Our eternal affairs

The next couple of weeks in Anna's life seemed peaceful and relaxing. She borrowed books from Miss Patel and read after her weekly appointments at the hospital. Miss Patel was a retired liberian, but was fully employed in her room, that was occupied with shelves of books. She was either reading or talking about her books with anyone who cared to listen. Anna didn't contact Mister Truce after their last meeting in his house, she thought he was very busy, but secretly hoped he would call.

The idea of marrying him was still fresh in her mind and she shuddered anytime she thought of it. What would life with him look like? She pushed those thoughts behind every morning, and just before she closed her eyes to sleep every night.

All was going fine with Cliff as well, he decided to put Sasha's confession aside and focused more on his work, even when they saw every day. They communicated less and the air about them was very unusual and palpable.

"You think something's going on with Cliff and Sasha?" One of Cliff's employees asked as they worked on their task in the studio. The lady he asked just shrugged and said nothing.

One gray morning, the skies wept tears of drizzle, casting a misty veil over the city's street. The scent of wet earth filled the crisp air, as Cliff struggled through traffic to get to the studio. Just when he stepped out of his car in the parking lot in front of the studio, he heard some ladies giggling about something in their phones. And when he got into the studio, it took him some time to notice his employees hording about in circles and whispering amongst themselves. 

"What are you guys looking at?" He said, heading towards a circle.

"Oh boss, you've got to see this. Apparently someone took a picture of Truce Avidon of TAE to the public and he's making big waves." They laughed at her words. Cliff took the phone from her hand, frantically scrolling up and down.

The social media platforms were flooded with speculations and theories. "Breaking News: Shocking Photo of TAE CEO Truce Avidon Sparks Chaos!

Truce Avidon: The man behind the mystery." No, no, no. Cliff kept scrolling, sweat formed on his forehead. This was not happening. If this gets out, they could trace it to Anna, and then...

"Hey, who's the girl?" Someone in another circle called out to everyone in the room. "An employee? Or a relative?" Another person person chimed in.

"Or an ex," another said and they 'ohhhed'.

Girl? Cliff's heart thumped in his chest. Please, let it not be Anna, he prayed silently as he took his phone out to check it. He froze when he saw the emerald green dress he had altered for Anna. Luckily, she wasn't facing the picture when Truce dragged her barefooted to his car. She didn't tell him this part of that night, while he had been worried for her. 

He called her phone, it rang but she didn't answer. His brows furrowed as he tried again. No answer. He dashed out of the studio, to the parking lot and into his car. He tried her number again, it was switched off. 

Rimbling ratpit! He swore in his mind as he pulled out of the parking lot. There was traffic ahead and he raged in his car when he joined. What was the use of phones when she wasn't answering her calls?

The streets were abuzz as people gathered around street vendors and news stands, eager to catch a glimpse of the controversial picture of the CEO in a grainy image, on newspapers. The magazines also screamed attention, each one was more sensational than the last. "The Girl In The Photo: Who Is she?" "Avidon's Dark Secrets Exposed!"

When Cliff burst into the apartment, to find Anna sleeping peacefully on her bed, unaware how she was caught in Truce's influential web, and was being dragged in the public. 

"Anna. Anna, wake up!" He said, shaking her from her sleep, and she groaned, tossing on the bed.

"What is it Cliff, shouldn't you be at work?" She said in a groggy voice. When he showed her a picture in his phone, the sleep cleared from her eyes immediately.

"Oh my god!, when did this–how..." She stammered, looking at Cliff for answers. He stood, narrowing his eye at her. Just one night and she turned the man into a celebrity.

"Why were you barefooted in the picture?" He said as curiousity piqued in his voice, like Tom acting on Jerry.

"I-I, my stilettos broke," she said in a small voice as her eyes darted to the picture in the phone, her mind wandered to Truce in a panic. What would he think of her now? This was all her fault and she didn't know how to control the situation. Thinking about Mister Truce's cold face, made her cower in her room.

Meanwhile, inside Truce's office at TAE'S headquarters, Chen looked frazzled and exhausted as he stood before Truce. He still had to report the situation to his boss, despite his failure. Paparazzi flooded the company's entrance and that added to his concern, even though the security agents were handling it.

"Sir," he started in a stressed voice.

Truce who didn't lift his head from the document before him, said in a grave voice, trouble threatening behind it. "I rely on you to fix matters like this Chen, what happened?"

Earlier, Truce discovered the news and kept quiet, wondering how he would salvage the situation and use it to his advantage. He knew this was also part of the inflitration of his company, to distract him from their operations. But, he had devised a plan.

Chen straightened up as he spoke, he didn't like failing his boss. "I was too distracted, following the lead while investigating the infringement, I didn't handle the press. But sir, I think this is related to the company's sabotage in it's lower levels. I suspect they're trying to dismantle us from within."

 Truce was silent and his expression turned grim. "Get to the bottom of this Chen, and increase security immediately. I want some people monitoring her too. Don't let anything happen to her." 

Chen nodded efficiently and left the office. Truce relaxed behind his desk in a thoughtful expression, an idea formed in his mind and he smiled icely.

The articles were taken down but they were already etched on the people's minds. Anna worried in her room. She had refused to go out for the past two days, since she learned about the news. She knew Mister Truce would be busy at work and calling him would add more fuel to the fire. She sighed, her heart was greatly burdened. 

Later that evening, a package arrived at the door in Anna's apartment. She received a text from Truce at the same time.

"I'll pick you up by seven pm tomorrow and explain on the way." There was a love emoji behind the text and she didn't know if it was a good sign or not. Inside the package was an expensive evening floor-length dress, made of luxurious gray silk and adnorned with delicate lace. Her heart fluttered at the feel of the material and she thought of what laid beyound her. Did he handle the news? Of course he did, who's she kidding. He's Truce Avidon; but where were they going to tomorrow?