Anita was driving along the highway heading to work, at a high speed and a high music. She only had twenty minutes to get to the office for an appointment but being a Monday morning who was she to say no to sleep?
She was about branching at the junction near the office when she heard strange sounds coming from the engine.
"Not again," she complained as she slowed down and parked the car outside the road.
She got down and walked over to the engine to check but didn't see anything as she didn't know anything about cars.
Remembering she once saw Edwardo touch some wires the other day and it started working she touched the same wires but starting it was dead.
"Aaarg!!!" She screamed frustrated hitting the car with her leg and she felt pain instead of the car.
She winced in pain, limped inside, took her handbag and phone dialing Edwardo's number several times but he did not pick.
"Will my day get any better?" She thought to herself dialing Isabel's number and thankfully she picked on the second ring.
"Hey baby gal," Isa called out on the phone happily but Annie was in no mood for being happy.
The couple were to come for a session last week but due to her sleep she was late and she had to cancel it then today her car has decided to embarrass her.
What explanation was she really going to give them?
"My car has stopped along the way and I have five minutes to get to the office for an appointment. Please, I'm sending you the address as I take a taxi to the office and on my way I'll call my mechanic to come check," she rushed her words locking the door.
"Wait, when did you get a car? Last I checked you have a box, get a car and we won't be in this mess in the first place," Isa responded as a car stopped before her.
"I have gotten a taxi, help me out," she begged.
"Ok, send me the address," Annie smiled finally she had accepted to help though she despises the car.
To Annie it was special and though outdated, old and always with a problem, she still found herself driving it.
"Thank you so much right away," she hanged up getting into the car and telling the driver where she was going as she typed the address on her phone sending it to Isa.
"Can you drive faster?" She requested as she had two minutes, she could see the building where her office was but still seemed so far that they were not getting there.
"This is the fastest I can go ma'am,"
"Allow me drive," she requested and he faced her through the mirror with questioning eyes.
"We are almost there ma'am," he said and she had to accept her fate as her phone started ringing, her secretary.
"Good morning Mira," she greeted calmly.
"Where are you? Your clients have been here for fifteen minutes now,"
"You are joking right? Today is Monday, nobody wakes up early on Monday morning,"
"It's only you who doesn't wake up early on a Monday morning, just be here in five minutes or they are leaving,"
"Engage then for three minutes and I'll be there,"
"Whatever," Mira hanged up and finally the taxi stopped outside the big building.
She paid the driver and he drove away. Annie looked at the building then her watch. Her office was on the third floor and she had three minutes to get there.
Hearing stories of how people get stack in elevator's and some die because help didn't come early, she has always been scared of the elevator, which she has always successfully avoid but this time it seemed like luck was not on her side.
How will she run up the stairs in three minutes? What if she uses the elevator and gets stuck inside? She was confused. Maybe just run to her office, it's better to be tired than stuck.
She made up her mind, removed her shoes and ran inside running up the stairs. Getting to her secretary desk, she was tired and sweating.
"What happened?" Mira asked.
"Long story...," Her statement was interrupted by the couple who walked out of the office and the look on the man's face wasn't funny.
"What sort of nonsense is this? First she cancelled the appointment last time then she comes late. What does she take us for?" He asked.
"Good morning sir, I'm sorry for keeping you waiting. It was due to unavoidable circumstances but I'm here now. I'm so sorry," she apologized and the man looked at her from head to toe then looked at his wife.
"Is she supposed to help us?" He asked and his wife nodded.
"Young lady how old are you?" He questioned.
"Twenty six years sir but I'm turning twenty seven in two months,"
"Have you ever been married before?"
"No sir,"
"This is funny, you want to help us in our marriage yet you have never been married before?"
"I understand you sir but you can't judge before giving it a try. Please let's go in then give it a try if it doesn't work out then I will return your money," she smiled.
She really needed the money and wasn't even planning to refund the money but this is not the first couple she has handled for the three years she has been in this field and all of them have worked out.
She was so sure of herself that she was smiling but Mira wasn't since the time the couple arrived it seemed like their case was on another level and it wouldn't be easy for Annie to help them, she also knew Annie's financial situation at the moment how on earth will she be able to refund them?
"You won't lose anything for trying, will you?" She chuckled seeing them hesitant.
The lady turned heading back into the office followed by her husband and Mira touched Annie's hand stopping her.
"Are you sure about this? There is a possibility the marriage is doomed already,"
She flipped her long eyebrows something she does when deep in thought.
"I need the money and you know it, I'll try my best," she responded and went after them.
"I'm sorry once again, my name is Anita but some people call me Annie you can call me that to. I would love us to start by introducing ourselves,"
"I'm Melissa Gray,"
"I'm Steven Roseland,"
"How long have you guys been married?" She asked.
"Fourteen years with four kids," Melissa responded.
"Why do you want to part ways after fourteen years? That's too long if you ask me,"
"Because I'm tired," Melissa answered and she looked at Steven, he seemed to be thinking alot like having an inner fight.
"You filed for a divorce?" Melissa nodded.
"Then you want to give your marriage a second chance?"
"No, my lawyer suggested this but I'm not for it. I just want to go, I'm tired,"
"Mr. Steven, do you want to give your marriage a second chance?" She turned to him and asked.
"For my kids yes,"
"Can I talk to both of you separately, please. Ladies first," Annie suggested and he didn't say a word,he only got up and walked out.
"Can we talk woman to woman? I guarantee you total discretion. Why are you tired?"
"I love my husband so much and never have I ever thought that one day we will reach here. We were fine till I gave birth to my forth child three years ago and he changed he started coming home late. I gave birth prematurely and had to give more attention to my baby but I was going through a rough time and really needed his support,"
"He was never available then he started cheating on me, I have been patient but I can't go on. He cheats on me with young girls, how I'm I going to take that?" Melissa added.
"Once you have gone separate ways what happens to the kids?"
"I'll go with the last born, she is still young and the rest they will manage with their father,"
"How old is your firstborn?"
"My daughter is twelve years,"
"She needs you more,"
"I know but his family is influential they won't allow me go with all of them. Have you thought of giving your marriage a second chance?"
"I can't after everything he has made me go through, I can't,"
Annie sighed.
"Have you ever won something that is knee high?"
"Yeah but since I gave birth to my daughter, I haven't had time to myself,"
"Can I make your hair for you?" She requested.
"I look bad?"
"Not really can you please allow me?"
Annie to didn't know what she was doing, she didn't look bad but to Annie she didn't look captivating. Annie wanted to know why he cheats on her after fourteen years, that's too much to just walk away.
She was raised in a broken home and the last thing she wanted was someone else to go through the same thing. The moment she heard four kids were involved, she made up her mind to make that marriage work again even it meant using a different way from what she studied.