A.N. I notice how readers leave comments asking for when an update is coming, but when an update comes they won't take a few seconds and leave encouraging comment. Please no "update please" or "when will you update this book?" type of comment, it doesn't encourage me. I publish here because I love writing and because I love my readers nothing more. Anyway, if you like it, comment and get engaged with it and encourage me to continue. Thank you ❤❤

"Anger, resentment and jealousy doesn't change the heart of others-- it only changes yours."
~Shannon Alde

The next few days that followed I stuck I kept my distance as well as communication with Elizabeth, partly because I wanted to avoid all forms of confrontation with Jumia and also because I didn't want any troubles with Anna, a lot was at stake, including Luke and Paula safety. I don't want to cause more harm to anyone than I already have and doing this now, is doing more good than harm even though it doesn't look like it.

Luke was good to me and I didn't want any harm coming to him because of me and Elizabeth shouldn't be fighting with her daughter because of me either.

Elizabeth called the day that followed to apologize for Jumai's behaviour, but I told her that there wasn't a need to apologise. Jumai was so blunt and cruel with her words and I thought she'd taken it too far with her accusations about Anna's character, and even if Anna was who Jumai said she was, my loyalty was with her and not anyone else.

Elizabeth tried to invite me over for coffee but I turned her down and told her that I was busy even though I could have made time if I wanted to. I told her it was for the best if I stayed away so that she wouldn't fight her daughter everyone. She told me I didn't have to push her away but that's was what Jumai wanted and also what Anna would want as well and I worked for her.

I wasn't surprised when Eli called to ask what had happened. My firm decision to stay off had hurt Elizabeth and she probably told him when he called to check up on her.

"Eli, I promise, nothing happened. I just don't want to see your mom and grandma going head to head because of me again." She closes the door and approaches her desk to take a seat.

"Grandma told me that mother called you awful names." He pointed out already having a sad tone. I couldn't take any emotion that would guilt me over the decision I've already made.

"Eli can we not go into all that?"

"No, Anna, mother hurt you with what she said and now you are taking it out on grandma and yourself."

"Eli please..." I plead and it was me warning him to drop it.

"Anna you have to-"

"I don't want to talk about it!" I snap, causing Francis to turn to me quickly. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap, I just want you to let it go."

There is silence on Eli's end, and soon afterwards he sighs, "Fine, Anna, do what you want to do, I just hope you're okay."

We barely said more than that before ending the call and I drop the phone onto the desk. And bury my face in my hands. Eli will never understand why I do what I do and I don't mean to hurt him or be unruly but things are not always black and white. Keeping my distance will not just save fight, it would also keep me from getting on Anna's bad side which will, in turn, keep those I care about safe.

"Are you okay, ma'am?" Francis asks and I peek at him through my separated fingers.

"Yeah? Why?" I ask, giving him narrowed eyes.

He shrugs, "Well just curious, you been different the last few days. I mean last week was your best, you were happy and full of energy and this week you seem to have gone back to your old ways."

I am puzzled and it is obvious, "You have a problem with my old ways?"

He shakes his head and moves closer, "I like you, either way, I just think you are better when you're happy and I want you to be happy."

"Well, Francis, there is something called life and it would never let us be happy all the time otherwise we will be living a fairytale which would be a lie. But thanks for your observation."

I have religiously followed the rules in the past few days and I will continue to do that because that's the only way to stay on the safer side.

I closed early and having promised Eli I'd stay at his place in his absence, I make my way over after closing from work every day. I didn't feel so well about falling out with Eli, but I am supposed to be Anna and do what she does, and at that moment, she would only think about her feelings.

I paid a visit to Mike's salon to have my hair redone as it's the every week routine on the calendar and Mike being an expert that he is does his magic and my hair returns with curls and beauty, even more than before. I continued to have my nails redone, requesting only the colour specified in the calendar as well and after three hours, I am ready to leave.

I step into the house and just like always it is heavily quiet and it's almost as if no one's home. I do not bother myself much and instead make my way up the stairs to my room. Nneka was probably out daydreaming about Caleb the gardener whom she's been crushing on and I know because I'd seen her through the window a couple of times gawking at him while he worked in the gardens.

I don't have a problem with whom she chooses to crush on, in fact, I consider her lucky to be able to feel something because one has to have freedom before he or she can like someone. And as it so happens, I do not have such freedom over my emotions or actions and I won't for the next eleven days.

A small knock comes on my door while I'm about to take off my clothes and I purse and turn towards the direction where the door is.

"Who's there?" I ask.

After a while of being silent, "It's me, Rosalina, Ms Wilson, open the door."

I'm a little lost at this moment because I've been in this house in the last five days and last week I was here for three days and the highest I ever got from Rosalina was a nod after she formally greeted me. Having her at my door now makes a lot of questions run through my head and I don't know what I am supposed to do.

Nonetheless, "Wait a second," I said and I move towards the door and open it. She enters inside and I close the door, "May I help you with something?" I ask, trying to not sound nervous around her and give myself away.

Unlike for Jumai and Catherine, my instructions for Rosalina were to get along with her and as much as possible keep to myself and I didn't want to ruin those rules.

Rule #20 As much as you can, get along with Rosalina. In the last three days, I haven't broken any rule or obligation, I didn't intend to start now.

"You no longer come downstairs for dinner." She stated, it wasn't a question, it was an observation and I pause and waited for her, "Eli also called me today, he doesn't know what his mother said, but he thinks you're taking it out on him and grandma."

Oh wow, now I know why she's Eli's godmother, he can't keep a thing away from her, "I came to ask if you could for Eli's sake work things out with Elizabeth."

I folded my arms and stepped towards her, "Why would I do that? As it turns out, you're only coming to me now because you need my help."

"I'm not the only one in need of this, Eli is. He's the only reason I am here."

"His mother called me a whore as well as other mean words, I can't go back there and be reminded of them again."

She nods in understanding, "You're right, Jumai did and it isn't fair to take it out on Elizabeth and if you can't go back there, then let her come here. You're right, Anna, I haven't been welcoming and just like Jumai, I have been protective of Eli as well, but this past week you made him so happy that I knew you cared for him and you being mad at him isn't going to help him fare well where he is."

Her words are convincing but it is not as easy as it seems, and I wish I could tell her that I was not Anna but I know that would be worse than suicide.

"I'll think about it, Rosalina, at the moment I have a lot of works, assignment, the wedding preparations, and adding grandma Elizabeth to the list isn't going to be as easy as it sounds, but I'll try "

For the first time since I've known her, she smiles and her eyes sparkles which almost makes me smile, "Thank you, Anna, you don't know how happy that is going to make Elizabeth." She states with joy before taking her leave.