✨✨ANNIE WEMBLEY✨✨

"Come join me for breakfast, Miss Wembley," Jeremy said, standing at the foot of the stairs looking refreshed like me.

He wore a white cardigan and some joggers. There was a little smile at the corner of his lips and I wondered why he'd returned to the usual official name-calling. It was kinda disappointing though.
I preferred it when he called me Annie.

"No thank you, I gotta run," I replied, walking down the fleet of stairs and towards him.

"I insist, it's the only way I get to apologize for being an ungrateful jerk. And the chef specifically prepared a table for two." his eyes pegged on mine like a desperate prayer said in times of need.

I succumbed to his charms and walked with him to the mouth-watering dishes on the laid-out table.

"I called in my chef to make assorted food for both of us. I felt bad for disrupting your morning efforts at breakfast," he spoke and pulled out my chair for me. Such chivalry.
"I thought you didn't eat breakfast?"

He went ahead and sat across from me. "I don't, but there's always a first for everything, and seeing that the doctor has recommended that, I'm in no place to refuse."

"That's good to hear, I hope you take your health seriously," I said in between meals. I moaned when the softness of the bread and tuna melted in my tongue. It was heaven.

"You like it?" He asked, his eyes watching me in admiration. I quickly gathered myself and ate with more dignity, there was no need to moan like I'd never had such delicious delight in my life. I didn't want him to think low of me.

I shrugged. "It's okay,"

He didn't seem to buy my reply but he kept quiet.
"Thank you once again for helping me last night, it must've been very difficult all by yourself."

"No, I had help from Danti and John,"

"John?... who's that?"

I paused to look at him. Was he serious?
"You really should put in more effort to learn the names of your employees. John is the gatekeeper who has worked for you for over a decade now."

His expression sold him off, I don't think he liked that I schooled him, but that was his problem, not mine. How could a CEO not know such things?

"My bad, I'll thank him when I see him," he said.

"Sure, anyways he's a trusted man, he won't tell no one of yesterday's event."
Jeremy shook his head in understanding. I noticed he picked at his food, he hardly ate three spoons.

"Why aren't you eating? You've barely had a mouthful since we sat down." I said watching him with concern.

"I don't usually have an appetite especially when I'm alone."

"Then eat out with friends,"

He gave a weak smile. "It's nice having you around Miss Wembley," he said in a dismissive tone. I got the idea already so I took my things and headed out. I didn't spare him a glance.

Way to charm his heart, Annie!

******

I wondered where the noise was from as I climbed the remaining steps to my door. It sounded like a mission-impossible scene where the protagonists were having a car chase with the evil men.

I plugged my key in the hole and rattled open the door to see Wendy on the couch, in her nighties munching on some popcorn while the TV blared.

The noise was from my house! I pitied the neighbors at this point. How could she be so stupid?
I switched the show-off and stood before her.

"What?" Was all she could utter.

"Why haven't you gone to school, Wendy? You're in senior year and every day matters."

She rolled her eyes at me and focused on her popcorn.

"You're gonna act like I don't exist anymore? Alright, let's see what your homeroom teacher has to say about it." I threatened, pulling out my phone.

"Better, she'd ask you why I wasn't able to afford the school trip just like the rest!" She barked.

That was when it dawned on me. Wendy has been requesting for the money a few weeks ago. I had promised to help her with the majority of it but Mum's health issue came first.

I felt sad for not being a better sister. "I'm sorry Wendy, I had everything planned out but mum's_"

"It doesn't get better does it?..." her scornful response said it all. She was beyond pissed. "Don't you get tired of using Mum as an excuse for your incompetence? I guess you'll always choose her over me."

"That's not true Wendy!"

"Just like I predicted, you weren't even home last night and I'm sure it's because of your boss. You work so hard for nothing!" She yelled.

"I'm sorry dear, an emergency came up," I said taking up the space beside her. She moved over with her face contorted.
"I know I've failed you in many ways, Wendy, especially by not being honest with you about who your real parents are." I took the remaining hours to tell her of her parents and how things ended between them.
She was in tears by the time I was done, I took her in my arms and consoled her.

"He's out Annie," she whispered.

"What? Who's out?"

"Dad... he approached me sometime after school. I thought he was a stalker at first."

"Oh heavens! That man is dangerous Wendy. I'm going to get a restraining order against him so he doesn't have to bother you anymore."

"He's not a bother,"

"What?" I sat shocked at her admission. I just narrated how poorly he treated his late wife; her mother and Wendy still didn't get it. "He's an ex-convict and hasn't changed one bit. Don't let the sob story fool you dear."

She assured me she would stay away. After making breakfast for her, I went to my room and saw my phone ringing. It was a call from Jim, I wasn't in the mood for his tantrums but I had to answer it or risk having anyone in my family endangered.

"Hey, why are you calling my phone direct? We talked about this," I said in frustration, this could only lead to disaster if my company ever carried out an investigation.

"Oh don't be a scared cat, Annie, nothing's gonna happen to you while I'm here it's a promise."

"Your words don't guarantee my safety. What do you want this time?"

"Nothing my love, I merely called to thank you for that awesome giveaway you did at the luncheon. My father was indeed pleased with my strong intel. He's promoted me to CFO. Can you believe that?... my dad now believes in me because of you Annie?" He chuckled.

I shook my head and bit my lower lip. I just hoped he knew how to handle things discreetly, I didn't want to be exposed for divulging private company info.

"I hope this doesn't get linked to me?" I asked with weariness. I didn't trust Jim to have my back. "You know it's part of our agreement that you'd keep me and my family out of this if things get out."

"I know love, there's nothing I can't do for you right now. I'm more powerful now than before and I need you to get me more delicious details, one that would plunge me higher and wreck havoc on Gardenia." The line went dead before I could respond.

I hissed, Trent Jim Mars was a maniac and I'd carelessly let him into our lives in my quest for vengeance. An alert popped up on my screen, I read the zeros attached and all my inhibitions disappeared.

The power of money could not be overemphasized. I knew that but it wasn't the only reason I worked for Jim. I sat in my bed and wondered if I was being truthful to myself or not.

Was vengeance for me to take?
I made a mental note to visit Mom soon at the hospital and save up some money for Wendy for her next school trip if there would be any.

I inserted my flash drive into my laptop.

Last night while my boss slept I made myself useful, I had stolen some files from him and when my eyes read the content, I was stupefied. It was everything I needed to bring down their goddamn empire!