Chapter 7
The next day Annie went to work with her shame written all over her face. She hoped and prayed that Leon wouldn’t bring it up. The last thing she wanted to remember was going at it with him at work. The thought had haunted her dreams and she had woken up wet and ready the next morning. She walked into her office to find Alonso’s daughter Melissa seated behind her desk
“Finally!” Melissa said, “I’ve been waiting on you all morning.”
“Long night,” Annie said as she walked into the office.
For a moment she wondered if Leon had told his sister what had happened, but she doubted it. He didn’t seem the type to kiss and tell.
“Well, you’re here now. Dad isn’t doing so well. I came in today to handle his desk.” Melissa said.
“Wait is Leon no longer taking over from your dad?” Annie asked cautiously optimistic. She liked him for sure but if he was no longer taking over she wouldn’t have to deal with the idea that she would eventually become the woman who slept with her boss.
“Oh yes, for sure.” Melissa said, “he’s with dad. I would never be fit enough to take over. Leon is much better at this sort of thing.”
“I never knew you had a brother until he showed up a few days ago,” Annie admitted taking the seat across from Melissa.
“We’ve known him since he was a baby.” Melissa admitted, “the situation was just complicated.”
“How so?” Annie asked.
“His mother was a very high-profile woman who dad thought loved her. Turns out she only wanted to have his baby and extort him. Luckily, my father was able to get out of the relationship quickly before she ruined his life. Leon was raised by her, but dad has always been in his life. We just didn’t want to make it public so she could exploit our father.”
“Wow, I had no idea,” Annie replied thinking of the pride she always saw in her boss’ eyes when he spoke to Leon.
“He actually built his own textile business and as a joke became father’s competitor. I think that dad enjoyed that most of all. To see his son following in his footsteps.”
“Wait, if he already has a major company why is your father surrendering the business to him,” Annie asked.
“Oh, he hasn’t told you as yet huh.” Melissa asked, “it’s a merger.”
Annie was shocked. Her boss hadn’t told her that part and she knew that if he had, things would have been much worse.
“How could Alonso do that to us?” Annie asked.
“Oh, don’t be hard on father.” Melissa said, “the merger won’t be as drastic as you imagine, plus Leon is a good guy he won’t cut jobs without reason.”
Annie looked at Melissa skeptically it was hard to understand how they all seemed to love and respect this man she had never heard about before. She decided to pry a little bit harder to see what he was really like.
“So, Leon is a good guy?” she asked plainly
“He’s the best He’s such a sweetheart. Its been hard for him since he broke up with his last girlfriend though. They were really close to marriage. He found out she was gold-digging.”
She hadn’t thought for one moment that he might have been seeing anyone.
“Really?” Annie asked skeptically.
“Oh yes, he never gets involved with women unless he’s serious about it. He takes those things very seriously. I think he wanted to have his family established before he took over the business.”
That left her wondering if he had used her to fill some void he’d never experienced before. There were so many things going through her mind and she wondered why it was even important when she wasn’t interested in a relationship.
“Why the sudden interest in my brother?” Melissa asked
“Oh, nothing. I just thought I should get to know the man I’m about to start working for.” She lied
Melissa looked her over and smiled.
“Sure.” She said as she stood, “he’s been asking questions about you as well you know.”
“Wait, what?” Annie asked as she watched Melissa walk out the door.
“Oh, never mind, I mean, after all, it’s nothing serious,” Mellissa said winking and walking away.
That left Annie with a mind full of questions. She wanted to know what Leon had said about her and she wanted to know what he was thinking. He hadn’t texted or called her since the night before and she was still unsure of where they stood after last night’s adventures.