Chapter: Destiny is a choice

The day has come, the assembly that they are waiting for is happening now. It was his first board meeting to attend after two years.

Nancy was busy putting all the copies of their market sales in every chair, Tom was there, he gathered all his reports in the corner and he prepared his laptop for the presentation. The technician set up their things, his laptop connected to the large TV screen, they ensured that the goose's neck microphones were well functioning and each seat had it.

it's 9 a.m., and little by little the board room is occupied. All of the shareholders are there, they are all seated and surrounded by the rectangle table. Each one of them had a summary of their market sales.

They tackled it, they showed the difference between the market sales last year to this month's, and they were glad for the outcome. Each one of them would receive 5% of their share, which they love to hear about.

After five hours the meeting was finally over, Chairman Yang was proud of him, and the two best friends Daniel and Tom were so happy, they both saw Kent's reaction after the presentation, he was furious and disappointed.

Kent walked toward them

"wow, what a brainwave..." he says sarcastically " "what a case in point "he added "But don't be too proud of yourself...you will never know" he fixed Tom's collar

Daniel stood up but Tom stopped him.

"bring it on Kent" he replied and smiled at him

"Tsk!" and he walked away from him

Meanwhile, Anna went to the HR Department, she submitted her resignation letter to Ms. Danica.

Anna went out after she gave her letter to the head of HR. She walked back to the clinic, Ms. Kate was literally against her resignation but Anna wanted to cut the ties that bind her and Chairman Yang.

It was already dusk when Anna and Ms. Kate went out of the company, They both waited for Nancy at the bus stop. They both seated and took a picture for remembrance.

A black Honda Civic car stopped in front of them, it was Chairman Yang, his driver got out and opened the door for her

"Anna, " Chairman Yang said " Get in" he commanded

"Good evening Chairman!" Ms. Kate greeted him

"Good evening Ms. Kate," he says " Anna please," he says

Anna took a deep breath and waved to Ms.Kate

Ms. Kate waved back to her and smiled

Anna got in, she sat down next to Chairman Yang, his driver closed the door, got inside the car, and started the engine. He drove off.

That time, too many vehicles in the streets, there was heavy traffic that everyone hated, the humid air was all over the place, some passengers in the jeepney were using a handheld fan, and some were using USB rechargeable fans just to make them feel better or to cool themselves.

"Ms. Danica told me you already submitted your resignation letter "

Anna nodded "Yes, I did" her curve lips straighten

" is it because you wanted to focus on your studies or you are avoiding us," he said and looked at her suspiciously

Anna gave him a sweet smile and nodded

" I am sorry Lolo, but I need to do that," she says

"You didn't ask me before you submitted your resignation letter, you know that I wanted you to stay in the company...It's your Anna" he convinced her

Anna shook her head, " No Lolo, it was never mine..." she responded quickly " If my grandfather didn't take that before, I have no right to take your throne ... it's all yours Lolo" she smiled

"I know you're going to say that...Maybe that's the reason why your grandfather chooses you over to your sister Anna"

Anna laughed "They are all better than me Lolo, you don't know them, I am sure you're going to love them if you've met them before me " she explained

Chairman Yang smirked "Really?" He shrugged "Maybe I can choose one of them to marry my grandson " he commented

"What? No!" Anna responded "That's a big NO Lolo" She responded "You can't force them to marry your grandson"

Chairman Yang laughed "Maybe one of them wanted to marry him, we don't know yet" he insisted

Anna smirked "Lolo Mildred is nice, why did you not like her...a fashion designer, a businesswoman, an intelligent person, and also she is perfect for Kuya Tom" She explained to him

Anna sees his reaction, he becomes irritated and angry.

"I like her Anna, I do like her..." he says "but there are things in this world that even if we wanted to but the heavens are not permitted to do so, we can't do anything for it...but go with the flow" he explained

"Oh" Anna replied "Why?...unless they are real brothers and sisters ... by blood" Anna added

"Of course, they are not... you thinking too much Anna," he says and laughs "your imagination..."

Anna chuckled "So it's not the heavens who are against them, it's only you Lolo" she murmured,

Anna looked outside and sighed

"Tell me what can I do for you to stay in the company?" He asked

Anna looked at him

" Nothing Lolo" she replied "All I want is to have a peaceful life..., to graduate next year, be a Masteral holder, and my dream is to have my own hospital in our province" She shared her dreams

Chairman Yang was stunned, "You can have all that if you are going to accept the company," he said "that's easy, Anna"

Anna smiled "That was attempting....but no, do you want that your company will be bankrupt... your employees might lose their jobs...poor Nicey..Ms. Kate..." she shook her head " And I don't want to happen that, it's sad...just because of my selfishness and eager to have a rich life...no... I am satisfied for who I am..." she explained "I wanted to have a simple life Lolo"

"Why do I need to worry about it, Tom will be your assistant, he is your husband though "

"HAHAHA!" Anna laughed sarcastically "That's not gonna happen Lolo" she said "Lolo, please let them do what they want in their life, let him marry who he wants to be with for the rest of his life, that makes him happy if we give him that"

Chairman Yang nodded " Sometimes, we need to tell them what is right for them because they are blind," he said "Anna, he is your destiny, my child," he added

Anna smiled " If he's my destiny, I am willing to change the road that I am walking and start paving another one"

Chairman Yag chuckled " But he is the man that you can find at the end of the road...you will see"

Anna sighed " I will do my best to change my destiny... Destiny is a choice Lolo" she explained

"Indeed, it's true but what if for every road you choose he is still there... so meaning you both are fated?"

Anna looked away, " I'd rather kill myself than marry someone who doesn't love me Lolo... " Anna strongly said

"What?" He was surprised "Don't do that Anna, Your grandfather will kick my ass if we've met or else the three of us will be there"

they both chuckled, Anna sighed and stared outside

That night sky was aglow with bright city lights, and the blanket of the stars seemed faded because of the street lights. The crescent moon shines from the east. The cars, jeepneys, and buses were jammed in the middle of the road, they kept thumping their horn, thus noise pollution is another problem in the country.

After a couple of hours, they arrived at the subdivision, she walked slowly toward their home. She opened the door and smiled at them. She saw her parents packing their things and ready to go back to their hometown.

"Hi, good evening!" she greeted them "ready for the flight tomorrow?" she asked and sat on the couch

"Yes," her Father answered her

"aw!, Are you guys, not going to stay for a couple of weeks,"she said

"No, we need to go back, no one would take care of our rice field...our farm"

"I'm going to miss you all," she said

"You should study hard" he flicked her nose "don't worry about us, were doing fine there" he replied " and remember you are not allowed to have a boyfriend...you can hang out with friends but don't get drunk huh..." he reminded her

Anna gave him a sweet smile and nodded

"How about Kevin?" She teased him

"With friends, not only the two of you" he replied "still... you have curfew "

Anna chuckled "yasss, trust me," she said

After a couple of weeks, Anna was enrolled for the semester, She came back being a student, her life would be busier compared to last semester, with a lot of community and hospital duties.

She meets her friends again, a new professor was assigned in every subject. Still, she's the apple of the eye.

Anna and her friend went to the bookstores when someone tapped on her shoulders

"Anna," she said

Anna looked back, she was surprised when Mildred was standing behind her

"Hi" Anna greeted her "how are you doing?" She asked her "ph my gosh... "Mildred hugged her

Anna's friend was stunned,

"I'm good, It's been a month since we've met," she says

"Yes... "what are you doing in here?"

"Looking for a design...cards for my invitation," she says excitingly

"Invitations? " she's confused

"Ohh, I forgot to tell you... Lolo wanted we have a proper engagement party " she said excitingly

"What?" She was surprised and happy to hear it "OMG!!!! That's really great news... finally...wow!"I cannot believe it... Is it true?"

Anna hugged her

"Yassssssss... me either and until now I do not know if I was dreaming or not" she replied and she held Anna's hands " I wanted you to come on Saturday night ... hope you are free that day"

"She's free" Frej interrupted them

Mildred smiled at them

"Oh! By the way, they are my friends, "Anna introduced them

"Hi, nice meeting you girls" she waved to them

Frej, Nikki, and Shania waves back to her

"Anna, I have to go... I am meeting with my friends today, don't worry we will catch up someday, don't forget to come on Saturday night" she says

"I will try"

"don't try, do it!" she says

Anna nodded, Mildred hugged her and she left after.

"oh my goodness... She's a goddess girl!" they chorus

Anna smiled "Yes indeed!" she replied " I am so happy for them," she said "Finally, I am free... free to do things I wanna do" she sang quietly while walking around on the bookshelf

"Anna, are you coming on Saturday night?"Shania asked

"hmm, No I think I am not going" she replied

"But why?"

"I do not know, I don't feel..." she says while scanning the pages of the novel book she has holding "Do you really think this is a good book?" she asked about the

"you're changing the topic?"Shania noticed "Are you jealous?"

"what? NO!"She replied "No,"

"hmm" Shania was looking at her

"don't you believe in me...how dare you ?" she says

Shania laughed "Maybe you're in a stage of denial, my friend"

"oh my...I am not my friend" she said and she put the book on the shelf "I'd rather read the chicken soup compared to this" she said and walked back and stood in front of the chicken soup "Oh there you are... Reader's Digest is one of my favorite..." she said

" I know Anna, that kind of book is your favorite... but please tell me the truth" She followed her

"This the truth, Shania... I like him as an elder brother...Kevin and him...I rather choose Kevin than him" she replied

"Oh my... move on.. he is not the guy... if he's truly a man he would never say that," she said

"what are you guys talking about?"Nikki asked

"about Kevin" Shania answered her

"What happened to Kevin?"Nikki questioned her

"she's going to choose him" She felt irritated

"Well. if she chooses him, we can't stop her, let her be"Nikki commented "Are you done...let's go to the cashier "she says

"oh my...."Shania said "Come" She grabbed Anna in her arms and went to the cashier.

That day Anna was happy and felt relieved.

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"Next chapter is coming: The Engagement is coming! <3