ll show you who's boss,” he said with a deep growl, his eyes full of hunger.
Anna laughed and moved out the door but her voice drifted back calling “be ready for me.”
John had never been so excited at being told what to do.
***
John pulled the door shut to the bathroom and placed the rose on the bed imagining running it over her curves as her breath caught in her throat. He wiped his hands on his cotton sleep pants and looked at the clock wondering where she was.
The doorbell rang and John smiled, wondering if this was part of the game Anna wanted to play. “What kept you so long, I was worried.”
“I didn’t know you cared that much,” Isabel said as she pushed past him and walked into the living room like she owned the place.
John stared open-mouthed as she sauntered over to the couch and took a seat. Her long legs crossed showed an indecent amount of skin and her top was low cut and the whole tops of her breasts were clearly revealed.
“Well don’t just stand there John, come on into the Livingroom.”
“I can’t believe you would think it was okay to show up at our house after what you did.”
Isabel’s mouth pursed in a line of displeasure before briefly before smoothing back out. She might not have realized that her face gave her away but John saw the woman hiding inside and he wanted her gone. “I just wanted to talk to you and Anna, try to make amends for what I did.”
“Anna’s not here,” John said walking into the living room and grabbing some whiskey out of the cabinet and pouring himself a drink, “and I’m sure she has no desire to talk to you.”
“I know I made mistakes but I am the only family she really has left that will talk to her, family has to stick together.”
“Not when they are cold backstabbing bitches like you.” He said taking a big sip.
“That’s harsh, don’t tell me your mom and sister never pushed the line, and you love them. They could be considered the same, by some people.”
“By most people,” John said with a growl.
“Still not talking to them either, it seems like since you and Anna made up that you have been alienating everyone, I wonder why that is?”
“I’m seeing people clearly for the first time in ages.”
“That’s too bad John, all I want to do is make up for what I’ve done, why you won’t even pour me a drink, or sit down with me. It’s like you’re afraid I’m going to bite.”
John grunted in disgust but he poured her a little whiskey and brought it over setting it down beside her.
She picked it up and took a deep sip. “That is very nice, see this isn’t so bad is it?”
“You’ll notice that I didn’t give you much, I want you gone,” John said as he put his half-full glass down on the table and glared at her.
Isabel’s face crumpled and she set her drink down spilling half of it on the table. John swore and went to get a towel from the connecting bathroom. Isabel quietly slipped something into his whiskey. She shook the glass and put it back before he came back in, trying to look upset.
“Da*&it, you always cause chaos wherever you go! Drink the whiskey and get out of my house.” John said with a groan of frustration as he threw the dirty towel on the coffee table and chugged the remainder of his whiskey.
Isabel pretended to cry but just long enough to hear the sound of John’s glass hitting the carpet. His eyes were dazed and he was barely able to keep them open. Isabel placed the call and then threw her phone on her purse and took John's hand.
She helped him up the stairs as he moaned Anna’s name.