Chapter 32

**Bella-Rose POV**

"You can't fire me. I'm your granddaughter and heir to this", I pointed out to the bakery.

"I just did", nana said with a cool voice. Hell, hath no fury like a woman scorned.

"This is illegal, I tell you. I can file a complaint", I amplified the magnitude of her decision.

"Then I will make it legal. You are fired, officially. You are no longer an employee of Sweet Gum Tree. Now, go file away", nana embellished her statement.

"Fine. Take your chunk of meat. But this is not the end of it. You are going to hear from me. I won't lie down and take it. And I will barge in with reinforcements", I quoted and made my grand exit by throwing my apron on the counter. Of course, it was ruined when I heard people's snickers and stumbled.

I cooled down rapidly once I started driving to my home. Reinforcements? What reinforcements? Where the hell can I bring them? If I'm not wrong mom is already stewing my next punishment. And dad is no better. He won't take my side. Not against nana. Scott...I scoffed at that ridiculous thought.

Since I found myself free of my obligations for the day, I decided to use it wisely and veered towards the hospital instead of home. I promised Agatha I will visit her anyway. What better way to use it than fulfilling a promise? I parked the car and was almost at the entrance when my incompetent brain sends me the signal-Wait! James-Agatha's...Huh? what is the relation between them? I never asked for it.

If by chance I got to meet the mail guy, how should I react? Shall I act nonchalant? Like it's no big deal guys flirt with me? This is tougher than the mail. God!! Uhh. One step at a time. I may not meet him. He might not be there waiting for me, clutching his heart...or shooting daggers.

I quickly entered the washroom on the ground floor and repaired my questionable makeup-mascara and lipstick. I checked my clothes for any stains, scowling at the normal printed tee and jeans I sported. He would assume I must be a teenager.

I should have changed before coming here. In fact, why don't I do just that? I hurriedly went back home, almost breaking traffic rules. Almost. Who are you calling desperate? You would know my pain when you are in my position. It's like feeling the thirst for some water after going on a five-mile run. That throat dryness thirst...parched lips look... scratchy throat...hoarse voice. Got my point?

I emptied my wardrobe in search of the perfect dress. Thumb rule- never look like you are trying to impress. It must look natural. Though, a good hour goes into achieving that look. I finally laid my hands on a summer dress with a flower pattern. It's simple, hugs my figure and doesn't scream desperate. The look I'm going for.
I applied the make up a little more than what I usually do, combed and put back my hair in the ponytail, and gallivanted to the hospital.

"Hi, can I visit aunt Agatha, the woman in room 301?", I asked the floor nurse who appeared to be new as I scanned the corridors for any potential male specimens looking towards the elevator.

"Room 301? Let me check...oh, she has been discharged", the nurse replied looking at some papers.

"Discharged? How could she be discharged? She had the surgery just yesterday. Is it even allowed?", I asked digesting the fact that I won't be seeing James after all. Not now...most possibly never. The words that the old guy said in this hospital rang in my mind-"Boys like that help girls only for one thing. You better remember next time before you trust someone else".

"Yes. If the doctor is with them and the patient is handled with the utmost care", the nurse patiently replied.

I quickly thanked the nurse and hightailed to my car. I never even got to talk to Agatha. Really talk. Not just me blabbering to her. How could he take her away? I thought we were talking. Communicating. He should have told me. For the sake of courtesy. I never got to meet... him. He should have...now there is my choice. It seems I'm choosing option 2 after all.

I mentally said goodbye to James Whatever-his-last-name is with a strange pang in my heart. We could have been more, but he chose to be less.

I veered my car to the old age home. When you are let down only an admirer can rejuvenate you. I made my entry in the book the admin gave me and went into the main hall.

It was a repeat of last time. Most people here do the same routines yet do not get bored. Age really brings wisdom, I guess. I made a beeline to Mathew just as Old Pen blindsided me with her sneak attack.

"Look at you, all decked up. What happened? Did someone hit you to the curb? Stood you up?", Old Pen shouted, bringing everyone's attention to me. Score 1 to Old Pen.

I mentally groaned. Why me? Twice a day. It's like I'm carrying my very own spotlight.

"Old Pen! Not died yet?", I smiled sarcastically displaying all of my teeth to her. Score all.

A hush has fallen. The match is at an intense stage. There was tension in the air. The crowd is restless sensing the victory is at the grasp of their fingertips. All their bets are on Old Pen. Even Old Pen knows this.

At this point Penelope strikes with all her might, "I thought I lost my blanket. So, that's where it landed", Penelope said looking at my dress. My cute knee-length summer dress. A dress that took me 1 hour to find and perfect my looks. She has mastered her jibe.

A collective gasp can be heard from the crowd. Most of them are ensured they are looking at the winner. Calm descends like a colossus falling on my head. Trepidation skips along my spine. Enough is enough!

"I thought dinosaurs are extinct, yet here you are! Go and chomp somewhere else", I shoot back, breaking their hopes.

Just as Old Pen is about to launch into another match, the admin lady sauntered into the hall. The spectaculars groaned. Old Pen scowled. And I'm... I'm relieved. I don't think I could have taken much from her. She is one tough cookie.

"Mathew, I need to talk to you. Could you come out for some time?", I asked Mathew, grabbing at his arm.

"What happened sweetheart? Have my prayers been answered? Are you agreeing to my proposal?", Mathew ever the charmer launched.

"No...no, nothing like that. It's just...my nana fired me", I said looking at my sandals. Ashamed, I brought Mathew outside to tell him that, I said, "you know what? It's nothing important. Let's go inside".

"You wait right there, young lady. What's this about you getting fired?", Mathew enquired.

I told him my side of the story starting from how I got the mail to this afternoon where the nurse told me the news. Mathew listened patiently all the while and when I finished with my narration he said,

"Things happen for a reason. It's a good thing he took her away before he met her. Otherwise, I have to fight with him for your hand".

"Mathew! I'm serious"

"I'm also darling", Mathew said, making lovey eyes at me.

"Now I lost my job, Mathew. How could Nana do that? To her own granddaughter!", I said with frustration.

"Take me to her. Maybe I could talk her into not letting you go", Mathew said earnestly.

Since he paid his way into the old age home, there is no oppression to take him outside for a few hours.

We entered the bakery together making the jingling sound of the door. Nana turned from talking to someone when she heard us. What happened next left me stunned. I can picture it happening in front of my eyes in slow motion-

Nana batted her eyelashes in slow motion like a peahen once...twice. The air stilled. The noise dies down. Cupid who was wandering aimlessly in his diaper way up in the clouds came at jet speed to see the calamity. A hitch can be heard from Mathew. Nana's gasp is followed next. Angels sang in the background. Someone played the violin to match. If possible, there might have been flower petals too.

They both take one step towards each other. One step. Their mutual heartbeats beat faster than ever. Before Mathew's breath can shallow down, he bends on his knee and asks, "will you marry me beautiful?"

To my nana.

My poised nana.

My man-stealer nana.


A glass breaking can be heard in the background. And I... I watched all this happen with an open mouth. Suits me right, to bring a womanizer and a man-eater in the same room.

There comes a day when you feel heartbreaking pain like this and it's all because of that Mail guy, James! I'm going to kill him.