Chapter 48

Chapter 48
Fernandez sat in the opulent car, its soft leather seats cradling him in comfort, but his mind was a maelstrom of emotions.
The news he had just received at the hospital still swirled in his head like a vortex, refusing to settle. Mrs. Anderson, Anna's mother, had last-stage cancer, and yet Anna seemed completely unconcerned, her beautiful face a mask of indifference. Could she really be that heartless, that cruel?
He pulled out his phone from his chest pocket, its sleek surface glinting in the soft light of the car, and dialed his personal assistant, Mr. Thompson's number. The phone rang once, twice, before Mr. Thompson's crisp, professional voice answered.
"Good morning, sir."
Fernandez's foot tapped impatiently on the floor of the car, his eyes fixed on some point outside the window, where the city skyline blurred into a haze of steel and concrete. "Yeah, morning Mr. Thompson. I want you to get me everything on Silvia Anderson within the hour." His voice was low, urgent, brooking no argument.
Mr. Thompson's tone was surprised, a hint of curiosity creeping into his voice. "Mrs. Anderson, sir? As in, Madam's mother?"
Fernandez's response was curt, his words clipped. "Yes. Get it done." He ended the call, his eyes still fixed on the window, his mind racing with questions, with doubts.
He began searching for a file in his suitcase, its supple leather creaking as he rummaged through it, but it was nowhere to be found. He sighed, remembering that he had left it on the table in his study room.
"Take me back to the mansion," he instructed the driver, his voice firm, commanding.
As they arrived at the mansion, Fernandez stepped out of the car and entered the living room, his eyes scanning the space for any sign of the file he had misplaced. But instead, he was met with a vision of loveliness Anna, her hair flying around her like a golden halo, her eyes shining with a soft light. She rushed towards him, her feet bare, her shirt open at the neck, revealing the hickey he had left there, a mark of his possession.
Fernandez's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with suspicion. This was not the Anna he knew, the one who would criticize him, who would fight him at every turn. This Anna was different, her eyes lit up with a smile, her face radiant with a newfound enthusiasm.
"What's up?" Fernandez asked, his voice low, his eyes locked on hers.
Anna stopped in front of him, her chest heaving with excitement. "This is the file you're looking for, right?" she asked, holding out the file.
Fernandez took the file from her, his eyes scanning its contents before returning to hers. "Yes, why did you have it?"
Anna's foot tapped impatiently on the floor, her eyes darting to the clock on the wall. Fernandez noticed this, his suspicion growing.
"I saw it when I was cleaning the study room," Anna replied, her voice breathless. "I decided to bring it to you."
Fernandez's eyes widened in surprise. "Why were you cleaning the study room? What are the servants for?"
Anna's smile faltered for a moment before she recovered. "I just wanted to...make amends. I realized I was foolish not to listen to you, so I decided to mend my ways."
Fernandez chuckled, his eyes locked on hers, his mind racing with possibilities. "Are you joking with me, Anna? You, mend your ways? You're up to something, aren't you? Tell me!"
Anna sighed, her shoulders slumping in defeat. "I'll do everything you want, just please release Reyna from house arrest."
Fernandez sat down on the sofa, his legs crossed, his eyes fixed on Anna with a piercing gaze. "So, that's it," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You never meant to mend your ways, you just wanted to do this for Reyna."
Anna glared at him, her arms crossed, her eyes flashing with anger. "Of course, Reyna is my friend. I can at least do this for her."
Fernandez nodded, a smug smile spreading across his face. "You still have the gut to blabber. I don't think you really want to save your friend." He stood up, his footsteps moving hurriedly towards the door.
Anna checked the time, her heart racing with anxiety. It was past eight o'clock, and Reyna's interview was at nine. She was the only one who could save her friend. She had to do this, even if it meant tolerating and accepting Fernandez's stupid demands. She rushed after him, her feet clicking on the floor.
Fernandez, the cunning man he was, smiled knowingly, his eyes glinting with triumph. "Stop, I promise to do anything you told me to do," Anna said, her voice breathless.
Fernandez turned around, his smug smile still plastered on his face. "And why should I believe you?" he asked, his voice dripping with skepticism.
Anna thought frantically, her mind racing with what could make him believe her. She knew she had to convince him, had to make him trust her. "I'll do anything," she repeated, her voice firm. "Just name it."
Fernandez raised an eyebrow, his eyes narrowing. "Anything?" he repeated, his voice low and husky.
Anna nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. "Yes, anything."
A thought suddenly crossed Anna's mind, and she smiled, a cunning glint in her eye. "I know you don't like me coming to the office, so why don't I stay home today?" she suggested, her voice sweet and innocent.
Fernandez nodded, a pleased smile spreading across his face. "Yes, I think that's a good idea. Then don't worry, I will ask them to release Reyna."
It was now Anna's turn to stare at him suspiciously, her eyes narrowing. She smiled cunningly, her voice dripping with skepticism. "And why should I believe you? Make a phone call to Mr. Thompson and ask him to release Reyna. Only then can I believe you."
Fernandez sighed, impressed despite himself. The girl Anna was really more clever than he thought. "Okay," he accepted, bringing out his phone to call Mr. Thompson.
"Hello, Mr. Thompson. Ask the guys at the Antonio's ancestral mansion to release Reyna," he instructed, his voice firm and commanding.
Mr. Thompson's reply was short and crisp. "Understood, sir!"
Anna breathed a sigh of relief, a smile spreading across her face. She had done it, she had saved Reyna. For now, she would play along with Fernandez's games, but she would be waiting for her chance to strike back.