Chapter: The engagement

It's 3 a.m. when Anna woke up from a nightmare, she's always dreaming that she's always running on the seashore, she didn't know where it was, all she knew was that Tom was chasing her and stabbing him again

She keeps telling herself that was only a dream because on this day Tom is going to engage his fiancee Mildred.

Anna bent on her knees and prayed to almighty God.

After that, she went downstairs to the kitchen and drank a glass of water. After a few minutes, she went back to her bedroom, sat down on the bed, and checked her phone.

She got a message from Chairman Yang, she was invited to the party, she ignored the messages and deleted them.

She put her mobile phone on the bed and lay her back, she covered her face with a blanket closed her eyes, and tried to sleep again.

Anna woke up at 9 a.m., she went downstairs. Her siblings are already in their work while Sarah has gone to school.

She walked straight to the kitchen and found something to eat.

Anna cooked something for herself, she turned on the music and sang while holding the spoon feeling it was a microphone.

She made coffee for herself first, before she ate her breakfast. She pulled the chair and sat down. She prayed how thankful she was for having food on the table.

After a couple of minutes, she heard their doorbell ring, she walked to the main door opened the door, and she sneaks who it was, she was surprised when Daniel waving and standing in front of their gate.

"oh, what are you doing here?" she asked him while walking through the gate, she opened "Come..." she invited him

"I called you a many times," he says and followed her

"Oh I am sorry, I left my phone in my bedroom..." she answered him "What's the matter ?"

" I came here, I want to give you this," he says and he gives the invitation card

the card inside was black, and on the front page, there is a white ring in the center, inside of the circle it's a silhouette of a woman and a man. The man bending on his knees while holding hands with the woman who's standing in front of him.

"wow... finally" she was happy to see the invitation card " I am very happy about this, "she says

"me too" he agreed "So are you coming, your brother wants you to come "

her curved lips became straightened and she said, "I would love to come, but I can't" She excuse

Daniel looks at her suspiciously "Tell me why?"

she gave her a sweet smile "Promise I wanted to come... but I can't, "

"SAD!..." he replied "I would like you to be my date tonight "he teased her

he followed her

Anna laughed "Seriously?" she asked and raised her eyebrows "That's the reason why I don't like to attend" she teased him "Please sit down "

Daniel sat on the couch

"Alright, I will change my mind, I am just kidding" he quickly responded "Please, they would be happy if you there "

"We have an upcoming quiz this Monday, so I need to study "she explained to him "by the way, what do you want? Coffee, water, or juice ?" she asked him

"No thanks..." he replied

"alright" she answered

"Tell me, how did Lolo change his mind...my gosh... that's unbelievable" She turned off the music

"All I know is when Tom told me, Lolo talked to him and told me that he and Mildred would have a proper engagement because he had a good performance last couple of months in the company ...I don't know the details... but it doesn't matter how... the important is Tom and Mildred are now officially engaged," he says "and I would love if you join us" he invited her

Anna sighed "Please understand me, I can't though I wanted to, I can't," she said

"Are you sure?" he asked seriously

"uhuh!" she nodded and smiled at him

later Daniel phone rang, and he answered it, it was the event organizer, Daniel talked to her, and after that

"Anna, I need to go, they need me on that site If you change your mind. there's an address on the card " he says and left

"bye," she said and followed him through the gate she closed the gate and went back inside and finished her breakfast.

Daniel went to the hotel, everything was white, the silver chandelier hung on every corner, the round table was covered by a white shimmery silver table clothed and tinted with gold, and the bouquet of roses and lilies in a long glass trumpet vase and every table had on it. A small scented candle is surrounded by the glass trumpet vase, the chairs are glass and a tint of gold. The music is played by the saxophone. the wine glass, plates, and the silver spoon and fork are ready on the table.

Tom was walking toward him, "Why are you still in here?"Daniel asked him

"I just want to check before I am going upstairs, "he says

Daniel smiled "Dude, don't worry about it, I already talked to Abby and she told me, everything is fine, don't worry I know Abby," he says

"Alright then..." he replied "Come let's go and change our clothes, Mildred told me the makeup artist is already in here"

"Alright, I'm coming" he replied "By the way Anna is not coming "

"Really?" he wondered

"She's busy, but I already gave her an invitation card " They walked upstairs

"It's okay, maybe she is...let her be," he said and she suddenly took his phone "What is her number again?" he asked

"Anna?"

Tom nodded "I will try to convince her "he excused

Daniel gave the number and tried to call her, but Anna's phone turned off.

"look like she turned off her phone" he commented

"Maybe "Daniel replied and they both walked straight to the hotel room. The make-up artists were waiting for them, Their clothes were ready and hung in the closet.

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Anna POV

It was already 4 ó'clock in the afternoon, and Anna was reading her textbooks in the living room when the doorbell rang, she stood up and sneaked in the window, it was David, Chairman Yang's driver was standing in front of their gate.

Anna sighed before she came out, she walked through the gate and opened it,

"Miss Anna" David greeted him

The young lady looked at him knowing what it meant, her curved lips straightening "what are you doing here?" she asked to clarify for him

"Chairman Yang gave me this "he gave the invitation card

Anna took a deep breath, and she took the card "But I can't come, Mr. David, please tell Lolo, that I have an upcoming quiz this Monday, thus I need to read 4-5 chapters."

"Miss Anna, you should come, or else I might lose my job," he says

Anna was in shock when she heard him "What do you mean by that, you're kidding right?" she asked

"No, Miss Anna" he replied "You know him" he continued

"No it's not gonna happen, Mr. David, he will never do that," she said

Mr. David sighed " That is okay Miss Anna, I understand how you feel, I have a daughter also, and she's studying hard to reach her goals," Mr. David smiled "She's in high school now...she wanted to be a teacher someday" he continued

Mr. David, a middle-aged man, his hair started to gray and become silver-white, he has a loving wife who works also in the Yang family, she's a maid there while their only one daughter named Beng, sometimes helps her mother in the kitchen.

"I think you've met her already" Anna confused

"Do I?" she asked she sighed

"It's okay Miss Anna, You don't need to worry about us, maybe we can go back to the province and start over there"

"Haiiissst Mr. David does not gonna happen," she says "Alright I'm coming, "she said

"Miss Anna," he asked excitingly

Anna nodded "But I need to show myself to him, then can I go home right after ...right?" she asked

"Maybe Miss Anna"

"Please call me Anna..." she humbly says

Mr. David smiled at her "So can we go now?"

"As in now?" she says...

Mr. David nodded "Don't worry Anna, Chairman Yang prepared something for you, we need to go there, "he said

Anna looked at him suspiciously "Looks like I am a special guest there "she said jokingly "You owed me this time "she said jokingly

Mr. David laughed "Yes, I will remember this day Miss Anna "

"Anna ...please "she corrected him

"Yes..." Mr. David replied

Anna went back inside and took a bath, she changed her dress, after half an hour Anna and Mr. David went to the salon for her hair and makeup, Anna didn't like it but she had no choice, she wanted to be simple so that she requested to make it simple. especially the makeup, after an hour Mr. David brought Anna to one of the luxury boutiques for her dress, and the manager welcomed her, she offered the dress, but Anna found it very attractive so she refused the dress that Chairman Yang choose for her, she preferred something nice and simple only, she chooses the black sundress, simple and plain for her but she's comfortable to that matching kitten heels.

It was already seven in the evening when Anna and Mr. David got into the hotel, A few people were there, Only family and close friends were invited, Media were not allowed, Chairman Yang advised the security that only family are allowed. He strictly closed the door to others. The people are busy talking about them and feeling excited for them.

Anna walked to the corner, no one saw her, no one knew her she felt out of place that time, she sat down on the chair and she tried herself busy, she sniffs the candle and took a picture for herself. Anna wanted to observe them, she looked at them secretly, when someone offered her drinks, The waiter gave a glass of champagne for her and She takes a sip.

"Don't try to drink all of that or else no one would be asked your number here" someone said from behind, Anna knew that voice and she slowly looked back.

It's Daniel "how are you ?" he asked

Anna stood up and smiled at him "well ..." she says

"Wow!"Daniel was stunned "You're beautiful" he praised her

"Miss can I have your number please" he teased her

Anna chuckled "I am sorry I'm Taken Mister "she replied and laughed

Daniel Laughed "who is it?" he asked "or else I will kick your ass boy "he continued

"They already ran, because they afraid of you " she commented and smiled, they both sat down

"I'm glad you here," he says "Your the only person I can talk to right now "

Anna doesn't believe him "what about her... she's looking at you, "she says "don't look back" she warned him

"the lady who wore a black bandage dress," he asked "talking to the two petite girls who wore a maxi dress and the other one wearing a black tie "he describes them

"wow!"Anna says "you are amazing, "says "what is the color of their sandals if you are truly observant ?" she tested him

"The one who's looking at me is wearing black heels, the women who are beside her wearing a maxi dress, with dangling earrings that are Mildred Best friend, she's wearing a brown wedged and the next to her is wearing a stiletto "he replied

Anna clapped her hands "bravo" she says and chuckled "why don't you like to talk to her "

Daniel shook his head "she ain't you "he said

Anna hissed " you will never have a girlfriend if you're going to stay in here, go talked with them "

Daniel messy her hair

"hey !" she said

Meanwhile, Tom and Mildred were busy talking with their friends and visitors, Until Tom saw Daniel talking to a lady in a corner, Tom walked straight to them.

"Daniel!" he called him "looks like you were busy..." he says

"yes, please meet my girl " he introduced him

Anna chuckles and looked at him

"Anna ?" Tom say "where's Anna, Anna" continued "please bring back my little sis, "he says

And they laughed "You're beautiful sis, I'm glad you made it," he says

Anna nodded and smiled at him "congratulations" she said

"thank you !" he replied and hugged her

"Why are you guys in here, why don't you like to sit at the first table, come and join us "Tom invited her

"No, I want in here," she says

"no, come" he insisted her "you'ré wearing a nice dress, but still you're stubborn "Tom commented "mama would love to see you, come" he pulled her hand

Anna hissed

Daniel and Anna followed Tom, They both sat next to Ms. Janeth and Mrs. Yang, and Chairman Yang and they both greeted them.

Daniel and Anna quietly sat down,

The party has started to begin, The emcee walked to the center and talked, he gave some funny moments about the relationship, so that everyone was laughing, he gave pieces of advice that, in a relationship, it needs trust, respect, commitment in each other, there are ups and downs and no matter what happen if you both holding on, any trials and hindrances, you will both make it to the end. God is always there my friend.

The emcee looked to chairman Yang, He nodded. He humbly greeted them.

"Alright, tonight, the most important, that is why we here because we wanted to celebrate the two lovers, who will be a bride and groom next month perhaps, Is it true Chairman Yang..." he asked

Chairman Yang nodded

the people cheer them "wow! within a month, so excited "some of them say

"yes, it's true a month after we are all in here perhaps but I was looking forward again... chairman Yang congratulations," he says "you might have grandchildren soon from them " he continued

Everyone clapped their hands

"Alright, I will congratulate these two for their engagement... Thomas Yang please, come here and stand beside me ..." he said

Tom stood up and walked to the center, he seemed so happy and excited.

"and now please let's give applause to the groom to be, and now, may I have call the bride to be..."

Mildred was excited and happy, her friends were applauding,

"Please, ...Ms. Anna Rodriguez" he called her "Miss Anna?" he called her again

Everyone was surprised.

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stay tuned for the next chapter