Chapter 25.
The morning arrived with the soft light of dawn creeping through the windows, painting the room with a gentle glow. The bedroom was quiet and serene, with only the sound of the gentle breathing of Andrianne as she slept, still wrapped up in the cozy duvet. Steve had been up for a while, sitting in the corner of the room, watching over her and admiring her beauty. He couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia as he gazed upon her.
As the morning light continued to grow, Steve rose from his seat and walked over to the bed. He gazed down at Andrianne with an expression of tenderness, love and sadness all mixed together. He couldn't believe that they had been apart for so long, and he wondered what would happen next. He reached out and gently brushed the hair from her face, revealing her peaceful expression as she slept.
Steve sat back down in the corner of the room and watched as the morning light grew brighter. He wanted to hold Andrianne, but he was afraid that he might wake her up. He just sat there, admiring her beauty and wondering what the future held for them.
After a while, Steve tiptoed out of the bedroom, careful not to wake Andrianne. He made his way to the kitchen, his mind racing with thoughts of what he could prepare for breakfast.
As he opened the fridge, his eyes scanned the shelves for inspiration. He spotted a carton of eggs and pulled them out. He then rummaged through the cupboards and found a bag of flour, some milk, and a stick of butter.
With a sense of purpose, he set to work on making a delicious breakfast. He melted the butter in a frying pan and cracked the eggs into a bowl, whisking them together with a fork. He added the flour and milk to the eggs, creating a smooth batter.
He poured the batter into the frying pan, letting it cook until it was golden brown on one side. Then he carefully flipped it over, allowing the other side to cook until it was perfectly browned.
He served the pancake on a plate and drizzled it with maple syrup. He then grabbed a cup of coffee and headed back to the bedroom, eager to share his creation with Andrianne.
Andrianne slowly opened her eyes and winced at the sudden light that flooded into the room through the window. Her head throbbed with intense pain and she groaned, trying to remember the events of the previous night. The last thing she could recall was dancing on stage, then being pulled away by someone. She turned her head and looked around the room, taking in her surroundings. The walls were painted white and there was a large wardrobe by the side of the bed. She rubbed her eyes and tried to sit up, but as she moved, the duvet fell off and she realized she was not in her own bed.
Panicking, she screamed at the top of her voice, not knowing what to expect. It took a few seconds for her to realize that someone was at the door and had come to her rescue.
Steve rushed into the room, alarmed by Andrianne's screaming. "What's wrong?" he asked, looking around frantically.
Andrianne was sitting up in bed, clutching the sheets tightly. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Steve took a step closer to her. "It's me, Steve. Don't you remember me?" he said, his voice gentle.
Andrianne's eyes widened as she stared at him. "Steve? Steve!" she exclaimed, finally recognizing him.
Steve smiled at her, relieved that she had remembered him. "Yes, it's me. Do you remember what happened last night?"
Andrianne shook her head, her hand pressed against her forehead. "No, I don't. My head is pounding, and I can't remember a thing."
Andrianne's mind raced as she finally recognized the man before her as her first love, Steve. Memories of their past flooded her mind, both good and bad, and it overwhelmed her. She couldn't believe that fate had brought them together again after all these years, and she wasn't sure how to react.
Her heart raced as she stared at him, taking in his strong build and rugged features. She felt a mix of anger and confusion, not sure how to process all her emotions at once. Her body tensed as she realized she was in his house, with no memory of how she had gotten there.
"Steve, why am I here?" she demanded, her voice shaky with fear and uncertainty.
Steve's face softened as he looked at her, and he took a step towards her, his arms outstretched. "Andrianne, please, let me explain."
Andrianne backed away from him, still unsure of what to make of the situation. She couldn't deny the attraction she felt towards him, but she also felt betrayed by the fact that he had brought her here without her knowledge.
"Why should I believe you?" she asked, her eyes darting to the closet where she had seen the guns. "What are those?"
Steve followed her gaze and sighed. "Those are just for protection, Andrianne. I'm not going to hurt you. Please, trust me."
Andrianne wasn't sure if she could trust him, but she felt herself starting to calm down. She took a deep breath and tried to compose herself.
"Okay, fine," she said, her voice still trembling. "But you need to tell me what's going on, Steve. How did I get here?"
Steve sat down on the bed and motioned for her to join him. "I found you last night at the bar, Andrianne. You were drunk and upset, and I didn't want to leave you there. I brought you here so you could sleep it off and make sure you were safe."
Andrianne's mind started to clear as she realized what had happened. She had been so lost in her own thoughts and emotions that she had completely forgotten about the events of the previous night. She felt grateful to Steve for looking out for her, but she still couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal.
"I appreciate you looking out for me, Steve," she said, her voice softening. "But you should have told me. I don't like feeling like I've been taken advantage of."
Steve nodded, understanding her frustration. "I know, Andrianne. I'm sorry. I just didn't want to risk leaving you alone in that state. I promise it won't happen again."
Andrianne nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. But for now, she was content to just be in his presence and let the past and present collide.
Chapter 25.The morning arrived with the soft light of dawn creeping through the windows, painting the room with a gentle glow. The bedroom was quiet and serene, with only the sound of the gentle breathing of Andrianne as she slept, still wrapped up in the cozy duvet. Steve had been up for a while, sitting in the corner of the room, watching over her and admiring her beauty. He couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia as he gazed upon her.As the morning light continued to grow, Steve rose from his seat and walked over to the bed. He gazed down at Andrianne with an expression of tenderness, love and sadness all mixed together. He couldn't believe that they had been apart for so long, and he wondered what would happen next. He reached out and gently brushed the hair from her face, revealing her peaceful expression as she slept.Steve sat back down in the corner of the room and watched as the morning light grew brighter. He wanted to hold Andrianne, but he was afraid that he might wa
Chapter 26.Andrianne's heart began to race and her chest tightened as she tried to catch her breath. She felt like the walls were closing in on her and she couldn't escape. She tried to calm herself down, but her mind was racing, and she couldn't focus on anything.Steve noticed that Andrianne was having a panic attack and quickly rushed to her side. He held her in his arms and whispered words of reassurance to her, telling her that everything was going to be okay. Andrianne struggled to breathe, tears streaming down her face as she clung to Steve.Andrianne was still in shock after what had happened. She couldn't believe that the man she had just spent the night with was her first love. The man she thought she had left behind forever. The man who had broken her heart and left her shattered.As Steve tried to explain himself, Andrianne could feel the panic rising inside of her. She tried to control her breathing, but it was no use. She was having a full-blown panic attack.Her chest
Chapter 27.Lucas was boiling with anger as Andrianne gave him the cold shoulder. He couldn't believe how she could be so nonchalant about her actions, especially after he had been so worried about her the previous night. As he stood there staring at her, his fists clenched tightly, she simply shrugged and told him that she was a grown adult, capable of taking care of herself.With that, she walked away from him and he watched as she walked into her room without a second glance back. Lucas stood there for a moment, his mind racing with anger and frustration. He couldn't understand how she could be so dismissive of his feelings.He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down, but the anger only seemed to grow. He decided that he needed to get out of the house and clear his head. Without another word, he stormed out of the door, slamming it behind him.The sound of the door slamming echoed through the house, causing Andrianne to flinch. She knew that she had hurt Lucas with her di
Chapter 28.Lucas sat behind his desk, looking at his computer screen without actually seeing it. He couldn't focus on anything, not even the emails that kept pouring in. He needed to clear his head and think about what he was going to do.After a few moments, he stood up and walked around his office, pacing back and forth. His mind was racing with thoughts, and he couldn't seem to calm down.He picked up his phone and dialed Emily's number. After a few rings, she picked up."Emily, can you come to my office? I need a file," he said, his voice shaking."Sure, I'll be there in a few minutes," Emily replied, trying to keep her voice steady.When she arrived, she knocked on the door and waited for Lucas to invite her in. Emily walked slowly towards him, her eyes never leaving his. She placed the file on the desk in front of him and stood there, her arms crossed tightly across her chest. Lucas looked up at her and noticed how distant she seemed, her usual bubbly personality nowhere to be
Chapter 29.Andrianne paced back and forth in her room, her mind consumed with worry and fear. She couldn't stop thinking about the guns she saw in Steve's closet. What could he possibly need them for? Was he in trouble? Was he involved in something dangerous?She knew Steve was not a violent person, but the sight of those guns made her feel uneasy. Her mind raced with all the possible scenarios. Maybe he was just an enthusiast, collecting guns as a hobby. But the more she thought about it, the more she convinced herself that something was not right.She tried calling Steve, but he didn't answer. She left a message, asking him to call her back as soon as possible. She couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that was consuming her.As she sat on her bed, staring blankly at the wall, her mind began to wander back to the past. She remembered the time she and Steve had spent together, how they had fallen in love, and how everything had fallen apart. She wondered if there was a connection
Chapter 30.Andrianne tossed and turned in her bed, her mind filled with thoughts of her father's threats and Steve's involvement in dangerous activities. She couldn't bear the thought of talking to Lucas and hearing his justification for not taking her safety seriously.As she tried to calm herself down, she heard a persistent knocking on her door. She groaned and buried her face in her pillow, hoping whoever it was would give up and leave her alone. But the knocking continued, growing louder and more insistent.Andrianne gritted her teeth and reached for her pillow, pressing it over her ears in an attempt to drown out the sound. She couldn't deal with Lucas right now, not when she was so upset and confused.Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the knocking stopped. Andrianne breathed a sigh of relief and listened as Lucas's footsteps retreated down the hallway. She knew he wouldn't give up easily, but she just couldn't face him right now.Feeling drained and overwhelmed, Andri
Chapter 31.Andrianne woke up with a mix of emotions; she was anxious and nervous about meeting up with Carmen. She got up from her bed, stretched and headed for the shower. After a quick shower, she stood in front of her wardrobe for a moment, scanning through her clothes to pick the perfect outfit for the day. She settled for a simple but elegant sundress with a light floral pattern, accessorized with a pair of beige heels, a matching clutch purse, and a pair of earrings.As she got ready, she styled her hair into a loose bun, leaving a few strands to frame her face. She added some light makeup, emphasizing her natural beauty. Satisfied with her look, she grabbed her car keys, and drove to the restaurant where she was to meet Carmen.The restaurant was located in the heart of the city, overlooking the beach with a beautiful view of the ocean. As she entered, she noticed the chic and elegant interior design, with soft lighting and classic decor. The tables were set with pristine whit
Andrianne sat on her bed, still in a daze from the shocking revelation that Steve was working for her father. She couldn't believe it. The man she had trusted and confided in had been lying to her all along. Her thoughts drifted to her mother, who had died mysteriously years ago. Could Steve have had a hand in her death? Andrianne shook her head, trying to dispel the thought. She couldn't jump to conclusions without any evidence.Andrianne heard the knock on her door and knew it was Lucas. She took a deep breath and opened the door. "Hey," he said with a smile. "How was your day?"Andrianne forced a smile. "It was fine, just a little busy with work."Lucas nodded. "I understand. How are you feeling?"Andrianne hesitated for a moment before answering. "I'm okay," she said, trying to sound convincing.Lucas could sense something was wrong, but he didn't push it. "Okay, well let's go downstairs and have dinner. I'm starving."Andrianne followed him down the stairs to the dining room. The