"Did something happen to you?" Anna asked, wishing she was near Willow right so that she could get her to talk faster. What's with the suspense?
"No, ma'am, I am alright but… well, someone did follow… I was caught, but for some unknown reasons, he let me go. I was gonna look into him before informing you so…"
"Someone caught you and let you go?" It sounded absurd unless… "was that before or after you got the information I requested? Anna asked.
"Before I got it," Willow replied, and Anna sighed.
Everything that she had seen and learned so far might as well be a lie. Anna thought. They would only let her have access to the information they wanted her to get because it was either insignificant or a means of a trap, with the information thwarted the way they would like it.
"I am sorry ma'am. The only reason I sent those to you was because I couldn't find any false in them. Everything was true," Willow tried to explain. She understood what Anna was thinking about, and she didn't want to be misunderstood or considered incapable. She could at least tell the different between true and falsified information.
"It's all right, I believe what I read was indeed true," but that is why I am worried. Who was it that caught Willow digging information, and why did he let her go? Anna asked herself. Her heart started pounding. Was going to Empire City a trap for her?
"Thank you ma'am," Willow sounded relief that Anna believed her.
"Mhm. I'll see you soon," Anna said. It didn't matter. Nothing did anymore. Whether it was a trap or not, she was determined to go to Empire City.
Days passed by in a blur. In Empire City, Lloyd did as he promised, he met the women Vivian had so kindly picked out for him but in the end, they fell short of his expectations and this left Vivian frustrated but still chose to keep a positive attitude.
While on the other side of Eastgate, Anna did all that she could, she even spent nights at the office wanting to make sure that she covered months of work, if not years. She didn't know how long she would be gone and hiding from her mother while searching for her family. She didn't want to have anything work related to obstruct her movements.
And before they knew it, a week had passed, not something that Anna wanted. She later learned that she had missed an opportunity to meet with her daughter, who was in attendance of the year's summer fashion week, which was hosted in Empire City. It should baffle her why a child would be there in the first place, but knowing her relationships with hosts, Diana Frost, and her friends, they must have taken her there.
Today, Anna made her way to the airport without luggage. Taking anything from home would only arouse Evelyn's suspicion and would have her tailed so she left the house the same way she did every day when going to the office. Maintaining a low profile was paramount. Once inside the airplane, she was seated among the economic class instead of the first class. What mattered to her was getting to Empire City. Where she sat didn't matter to her, and she didn't want to risk bumping into familiar faces in the first class.
Once the plane landed in Empire City, Anna made a beeline to Willow, who wasn't had to spot among many others.
"It is nice to see you after so long, Ma'am," Willow enthusiastically said. She looked around but couldn't find her luggage anywhere.
"I didn't carry anything," Anna said, knowing what she was looking for.
"Oh…" was all Willow said and led the way to the car. Anna sat in the back while Willow sat behind the wheel. "Ma'am," Anna met her eyes through the rear view mirror. "There are rumors circulating around lately. It's about an engagement between the Novas and the Frosts and the wedding will be held soon."
"The Novas? As in Melody Nova?" Anna asked and Willow nodded her head. "Sh*t," Anna cursed. If they was going be a Nova wedding anytime soon, her mother was certain to be in attendance. She wasn't afraid, she just wanted to avoid a confrontation with her mother as much as possible.
"Oh. Ma'am," Anna looked at her again wondering what other bad news would be given to her. "It was at Miss Nova Birthday party that Mrs Henshaw and Mr Reigns met each other. So I believe that if there is truly a wedding, Mr Reigns will be there with his daughter too. I heard the Miss Nova is the young miss Reigns' godmother."
Anna paused at that. "What?!"
Willow, not understanding what she was supposed to answer looked at Anna, confused but then, she saw as Anna's lips curled into the most beautiful smile. She became even more confused but didn't dare ask why she was smiling.
"What you said, is it true? Is Melody really Juli….her godmother?" Anna leaned forward. Her hand holding the two seat of the front row. She looked so happy like a child and it puzzled Willow. It was so rare to see her boss so happy. For years now, the lady seem to have lost her shine and all reason to smile and laugh like this but today, just because a child being someone's godchild she is this happy?
"Yes. I am positive that it is true," Willow replied and Anna laughed. A genuine laughter that rung through the car, soft and soothing to the ears.
"Take that, Mother," she said while trying to calm herself. This only meant one thing to Anna and that was, Pearl's safety. As long as Miss Nova was involved with Pearl, Evelyn wouldn't dare lay a finger on her. No matter how she tries, her hands were tied, bound by loyalty and duty to the Melody. "Damn! Yes!" She laughed again.
"..."
Willow could only look at her boss acting like child. Who would have thought "the Annabelle Henshaw" had this side to her? Her brows shot up when she heard the next words that Anna said. They were as unbelievable as they sounded and she bearly stepped on the brakes.