After traveling for nearly forty-five minutes, the car Gary was driving finally arrived at its destination. Aaron and Anne had not opened their mouths since the last conversation. Even when Anne got out of the car, Aaron was still silent.

"Thanks, Aaron, be careful on the road, Gary," Anne spoke softly as soon as she got out of the car.

​​

"Good afternoon, Miss," said Gary quietly. Soon, Gary hit the gas pedal and left Anne alone on the side of the road right in front of the shop.

After Aaron's car was out of sight, Anne then walked to her flower shop which was busy with visitors. Her smile grew when she saw Linda and Paul serving the buyers together. The two employees were not aware of Anne's arrival. They were still busy with customers. Anne's eyes narrowed when she saw the empty cash register with the key still hanging, because she didn't want anything untoward to happen, Anne decided to walk to the counter.

"Altogether 10 pounds, Miss," Paul said pleasantly.

"Okay, please tidy them up. I'll wait at the checkout counter," said the female customer quickly as she walked to the cashier counter where Anne was.

"Can I help you, Miss?" Asked Anne kindly when the customer was in front of her eyes.

"Why, who are you? Aren't there only two workers in this shop?" the customer asked back in surprise when she saw Anne.

"I …"

"Miss Anne! Since when did you come?" Paul shrieked loudly when he saw Anne's presence in the shop.

"A few minutes ago when you were busy," answered Anne softly.

"Y-do you know the lady?" asked the female buyer who was previously served by Paul, asking half whispered to Paul.

"Of course I do, she's Miss Anne. The owner of this shop, my boss," Paul replied with a smile.

"Oh the shop owner, so young and beautiful, huh?" said the woman again.

"And very kind. Please settle the payment with my boss, Miss. She will assist you," said Paul kindly.

After getting an explanation from Paul, the buyer went to the cashier again to pay for the flowers that Paul had prepared.

"Thank you for visiting, Miss," said Anne kindly when giving the change to the buyer.

"You're welcome, Miss, I really like the flowers in this shop. They're still fresh and there are plenty to choose from, and the prices are not too expensive," said the buyer, praising Anne's flower shop.

"Thank God if you like it, Miss, the flowers in my shop were sent directly by the supplier who lives in the suburbs and so the flowers are still fresh when they arrive at the shop," said Anne slowly, trying to explain the origin of the flowers.

"I see. No wonder that all the flowers here are still fresh. Alright then, if you'll excuse me, Miss," the buyer said goodbye politely.

"Thank you for visiting. We look forward for your return!" Paul replied quickly as the buyer he had previously served left the shop.

Not long after, two other buyers served by Linda also settled their payments at the checkout counter with Anne. They both praised the flowers in Anne's shop, just like the previous buyer said. Anne only smiled kindly when her customers liked the flowers in her shop.

Seeing that the shop was quiet again, Linda immediately walked over to Anne. There were many questions she wanted to ask Anne.

"What relationship do you have with that handsome CEO, Anne?"

"Where are you from? Why did you only arrive this late in the afternoon?"

"Actually, what secret are you hiding from me, Anne?"

The impatient Linda then asked all the questions that were lodged in her head.

"Which question do I have to answer first, Linda?" asked Anne quietly.

"All of them. Those are all important questions, Anne," Linda replied quickly.

"Okay, I'll answer everything. I don't have a special relationship with Aaron. We are just ordinary friends, I knew Aaron when I was still living in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. I asked him to lunch, because when he came to class, he said he hasn't had lunch. Hearing that he hasn't eaten I immediately pulled him away, because he has a chronic stomach ulcer. And I had previously been in the house when his ulcer recurred, that's why I pulled him out of the classroom. And well, that's all I want to tell you. I don't keep anything from you," said Anne without pause, honestly.

Linda and Paul were seen looking at each other as soon as Anne spoke at length like that.

"What are you talking about, Anne? I don't understand at all," Linda asked back.

"So when someone talks to you, you listen carefully, Linda," said Anne curtly.

"How can I listen to all your words earlier, you talked so quickly. Try asking Paul, whether he understands your words earlier or not," said Linda quickly trying to protest Anne's words.

"Yes, Miss, you spoke very fast. I don't even understand what you meant," Paul added quietly in response to Linda's words.

Hearing Paul and Linda's protests, Anne then spoke slowly repeating her previous words. When Anne spoke, Linda looked very focused. She really did not expect to hear Anne's confession like that. Even though all this time she thought that Anne had a special relationship with Aaron, considering Aaron often came to see Anne at the shop.

"You're not kidding, are you, Anne?" asked Linda back for the umpteenth time.

"Why would I kid you? We are just friends, Linda. Right now, I don't want to have a relationship with anyone apart from the breakdown of my relationship in the past, I just want to focus on what I'm doing right now," said Anne with confidence. .

"But, Anne, it looks like the handsome CEO really likes you. If he doesn't like you, how could he be willing to come to campus, making the students on campus excited by coming to pick you up. Believe me, Anne, the girls on campus all envy you when they see Aaron Sean Connery came. In fact, I saw clearly that Isabel was very jealous when you pulled Aaron's hand out of the classroom," said Linda again.

"Why are they jealous? What are they jealous about, Linda? I'm nothing. I'm not a child of a celebrity like some other female students. I'm not a model like Isabel or a rich socialite kid like Gabriella. Why are they jealous of me? Don't talk nonsense, Linda," said Anne incredulously at Linda's words.

"How can they not envy you, Anne? You were picked up by Aaron Connery, the young and rich CEO of a fast growing company. Aaron Connery is not only rich, he is also very handsome, so it's only natural that all the girls on campus envy you. Aaron is in love with you, so you really are the most insensitive person in the world. Anne, after what Aaron did for you all this time, you still don't see how he feels for you? You're absolutely unbelievable," Linda said at length, in response to Anne's previous words.

Anne was silent to hear Linda's words for a while. Actually, she knew that Aaron liked her, because Aaron had confessed his feelings to her many times and even proposed to her. But now, Anne really didn't want to be in a relationship with anyone.

"I choose to be alone at this time not without reason, Linda. I want to focus on my current goals and do not want to share my thoughts with others," said Anne quietly, staring at the highway in front of the shop.

Linda could only hear what Anne said, as well as Paul. They tried to accept Anne's enigmatic explanation.

* * *

While in his car, Aaron looked crazy. He cursed and uttered harsh words several times, letting out the chills inside him.

"If you love Jackson Muller more, you don't have to claim to be a widow, Anne! You don't have to talk nonsense like this to reject me! Arrgghhh fuck ...! Jackson Patrick Muller, you bastard!! How dare you come into our lives! Aarrggghh!"

To be Continued