Love Struck (The Taylor Brothers Book 4)

The whole family went to the hospital to see her mom. The death certificate would take nearly 48 hours to be prepared. Annalise's mom had no family after her mother died twenty years ago so they didn't have anyone to call. Her dad was in a coma for the last six months with no improvement so the funeral would take place as soon as the death certificate was issued. In the meantime her uncle would make the necessary arrangements.

Annalise hugged a distraught Alexis and Aries to herself. They had to face so much at such a young age. All three of them sobbed brokenly. They now had only a father who was in reality absent from their lives. Aunt Emily and Erik tried to comfort them as much as they could. After checking up on her dad, Annalise returned back to her aunt's house along with everyone else.

The next morning, she continued with her routine of first going to college and then work. With her uncle making preparations for the funeral, there wasn't much to do at home. Erik dropped her at the restaurant. She met Susan on her way inside and briefed her quickly. Then both went inside and started her day without much ado. Chef Garner was displeased with her for not appearing for duty the previous day and overworked her. Annalise didn't complain.

On her way back from the washroom, Trent summoned her. "Hey Annalise, can you get three coffee please. I'm craving your delicious café latte and so is Greg here. Get one for Nelson too, please, " he said with a grin. Greg clasped his hands melodramatically.

"Yes please," said Greg with puppy dog eyes. Annalise smiled faintly.

"Okay," she said softly and went to quickly make their coffee while chef Garner was having his lunch. She handed Trent and Greg theirs and they thanked her. She carried Nelson's coffee to his office room. The moment she peeped inside, Nelson seethed at the sight of her.

He had waited the whole of yesterday for her but she seemed busy with the rich Mercedes guy. Nelson saw him drop her to work from his office window. Here she claimed to love Nelson while she went home with the rich guy and after spending a whole day with him, she finally came to work today. "What do you want?" Asked Nelson with a pissed off expression on his face.

"I just came to give you your coffee, " she told him with a smile, coming inside and placing the coffee on his table.

"I didn't ask for any coffee? Nice try," he said sarcastically. Annalise looked at his face confused by his words.

"Sorry, I didn't get you, Nelson, " she whispered.

"Nice try to hook me to have an affair with you. Well, let me make it clear before you get any false hopes. I don't entertain wh*res. Aren't you satisfied with that catch?" Asked Nelson as Annalise stood with a shocked face, not knowing what he was saying.

"Don't act all innocent with me. I know what you are. I saw you hooking a rich customer and after spending a whole f*cking day with him, you have the audacity to approach me?" He gritted out.

"What are you saying, Nelson? I just brought you coffee," she mumbled, shocked and hurt by his words.

"I'm Sir to you. Don't forget your place. This restaurant is mine and I won't allow wh*res like you to spoil it's name. Next time you catch a customer here, I'll have you thrown out of this place, " yelled Nelson.

"I don't understand what you're talking about," she mumbled. "I..."

"Enough. I don't want to hear your lame excuses. Get out and take that coffee with you," he growled. Annalise's hands trembled after hearing that insult from her green-eyed savior. She had never expected him to have so much venom in him. After all he did believe Adam, she realized. She picked upthe coffee and walked back to the kitchen dazedly. His words had hurt him more than anything else in the world.

"What happened Annalise? Didn't Nelson accept the coffee?" Asked Trent with concern.

Annalise shook her head quietly. "You can give me the coffee," said Trent. He had overheard a little of what Nelson said to her and felt extremely bad for her.

"Yeah, don't feel bad Anna. He's the Nelson Taylor, owner of this restaurant, a big shot. His tastes don't match with ours," said Greg, feeling bad for her. Annalise nodded and placed the coffee on their table and left quietly without a word. So he wasn't her green-eyed savior. He wasn't her Nelson. He was Nelson Taylor, her employer and owner of this place. Well then, she would stay away from him. She worked in the kitchen helping chef Garner but her mind was on what Nelson accused her of doing. She had no clue as to what gave him the idea that she was hooking up with customers here in this restaurant. She pondered over his accusations yet couldn't come out with any explanation.

Her duty was over and Erik came to pick her up from work. "What's wrong Anna? Are you unwell? You look pale and stressed. Why do need to overwork yourself like this?" He asked as he started the ignition.

"No, I'm fine, Erik, " she told him, then as she turned to look out of the car window. To her surprise, she saw Nelson watching her from his office window. There was an angry scowl on his face as he clenched and unclenched his teeth staring at her and Erik. It was then that realization dawned upon her. Everything became crystal clear to her. After seeing her with Erik, Nelson might have concluded that he was her customer. She closed her eyes. How could he jump to such a conclusion without asking her? How could he blindly believe Adam? He could have asked her before jumping to such a conclusion. Annalise felt very hurt. Her green-eyed savior was just a figment of her imagination. There's no such person. This real Nelson wasn't the one she met that day at Adam's house.

Her mom's funeral was arranged two days later. All the arrangements had been made. The atmosphere at home was tense and dismal as everyone was too numb with grief. Annalise had the added responsibility of her younger siblings who were too dependent upon her. Although her uncle, aunt and all her cousins were very caring and loving, yet Annalise, Aries and Alexis missed their parents. They just couldn't come to terms with their mom's sudden demise.

Although her uncle and aunt wanted her to discontinue work, yet Annalise didn't want to be a burden upon their shoulders. She continued with her daily routine without a break. Any other person would have been unable to continue under such circumstances but Annalise was a fighter. She knew her responsibilities as the oldest of three siblings and did her best to fulfill them. However, Erik like a caring old brother, didn't listen to any of her objections and continued to drop her at work and pick her up again in the evening.

The next day, Annalise didn't get much break. She had seen that Nelson had watched her being dropped by Erik and knew that he might have made his own conclusions but she didn't want to face him yet. So she quietly worked in the kitchen without interacting much with anyone. Her duty was nearly over and she rushed to the washroom. On her way back, she was stopped by Greg in the corridor.

"Hey Anna, I was waiting to talk to you the whole day," he said, catching her wrist to stop her from dashing off.

"What is it, Greg?" She asked warily.

"My friends are all going to a party with their dates. I don't have anyone but I like you immensely. Please will you be my date and accompany me, Anna?" Asked Greg hopefully. Annalise was too stunned by his direct question to react. But before she could answer, a furious Nelson who had been listening to their conversation just around the corner strode past them muttering curses. Annalise's jaws dropped at his behavior. What was wrong with him?

When Nelson was gone, Greg looked at her. "I'm waiting for your answer Anna, " he prompted her.

"I'm not interested in going anywhere, Greg, sorry," said Annalise, extricating her hand from his hold.

"Okay, we won't go anywhere. Just have dinner with me here?" Asked Greg hopefully.

"I'm not interested in anyone or anything, Greg. Please understand, " said Annalise.

"That's a lie. You're interested in rich guys. I'm not rich like him, right?" Asked Greg, with eyes flashing with anger.

"That rich guy is my brother. What's wrong with the whole lot of you? My mom died yesterday. My dad's lying in the hospital in a coma. I have two younger siblings to take care of. So how the hell do you think I can be interested in these things right now? Just leave me alone, Greg," she told him and ran away, leaving a stunned Greg standing there.