O N E

~ ANASTASIA ~

The first time I saw him, I was eight years old. He was the boy who'd made my life a misery, the one who'd taken pleasure in my pain.

If there's anything like hate from afar, it would be me to him. But I think I should try to say that to my under-satisfied libido and clenched thighs.

I shake my head, shaking the thoughts off as I rub my thighs together one last time. I have a boy-fucking-friend and lusting for that fucker shouldn't be part of the plan.

He's not just my neighbour.

He's the enemy.

My enemy, and my family's enemy.

Damien fucking Vincenzo is a bastard hiding behind a body that looks to be sculpted by the gods themselves. And if I should get the chance, I will carve his skin, inch by every bloody inch and feed his eyes to the Vultures for everything he made me go through at Crescent high.

And again. I have a boyfriend. My sinfully hot neighbor who's walking around butt naked in a fucking glass penthouse without curtains shouldn't be a distraction right?

I stand up abruptly, my reading chair screeching loudly against the tiled floor as I bolt for my bedside table and snatch my phone away from its charger.

My fingers scroll through my contact list before I hurriedly click on Hector's number. I smoothen my hair with my hands waiting for him to pick the call.

After five rings, he picked the video call but nothing had prepared me for the scene before me. Hector's so-called best friend was the one that picked the call, her fiery red hair was a mess and her eyes looked dazed as if she just woke up from a deep slumber. I've forgotten the bitch's name but do best friends of the opposite sex share beds?

I inhale, keeping my anger at bay. “Where's Hector?”

At the sound of my voice, her hazel eyes flutters open and she gazes into the camera with a smirk.

“Asleep.” She says, turning the camera to her side where Hector was fast asleep, naked from the chest.

I spring to my feet. “What the actual fuck is going on?”

“Shhhhhh.” She coos, “We just finished a round of thorough sex. I'm sure you don't mind, right?”

I see nothing but red. Hector. That bastard.

“Since when?”

“Before you entered the picture.” Then, she cuts the call.

I laugh, dropping my phone on the bed as I grab my belly. It hurts, but I laugh nonetheless. I laughed and cried at the same time. Hector. I… can't believe I'd given him my virginity and my heart. Does he dip his cock into the bitch's pussy and tell me to lick her cum off him? I think it's high time I get my hands soaked in fucking blood.

It's hard to breathe. But I just sit there, letting the cold from the tile seep into my bones. Hector is my first love, and not just any type of first love, but one that I defied my brother for. Maybe this is Karma's way of getting back at me but one thing I know is that heartbreaks hurt like shit.

The sound of my phone vibrating pulls me away from my thoughts and I want to grab the shitty thing and throw it against the wall but I hold myself back when I see the name flashing across my screen.

I bite my lip, letting it ring for more minutes. I don't know why my brother, Alexander, is calling me at this time of the day, but whatever the reason is, I know it won't be a good one. I'd hoped he will leave me the fuck alone after I moved out of the family house and into this glorious penthouse but no, he just doesn't respect boundaries.

Picking up the call, I put it on speaker.

“And will you tell me you haven't been with your phone or were you just dancing to your ringtone?” He asks, his voice a low rumble.

I smile. “You know me too well Alex.”

“How have you been?” He asks with a sigh.

“The guards didn't tell you?” I ask in confusion, picking at my newly manicured pink nails.

And just so you know, but my brother has guards stationed around me who pass him information at every chance they get.

He sighs. “It won't hurt to ask from my little sister her—”

“ —I'm fine. So, tell me why you called.”

He sighs. “There's a meeting tomorrow at home, you should come.” He says, and I hate it.

I hate his tone. He sounds just like father.

“Send me the link.” I say dismissively. “I will join through zoom.”

There's no way in actual hell that I'm going back to that place.

He sighs “Don't be too hard on me, will you?”

“Don't be too hard on yourself.” I bite out.”

“Please…” He wanders off. “Isabella is coming.”

My ears perk up. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.” He says, and I can already imagine him nodding while he sits behind that huge office chair with a victorious grin on his face.

“Time?” I ask.

“Anytime before evening. It's dinner.”

“I didn't say I was hungry Alex but since Isa is coming, I will try to come but I won't promise.”

He laughs. “Claud will be there to pick you after picking Isabella tomorrow.”

I nod, chewing the insides of my mouth.

He's silent, I am too. He sighs. “See you tomorrow Nastya.”

I hum, hurriedly cutting the call.

Perhaps, it's wrong that we grew out of things to say to each other and no matter how we act, one of us keeps widening the gap. Which is me in most cases.

Hector.

I stand up on wobbly feet and strip before changing into a baggy shirt. Sleep. That's my only escape for now. I will be good when I wake up. I promise.