Take the Day Off
Hayley was lazing around the opulent villa, looking like the very picture of privileged insouciance with a
morning glass of red wine in hand and an expensive nightgown draped over her frame. Spread before
her was an indulgent breakfast that the maids had decked out earlier that morning.
Just then, an incoming call interrupted her conversation with Erica, and Hayley quickly said, “I’ll talk to
you soon, Erica. I need to take another call.” With that, she hung up the call with Erica and put May’s
line through. “Hello?”
“Miss Seymour, it’s me, May.”
“You did well last night.”
“Thank you, Miss Seymour. There’s something important I need to tell you, though—Anastasia was
with President Presgrave last night.”
The color drained from Hayley’s face. “What?”
“I was supposed to be writing up an evaluation report with Anastasia last night, but President
Presgrave was there as well, and the both of them left together shortly after.”
Unbridled hatred flashed in Hayley’s eyes as she thought seethingly, So Elliot was the man who
accompanied Anastasia last night? Could he be the man Erica was talking about? The one who looked
a lot like Anastasia’s kid? Damn it! Anastasia must have put on quite the act to earn his sympathy and
prompt his protective side!
Hayley had a feeling that Anastasia had set her eyes on Elliot. She wouldn’t discount the possibility that
the past five years had turned Anastasia into a greedy and shallow woman, though in all fairness, no
woman in her right mind would turn away a fine specimen like Elliot.
Does this mean she’s trying to steal my man? Hayley gritted her teeth and vowed that she would not let
Anastasia get away with her dirty tricks.
That weekend, Anastasia refused to let her son out of her sight, and this continued until Monday rolled
around.
When she had dropped Jared off at the kindergarten and watched him skip happily through the main
entrance, she let out a sigh of relief. Then, upon glancing at the time, she hurried off in the direction of
the company.
After arriving at her office, she took a sip of water. Now that the time was past 10.00AM, she
summoned her courage and grabbed the phone on her desk, thereafter dialing the extension line for
the president’s office.
It wasn’t long before a low and husky male voice sounded on the other line. “Hello?”
“It’s me, Anastasia. I… I’ve decided that I would like to meet your grandmother,” Anastasia said
hesitantly, slightly fumbling with her words. After that night’s event, she thought she ought to stop giving
Elliot such a hard time.
For a few seconds, there was nothing but silence on the other end of the phone. She thought her heart
might drop straight through her stomach when she suddenly heard him ask in a low baritone, “When
are you free?”
“I’ll be free as long as it’s before 3.00PM,” she answered. She needed to pick Jared up from school
later in the day, and she didn’t have time tonight, either.
“Okay, then we’ll go right now,” he said, his voice deep and alluring as he drawled each word over the
phone.
At that moment, it was as if Anastasia’s mind had imploded. Wait, what? Right now? That’s too soon!
“But I have work,” she said, though even she could hear how forced the excuse sounded.
“Take the morning off, then.”
“But I—”
“Do I have to do it for you?” he pressed in amusement.
“No, it’s fine. I’ll do it myself.” She didn’t want to trouble him, and she couldn’t very well risk having
more rumors about them flying around after this.
“Then I’ll see you at the main entrance in ten minutes,” the man said conclusively and rather
authoritatively before he hung up the call.
As such, Anastasia made her way over to Felicia’s office and asked for a day off, claiming that her son,
having been traumatized from the events of that night, needed her company. Naturally, Felicia did not
question her and agreed to her request.
May had only just walked up to Anastasia’s office when she saw the latter packing up her stuff and
grabbing her purse to leave. She asked curiously, “Are you going somewhere, Anastasia?”
“I need to head out for a bit.”
“But I wrote this report and I was hoping you’d go over it for me.”
“Just leave it on my desk!” Anastasia said as she brisk-walked over to the elevators. May blinked and
hurried to catch up.
“Well, I was going down to get some tea to-go, anyway.”
They were both standing at the entrance, and May was scrolling through her phone on purpose while
she hid behind the glass door. She watched as Anastasia stepped forward at the sight of the familiar
Rolls-Royce idling by the curb. Upon looking around to make sure that no one was watching her,
Anastasia quickly opened the door to the passenger seat and slid into the vehicle.
Behind the glass door, May felt her jaw drop wide open. Is Anastasia going on a date with Elliot during
office hours? She hastily snapped a picture of the car and sent it to Hayley.
Meanwhile, Hayley was strolling through the mall and seeking comfort through mindless shopping
when she heard the subtle beep of a new text. She pulled out her phone and clicked into the text from
May, which read, ‘Miss Seymour, this is a picture of Anastasia boarding President Presgrave’s car.
They look like they’re going on a date.’
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