AFTER ALL THESE YEARS

By Gayle DeGuzman

Her lover disappeared from her life! Where was he for seven long, lonely years? She had given up on him, he became the most undesirable person to her! She had lived a life of struggle, pain and suffering! Then got a second chance in life! Anna Fontell, formerly known as Belle LaFonte was a witty ac

• Language: English
• Publisher: Book Writing Studios
• Release date: May 25, 2023
• ISBN: 9781960756206

Book preview

PART - I

The schoolmates hanging out next to the school cafeteria were mostly guys in their senior years, while their steady girlfriends were in junior high school. The guys loved athletic activities while the young ladies played tennis and frequented the swimming pool. But somehow, they always found time to be together, planning parties or doing other weekends activities. High school days were a fun period in one’s youthful life when love began to make its place in their hearts.

Bradford Lede was no different from the rest, though he was from a privileged family who had originally come from England. His parents were in the investment business. In simpler terms, he was fearless, ambitious, but innately kind! His parents wanted their son to be a banker and investor so that he could take over their holdings in the USA. This was because they dreamed of going back and forth to Europe instead of staying put in New York. They were modern jet setters and were accustomed to the ever-changing world. They were from aristocratic families where customarily, the way was to pair their offspring with descendants of their own peers, either well above or within their own circle of friends!

Garry, Brad’s best friend, was a hardworking student who wanted to take up engineering and become a builder. His girlfriend, Audrey, was in the third year and a classmate of Belle, Brad’s heartthrob. This is why they were always together during break time and campus activities. On weekends, they either played tennis, went swimming, or partied together. It was a foursome of fun and joy, and they had a rule of no hanky-pankeys that they lived by while in high school. Each swore to uphold their promises to one another and decided that no matter what might happen to them, they would search for each other before making any last-ditch decision in their lives!

Brad made a solemn promise to Belle that she would be the only love he wanted in his lifetime!

I will always love you, and no one could ever take me away from you. I’ll search the world over to find you! They were always together for almost the entire day, celebrating their love for each other. He was supposed to see her off to California to visit family but was unable to keep that promise. She never saw him again.

She remembered telling Brad, I hope you can keep that promise, Brad. It’s harder for you because your family is the globe trotter kind, and you don’t know where you will be the following day. And besides, we’re very young. People change. Right now, we care for each other, and our young hearts want to hold on to what we have. I, for one, will keep my promise and make sure we find each other. I will always consider what we feel for each other before we decide to marry another person.

That was the promise they made to each other, but fate separated them. Brad’s parents went back to Europe and took Brad along with them so that he could finish college. Just like Belle had predicted, they could not even guess what was in store for him the next day. They separated without even saying goodbye. They lost touch because Brad did not contact any of them. He had completely disappeared from their lives. When they finished their college degrees, they ventured on their own to find their niche in the field of their studies. Belle was in constant touch with Garry, but when he moved to Washington DC with his girlfriend Audrey for a very challenging job, they lost contact.

Belle, losing their friendship, became more dedicated to her work, competing with men of high caliber. She was dauntless and daring, competitive in nature, and assertive of her talents. She was more conscious of her personal appearance, always being elegantly dressed and described by men as sensually appealing. She did not use that asset to contend with her peers as she was objective in her style and attitude. She was a woman of beauty and brains to reckon with.

After spending seven long and lonely years there, Belle decided to move to California, partially for the weather and partially because being born there, she was more familiar with the place. She had only moved to New York when Brad’s family moved there, and he had asked her to follow him. She had been lucky to have a relative from her dad’s side who took her in. But unfortunately, after graduating from high school, Brad’s family moved to Europe, and she no longer had a reason to stay there.

At an interview, she was ushered by a secretary who told her that the manager of Human Resource had an emergency and had to leave. She said that another one of the department heads was available to meet with her for a visual review. She felt a bit disturbed hearing this because she thought it was discriminatory to base the employment on the looks of a person. She waited and came to the conclusion that this requirement was necessary. The position she was applying for was part of customer service for a huge company. The requirements included being very personable and having a strong appeal of conviction so that they could sell their products and serve their clientele. It was not possible for a lame or poor personality to win the position.

She was still in that meditative mood when she was called to enter the office. She stood before a tall and very good-looking person who greeted her and asked her to sit. He was holding the folder which she had submitted to the secretary earlier.

My name is Hugh Martin, department head of Human Resource, my manager is out, so I have to be the one to meet with you. Your resume is very impressive and sufficiently meets all our requirements needed for the position. Your impeccable personality is very exquisite, commanding attention and respect from a prospective client’s view. Are you amenable to some of the responsibilities that go with the job, Miss Anna Belle Fontell?

Yes, sir, I’ve read all the duties and responsibilities of the position, and I’m perfectly sure I can be of service to your company if I get the job. I’ve been in the business since my part-time days in college, and I’ve developed a knack for service, Belle said, very confidently in a soft but clear voice. Her white teeth showed in a warm smile, captivating the man behind the desk, whose greenish-brown eyes were contemplating on her beautiful face.

Part of the duties is traveling with me to different parts of the country, and at times, as far as foreign countries. Would you be able to do that with short notice? And also, at times you will have to work on weekends or past the normal hours to formulate changes in procedures or to meet clients?

I understand the urgency of the job, and I’m in a position to comply without any complication in my private life. I’m not in a relationship, and I’m free to respond to the call of duty. She looked at him with certainty and confidence. Although perhaps it was not necessary to mention that she was a bit condescending because she did not have a man in her life. But she still wanted to zero in on the job.

Thank you for being straightforward. We’ll be in touch. He stood up, hesitated for a while, then said, Will you be able to work as soon as possible, in case we need you?

I can. I’ve already tendered my resignation with my present employer, and I’m on leave now, taking my earned vacation and sick leave. If accepted, I am available anytime. She stood up as well, and she started to leave as he walked her to the door. Right before he closed the door on her, she was able to thank him.

Thank you, Mr. Martin, for the interview, she said. He smiled and looked her in the eye.

Hugh thought of her declaration of not being in a relationship.

How could an attractive woman of her age be single? He thought to himself. Was she nursing a broken heart or a broken engagement? It could not be unrequited love. No matter how meticulous a man could be, no one would not consider falling for her! Or maybe she is one of those strong-willed women who are coldhearted and uncaring. Being an eligible bachelor himself, he found her very attractive and hoped to know more about her.

It was Wednesday when I had the interview with the guy with the soulful eyes, she thought to herself. I would not mind globe-trotting with him anytime soon. It would be nice for once to experience the company of a handsome guy by my side. There’s nothing wrong with wishing that for a change. She spent the day window shopping in the mall, snacking at a deli, and buying her grocery, after which she headed home. She called Marie to tell her about the interview and about the handsome guy who was a department head who could be her possible companion when traveling on the job. That would be a new experience for her!

It was already Friday after lunch when she was relaxing and listening to soft music when her phone rang. She looked at the caller ID, which said, H. Martin, and she quickly answered.

Hello?

This is Hugh Martin, calling for Miss Anna Fontell. May I speak to her, please. His voice was firm and husky but very clear. It had an unmistakable urgency in it.

Good afternoon, Mr. Martin. This is Anna Fontell. What can I do for you? She answered in an equally amiable tone.

Well, Miss Fontell, after deliberations, we decided that you are the most qualified among the applicants. If you could come to the office on Monday to fill out employment forms, you’ll be able to report for work the following Monday, which will be the first of the month. I’ll see you then, he said, and before hanging up, added, Congratulations!

I will be there, sir, and thank you for calling. Goodbye! She was so happy to have landed the job with a big company. She did not know yet what part of the company she would be assigned, but anywhere they sent her, she knew she could make it. It would be a new life for her. She knew that her search would stop here, where she could finally settle and shape her life!

She was tired of hopping from one company to another, not finding the stability and contentment she was looking for. This company offered her the independence she wanted, to be her own boss and have the choice to work her preferred hours. All she had to do was work with her boss sometimes wherever her expertise was needed, like troubleshooting customer problems and making presentations to newly acquired clients. It was a dream job she took in exchange for her desire to get her MBA degree. That could wait for now. She could pursue it later when she was satisfied with her current position and well settled with the company. At the moment, the job needed her keen knowledge of the service, the new technology, the market, the economy, and the understanding of employees to make a profit for the company. She could troubleshoot, conduct seminars, write up procedures and help the management in the implementation of new applications or newly developed in-house software.

After her appointment, she went shopping for simple, practical yet impressive outfits so that she could work conveniently during the first few days. She would have to spend long hours while getting acquainted with her new responsibilities. She shopped for comfortable shoes, mid-height but not casual.

When she reported for work the following Monday, the other manager of the department she would be working with was away for an emergency meeting and would not be back until the following week. She was alone to study the working process of everyday duties and responsibilities. She met her assistant, Terry, and the other personnel she would be working with on a day-to-day basis. She also got to know the other department managers she would be coordinating with, as well as everyone from the other departments that comprised the business office. She did not see Hugh Martin again and would not until she was needed to assist him.

The following days passed faster than she had expected. She met the manager of the other department she was hired to work with closely. Ted, the Department Coordinator, came with a handsome gentleman and introduced him to Anna.

This is Mason Fletcher, your co-manager who was away for an emergency meeting with some valuable clients, he turned to Mason, Meet Anna Fontell, our new hire to work with you to man and run this department. You guys get acquainted and discuss your schedules. He nodded, went to his own cubicle, and began attending to his work, leaving the two to get acquainted.

Pleased to meet you, Anna. Good that you have come just at the right moment to save us from being run over by the higher-ups. He had a pleasing disposition and gray-blue eyes that were neither bright nor intense. He was moderately mannered but seemed friendly and accommodating. He had a strong jaw, an attractive mouth, pearly white even teeth that showed when he talked, a high bridged nose, and a strong masculine appeal. He was cool but not engaging.

I’m ready to help. Just let me know what priority I should follow to be on the up and up. Next time, I’ll be on top of the problems before you know it, she said, her smile reaching her brownish green eyes that showed a welcoming gleam.

Looking at him, she said to herself, Good that I won’t get distracted by you, having that indifferent attitude towards women!

Fine, let’s go to my office. I would like to hand some clients over to you, and you can start working on them. After a while, when you’re used to the activities, it will become much easier. I know you’re well versed with clients’ unusual and problematic practices. They never seem to follow what we advise.

That gives us the chance to do what is best for them, and I’m sure after a few times, things begin to soak in better, and they are out of the way, she said in a calm way, making sure to make no frantic or mean remark about their clients’ follies. Following him to his office, she saw how organized his area was; each file was categorized in chronological order. He retrieved some of them and filed them up on a table on one side of his office. That’s where he laid all the files he was working on.

"So, this is your work area, cool! I like a spacious place where I