Anna's POVI was trying to process what had happened at the office with Dorian. I had gone to his office to seek help and had gotten a job offer instead. Something in his tone suggested to me that it wasn't just a passing thought or a hasty decision done in the heat of the moment. Dorian seemed like someone adept at reading people and who only took decisions after carefully weighing his options. He was serious, and that both excited and scared me.As I walked down the street, I fumbled with my phone, pulling up Daniel's number. I needed to talk to someone, and who better than the person who has linked me up with Dorian in the first place.The phone rang twice before his familiar voice came through. "Anna? How did it go?"I exhaled, leaning against a lamppost as the busy city bustled around me. "It went... different than I expected," I admitted, my voice still a little shaky from everything I was feeling."Different how? Did he turn you down," he asked. His tone was soft, but I cou
Dorian's POV The traffic on the road was light and I was grateful for it. The last thing I wanted after a stressful day was to get stuck in traffic. It also helped that I wasn't the one having to deal with the road directly as my driver was the one doing the driving.I gauged our speed by how fast we moved past the landmarks in the city as I was in the backseat of my white Rolls-Royce.All things considered, it was a smooth ride and I was just about to doze off when my phone rang. I would have ignored it and be none the wiser but it was from my private line which very few people had access to so I knew it had to be important.A partition separated the driver from me so I didn't have to worry about privacy or the lack of it for that matter.“It's Jeff, something interesting just happened,” A gruff voice said on the other end of the line.“Alright. Bring me up to speed,” I said, surprised to hear his voice as I hadn't been expecting any update from him anytime soon. I had put him on
Anna’s POV I opened my eyes, and closed it shut when it came in contact with the light. My head felt heavy and I felt stiff all over. I opened my eyes again this time, it had already adjusted to the light, and then it hit me... I was in a hospital. I was lying in the hospital bed. I tried raising my hands but I noticed an IV hooked up to my arms. It was beeping and it was loud.I tried sitting up but I felt a sharp pain, which made me give up quickly and fell back down on the bed. I exhaled and inhaled trying to remember how I ended up in a hospital. My memory betrayed me as I felt blank as I tried to come up with anything. The text... Dorian texted me... I had dressed up and prepared for the date. I remembered getting into a car. But that was all... Blank. I couldn't remember what happened after that.“Hello?” I called in a whisper.I waited, staring at the door, waiting for someone...anyone to come and tell me what had brought me to the hospital.Finally, a nurse walked in, carry
Anna's POV I placed my hands on the steering wheel as I glanced nervously around me. I was jumpy and suspicious of the people around me whether they were pedestrians or car owners.The journey to my house and out of this hospital lay ahead of me, but my mind was still tangled up with everything that had happened. It all felt like a bad dream. But it was real, every part of it. I was kidnapped. And someone had set me up by using Dorian’s name.I was confused as I don't even know what to even think anymore or what to feel. I was scared witless and confused on turns. Nevertheless I was glad that I was safe but my feelings were mixed up together.Dorian wanted to meet me and I was desperate for answers. Maybe he had some. Maybe he had an idea on whosoever was trying to use his name to kidnap me.When I finally got home, I felt so weak. I had to drag my leg inside my house and I shut the door behind me and just stood there for a minute, looking around at my small, quiet apartment. There
Dorian's POVI stared at Anna's face as she processed the news I conveyed to her. She was trying to process everything and her face told the various stages of emotion she went through. Surprise, pain and was that anger I saw. I wasn't exactly sure.The way she reacted to what I told her was intriguing as was the expression on her face. I took mental notes of everything. It was important I did as I needed to understand her, because I wanted to help her.The moment she heard the words from my mouth about finding her ex-husband, the shock on her face was something else. Her eyes widened in shock and her breathing increased. It was as if I had opened an old wound. She looked very fragile at the moment and an overwhelming urge to hug her came on me but I didn't act on it.I leaned back on my chair, trying to give her space to process whatever was going through her head, I assumed they were not pleasant ones and it was very clear that it stirred something up inside of her.Something that h
Dorian... He doesn't want to tell me... I paused, I didn't ask him again about how he managed to find Marcus. He was sure about his information and he was calm like he knew exactly what he was doing. It isn't a little thing he did just to find Marcus... Not everyone would be able to track Marcus down like Dorian did even though Marcus had gone great lengths to disappear.Marcus had taken everything from me, every dime he could get his hands on, and then vanished without a single trace. Left me broken and with no way of finding him, as if I didn't mattered at all.So, to hear Dorian mention finding him so easily, as if it had been nothing at all... well, it surprised me. I tried not to show it as I kept a straight face, but deep down, I felt like he could probably tell. The way he looked at me, it was as if he knew I was wondering in my mind on how he manage to get the information of the whereabout of Marcus so quickly.The more I kept thinking about it, the more I get to understand t
Anna's POVI never thought that I would shed tear, because I thought I was over Marcus. I thought I had moved on from all the pain he caused me. But here I was, sitting in this place, staring into my glass of red wine, sobbing with tears flowing from my eyes. It didn’t make sense. I tried to stop myself, tried to hold back the tears, but somehow, they kept flowing. How could he just take my money and run away? He is heartless. How could he start a new life while I was left to pick up the pieces? He had the gut to do this to me. All those years I spent supporting him, working hard so he could chase his business ideas. And now, he was doing well without me. It felt unfair. I inhale and exhale trying to calm down but the tears refuse to stop coming out.I didn’t even realize I had let it all pour out.... sobbing... My body shaking. I was so lost in my thoughts and feelings that I completely forgot I wasn’t alone. I didn’t notice when Dorian came to sit beside me. He was quiet, just the
Dorian's POVAnna looked at me with her eyes full of regret... Doubts, and she had this whole idea that she is the reason for Marcus unfortunate behavior... Blaming herself. She kept saying it was her fault that she was holding him back from achieve his dream and she felt like she was nothing but a burden to his life.Her voice was low, as if she was talking to herself more than to me. And before I knew it, I heard myself telling her to stop, to stop tearing herself apart, to stop blaming herself for everything that had gone wrong.The words came out so quickly I almost didn’t recognize them as my own. I wasn’t sure why I’d even said it, but it felt like someone had to pull her out of this pit she was digging for herself. But still… me? Why would I, of all people, be the one to step in like this?It wasn’t like me at all. I was Dorian... the businessman, the one who knew where every line was and never crossed it. I didn’t get mixed up in emotions, didn’t concern myself with people’s p
ANNA'S POVBrenda looked at me and shook her head, "Mr Dorian is not in his office," She gently replied, and I frowned. "What do you mean? Mr Dorian entered his office a few minutes ago, and everyone saw him. What are you saying?" I was getting annoyed. Could it be that Dorian was really avoiding me?"He's not. I don't know where you heard that fake rumor from, but the boss is really not around at the moment," She lied again. A smirk formed on my lips as I stared at the door behind her, "Then, can I go in to check for myself?" I asked, staring at her face. Brenda's expression changed, and she turned cold. "You are a worker here, Anna. Going into your superior's office without his consent and behind his back could land you in trouble, and it could even cost you your job," She warned. "I don't care," I replied frankly. "I don't care if I lose my job or not. Why are you lying when he's clearly in there? Does he not want to see me? You can just tell me that!" I shouted, no longer abl
Anna's POV Immediately, I headed straight to the bathroom, removing my clothes. I turned on the hot water and stepped under the shower, letting it wash over me. I closed my eyes, letting myself relax, just for a second. But that feeling of unease didn’t go away, even with the water pouring over me.When I finally got out, I wrapped myself in a towel, staring at myself in the mirror. My face looked pale, eyes tired, but I couldn’t stay here staring. I had to get ready. This wasn’t some big date where I’d be dressing up to impress someone; it was just a conversation with Dorian. Casual. Simple. But I was very nervous.I slipped into a fresh pair of jeans and a plain blouse, pulling my hair back in a simple ponytail. Not too fancy, nothing that would draw attention. But still, I wanted to look put together. Just enough to feel like myself again, or at least pretend to. One last look in the mirror, and I was out the door, heading back to my car.I drove to the restaurants, and as soon
Sarah's POV Lily rushed quickly to his side and held him while he coughed out blood.It was clear that she was distressed over his condition as she threw caution to the wind not caring that she was in the midst of a battle.“Are you okay? How's your breathing? How many fingers am I holding up,” She inquired as she looked him over.Neron didn't know which of the questions to reply to as he found her reaction to be over the top.Even though he was hurt, he wasn't at the point of death or anything to warrant the care she was showing.He appreciated her concern but he wanted to tell her to concentrate on fighting but he couldn't bring himself to form the words.As she busied herself with inspecting him, the scarf on her head came undone and her red hair flowed freely.Below her, Neron gasped in surprise as he saw her face clearly for the first time.She quickly grabbed the scarf back and put it on but the secret was already out.It was really Serah just as he had suspected.He couldn't d
Anna's POV “Neron!”Lily shouted out as he got to his feet and fell down again.She rushed quickly to his side and held him while he coughed out blood.It was clear that she was distressed over his condition as she threw caution to the wind not caring that she was in the midst of a battle.“Are you okay? How's your breathing? How many fingers am I holding up,” She inquired as she looked him over.Neron didn't know which of the questions to reply to as he found her reaction to be over the top.Even though he was hurt, he wasn't at the point of death or anything to warrant the care she was showing.He appreciated her concern but he wanted to tell her to concentrate on fighting but he couldn't bring himself to form the words.As she busied herself with inspecting him, the scarf on her head came undone and her red hair flowed freely.Below her, Neron gasped in surprise as he saw her face clearly for the first time.She quickly grabbed the scarf back and put it on but the secret was alrea
Anna's POV Neron gasped in pain as he clawed at the ground in an attempt to stand up.His strength was fading as the miasma's poison coursed through him. The more he tried to stand up, the more his legs gave way and after a few futile attempts, he gave up entirely.Each breath was a battle and each slight movement he took tormented him. The Beast circled him drawing closer as though it was playing with a meal.Its eyes were glowing with malice and it was buoyed by its victory over the numerous slain Adventurers.Neron knew that he couldn’t fight anymore in his present condition—for one his body refused to obey him, and his vision swam in and out of focus.“Nero!” A feminine voice cut through the haze, panicked but resolute. His ears quickly picked up the voice and his heart grew warm as he recognised Serah.He had been worried about her as he feared that she was one of the many Adventurers that littered the ground.She stumbled toward him, coughing violently, her hands glowing fa
Anna's POV The sun beat down on a lone figure as he trekked through the vast expanse of a desert. The plentiful mana within him had dulled down to the point where he could no longer feel it as he appeared to have used up a great part of his reserve. The intoxicating surge he’d felt while fighting during the dungeon battle now seemed like a distant memory.He had been traveling for weeks, though he had long since lost track of time. His mind was focused on survival now—something as mundane and exhausting as putting one foot in front of the other.The sand stretched endlessly in every direction he could see and sometimes it shimmered in the midday heat. His throat was dry and parched beyond what healing magic could fix.He hadn’t eaten in days, and though he’d managed to conjure small amounts of water using his abilities, it wasn’t enough to keep his strength up. His legs felt like they were made of lead and it was with an effort that he dragged it through the dunes.With each step,
Dorian's POV Staring at the time, I realized it was quite late already. I closed my eyes and rubbed my forehead. This was one of the days I got to the office late and the feeling wasn't nice at all. "Do you want to rest for today?" My driver asked. I opened my eyes and shook my head. "There's no need to stay at home. I need to work," I replied and picked up my phone. There were several missed calls on it, but none of it belonged to Anna, and that made my heart sink. I stared at my phone for a while, remembering what she said to me last night. The sadness that crept into my heart was indescribable, making me feel the need to leave the office for the day. I swallowed and kept my phone, "Let's go," As much as I didn't feel like going to the office, I knew staying at home wouldn't help either. Anna was someone who had taken root in my heart, and a day off from everything wouldn't uproot her from there. I needed to live my life like I had always done without having to think of h
Anna's POV Styling my hair, I felt slightly nervous. My mind wouldn't stop replaying last night's scene, and I sweated. Seeing Dorian again was something I hadn't truly prepared for, and it made me feel anxious. I let out a deep breath and picked up my phone. It was time to leave home, time to see... Dorian again~ I pressed a finger on my lips and rubbed it gently. Heck, this is hard! I shook my head and dropped my bag on my shoulder. The time wouldn't have waited for me, and as a worker, I needed to get to the office as fast as I could. Leaving the house, my mind wouldn't stop replaying last night's incident, and the more that happened, the more I felt conflicted and wondered if I should just return home. I stared at the company, hiding the thoughts in my mind, but my legs refused to move. A part of me wanted to go in, but a bigger part wanted to run away. It wasn't as if I didn't want to see Dorian... but, Shit! Too nervous~ Way too nervous ~ I hit my forehead and decid
Dorian's POV I held my ground as the mob boss pointed the gun at me. The silly smirk was still plastered on his face and I wanted nothing more than to wipe the smile off his face.“What is this, really? If this is about showing off, you’ve done enough already. So why don’t you tell me what you actually want. What problem do you have with me when I don't even know you.”He chuckled, clearly enjoying my irritation. “You think I’m in charge here? No, I’m just following orders,” he replied with a shrug. “We see everything you do as we have been watching you for a long time. For now, the boss is just toying with you. He wants to see what you’re made of.”I narrowed my eyes, searching his face for any hint of what he was playing at but he appeared sincere which made me all the more confused and annoyed. “And who is this mysterious ‘boss?”He chuckled again, clearly amused by my questions. “Let’s just say he knows you a little better than you’d like. And he doesn’t need you pretending to be