Chapter Seven
He had so grown much taller. His face had matured and he looked far more handsome than ever. His body had become more muscular and could be seen from under the immaculate fitting of his suit. She lowered her eyes, she didn't want him to see her checking him out.
He came close and stood in front of her, "Anna, how have you been?" He breathed, his eyes searching hers, longingly.
She looked up into his eyes, "I'm fine, congratulations on your engagement," she said, softly.
"I I didn't want to," he said, coming closer.
She backed away,"Did you call me to sign the internship papers?" She asked with as much professionalism as she could.
"Are you avoiding me Anna?" he asked with a pained expression.
"No, you're marrying my sister. Let us be just cordial," she said, not looking at him.
"Cordial? I can't be Anna. I'd waited four years for you, can't you see?" He said, coming closer.
Julianna backed away. "It doesn't matter anymore Vincent. You're an engaged man and we should avoid each other," she suggested and he stared at her, with a more pained expression on his face.
"My dad forced me to," said Vincent, still staring at her longingly.
"It's alright. Enjoy your life. I'm sure you will be happy with Sien," she said as her voice wavered, choked with suppressed tears. "Can we sign the documents, I'm getting late," she reminded him.
He went back to his desk with drooping shoulders and took out some papers, stapled together. "You can take it home with you. Read it well, sign and give it to me tomorrow, " he said handing her the papers. He actually wanted to see her again tomorrow.
"Ok," she said, taking the papers. "Is there anything else to be discussed? She asked and he shook his head reluctantly.
"Thank you," she said and turned around and left his room. She went down the elevator and to the parking lot.
Starting her car, she drove home, trying to stop the tears from falling incessantly down her cheeks. She had wanted to hug him, kiss him and lay her head on his shoulder and tell him how much she missed him, but she couldn't.
Vincent sat with his head in his hands. He had waited everyday for the last four years for her. When his father wanted him to marry Sienna he had fought tooth and nail with him. He did everything in his capacity to oppose the marriage. He fasted, he drank, he screamed at his parents, he didn't return home, he told his parents that he loved Julianna, but to no avail. His dad only wanted Sienna.
Vincent was frustrated. If he didn't listen to his dad, he threatened to pull out his investments in the McCoy firm. He himself wouldn't get anything in his own company. His father threatened to give it all to his cousin, Steven.
He didn't like Sienna. He hated her for her coldness and arrogance. He knew that she didn't behave well with Julianna. He too didn't get on well with her. He had to see her daily at his university where he was pursuing his MBA. She was in the same class as him. They hardly ever talked. He didn't bother and neither did she.
He closed his eyes and thought about Julianna. She had grown so beautiful. He thought how gorgeous her body looked. She had grown up nicely into a woman with a full and enticingly gorgeous figure. He tried to pull her into his arms, to feel her softness against him but she backed away everytime.
He would break his engagement if it was the last thing he did. He swore in his mind that he would never marry Sienna but if he did anything now, his dad might take some action against him. So he needed to lie low and go along with the flow of things.
He couldn't wait to see her tomorrow. He went home late. He didn't want to face his dad.
Julianna picked up the document that Vincent gave her. Her eyes blurred as she only thought about what he told her,
I've waited four years for you
If only he wasn't engaged to her sister. She would have told him how much he meant to her. How much she too had missed him but now it doesn't matter anymore. Her feelings didn't matter.
She sighed deeply and signed the papers, keeping them away and going to bed to sleep. She would go in a bus tomorrow onwards, she didn't need a car. She would buy a car with her internship money.
The next after college, she got ready for work. Wearing a white blouse and a burgundy pencil skirt, she pulled her hair into a bun and went outside. Sienna was parking her car. Her classes might have gotten over early.
Julianna didn't say a word to her. Sienna didn't like her, so it was better that she took a bus to work. Sienna looked at her with exasperation as if irritated that she would now ask for her car. Julianna never asked for anything from her older sister. If her father hadn't been so persistent yesterday, she wouldn't have taken Sienna's car at all.
She looked at her older sister and flashed a small smile and walked down the road to the bus stop with her head down. Sienna stood transfixed to the spot and watched her wordlessly. A bus came and Julianna climbed onto it. She had worn her flat pumps as it was comfortable to commute in it.
She reached her office tiring minutes. Going up the elevator she reached her cubicle. Arthur had already sent her the work that needed to be done through tye company's email. She started her day and was so immersed in her work that she didn't see a woman standing in front of her desk.
"Are you Julianna McCoy?" She asked, inspecting Julianna minutely.
Julianna looked up at her, "Yes, " she said.
"I'm Rosemary Davis, Mr Martin's secretary. He has summoned you to his office, right now," she said in an agitated tone. Julianna nodded and saved her work.
Rosemary Davis was a thirty-five year old capable secretary having worked for Leroy Martin as well as his son, Vincent. She never saw Vincent so irritated and fidgety in all the years that she'd been working for him. He kept enquiring if Julianna McCoy had arrived at office. Now that she saw Julianna, she could understand why. The girl was barely twenty and too gorgeous for her own good.
Julianna locked her computer and picking up the signed documents, she got up to go with her. She led her to Vincent's office. Seeing her inside, Rosemary closed the door and walked away. Julianna turned around and bumped into a hard chest.
