CHAPTER 9

"You are doing a great job, Hannah." My boss commended it. I stopped at my workplace after Sophie and Daniel has gone.
"Thanks, Sir." Adrian, my boss was a few years older than me. He was tall and handsome, with soft pink lips. There was a reason every girl who comes across him, falls in love with him. It was his dashing personality and his humor.
This was the first time I got to see him since I started working. Every time I came in, he wasn't around.
I noticed a slim girl sitting in his office. She sat in such an uncomfortable manner that it made me wonder if she was okay. He extended his hand to me.
"I didn't know you were coming in today."
"Yes. I just stopped by to say hello to Rosie." I replied.
"Oh. She's very busy, but you can see her once she's done." He walked front a little before turning back. "Ah, we'll be going to my friend's house today. It's been so long since I last saw him."
"Sure." When he had gone in, I sat on a stool and admired the atmosphere. Seeing people go about their everyday lives was so beautiful.
No restrictions, no being told what to do and how to do it. I noticed a young boy singing with his cap on the floor where people dropped money in it. I got up from where I sat and dropped some money in his cap before returning to the restaurant.
"Hi, are you Rosie?" A young girl asked. She had her tiny hands on her waist and her feet tapped.
"No, dear," I replied calmly. "Rosie's inside."
"Give this to her." She handed me an envelope before taking one more look at me. "Don't open it. Just tell her that it's from the same guy."
"Same guy?"
"Yes. The rich one."
"Rich one?"
"Hey, silly, stop asking too many questions. Just give her the envelope." When she was done talking, she climbed on top of her bicycle and rode away.
Little children, what did they think of themselves? Their self-confidence was out of the ordinary. When I was their age, I never even got to talk to Lisa anyhow, despite being the same age. It was nice seeing courageous kids, at least it makes us rest assured that our children could face any kind of problem.
I watched the girl stop in front of a grey car. She put her head inside the car. I couldn't see who the person was. This wasn't the first time I saw this kind of letter. The last time I was here, I saw 3 envelopes in the kitchen. When I asked about it, she denied knowing anything about it. Who was this guy to her? Her weird personality irked me.
I moved a little bit to the right to see the person but before I could look, he rolled up his glass and drove off. The little girl turned and gave me a grin.
"Hannah," Rosie called out. She had her apron on and she reeked of fish. I closed my nose before waving at her. "So sorry." She took off the apron and washed her hands before spraying the perfume she keeps in her pocket.
"You done?"
"Yeah. Not like I'm not happy you are here but, why are you here?" She asked while arranging her hair.
"I felt so bored, I couldn't think of anywhere to go other than this place."
"But I'm done for the day."
"Let's go to your place."
"No!" She shouted. She had her head down the whole time and her eyes going side to side. "It's not like I don't want you to come, it's just, my parents don't like the idea of strangers coming to our house.
"What about my house?"
"Boss."
"Huh? Where is the boss?"
"Behind you." Adrian closed the door behind him and walked past Rosie and me. He was with the same girl I saw in his office. He had his hand on her waist this time.
"Ain't you coming?" He asked while opening the car.
"Behind you," I replied.
"Don't be silly. Get in the car."
"Let's just go with him or we will lose our jobs." Rosie pleaded.
"I have a bad feeling about this." When we got to the car, we entered and he drove off. Rosie and I sat at the back while the other girl sat in front with her legs on his lap. "Show off." I rolled my eyes.
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IN THE CAR
"Who did you say you are, again?" Adrian asked. I looked at Rosie before replying to him.
"Hannah."
"You don't have a last name?" How ridiculous. Who doesn't have a last name?
"Brown." I wasn't sure how he would react if I told him I was married so I told him my parents' name instead.
"Hannah Brown or Hannah Smith? I thought ladies answered their husband's name after marriage?"
Oh, so he already knew I was married. Why didn't he say anything earlier? Was that why he said Rosie and I should come along? I hope I don't lose my job now. I'm dead. Rosie was already chewing her nails. She wasn't very good at hiding her emotions. "It's fine. I got this." I assured her. "Sir,"
"Do you still have the file I told Pete to give you at the office?"
"Yes, boss," I answered calmly.
"Hand it over."
"Does this mean that you are firing me?" I asked.
"That's not for me to decide."
When we arrived at our destination, we alighted the car and walked to the house with Adrian leading the way.
"Anna, this house looks familiar." Rosie pulled me by my dress like a little kid would when he/she's begging for ice cream.
"Well, we can only know when we enter." I looked at my watch, it read 8:58 pm. I sighed. Liam and his family would be worried about my whereabouts. I had already made a mistake by not telling them where I was going and now this. I couldn't even say no to my boss.
"Kiddo." A deep raspy voice echoed from the room. It was the same voice I tried to get away from. Why was he here? How is it even possible that he knows every single person I meet? He brought his head a little higher, when he saw me, he smiled and opened the door wider for us to enter.
"Your wife?" Adrian asked.
"No. She's Hannah Brown. My wife is Hannah Smith."
I moved away from there and climbed upstairs. Liam's pictures were on every corner of the house. It was another house of his.
"Hi," one of the guys in the room greeted.
"Hi,"
"I'm Max. Sorry I didn't get to attend your wedding. Actually, I was out of town." Who was this gentle dude? This happened to be the first gentle friend I was meeting since we got married. "I'm Liam's half-brother."
"No one ever told me that," I replied sheepishly.
"It's fine. I am Mr. Smith's illegitimate son. I don't feel bad about anything. I'm glad I didn't grow up in that house, who knows, I would have been a pain in the ass as my older brother, Liam."
"Right? I don't see what ladies see in him. He's so full of himself."
"I know."
"Hey, bro." Liam hollered from behind. Was he trying to get me angry or what? Why was he everywhere?
"Hey, dude."
I rushed downstairs while they were discussing, and to the back of the house where the swimming pool was.
I stood there and admired the pool. I've always loved and imagined jumping into the pool but it was among the list of things I wasn't allowed to do.
"We meet again." Diana walked out of the dark. I had noticed her earlier when she was talking to someone.
"Oh, you are better now." I teased.
"Yeah. It's all thanks to you I got to spend some quality time with Liam. He compensated for your foolish mistake. I suppose, your mistake was just an excuse for him to hang out with me. He's still into me."
"Really? I'm shocked. I can't believe an ex-girlfriend which is in his past, is still not able to move on. You know, now you bring it up, why didn't Liam get married to you if he still loves you?"
"Hey!"
"No matter what you do, I'll always be his wife and you, his past. I'll suggest you move on before our children think you to be their grandaunt." She grabbed my wrist and pushed me into the water.
"Help!" I looked around but there was no one. I reached out my hand to Diana but she just smirked and walked away.
Is this how I'll end. No one was meant to live forever but I never expected my story to end this way. I never even got to find my sister before leaving this world.