Annabelle didn't know what came over her. Immediately after having her bath, she stood before the mirror with a towel wrapped around her sensual body and another on her head as she contemplated on what to wear.
For the first time in five years!!
Too tight. She threw it on the bed
Too free. She threw it on the bed
Too casual. She threw it on the bed too
The rest where either too formal or to body hugging.
Finally she settled for a black pleated skirt which stopped right above her knees with white studded patterns around it, then she wore a white button down shirt before a wearing a black pull over on it. She made sure the white sleeve was longer than the pullover's and that the white collar showed as well.
Satisfied with how the combo turned out, she returned her gaze back to the shoe rack and choose the white sneakers her Uncle had bought as a gift on her last birthday.
Even though she didn't like to celebrate her birthday, Thomas always made sure to bring her gifts.
Next up was her hair. Her hair sprawled freely on her back, full, long and shiny. Thinking it would be a distraction, she packed it up in a neat bun but allowed a few strands to stray down her cheek.
Finally, she sprayed her perfume on her body.
Perfect!!
If perfect was a person then Annabelle's appearance was above it. For a moment, she couldn't believe it was her reflection she saw on the mirror.
Even without makeup, her face was the epitome of beauty. She bit her lips gently as she continued to stare, completely smittened by her own appearance.
Her uncle's call from downstairs snapped her back to reality.
She cleared her throat and immediately grabbed her phone and a small bag which hung on the wall.
Thomas was already getting pissed off as he looked at the time on his watch. What was taking that brat so long?! He thought
He turned to yell her name again but the words vanished back into his throat when he saw her.
Annabelle waltzed down the stairs as she usually does. Slow and lazily, but this time, her new appearance masked it all. Now, every step she took was graceful.
Thomas stepped back as though he had just come in contact with an opposing force. His brows raised demandingly and his lips remained parted in disbelief.
Annabelle came to a stop in front of him, her face blank as she asked for his opinion on how she looked.
Thomas mouth moved finally and he snapped back to reality.
"What was that....?" He asked
"I said, how do I look?" Annabelle asked again
"More importantly..." Thomas folded his arm and gazed at her suspiciously
"..... Who are you and what the fudge are you doing in my house?"
Annabelle rolled her eyes as she walked past him to the dinning room where she grabbed the toast bread on the saucer and chewed on it.
"Where're you going?" Thomas asked after a minute of silence, ".... all dressed up like....that."
Annabelle took her time to swallow the toast bread and she faced him fully, her blue eyes glittering.
"To change my fate." She replied and Thomas frowned
"Uhhh....what?"
"In order words, Thomas Wallis. I take you up on your challenge, you want my own part of the rent..... I'll give you part of the rent you want." Annabelle said as she poked his chest with her index finger.
It took Thomas a while before he could register what she said. His eyes widened a bit in realization.
"Yes..... I'm off to work, and...." She stared at her phone, "I need to be there in an hour.... So, see ya then." Annabelle winked and walked out leaving Thomas speechless.
"Sonofa....."
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Annabelle stopped the first taxi cab she saw and hoped in.
She told him the address and the cab driver immediately stepped on the pedal as he plied down the road speedily as Annabelle had also told him that she needed to be there under twenty minutes.
It wasn't the instructions, but the coldness in her voice and how it had a big effect on him.
Within minutes, the cab pulled up in front of the big gate and Annabelle got off and she paid the cab driver.
"Keep the change." She winked,pulled the gate open and began walking down the lane which led straight to the mansion.
•• BACK AT THE MANSION ••
Andrea paced about restlessly while Andrew just sat on the couch with his iPad which he scrolled through. It got to a point where Andrea's pacing became a distraction and he groaned.
"Just sit down Drea."
"Sit down! Sit down!!" She gestured dramatically
"Drea." Andrew palmed his face in exasperation
"She's not coming." Andrea muttered, almost in tears
"It's almost like you're giving up." Andrew muttered softly, returning his gaze back to the iPad.
He was just too calm that Andrea lost her cool.
"You! You said she was coming, it's almost Ten." Andrea raised her voice
"So what." Andrew didn't lift his head up
"I have a presentation to meet up with, I can't be late or it's ten marks off." Andrea raged, her face turning red as she fumed
Andrew finally looked at her and when he saw the look on her face, he sighed and stood up, walking to her. He pulled her into a hug and patted her styled hair as he was taller than her .
"You ain't missing your presentation little Drea, I promise you that." He said reassuringly and Andrea nodded as she hugged him back.
Ma'am Glenda stood at the side watching them.
"I just want her to come." She muttered softly
Dominic watched from the top floor with he's hands behind his back and he's mind not processing what the fûck was suddenly wrong with his kids.
Surely, they weren't expecting that uncultured gangster to come back, were they?
He still had this thought in mind when he heard something beeped. He saw Andrew disengage from the hug and rush to the couch where his iPad laid, the iPad beeped again and his eyes widened.
"She's here." He announced
Almost as though it was a perfect transition, the doorbell rang and ma'am Glenda swiftly went for the door.
Dominic straighten, praying inwardly that the 'she' Andrew was talking about was a pizza delivery girl and not who he thought it was.
Ma'am Glenda pulled the door open fully and Annabelle's face came into sight.
Ma'am Glenda smiled as she ushered her in.
"The Young master has been waiting for your arrival." She said
Annabelle tilted her head back. "Has he now? Charming." She said and walked in.
Andrew and Andrea stood side by side as Annabelle came closer, she stopped just two feet before them and Andrew grinned triumphantly.
"I guess I won." He said with pride
"Not so fast Prince charming...." Annabelle squatted to their level and tilted her head to the side in a slow observing manner.
"What makes you think you can win me over?" She asked
Andrew was ever ready to answer any questions thrown at him. He raised three of his fingers and dropped one when he stated his reasons.
"The fact that you just called me 'Prince Charming ' shows you like me."
"Two. You definitely want a change, and that's why you made the decision to come."
"Three....." Andrew paused as his gaze swept up to the top floor where Dominic stood. He's eyes met with him and Dominic felt a chill when Andrew smirked at him.
Annabelle waited patiently for the third reason knowing fully well how true the first two were.
"Three, is my ultimate weapon. I guess you could call it my last resolve. " Andrew said with a shrug
"So, you're saying it's a secret?" Annabelle was disappointed at this
"Bingo."
Annabelle nearly cussed but she held herself back.
All these while, Andrea remained silent as she watched the both of them converse freely with each other.
She applauded her brother for how bold he was all the time. For some reason, she found it hard to start a conversation with this pretty lady yet alone make her presence noticed by her. And Annabelle's icy expression was another thing that held her back. What if she had a mean side?
Andrea didn't know when she backed away fearfully but neither Andrew nor Annabelle seemed to noticed, they just continued to talk.
Annabelle inhaled deeply before letting it out slowly, she stared at Andrew who returned the gaze without blinking.
She wanted change. She wanted to feel again and maybe... Just maybe, she wanted to forget everything that happened in the past. But was it actually possible?
"I'll do it." Annabelle said after a while of silence and Dominic's jaw clenched
"I'll be your nanny for a year and see where it leads us, where it leads me." Annabelle said as she stood up
"And if anyone has a problem with that....." She looked up at Dominic whose face had darkened, "They can come right at me." She said expressionlessly before returning her gaze back to Andrew who had a big smile on his face, like he had hit the jackpot triple times.
"How bout we seal it off by signing the contract I prepared?" Andrew offered
"You prepared a contract?" Annabelle's voice rose in surprise while Andrew just giggled as he turned to led the way to his room.
"Man, how old are you?"
"Nine." Andrew replied without looking back
"Is this what the kids of this generation are or is it just you?" Annabelle asked with all sincerity but Andrew just laughed.
"You flatter me Miss Annabelle." He said as he reached the last stair at the top
"I didn't mean that as a compliment though." Annabelle mumbled under her breath.
Andrea watched them go with a sad look on her face, she bit her bottom lip, pushing back the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes.