Chapter 17

Chapter 17
Anna stepped out of the cab and onto the bustling streets of downtown. She took a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves as she gazed up at the towering skyscraper that housed Smith & Co. She smoothed her skirt, grabbed her bag, and walked into the lobby.
As she rode the elevator to the 23rd floor, Anna rehearsed her introduction. She wanted to make a good impression on her first day as the Secretary to the boss.
The doors opened, and Anna was greeted by a friendly receptionist. "Hi, welcome to Smith & Co. I'm Karen. You must be Anna, the new Secretary to Mr. Johnson."
Anna smiled, extending her hand. "Nice to meet you, Karen. Yes, that's me."
Karen showed Anna to her workstation, a spacious office adjacent to Mr. Johnson's. Anna met her colleagues, exchanging pleasantries and receiving warm smiles.
As she settled at her desk, Mr. Johnson emerged from his office. "Ah, Anna, welcome. I trust you're getting settled?"
"Yes, Mr. Johnson," Anna replied. "Everyone's been very friendly."
Mr. Johnson nodded. "Good. Let's get down to business. I'll show you the ropes, and we'll go over your responsibilities."
Anna followed Mr. Johnson, taking in the sleek, modern decor of the office. He showed her the phone system, the filing cabinet, and the schedule for the day.
Throughout the day, Anna worked diligently, answering phones, scheduling appointments, and taking notes. She was a quick learner, and her corporate background served her well.
As the day drew to a close, Mr. Johnson stopped by Anna's desk. "You're doing great, Anna. Keep it up. We'll touch base tomorrow."
Anna smiled, feeling a sense of accomplishment. "Thank you, Mr. Johnson. I'm enjoying it so far."
As the day drew to a close, Alex stopped by Anna's desk. "You're doing great, Anna. Keep it up. And by the way, please don't call me Mr. Johnson when we're alone. Just call me Alex."
Anna looked hesitant, but Alex reassured her. "Don't worry, Anna. I want us to have a comfortable working relationship."
He shook her hand, and he felt a spark of electricity. She quickly pushed the thought aside and smiled politely.
"Thanks, Alex. I'll keep that in mind."
As Anna left the office at 5 pm, she quickly called Nanny to ask if Fernandez was home. Nanny replied that he wasn't, and Anna breathed a sigh of relief.
But as she waited by the roadside for a cab, she began to worry. The minutes ticked by, and it was already 5:20 pm. Fernandez would be home by 6 pm, and she still had no ride.
Just as she was thinking of a way to get home, a car stopped beside her, and the window rolled down. Anna's eyes widened as she saw Alex, her boss, smiling at her.
"Need a ride, Anna?" he asked, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
Anna opened her mouth to call him Mr. Johnson, but a glare from him shut her up. She quickly composed herself and called him Alex.
"Thanks, Alex. I'd appreciate it."
As she hopped into the car, Anna couldn't help but feel that Alex was trying to hit on her. But she pushed the thought aside, remembering that Fernandez would soon be home.
"Thanks again, Alex. I really appreciate it," she said, trying to sound casual.
Alex smiled and put the car in gear. "No problem, Anna. I'm happy to help."
As they drove through the streets, Anna couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. She wasn't sure if she had made a mistake by accepting Alex's offer. But she pushed the thought aside and focused on getting home before Fernandez arrived.
As they sat in the car, the drive was awkward. Anna checked the time at several intervals, her eyes flicking to her watch.
Alex noticed her glancing at the time and finally voiced out, "Is everything okay? You keep checking the time."
Anna hesitated, not wanting to reveal her true reason. "Nothing's wrong, Alex. I just...uh...have an appointment."
Alex raised an eyebrow but didn't press the issue.
As they approached the mansion, Anna saw it from afar and quickly told Alex, "You can drop me here, Alex. I'm not far from home. I'll just walk the rest of the way."
Alex looked at her curiously but nodded. "Okay, if you're sure."
Anna declined his offer to drive her further, politely insisting she would walk.
As she alighted from the car, Alex called out, "Anna, wait!"
Anna looked back at him, her heart racing.
"You're beautiful," Alex said, his eyes locked on hers.
Anna felt a surge of awkwardness but managed a polite smile. "Thanks, Alex."
Alex smiled back and drove off, leaving Anna feeling uneasy.
She walked the remaining distance to the mansion, her mind racing with thoughts of Alex's comment. She pushed the thought aside and focused on getting inside before Fernandez arrived.
As she entered the mansion, Anna felt a sense of relief wash over her. She had made it home before Fernandez. But the encounter with Alex lingered in her mind, leaving her feeling unsettled.
As Anna got home, she greeted Nanny warmly. "Hi, Nanny! How was your day?"
Nanny smiled and replied, "It was good, dear. But you need to go change your dress. You look like you've been working all day."
Anna laughed and headed upstairs to change. When she came back downstairs, she sat beside Nanny in the living room.
Nanny asked her, "So, how was your first day at work, dear?"
Anna was about to reply when Fernandez walked in, his eyes scanning the room suspiciously. "What's going on here?" he asked gruffly.
Nanny replied, "I was just asking Anna about her day, dear."
Fernandez's eyes narrowed. "Why are you asking her about her day? She's been at home with you all day, hasn't she?"
Anna's heart skipped a beat as she tried to think of an excuse. But before she could say anything, Nanny intervened.
"Actually, Anna decided to explore the garden today, so I was just asking her about her day."
Anna smiled awkwardly and replied, "Yes, that's right."
Nanny got up and excused herself, leaving Anna alone with Fernandez.
Fernandez walked closer to her, his eyes scrutinizing her face. "You know, Anna, I've noticed something different about you today."
Anna's heart raced as she wondered what he had discovered. "What's that?" she asked hesitantly.
Fernandez leaned in closer, his voice low. "You've changed your perfume, haven't you?"
Anna's mind went blank as she tried to think of a response. Had Alex's scent rubbed off on her? She hadn't even thought of that!