Chapter 4: His Superwoman
"Look! Who's that woman who came in with Mr. Benton? She's so beautiful and elegant!"
"Wow! Her legs are so straight and thin! I've never seen anyone as beautiful as her!"
"Is she Mr. Benton's fiancée?"
"How is that possible? It can't be!"
Many employees wondered who Annabel was. The most common guess was that she was a business partner. But when she left Rupert and went to the personnel department to sign in, they realized who she was. The news spread through the company instantly.
It turned out the woman with Rupert was Annabel. People were astonished. Didn't they say Annabel was an ugly bumpkin? How could she be so stunningly gorgeous? While Annabel completed the necessary formalities, the secretaries gossiped.
"Annabel is so beautiful! She's even prettier than Heather Norman!" one employee commented.
Nina Jones, the department head, frowned, disdain in her eyes. She said maliciously, "Looks aren't everything. Beauty doesn't change the fact that she's a poor village girl who knows nothing about city life. She's not worthy to be Mr. Benton's wife."
Annabel had just entered the secretarial department when she heard this. A hint of irony flashed in her eyes. She retorted clearly, "If I'm not worthy to be his wife, who is? You?"
Nina's face froze. She looked away, unable to retort. She couldn't afford to offend Annabel.
"Ahem! Mr. Benton told me to treat you like everyone else in this department. You'll receive a fair workload regardless of your status. Here's the document for the advertisement the company is shooting today. It's yours to handle."
With a sneer, Annabel took the document and left. The others surrounded Nina.
"Nina, is it Marcel's shoot? Annabel is new. Don't you think she'll mess it up?"
A spark of mischief gleamed in Nina's eyes. The advertisement featured Marcel Brooks—a young, bad-tempered celebrity. He was difficult to please and work with. People avoided him. She looked forward to seeing Annabel fail on her first day.
As soon as Annabel left, she reviewed the advertisement's process. She raised her eyebrows upon seeing Marcel's name; it was familiar.
In the CEO's office, Rupert's assistant asked, "Nina Jones assigned Marcel's shoot to Miss Hewitt. Should I replace her?" Marcel's older brother was a childhood friend of Rupert's. Everyone knew Marcel had a terrible temper. It was clear Annabel would suffer working with him. Remembering Annabel's words that morning, Rupert replied, "No, let her do it." He would enjoy her suffering.
The company handled all arrangements for the shoot. Annabel and some employees went downstairs to greet Marcel. A few minutes later, a black Bentley arrived.
Marcel emerged, wearing sunglasses. At nineteen, he already had millions of fans worldwide. His fame fueled his arrogance. He held his head high, walking as if he owned the place.
Annabel approached him and offered her hand. "Welcome, Mr. Brooks. I'm Annabel Hewett, in charge of the shoot. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Marcel ignored her handshake and pleasantries. He complained, frowning, "It's so hot. Why didn't you bring an umbrella? Is everything ready? I haven't got time to waste. And get me a coffee before we start. Not a cheap one. I want one from that café downtown. They make the best"
Marcel's words trailed off as he finally saw her face. His jaw dropped.
"Holy moly! Annabel! Am I dreaming?"
He removed his sunglasses, still incredulous. He hugged Annabel excitedly.
"Annabel? Why are you here? You work here? When did this happen? Shouldn't you be traveling the world?"
Annabel stroked Marcel's head, smiling. "Marc, long time no see. What did you want to drink again?"
"Nothing! I didn't say anything. What would you like? I'll get it."
Everyone was stunned. The arrogant Marcel not only hugged Annabel but also spoke politely to her. He even let her stroke his head. Was this really Marcel, or an imposter? Could his respect stem from Annabel being Rupert's fiancée? But he was usually arrogant even around Rupert. What was going on?
The truth was Annabel and Marcel had met two years earlier. Marcel, seventeen at the time, was filming in the countryside near Annabel's home. Some thugs kidnapped him. Annabel, by chance, rescued him. Marcel had watched in fear as she effortlessly beat up the kidnappers. He'd thought he'd die, but she'd rescued him like a superwoman. She invited him home, which, to his surprise, was even bigger than the Downton Abbey mansion. He discovered she was not only kind but also wealthy. He couldn't help but respect her.