T W E N T Y

•The next day• 

~ DAMIEN ~

I instinctively check my Rolex.

It's 4:30 pm. Anastasia should be on her way by now.

I lean back into the couch, my eyes on my laptop's screen, waiting for the red bars to tip off so I can enter the market.

Suddenly, I can feel my phone vibrating. I groaned, knowing I'd forgotten to put it on silent after Vittorio told me he would get back to me.

I lean forward and slip it towards me with a groan. My mouth parts as I see the name of the caller.

It's Yumi.

Yumi Nakahara, the first twin of the shadow sisters.

I let it ring for a few more seconds before I pick it up and lean into the couch.

“Hi Dami, Are you around?”

I raise an eyebrow in confusion. “I'm around, what?”

“Well, I realised I won't be free tomorrow for the meeting so I'd rescheduled it to today. I'm about to take the elevator right now.” 

“Huh? Yumi, wait—”

But the line goes dead.

Who the hell visits someone's house without informing them prior to the date?

And yes, I'd spoken with the shadow sisters yesterday and the meeting for the contract of the next shipment to Japan was scheduled for tomorrow but now…

I have a bad feeling about this. Maybe it's solely because I've fucked both sisters at the same time during my bachelor hood.

The doorbell chimes and I sigh before placing my laptop on the table.

Trading can wait for now. And I should be done with Nakahara before the market tips to bearish.

I open the door, my face devoid of emotions.

“Ohh, hiii Dami.” She chimes, bending a little.

My eyes rake over her body, wondering if this is a meeting or a stripper club but I say nothing as I usher her in, low-key hoping Anastatia won't come back home until she leaves without me sending her away.

Her father, the head of the Yakuza, is too powerful to be on his shitlist.

We head to the bar and take a stool each before starting to discuss business over wine. 

Some minutes later, I watch her wiggle on her seat, her face scrunched in discomfort but I act oblivious as I bring my cup to my mouth and take another sip.

“Emm, Dami…”

I turn to her, brows raised.

“Can I use the restroom?”

My eyes darts to the corridor leading to my… our room and I want to shake my head but not until,

“I think I just got my period.” She spares her phone a glance, “My calendar says something else. I will need to report this fucking app.” She whispers the last part more to herself than to me.

This is not good.

But I nod. “Go ahead and be fast.”

She flashes me a grin as she hops down from the stool. “Of course. Your wife looks like someone who could bite my head off.”

Ohh, you have no idea.

I turn my attention back to the contract paper on the bar's table while waiting for her to return after the door to the room shuts closed.

Some minutes later, she comes back, smelling like Anastasia's antiseptic handwash, a small smile on her face.

“Thank you.” She says, sitting on the bar stool.

“So what do you say?” She asks. “Is that okay by you?”

I nod thoughtfully as I grab the pen, inputting my signature and finalising the contract.

She packs the documents back into her bag and hops down the stool. “I will send the soft copy to your mail. And I'm looking forward to our next project. Father would be so happy and proud of me.” She says with a small chuckle as she zips her bag and turns to the direction of the door.

I nod, stepping down to impatiently escort her to the door without looking too demanding.

We were halfway to the door when the door clicked open and she came in, looking frustrated just like she looked yesterday after coming back from school.

Her eyes land on Yumi and her eyes dart from me to Yumi and back again before she flashes her a smile.

“Good evening.” Yumi chimes.

She nods, sidestepping her, the smile not reaching her eyes.

.

.

.

~ ANASTASIA ~

I walk through the door, already simmering with frustration after a delightful afternoon with Professor 'I-Hate-My-Students' Saunders. 

But, hey, what's a little academic angst when you've got a warm welcome waiting for you at home? I mean, who needs a hug and a 'how was your day?' when you can have your husband escorting a barely-dressed, Latina-looking goddess out of your house?

No, really, it's not like I just got punched in the gut or anything. I mean, why make a fuss? It's not like I'm the crazy, overreacting type... Oh wait, I totally am. But, you know, we don't do 'fuss' here.

So I just smile sweetly, my eyes darting from the fucker to his Latina babe.

She smiles at me. Like, she fucking smiled!

Then, she walks out, taking with her the smell of her strong perfume which still lingers in the air.

I say nothing to Damien whose mouth is parted as if about to speak as I sidestep him. 

Gosh, heaven knows how much I need to ease myself and have a cold bath.

I dropped my tote bag on the bed and was about to hurry to the toilet when my eyes caught sight of something beside the bed.

I walk towards it, my heart hammering in my throat as I lean down.

Blue lacy panties.

Okay, we do fuss here.

“Damien!” I roar, tears already streaming down my face.

Why was I pained? Why did it feel like there's a hand gripping my heart tightly and why did I find it hard to breathe?

Just… why?

Not again. Not. A. Gain.

He storms into the room, his eyes darting around wildly in alert before they land on me.

I chuckle bitterly. He has abso-fucking-lutely no right to suddenly act worried after railing a Latina!

I point to the panties.

“What the fuck is this?” I ask, my voice breaking.

He steps closer. I didn't even wait for him to spew a lie before storming out of the room, out of the apartment, away from there.

Hector said Rose was his best friend.

I listened not knowing he was spewing lies.

Not again.

I watch the elevator slid close.

He didn't come after me.

The elevator slides open and I'm storming out. Out of the fucking penthouse and into the rain which was beating down every surface.

I run.

I'm a coward. Again.

But I don't listen to my mocking inner voice, I just run. If I have to be a coward so I won't hear lies, then willingly.

“Anastatia!” 

I glance over my shoulders, just to see him running after me in the goddamn rain as tears slip down my face.

But I didn't stop. I continue to run.

“Wait! I can explain!” He shouts.

No. No.

I continue to run wanting to cross the road, pushing more strength into my legs to take me far away from his lying ass. But he's faster. He's about to catch up to me.

Suddenly, I'm about to cross the road when a large truck swivels towards me at fast speed. I stand still in shock and horror as the rain beats down on my being.

“Ana!”

I'm… going to die. Again.