Chapter 3

Anna kept pacing back and front, different though hasten through her mind. Who would do such a thing to her? Who is planning to tarnish and sabotage her? The one people she could think of right now, didn't recognize her the last time they met at a banquet, and she has not been in touch with them for years now, so there's no possibility that they are behind it.

Just six months into starting a company, they are trying to ruin her. Everything she has worked hard for is crumbling in the blink of an eye. Who is going to help her? She's about to go bankrupt. Where is she going to get the money to put things back together?

She can't go to the bank and take out loan, if the paparazzi find out, it will ruin the company and her image. But right now, that's the only way out, she doesn't have anyone to lend her money, putting her mansion as collateral would be the best, She thought.

Khalifa and Romeo just sat down and stare blankly at her, both of them deep in their thoughts. Romeo felt guilty about everything, he was the one who gave her a go ahead to reveal herself as the CEO of the company. If he hadn't done that maybe all this probably wouldn't have happened, the exhibition would have been successful. But now he has cause so much lost to the company.

Khalifa had warned her not to reveal the CEO of the company, until the exhibition, people should find out when they grace the occasion. He also felt guilty, even when he had no fault in it. Possibly someone might have eavesdropped on their conversation and use it against her. He heaved a loud sigh he never knew he was holding, stood up from the couch and walk up to her. He halt in front of her and turn her to look at him, their gaze locked together. "Sis Anna…" He said, and the remaining words never came out.

She quickly pulled him into a hug and allow the tears that welled up in her eyes to stream down. She sobbed uncontrollably while Khalifa just held her and pat her back slowly. Likewise, she cried until she couldn't cry anymore, finally she stopped.

"I apologise for everything, if I had listened to you, all this wouldn't have happened, if I had not revealed myself as the CEO of the company, I'm sure the store house wouldn't have been set ablaze. I'm sorry I didn't listen to all you said to me." She said, in between sob.

He just hugged her and continue stroking her back gently, truly maybe if she had not revealed herself as the owner of the company, this wouldn't have happened.

But no one is to be blame, she has done nothing to deserve this after working hard for four years, everything is trying to crumble in the blink of an eye.

Who would have done such a thing? What had she done to deserve this?

What has she done and to whom?

Just within six months into the business, she was able to rank second in the business world, but that doesn't give whoever did that the right to set the store house on fire, Khalifa thought.

"What do I do now." Anna asked, bringing him out of his deep thought.

"Where do I start and how do I start? It took me four years to get to where I'm today, who do I go to? I can't even show my face to my father, not after what happened." She said, and started sobbing again.

Romeo stood up from the couch and stride a few steps to where they were standing. He pulled her out of the hug, and turn her to look at him.

"Sis, this isn't the time to give up, the company hasn't crumbled yet, we can still work hard and get everything we just lost. I know it won't be easy, but that doesn't mean we should just give up. I believe in you, and I believe in what you can do."

"You were the same person that picked me up from the street 17 months back, and you're also the same person that picked Khalifa from the street 12 months back, you took us in when you had nothing, I met you when you were still striving to start up this company, and you had nothing then."

"But yet, you were still able to do it with hard work, dedication and determination. I still believe you can do it, we can't give up yet, whoever did this would be happy they ruin you, but now isn't the time for you to give up, they would be happy you did, and I can't stand and watch that happen, not when I'm alive." Romeo said, hoping he had convinced her.

"Sis Romeo is right, you worked hard for this when you had nothing, but you still strive to make sure you won, all hope isn't lost yet, there's still a lot of hope, we will stand by you and make sure you regain everything you lost. I'm sorry this had to happen, I just feel I'm responsible for everything that is happening." Khalifa added.

She sniffed and use her hands to wipe the tears from her eyes, a small smile appeared on her face. She excuses herself and walk to her restroom to clean up, she came back with her face cleaned from the tears, but her eyes were a bit swollen from crying.

"We shouldn't give up, right? When we feel there's no hope, and we can't get one, we should make one for ourselves, isn't it?" She asked, and the two other figure bobbed their head in response with a smile on their faces.

"Yes, when all hope is lost, we should make one for ourselves, we're all in this together, we will do anything you ask of us."

"Good, what's the time now?" She asked and Khalifa checked and notify her.

"Okay let's talk after my meeting with Mrs Maria, she texted me yesterday that she would be at the company, she should be here any moment from now." She informed.

"Alright, if you need us, we will be outside waiting to hear from you." Romeo said.

She shook her head and watch them leave the office.

She quickly touched her face up and sat down in her chair, when a knock was heard on the door.

"Yes come in." She answered.

Her secretary walk in, "Mrs. Maria is here to see you." She informed her.

"Right on time, I was expecting her, please let her in." She responded. Her secretary walk out and Mrs Maria walk in with a sad expression.

Anna stood up to welcome her, but she halt when she noticed her expression.

"Are you okay?" She asked her.

Mrs Maria took a seat and lift her head up to her.

"I'm sorry about what happened, I just saw the news on my way here, why didn't you call me? It must have been hard for you."

Mrs Maria is an old friend of her late mum, and she was like a mother to Anna. After her father threw her out from the house, Mrs Maria took her in to work for her as a receptionist, she even offered to help her, but Anna declined because she never wants to be indebted to anyone.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking straight, I don't know who I should have called." Anna responded, feeling a bit guilty she made her worry.

Mrs Maria stayed quiet before she finally spoke up.

"Okay, I know you don't like taking help from me even if I'd like to, so I won't force it, you never did four years back, and I know you won't accept it even if I offer to help."

Anna smiled, "If I need any help I will contact you right away. How is the opening for the hotel going? Is the construction completed?"

Mrs Maria heaved a light sigh "That's the reason I ask to meet with you yesterday, the construction is completed, I just need to furnish the whole rooms and I want you to be in charge, there are one hundred and thirty rooms, and I will need all the rooms with your best furniture, soft and lights ones that can withstand years of use." She said and rested her gaze on her Palms.

Anna's face brightens up, just when she thought hope was lost, she's already having work to do, which will cost a Fortune. But it still won't pay for what she had lost. "Okay, when is the opening?" Anna asked.

"As soon as your work is done, I won't waste another day to announce it's opening. You can come over to the hotel and take a look at it before you start the work. Just make the calculations and how much everything will cost, I will send my secretary to you for the check." Mrs Maria said, and stood up from the chair.

"I will do just that, thank you for choosing my company, we're honored." She said with a light smile.

"It's okay, I will choose you a thousand times, over and over again. And make sure you find a solution to all this, don't just sit in your office and cry your eyes out."

Anna was taken aback, was it still obvious she has been crying?

"Okay, I won't, thank you." She responded.

Mrs Maria pat her softly before she turned on her heel's and exited the office. Anna sigh and plopped on her seat, just when she was about closing her eyes, she heard a knock again and made a grunt.

"Come in."she answered.

"Ma'am, someone named Mr Christ is here to see you." She informed.

"Mr Christ?" She asked with a raise of brow's and eyes wide open.