From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent

Daniel had been talking non–stop, and his throat felt dry. Glancing around the room, he asked, “Hey Sherman, got any bottled water in this joint?”

It wasn’t that he had anything against sipping a cup of coffee.

It’s just that Sherman was particular about his stuff, especially his coffee gear. Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

And it wasn’t just the coffee gear. Sherman didn’t like anyone touching his things, not even his mother.

Sherman was an odd duck. He was a loose cannon in his younger days, but his temper had mellowed out a bit since he took to that unworldly lifestyle and went vegan.

But the quirk about his stuff stayed put.

Sherman fished out a bottle of water from a drawer and tossed it to Daniel, who caught it with a

thankful nod.

“Look, if those detectives downtown can’t dig anything up, hand it to the International Department,” Sherman said, leaning back in his chair.

“Got it.” Daniel replied, his mind already churning with plans.

After leaving Sherman’s office, Daniel booted up his laptop and shot Phoenix a message on GlobalGigaNet, “Hey Ace, fancy becoming mates? How about we swap digits?”

Though Phoenix was online, he was giving Daniel the silent treatment, a move that caused a sinking feeling in Daniel’s heart.

Could he have offended Phoenix? Was he still sore about being unfriended last time?

Anxiety knotted Daniel’s stomach as he frantically typed out apologies, “Ace, I’m so sorry. mate. I didn’t mean to unfriend you last time. It was a slip of the thumb. I swear it. Let bygones be bygones, yeah? I’m waiting for your mercy here!”

“Ace…”

Message after message Daniel sent, but Ace remained as responsive as a brick wall.

In desperation, Daniel flipped over to the forum page, only to see that it was all about Phoenix–YC.

Some fans were so starstruck they’d even prefixed their handles with Phoenix.

Anthea had just showered quickly, not expecting to return to a barrage of messages.

She skimmed through them and realized that last time wasn’t a fluke. The bloke had unfriended her. But Anthea wasn’t one to sweat the small stuff. With a flick of her finger, she replied casually, “No worries.”

Seeing her response, Daniel thought his eyes were playing tricks. After rubbing them vigorously

and realizing it wasn’t a mirage, he hurriedly replied, “You’re a saint, Ace! Say, can we be friends on social media?”

Preferring to keep her online life separate, Anthea replied, “We can chat here if necessary.”

That was a typical Ace, cool as a cucumber.

Just then, voices filtered through Anthea’s room. Visitors?

Raising an eyebrow, she snapped her laptop shut, slipped into something more presentable, and headed to the living room.

Anthea found Carole deep in conversation with two strangers – a woman appearing somewhat older than Carole and a young girl.

As Anthea appeared, Carole stood up and introduced them, “Ann, come meet Latonia and Sarah.”

Latonia had been Carole’s confidante since childhood. Although not blood relatives, they might as well have been like sisters, considering how much Carole owed to Latonia’s goodwill over

the years.

The girl, Sarah Allen, Latonia’s daughter, was twenty and quite the looker with her flowing curls and warm smile.

Anthea greeted them politely. “Latonia, Sarah, nice to meet you.”

Latonia stood up, taking Anthea’s hands in hers, her eyes scanning the young woman with open admiration. After a moment, she said with a tearful smile. “Carole, she looks just like you! It’s uncanny, Ann’s got your face!”

In Anthea’s features, one could see traces of Carole and Anthea’s own father. But that was a topic Latonia wouldn’t dare touch in the open.