A Plaything For CEO Blackwood

# 54 Reconciliation

It has been two days since Anna set foot back on American soil, she felt out of place in the weather as her body had gotten used to the African sun. Today was Sunday and she wished she could be in that church back in Botswana, singing and dancing like it was a sort of religious club.

Forget about Botswana, let’s talk about complicated relationships. After three days of being snubbed by her best friend, Anna had taken the initiative to call Jennifer and invite her for a peace talk; she couldn’t live with the idea that she was no longer friends with Jennifer Gilbert.

Their friendship was something that happens once in a pink moon, she was the nerdy poor girl back in school while Jennifer was like the hot cheerleader with averagely rich parents, the kind of girl that dates the basketball captain, but somehow they found each other and they got along

Anna was not ready to lose that just yet, she would sacrifice her pride and amend things before they got out of control.

Annabel had arranged the house and made bacon right before the doorbell rang. Of course it had to be Jenny, and she obviously was still mad or she would have used her spare keys. Anna took a deep breath before going to open the door.

As she unlocked the front door and pulled it open, she came to face her supposedly ex best friend with a face like that of a baboon, the frown alone almost got Anna to chuckle, but she knew she had to stay in character. They were both mad at each other and were yet to resolve their differences.

“Wel… Welcome,” Anna stuttered; it was weird seeing Jennifer after such a long time and they didn't jump into each other’s arms and squeal like teenagers then begin to gossip right about the next minute.

“Hmm…” Jenny hummed with a crumpled face and walked inside, rolling her eyes at Anna.

Annabel smiled behind her, she was such a character. She closed the door and followed behind, she met Jenny standing in the sitting room with her handbag clutched firmly to her shoulder like someone was going to snatch it from her.

“Really? Won't you at least sit down?” Anna asked with a little smile.

“No, thank you. Just tell me why you asked me to come here and it better be worth my time.” She cut in quickly while dramatically blowing her bubble gum like a roadside sex worker.

Anna sighed and shook her head. “Fine, I want us to talk,” Anna began.

“About what exactly?” Jennifer replied sharply.

“Come on girl, don’t be like that. Let's talk this out like two adults. What is the problem?”

“I should be asking you. didn’t you say that I was a betrayal and not worthy to be called your best friend? So tell me Anna, what should we be talking about?”

“Alright, I agree that I overstepped. I made use of some unnecessary words but you should understand that I was in a vulnerable position, I was hurt by your actions, Jen and so I acted out of impulse.” She defended herself.

“What actions exactly? Looking out for you? No, I didn’t deserve that lashing out or the bad words, you made it sound like I was your enemy. All I did was look out for you.”

“Come on Jen, I know you think you were looking out for me but you have to agree that you went a bit extreme. I mean, you shared my personal life with a stranger and all for what? No, you didn’t do it for money or material things, you did it out of misconception, you have this idea that I am being misled but that is not true, I promise you.”

“Wow, I thought I was coming here for a civil discussion but this is more of a lecture and insults to my person, you just called me a dummy,” she uttered, dragging up her slacking handbag while enthusiastically expressing her anger.

“What? No I didn’t, okay look… I am sorry if I have offended you with my words, I just want you to understand that I love Jimmy and I appreciate your concern but you have nothing to worry about.” Anna explained.

Jennifer didn’t reply, she just looked away from Anna, finding it difficult to accept those words. Anna came closer to her and held her shoulders but she shook it off.

“I agree that I shouldn’t have shared that info with Mr. Blackwood, he was just difficult to resist and so when he asked me, I found myself blurting out everything, but that is not why you would say all that about me. You called me a bad friend and a hater, girl do you know how much that hurts?”

“Fine… I take back my words, I apologize. I am very sorry, Jennifer. You are my best friend and I love you,” she said and Jennifer immediately shot her a side glance.

“Not in that way of course,” Anna chuckled. “I care for our friendship and I do not want to lose you, so I am very sorry for my words, please forgive me.”

Jennifer feigned anger for a little longer and then she turned to Anna, trying to hold back her smile. “And Jimmy?” she asked with scrutinizing eyes

Anna pressed her lips together to keep back the chuckle. “I am going to look out for any suspicious acts and I will give your argument a chance. If he is guilty of any offense, I will kick him out of my life myself.” She said, just to please Jennifer.

“So you would still be dating him? Fine then, what do I care? I am not the one who would get heartbroken after all, so you do what you want.” She said with a scoff.

Anna finally let the chuckle out. “I will take that as a yes, come give me a hug.” She said and spread her arms.

Jennifer tried to act uninterested as she slowly approached Anna but burst into laughter as Anna pulled her firmly into a tight hug.

“I have missed you so much.” She said amidst squeezing.

“Okay, that is enough,” Jennifer said and playfully pushed her away. “Also, just to be clear, I didn’t sleep with Mr. Blackwood, now I am not saying if I had the chance, I would turn it down, I just want to let you know that it didn’t happen.”

Anna put up a smile to veil her true emotions, “Why are you telling me? What does it matter to me if you sleep with him? He is not my husband.” She blurted and huffed.

But even a blind man could see that those words didn’t come from her heart, the scare on her face was evident to see that the topic ticked her off a bit.

“Okay, whatever. I just thought you should know. After all, you seem to assume the worst of people these days, except when it comes to Jimmy.”

“Come on! Let's just move past that already,” Anna whined.

“Alright! Alright!!” Jennifer threw up her hands in surrender. “What did you cook? I am starving.” She confessed and immediately turned towards the kitchen.

“Awn, you can just say you missed my culinary skills,” Anna laughed as she followed her behind.

** **

Mr. Blackwood sat down in his massive sitting room, drinking from a glass of orange juice. It turns out that his house was in perfect condition. That is right, there was no fire outbreak, not in his house or even in his entire neighborhood.

He had no idea why that person had contacted him with a false alarm, he had tried reaching back to the number but it was out of service, the user must have disconnected it. Why would someone go to such lengths just to prank him?

There was something suspicious about that call and the earlier he identified the caller, the earlier he could get his answers. Why did it feel like someone wanted him back here in New York City? If that was the case, who and why?

!