CHAPTER 3 - AN EMOTIONLESS ROBOT
1626 Words
“Only twenty-two and yet she’s a team leader” Michael frowned as he watched Kaya walk by him. They were both under the survey department of the company each heading their different teams but compared to him, Kaya had more favor from the company, being in charge of the bigger projects.
Michael squeezed the plastic cup he held in his hand, the fact that Kaya had arrived out of nowhere and accomplished what he couldn’t in the span of two years was really degrading to him.
“All these young girls think they can use their body to get what they want” he took his grey eyes to the slender blonde lady that stood by him, she also had her eyes on Kaya who was now stepping into her team office.
“And what are you implying by that Mr. Bridge” she spoke in a soft tone carefully watching the man in front of her. Mr. Bridge, currently in his late forties had worked for the Golden Hands Construction Company for twenty-five years, one of his distinct feature was his receding hairline and pointed nose, his eyes rested uneasy on the lady that stood by him.
“Miss Taylor – I was only…”
“I only asked who she was as I found her rather fascinating, I don’t need you selling your pity stories to me. Maybe if you paid attention to your work rather than stand here moping, something good might come out of it”
“I am…”
“If you excuse me” she cut him off, moving over to Mikael who had just stepped into the building.
“Stupid brat” Michael spat watching her.
“Mikael” she called out waving to him with a warm smile on her face.
“Taylor?… why are you here?” he asked confused.
“Is that a trick question?” she chuckled lightly “Do I really need a reason to stop by”
“Not usually” Mikael noted leading the way to the elevator and she followed behind. “it’s just that I didn’t know you were back” he smiled, Taylor had always been like an elder sister to him, since he was little and he was indeed glad to see her but he was sure something else had spurred her visit.
“I came in yesterday” she spoke as she watched him punch in the floor number… she took a brief pause and he turned to her. At this point he knew exactly why she was here.
“I hope you enjoyed your flight” he spoke trying to sound oblivious but he got no reply. The elevator door came open and they both walked out.
“My sister likes you a lot, you know that right?”
Mikael clenched his fist, she could see it.
“Anna has always liked you since we were kids” she continued. “This might be an arranged marriage but I thought you’d at least give her a chance”
Mikael placed his key card against his office door and pushed it open, he hated this topic. The fact that he had agreed to the marriage in the first place should have been enough for them what else did they want.
“Is it really that hard?” Taylor knew Mikael so well; she knew that he had decided to lock his heart to prevent himself from getting hurt. After his father’s death, his mother had become a totally different person and he feared becoming like her… It was as though he had lost two people in one day. She knew this quiet well but the more she looked at him, the more of his mother she saw. An emotionless robot who only cared about the growth of the company.
“Taylor look, I just don’t want to ruin the relationship we already have. Anna is… well, I can’t see her the way she wants me to, the way you all want me to” he sighed. He stood by his desk backing her and she slowly approached him.
“Then don’t agree to the marriage”
Mikael turned to her, he hadn’t expected to hear that from her.
“If you can’t love her, then nullify the marriage… I don’t want her getting hurt. She’s my sister Mika and I will always choose her over you so don’t hurt her”
If only it was that easy, Corrine believed the marriage would be helpful to the company and he couldn’t dare defile her.
“I…”
“Enough with this” Taylor put on a bright smile on her face moving to the set of couches at the center of the office, she made herself comfortable. “Don’t you want to hear about my trip. I even brought back some souvenirs”
“Taylor, about Anna. Do you think she would be okay if I called off the marriage?” Mikael leaned against the desk, his eyes on her.
“Definitely not, she not going to let you go that easily but is better than a marriage without love. The two of you will never truly be happy and I don’t want that for either of you” she replied, she knew quite well that he couldn’t defy his mother but he needed to be able to make decisions for his own happiness. “Your mother loves you dearly but she’s killing you. You should know when to stand against her.” she smirked
“Now to my trip”
“Of course” he laughed, his mind on what she had said.
…
Mikael inhaled deeply as he sat in the car, his eyes on the restaurant in front of him, he was meant to meet Anna there. For some reason he felt so nervous.
Pushing open the car door, he made his way towards the restaurant. Anna sat in the empty restaurant, dressed in a silver gown that was some inches above her knee, her blonde wavy hair fell over shoulder, her eyes glittering as they rested on him. She waved him over and he quietly moved over to her.
“You booked the entire restaurant, there’s no way I would have missed you” he noted and she slowly brought her hands down watching him as he took his seat.
“Look Mika, I am sorry. I shouldn’t have disturbed you when you obviously weren’t in a good mood” Anna lowered her head and Mikael rolled his eyes.
“You realized that after you reported me or before”
“I said I’m sorry” she took her head back up, her eyes falling briefly to the waiter that approached them and then back to Mikael.
“Good day, can I take your order?” the waiter stated announcing his presence.
“Yes, I’ll have some salad and red wine”
“And you sir?” the waiter took his eyes to Mikael
“Just water”
“Water?” Anna frowned watching the waiter who left to get their orders.
“Anna we need to talk”
“No, no… I don’t want to hear it” she spoke almost in tears.
“I haven’t even said anything yet” Mikael grimaced, Anna had always been a drama queen but this was extra.
“I know what you want to say and I don’t want to hear it”
“Anna it’s important okay. I can’t l…”
“Mika stop please”
There was a brief silence and the waiter approached with their orders. Mikael watched as he placed the dish down on the table and excused them.
“Daddy wants me to study business… I’ll be travelling soon. I am coming back in four years. Daddy said we can get married then” she placed her fork into the salad bowl playing with it. “We’ll finally be together just as planned. You’ll wait for me right?” she looked at him with so much hope in her eyes.
“Anna I can’t go on with the marriage… I am sorry”
The tears that welled in her eyes slowly rolled out and she quickly wiped them off,
“Why? Is there someone else?” she asked shoving some salad into her mouth.
“No, it’s not that. Anna I can’t love you”
“Why?” her voice was low; she didn’t look at him.
“Anna…”
“I am not your sister neither am I like a sister to you. Well you don’t treat me that way after all. So I don’t understand.” she still had her head down. “I am just a girl who loves you so much. You always push me away without looking back. It feels like you hate me and I can’t even guess what I did wrong” she slowly lifted up her head, staring into his eyes.
“You didn’t do anything wrong and I don’t hate you” Mikael couldn’t explain it but he had never been able to see anyone differently, he saw her as an obligation. She was just a friend and he wanted it to remain that way. Her constant pass towards him just pissed him off.
“I love you” Anna spoke, her words startled him. He wished she could understand.
“I don’t want to hurt you”
“You are already hurting me Mika” she pulled to her feet. “I’ll take it that you were joking” she leaned toward him placing a kiss on his cheek. “I am not letting you go Mika” she smiled grabbing her purse from the table before exiting the restaurant
- Writer
