"Let's forget about me. How is the situation now?" Annabelle asked, wanting to take his mind off the topic.
"It is settled. Luckily, no one died."
"That's great to hear." Annabelle sighed in relief.
"But Annabelle, you can always come to me whenever something is bothering you. You don't have to carry the burden alone."
"I know, I know. You're getting emotional."
Annabelle shook her head. She knew Kel was being serious, but she didn't want to burden him with her own problems. He didn't even know how close RA Jewels had come to bankruptcy.
"I am serious."
"I know. Let's leave it. I have other things to handle."
After that, they both went their separate ways.
Annabelle returned to her company and got to work immediately.
There was still a lot to do.
The gold project had to be organized properly, and she needed to make sure everything was ready before the digging could begin.
She worked throughout the afternoon without eating anything.
By 7 p.m., Annabelle finally closed her laptop.
She was tired and hungry, but there was still work waiting for her the following day.
She left the office and drove straight to Jason's villa.
Because of the heavy traffic, she didn't get home until around 8 p.m.
When she entered the house, she saw Jason sitting in the living room with a laptop on his lap.
He was dressed in a black casual shirt and white trousers, completely focused on whatever he was doing.
"Good evening," Annabelle greeted.
"Evening."
Jason didn't take his eyes off the laptop.
Annabelle went upstairs to change before returning to the kitchen.
She had barely entered when she realized she hadn't eaten since morning.
She opened the refrigerator and looked inside before turning towards Jason.
"What would you like to eat?"
"I've eaten."
Annabelle nodded.
"Okay."
"Check the microwave."
She frowned slightly.
"The microwave?"
Jason nodded.
Annabelle walked over to the microwave and opened it.
Inside was a well-prepared meal.
She stared at it for a moment before realizing that it had probably been left there for her.
She looked towards Jason.
"Thank you."
He didn't respond.
Annabelle took the food out and sat down to eat.
The food tasted surprisingly good.
She wondered where it had been ordered from because even the breakfast she had eaten that morning had tasted good.
For someone who barely spoke, Jason seemed to know how to make sure she was fed.
After finishing her meal, Annabelle washed the dishes and was about to return to her room when Jason called her.
"Ms. Bradford."
Annabelle turned around.
"My grandfather will be organizing a banquet for us this weekend. Please make yourself available."
"A banquet?"
"To introduce you as a member of the Grayson family."
Annabelle paused.
So this marriage wasn't going to remain completely private.
"Okay, then."
Jason returned his attention to his laptop.
Their conversation ended as quickly as it had started.
Annabelle shook her head and went upstairs.
She had barely entered her room when her phone rang.
It was her grandfather.
"Grandpa."
"My dear granddaughter, you didn't even call to tell me that you got married. I only found out because my old friend called me."
"I forgot, Grandpa."
"You should have told me. You sounded excited about getting married to him the last time we spoke."
"Grandpa, don't get me wrong."
"I know, I know. I just wanted to hear from you myself."
Annabelle smiled.
"Well, now you know."
"Is the young man treating you well?"
"Yes, Grandpa."
"That's good. That's good."
There was a short pause before her grandfather spoke again.
"Make sure you give me a great-grandchild soon."
"Grandpa!"
Annabelle's face heated up.
"What? Is there anything wrong with what I said?"
"Grandpa, we just got married."
"You should start early."
"Grandpa, please."
Her grandfather laughed and continued talking about having a great-grandchild until Annabelle finally managed to end the conversation.
She didn't tell him that her father was against the marriage.
There was already enough for her to deal with.
After working for a while, Annabelle eventually fell asleep.
The week went by quickly.
Before she knew it, it was Friday, a day before the banquet.
Annabelle went to work very early that morning.
However, even though she felt she had arrived early, she still saw Jason eating breakfast when she came downstairs.
She had noticed it several times throughout the week.
Every morning, he seemed to eat breakfast at almost the same time.
What a strange habit, she thought.
She didn't think about it for long.
Immediately after getting to work, she received a call from Kel.
"Are you free this afternoon? Let's have lunch together."
Annabelle agreed.
The afternoon came quickly, and she went to the restaurant where Kel had made a reservation.
When she arrived, she found him already seated at a table.
"When did you get here?" she asked as she walked over.
"Not quite long."
Kel's assistant, who was standing nearby, looked at him as if he couldn't believe what he had just said.
Not quite long?
Kel had been sitting there for almost an hour.
Annabelle noticed his assistant's expression and looked at Kel suspiciously.
"Don't tell me you've been here for long."
Kel ignored the look.
"Oh, please. Let's eat. I'm starving."
"At least you can feel hunger now. I thought you never felt hungry when you were working."
"Well, I'm not working now."
Annabelle laughed.
They ordered their food and spent the afternoon talking about different things.
For the first time in days, Annabelle found herself relaxing.
Kel was one of the few people around whom she didn't have to constantly think about business.
After they finished eating, Kel suddenly asked,
"Do you have time tomorrow? Let's go to a banquet together."
Annabelle paused.
Tomorrow.
She immediately remembered Jason's banquet.
"No. I'm busy tomorrow."
Kel looked at her.
"Okay, then. No problem."
They continued their conversation for a little while before eventually going their separate ways.
The day went by quickly, and it was time for Annabelle to go home.
When she arrived at the villa, she stopped as soon as she entered.
Several clothes and pairs of shoes had been arranged in the living room.
Three attendants were standing beside Jason's mother.
"Oh, you're back, Ana. Come, come," Jason's mother said excitedly.
She pointed towards the clothes.
"Look at all these clothes. Do you like any of them? Don't pressure yourself if you don't. We can always go to the store ourselves."
"Good evening, Mother. I'll see if I like any of them."
"Don't call me madam. Call me Mother."
"Okay, Mother."
Annabelle looked through the clothes with her mother-in-law until she eventually picked a beautiful maroon dress.
They also selected a matching pair of shoes and a bag.
Later that evening, Annabelle had dinner with Jason and his mother in preparation for the banquet the following day.
As she listened to them talk about the event, Annabelle couldn't help thinking about how strange her life had become.
She had entered Jason's life because of a business deal.
Now, she was about to be introduced to the Grayson family as his wife.
And she still had no idea what to expect from the following day.