Chapter 18

Chapter 18
Anna's heart skipped a beat as Fernandez asked if she had changed her perfume. She discreetly sniffed herself, mentally facepalming as she realized that Alex's scent might have rubbed off on her. But she maintained a poker face, not wanting to arouse Fernandez's suspicion.
"You're crazy, Fernandez," she said with a laugh. "I used my usual perfume today. Maybe the cologne is coming from you?"
Fernandez stared at her deeply, his eyes searching for any sign of deception. But Anna held her ground, her expression innocent.
Finally, Fernandez turned and walked away, heading to his room without a word. Anna breathed a sigh of relief, her heart still racing from the close call.
She quickly retreated to her room, locking the door behind her. She showered and changed, making sure to put on her usual cologne to avoid any further suspicion.
As she left her room, Anna felt a sense of unease. She knew she had to be more careful around Fernandez, who seemed to be watching her every move. But as she walked down the hallway, she couldn't shake off the feeling that Fernandez knew more than he was letting on.
Nanny shooed the servants away, insisting on cooking dinner herself with Anna's help. They worked together in the cozy kitchen, the aroma of roasting chicken and sautéed vegetables filling the air. Nanny expertly seasoned the chicken with thyme and rosemary, while Anna chopped the vegetables with precision.
As they brought the food to the dining table, Nanny proudly displayed their handiwork. The roasted chicken glistened golden brown, surrounded by steaming vegetables and fluffy mashed potatoes.
Fernandez raised an eyebrow as he took his seat. "Why stress yourself, Nanny? The servants can cook."
Nanny's eyes sparkled with defiance. "Just because I'm old doesn't mean I've forgotten my duties. I'm the one who always cooked for you and took care of you when you were young. It's been too long since I've cooked for you, and I didn't do it alone - Anna helped me."
Fernandez muttered under his breath, "I only hope the food is edible."
Anna's eyes narrowed as she heard his comment. She glared at him, her expression stern.
Nanny intervened, her voice firm. "Enough, Fernandez! Eat and stop behaving like a kid. This food is made with love, and you'll appreciate it."
Fernandez sighed and began to eat, his expression softening as he tasted the delicious food. Anna smiled, satisfied, as Nanny beamed with pride.
"See, Fernandez? I told you it would be good," Nanny said, her eyes twinkling.
Fernandez nodded, his mouth full, as Anna and Nanny exchanged a warm smile. The tension in the room dissipated, replaced by the warmth and love that filled the meal.
As they finished the meal and began to retire for the night, Anna's phone beeped, breaking the silence. Fernandez's gaze snapped to her, his eyes narrowing curiously.
"Who could that be?" he thought to himself. "She doesn't have anyone. I warned her father not to call her again, and that cheating ex-boyfriend and best friend of hers can't message her either."
Anna checked her phone, her eyes widening as she gasped suddenly. It was a message from an unknown number - Alex, asking her how her appointment went.
Fernandez walked closer to her, his eyes fixed on her phone. "Who messaged you, Anna?" he asked, his voice low and husky.
Anna glared at him, her expression fiery. "Why are you intruding into my privacy, Fernandez? You almost killed me when I barged into your study room. It's just a spam message, so get lost!"
Fernandez nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. "I hope you're not having an affair, Anna," he said, his voice dripping with skepticism.
Anna's face reddened with offense. "Do you think I'm foolish like you? I'm not having an affair, so mind your own business!"
She turned and walked angrily to her room, leaving Fernandez standing alone in the hallway.
Fernandez clicked his tongue, his eyes narrowing. "She's behaving weird. She's probably hiding something."
As he turned to leave, he couldn't shake off the feeling that Anna was keeping secrets from him. Little did he know, Anna's heart was racing with confusion, her mind still reeling from Alex's message.
Anna stormed into her room, locking the door behind her. She couldn't trust Fernandez to knock before barging in. She settled onto her bed, unlocking her phone to respond to Alex's message.
"It went well," she typed, her fingers flying across the screen. "And to clear up any misunderstandings, I have someone I love. Please leave me alone."
Alex's response came quickly. "Oh" was all he said, followed by a pause. Then, "Having feelings for you is my choice, and you don't have to worry about it. I'll try my best to chase you worthily. You can choose between me and the person you love."
Anna's eyes widened as she read the message. She didn't know what to say, so she decided not to reply at all. She put her phone on silent mode and lay down on her bed, trying to sleep.
As she drifted off, she couldn't shake off the feeling that her life was getting more complicated by the minute. Fernandez's suspicious behavior, Alex's unexpected confession...she didn't know what to make of it all. But for now, she just wanted to sleep.