Can't hide my affection

Joan was asleep in her room when Annie went in to wake her. "Get up Joan, you've slept all day", Annie said while pulling her. Joan opened her eyes and asked gently, "What's up Annie?". "We're attending a party tonight, did you forget. It's 7pm already, you need to prepare baby", Annie answered. "What!", Joan exclaimed, and sat up. "I only slept for a few hours", she added. "No, you slept for close to five hours after finishing your work. Get up and do the necessary Joan", Annie said. "It's alright, stop nagging, isn't the party by 8pm", Joan replied and got up from the bed. Annie left Joan's room while she prepared for the party.

It was 8pm already and the ladies were ready to set out when Joan's phone rang, it was Fred. "I'm in front of your house, can you come out for a while", he asked. "Alright, I'm coming", Joan answered. She told her friends Fred was outside and she wants to see him. "Someone is going out to meet her man", Maggie said turning to Tracy. "Yeah, and she said she doesn't believe in love", Tracy answered. "She's definitely getting married first", Tracy answered. "You should introduce him to us", Annie said. "Fred and I only have a special connection, you ladies are thinking too much", Joan said and went outside. "Did you hear that Tracy?", Maggie asked. Joan met with Fred and he embraced her. "You got prettier", Fred said. "I've always been pretty", Joan replied. "But your beauty keeps increasing every day", Fred said. "So why are you here", she asked. "Aren't you gonna invite me in, I can't stay outside, I just recovered", Fred replied. "You didn't answer my question", Joan said. "I came to see you of course, I said I was gonna see you yesterday", Fred replied. "I remember when I was sick, someone was acting so sweet to me. Now, she's acting tough, but I love such ladies especially", Fred added. "I'm telling you to bury the idea of having me. You can come in anyway", Joan replied. Fred held her hand and said, "a part of you likes me, but another is trying to resist me. Don't worry, I won't go back on my words", Fred said. Fred went in with Joan and she introduced him to her friends. "Fred, meet my friends, Annie, Maggie and Tracy. We've been friends since high school and we have a good bond", Joan said. "Wow! it's really obvious you guys share a good bond. I have beautiful sisters-in-law", Fred said. "It's nice meeting you Fred, I've heard a lot about you from Joan. She seems to like you a lot, it's love at first sight I think", Maggie said. Fred took a quick glance at Joan before he replied Maggie. "I didn't know Joan liked me this much", Fred answered. "Yes, she does. She was even mentioning you in her dream. She may appear cold on the outside, but has a very warm heart", Tracy said. "Wow! Joan has a lovely personality, I'm impressed", Fred replied. "So, don't let us down. Otherwise, we'll deal with you. Take good care of our baby", Annie said. "Rest assured, I won't disappoint y'all. It's nice meeting you ladies, we'll catch up some other time. I need you to borrow me your friend, no, give her to me for tonight", Fred said. Joan exclaimed and pinched Fred. "How can you say that!", Joan asked. "I need you to be with me tonight, let's go", Fred answered and took her away. "Joan left with her man already, let's go find ours at the party", Maggie said. "Are you going to the party to find someone, Maggie. You're indeed something!", Annie said. "What else! you can easily meet someone", Maggie replied. Annie casted a frown look at her and said, "you're really hopeless Maggie. No man would like you if all you think about is hooking up with them. You should carefully select one sweetie," Annie replied. "Say that again!", Maggie exclaimed. "Let me tell you, I'll definitely find a man before you, someone I love I mean", Maggie added. "It's alright guys, can you stop fighting. Let's go out and have some fun", Tracy said. The ladies went out not long after, while Joan and Fred went for a night date.

"My feelings for you are sincere, believe me", Fred said. "What else are you gonna say. Would you tell me you're not sincere?", Joan asked. "I know I'm telling you about my feelings all of a sudden, but, I find you familiar actually. I mean I think we've met somewhere before", Fred replied. "My sister came back today. And guess what, mum told her about you. So she wants to meet you, she seems to like you", Fred added. "Your sister, do you mean Mitchell?", Joan asked. "Yes, do you know her?", Fred asked. "No, I've only heard about her. She's very good at painting, I've seen some of her works at the company's gallery and I must say she's amazing", Joan answered. "Mitchell is indeed good at what she does. She only has interest in painting and nothing else", Fred replied. "That's amazing! You can ask her if she's free on weekend, so we can meet", Joan said. "Alright, I'll let her know", Fred replied. "So let's talk about us. What are your hobbies, what kind of guys do you like. What kind of food do you like, do you like spicy food?", Fred asked. "Can you take it slowly. I can't answer all at once", Joan replied. "I'm sorry", Fred answered. "It's alright, we'll talk about it slowly", Joan said. Joan smiled at him and said, "let's eat first". Fred smiled back, they talked while they ate and had a great night together.

It was the next day, Joan prepared for work and was ready to set out when Annie called her. "You're leaving already", Annie asked. "Yes. I wanna sort out some files at work", Joan answered. "Alright, you should have a great day at work. Remember not to overwork yourself", Annie said. "Thanks sweetie", Joan replied. "You should gist us when you're back, your date with Fred I mean", Annie said. "You're too gossipy", Joan said. She bid her other friends goodbye and left for work.

At BET

"I heard the Chairman's son will be coming today. I've seen his picture once, he's so handsome", an employee said. "Really! show me his picture", another employee said. "Wow! he's so handsome", the employees exclaimed after seeing his picture. "So, do you think he'll fall for Anita?", Kate asked. "Maybe, maybe not. He might fall for Joan instead", Dave answered. "What! how can you say that. You know the rivalry between Joan and Anita. Yet, you're supporting Joan. Anita is our boss, you should support her. Joan, she's just a ... nevermind", Kate said angrily. "Calm down Kate. We can't decide who he chooses to love. How about we make a bet?", Dave asked. "Alright. What're your conditions", Kate asked. "If he chooses Anita, I'll buy you lunch for a week. But, if he chooses Joan, you'll be the one to buy it instead", Dave answered. "Deal", Kate replied and continued with her work. An announcement was passed to the company staff shortly after. They were asked to prepare to welcome the Chairman's son once he arrives. The employees prepared what they could and gathered in the company hall, all waiting for him. Joan was present with her team members, while Anita was also present with her team members.

Fred arrived in the company not long after, with his assistant, Josh. The employees welcomed him warmly, while the director, Steve introduced him. "Everyone, meet Mr Fred, the only son of the chairman. He's formally entering the company as the president of the group", Steve said and shook hands with Fred. "Thank you Mr Steve, thank you everyone. I hope to have a cordial relationship with y'all and move the company forward", Fred replied. The company staff smiled at him while they appreciated him. Anita approached Fred, extended an handshake and said, "Welcome Mr Fred, I'm Anita. I'm really happy to meet you. I'm in charge of....". "It's nice meeting you, Anita", Fred said and rushed over to where Joan was. "How're you Joan? Were you able to sleep well last night", Fred asked. "I'm good. I was able to get some sleep", Joan replied and smiled shyly. "That's good. Can I take a look at your office?", Fred asked. "Of course you can" Joan replied and took him to her office. "Fred, why did you ask me such questions in the presence of everyone. They might be thinking wildly", Joan said shyly on their way. "It doesn't mean anything, besides it's a good thing to have me with you", Fred answered. "Don't worry, I won't ever act out of line or do something that'll disrupt your work. Trust me", Fred added. "Then I'll take you for your words", Joan replied and smiled. They got to her office and talked a little. Fred left for his designated office after some while, and Joan focused on her work.

Anita returned to her office angrily, while some of her team members gossiped. "Wow! do they know each other. Fred talked so sweetly with Joan", an employee said. "I think so, they're not strangers. It's likely something is going on between them", another employee said. "If it goes on like this, someone's gonna pay for my meals for a week", Dave said to Kate. "You're so annoying. Don't get excited yet, we've just started", Kate replied angrily. "It's obvious Fred likes Joan, from the way he looked at her today and smiled. It seems I would have to switch sides. We need to be on the favorable side", an employee said sadly. "What did you just say?", Kate asked. "I said Joan keeps progressing, we have to think of our future", the employee answered. "Now, what you should think of is how to help Anita and ourselves. Enough, you guys should stop arguing" Dave said. "Can y'all stop shouting!", Anita screamed. "Joan, Joan, it's all about her. She's taking all the credit in the company, the clients likes her, now she's taking the Chairman's son too. Let's see how long she can last, I've been in the company before her. You just wait, I'm taking all of it back", Anita said to herself.