Her brows hitched up her forehead, "Really?"


    I nodded slowly as I took a big bite of the strawberry, munching silently.


    "Well that''s quite interesting. Sounds like the new administrative team is a fun lover, huh?"


    I rolled my eyes and said nothing.


    "And..." she urged, keeping her gaze steady on me.


    I looked at her, "And what, ra?"


    "You should be getting ready for a party, girl."


    "No," I blurted. "Of course, I''m not going." I scoffed. "Especially not after the cruel way he introduced himself by firing innocent workers."


    "Why won''t you go?"N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    I


    "Didn''t you hear me?"


    "That''s not enough reason, Ana. I think you should go.


    "No, I don''t think so."


    "You should go. You need it."


    "How?" I asked incredibly, "Am I going to be paid extra for going? Nah, I won''t waste my time on that. I will rather stay home and have a good night''s sleep with my baby."


    "Look," she slid the chopped potatoes aside and dropped the knife. I sighed, already able to tell that she was going to give a long convincing speech.


    This one won''t be convincing though because there was no way I was going to go


    that party.


    She stood on the other side of the counter and firmly held my gaze. "Even though you don''t talk about it much, I know these past few months have been hectic. You work yourself tirelessly, Ana," she said softly. You bury yourself in work at every chance you get. If you aren''t spending time with Amie, you''re working. What kind of life is that?"


    "Uh... the good one? The one that makes me and my child''s present and future secured."


    She gaped at me. "No, Ana, it''s the bad one. You need time for yourself, time to socialize and might I say. time to get back in the dating game."


    H


    My Index finger shot up even before I thought of it. "Uhjuh, don''t even go there. I told you, dating is out of the radar. Like cleared out. So never bring it up again."


    "Okay," she chirped with a fake smile, "I''d never bring it up again."


    She would definitely bring it up again.


    "What I am saying is that, you need the chance to be free of all these work you clog your head with, you deserve it."


    "Yeah." I rolled my eyes. "I deserve it but I don''t need it. With a bright smile, I added, "I''m fine."


    "Yes, I know that the party is still rted to work," she continued as if she hadn''t just heard me. "But regardless you should still go." She perked up, "Infact that''s why you should go. It''s work rted, what if a work emergencyes up and you''re the only one who can deal with it."


    "Right," I drawled, "Good one right there."


    She giggled briefly before she turned all serious again. really think you should go. It will be fun."


    "I''m not disputing that it wouldn''t be fun. I just don''t want to go. My mind''s made up."


    She said nothing. Instead, she squinted her eyes at me.


    "What now?" I shifted in my seat.


    "You, Anastasia," she started slowly, "is not ditching ''cause you think Aiden is going to be there, right?"


    "What?"


    "Or "cause you are certain Aiden will be there. Yes, that''s it! I mean he''s the boss so he''d definitely be there. You''re refusing to go because of Aiden!"


    "What are you even saying?" I sputtered, "What''s my business-"


    "It''s not even up to a day and you''re already running away?"


    "Would you let me speak?!" I snapped, "I''m not running away! I have no reason to."


    "Then why are you so adamant on not attending?"


    "1-" I stammered as I thought of why I didn''t want to go. Honestly, I hadn''t even thought about it. I just concluded that I wouldn''t go.


    "Amie!" I blurted loudly, pointing at ra.


    "Yes, mom?"


    Oops. I turned to the entrance of the kitchen to see Amie already there. "How is your painting?"


    "I''m not done," she giggled and ran off.


    ra raised a brow, "Amie. Really?"


    I avoided her gaze. "Yes. I can''t leave her all alone at home and go partying.''


    "Like I can''t stay here with her or take her to my ce.


    "Well, I don''t want to impose or be a bother."


    She dramatically threw her hands in the air. "Are you serious? This isn''t the first time I''m looking after her for you.


    "Well, it''s not a valid reason to leave her."


    She repeatedly blinked at me. ra just had an effortless way of picking at you. And here on, I knew I had no more excuses to give. Chapter 0251


    "Fine!" I threw my hands in the air. "Now stop staring at me like that, please."