"Darius? Where are you going at this time of night?" Noah asked his friend over the phone in an angry and frustrated tone.
"I am going to my office." Darius said while concentrating on the road as he was on his Bluetooth.
"Try to be more specific about your answer, Darius. You have tons of offices in New York. Which office are you going to now? And why? It's freaking ten in the night!" Noah exclaimed.
He got a call a few minutes ago from Darius's driver saying he is not going home to take some rest after so many hours of journey. He was pissed off after hearing that. Darius always pushes himself way too much. And since the time he saw Anastasia, he is always trying to keep himself busy by drowning in overwork. This thing made Noah worried about Darius's health.
"I am going to Henderson fashion corporation to see if you are with the task I have given you." Darius said as he stopped his car just in front of his
"Someone help… please… help…" Anastasia said in a feeble tone.She was sitting in a far corner of the room. She was hugging her knees close to her body in a tight grip while hiding her face there. Her eyes were closed tightly while she was rocking herself back and forth. She was in a daze while continuously asking for help in a whispering tone like mantras.She was controlling her breath with a lot of difficulties. Her whole being was shaking in fear. She was close to losing her consciousness but she was keeping herself awake for herself. She was thinking if she closes her eyes now, she will not awake ever again. The thought itself was enough to let a loud sob leave her mouth. She immediately pressed her mouth tightly to stop the sound as if any kind of sound will help the darkness to engulf her completely.She was continuously mumbling for help while keeping her eyes closed. Suddenly she started to get some flashe
"Wa.. water… water…" Anastasia mumbled in her unconsciousness. She wasn't totally unconscious, more like she was coming back to consciousness slowly.Her eyes were closed as she didn't even have the energy to open her eyes, forget about sitting and getting the water by her own. She was feeling so light of herself. Her world was spinning and there was an irritating sound ringing in her ear. She was feeling like she was dying. What she felt at that moment was worse than dying. Her heart was beating so slowly as if it would stop beating any moment.Darius turned toward her in a swift movement and reached her in one instance while putting the phone down from his ear, inside his pocket. He kneeled down beside her and held her left hand tightly in his right one. He kept his left hand on her hair and started to caress it softly and soothingly. He was looking at her worriedly."Anastasia.. Anastasia, can you hear me?" He a
"You are the great Darius Henderson?!" She exclaimed in shock and widened eyes. "That's me." He confirmed with a curt nod. Her eyes widened as soon as she heard her and sat down properly. She looked at him with astonishment. She almost forgot about the situation she was in and also about what time it was. She forgot everything. She didn't notice the first time when she saw him that he was so breathtakingly handsome. His sharp jawline looked as sharp as a knife which can even cut glass. With his prick bearded face and those chocolate brown orbs looking at her, she felt her heart-melting on the spot. And those silky smooth hair, if only she could run her hands through them. She almost drooled while imagining what he got under his fitted shirt. 'Selena is going to be so angry when she knows that I acted so shamelessly in front of a man. But I can enjoy the moment while it lasts
"CAREFUL!" Darius shouted in a worry-filled tone and got up at lightning speed to catch her just before the time she dropped on the floor. He held her by the waist and pulled her up. She landed on his chest and clutched his shirt in a tight grip as if her life depended on that. When she got up suddenly, she felt a force trying to push her down. She felt dizzy and weak. She suddenly felt her legs go jelly and she couldn't feel any strength on them which made her lose her balance. She was preparing herself for the pain and the second-hand embarrassment as she closed her eyes tightly. But she didn't feel any pain even after it was almost one minute already. She came out of the thoughts of falling down and ever so slowly opened her. She met a dark chocolate brown pair of orbs looking at her with different kinds of emotions swirling on them. The emotions were so strong that she couldn't even face them, descr
"What's happening here?!" Noah looked at the scene in front of him in total astonishment.When Darius cut his call on his face and he decided to pay him a visit at his suite at the Henderson Fashion House, he definitely wasn't expecting this. He was worried about Darius's health and emotional health. He knew that his friend was going through a tough phase and instead of facing it, Darius chose to drown himself in the pressure of work. That's not good at all.So, he immediately got dressed to reach him after their phone conversation. After reaching the building, he went up directly to Darius suite but he was surprised when he didn't find him there. He thought maybe he was at his office to either work or to check the redecorated room. So, then he took the elevator again to reach the office.He was confused when he heard loud voices coming from Darius's office. After he got inside the room without knocking, he got the bigge
"Stop moving so much, woman!" Darius grunted in annoyance while tightening his hold around Anastasia. He was walking toward the elevator, with her still in his arms."I will not stop moving until you put me down. Put me down!" Anastasia exclaimed loudly while struggling some more to get down from his strong grips.Her struggles were like challenges to him and it made him tighten his hold around her some more. He doesn't know why he didn't let Noah drop her off. He doesn't know why he didn't like the idea of her in Noah's arms.What's wrong with him?!But now that he was out of the room with her, away from Noah, he suddenly realised what he did. He instantly regretted his decision and wanted to smack himself hard. This woman in his arms was making things harder for him.Just a few seconds ago, he escaped from getting smacked by her mistakenly while she was throwing her hands and legs arou
"What the hell is my sister doing in your arms?!" A woman exclaimed in horror at the top of her voice as she eyed Anastasia and Darius with widened eyes."Your sister?!" He exclaimed in shock."Yes! She is my sister! What happened to her?! What did you do to her?! Anastasia!" She exclaimed in worry as she reached Darius in quick steps. She kept her hand on Anastasia's forehead to check her temperature. "Oh god! She has temperature! Is she okay?!" She asked again. Her eyes almost shone with tears.How's this possible?! Anastasia's sister?! She never had a sister. She was an only child. Then how come this woman in front of him was her sister? Was she lying? But what's her benefit in doing so? And she genuinely looked worried about Anastasia. Well, now what's this again?!"Anastasia?! Ana? Dear? Open your eyes." She said softly but worry dripped with her every word."Calm down, miss…"
NEXT MORNING"Good morning, sunshine!" Selena wished cheerfully as she came out of the small kitchen with their breakfast in hand and sat down on her chair, opposite Anastasia, after keeping the breakfast on the table."Good morning, moonlight!" Anastasia wished back, with her head down on the table. Her eyes were closed too."Wake up sleepyhead. Don't drool on the dining table." Selena scolded playfully as she pushed Anastasia's head up.Anastasia sat up straight and looked at Selena with sleepy eyes."Why don't you never let me sleep?! I feel sleepy. I feel tired. I want to go back to sleep." Anastasia whined like a five years old. Selena rolled her eyes at her childishness."I think you forgot one more thing that you are feeling right now." Selena said with a wink as she proceeded to open the lid of the food and soon the delicious aroma of the food hit the
He looked at her in shock. He wasn't expecting her to forgive him nor did he expect her to be so blank. Her posture wasn't welcoming at all and he didn't want to fulfill his next set of plans after that. "Th... thank you so much, Anastasia for forgiving me." He stammered while looking down in shame, not knowing what to do or say anymore. "Do you want to say anything else?" She asked in the same monotonous tone which was like some invisible slap for him. He got up from his previous position to stand straight and looked at her with a soft look. He couldn't take her dead look anymore. It was suffocating him and he wanted to leave the place as fast as he could. "Thank you for forgiving me and sorry once again for ruining your special day once again." He said that in a small voice before hurriedly turning around to leave the place. Anastasia was
"Now, it's time for the main event for the day!" The host said on the mic in a cheerful tone and the whole audience in the ballroom shouted a cheer. "Today we have witnessed such an incredible fashion show in the history of fashion. All the dresses were remarkably beautiful, gorgeous and eye stunning which is going to create havoc in the fashion world. Now it's time to get introduced to the creator of the havoc!" The host said and took a mysterious break before announcing the name on the mic. "Let's welcome, the very talented and beautiful and gorgeous, ANASTASIA SAMUEL!" The host announced and the audience shouted loudly once again and the loud sound of claps made the building almost move. From the backstage, Anastasia took a deep breath to calm her raging nerves down. Today is the big day of her life. Today she is going to fulfill her dreams of being a successful fashion designer. Today she is g
A FEW HOURS LATER "Ahh… my heart! It hurts!" Anastasia groaned out loudly as she slowly started to come back to consciousness. She clutched her head tightly with one hand and used the other hand to sit up. Underneath her hand was soft material, meaning she was on bed. She sat up completely and leaned back, at the head board. She finally opens her eyes slowly and looks around in confusion. Her sight was still a little bit fuzzy. She closed her eyes before opening them again and this time was seeing clearer. She looked around the room in confusion as it looked really familiar to her. She looked with more concentration and soon realised where she was. She had mixed feelings about this. She was happy, excited and confused as well. So, without thinking, she hurriedly tried to get down from the bed and that's when she realised what a foolish step it was as her head suddenly spinne
THREE MONTHS LATER "Miss Anastasia, you have to get that thing out of your mind! It's not doing any good to you. You have been through all these previously and you know how worse this can get! You have to keep believing in yourself!" The woman whom Anastasia has been seeing from the past three months said in a tired tone. At that moment, Anastasia thought that it was time to change the therapist. Yes, the woman in front of her was her therapist and she was lying down on the couch present in the room which has become too familiar to her. The therapist has now started to irritate her. She is literally forcing her to believe something which is really hard for her. How can she believe it?! She wasn't stupid or sick now to hallucinate something which she didn't do, was she? No! She has changed and is over that phrase of her life. Now she remembers everything, every happenings of her li
"You are going to regret raising that hand of yours at me." Anastasia threatened in a hard tone while looking at Richard with a glare. Her face was bloody as the father and daughter duo removed all their frustration on her pretty face while she couldn't do anything other than being tied to that chair. So frustrating! If only her hands were untied! She would have showed them the real meaning of torture. They were torturing her because she denied signing the property papers. She knew that at that moment, the more she delayed the longer she lived until someone came to save her. She would die but will never sign those papers. "Oh, yeah? Who is going to make us regret? Your dead body?" Melissa asked and landed another punch on her gut and she coughed blood. But she still managed to smile to irritate Melissa and Richard.
"You are what?!" Everyone except Darius and Colton shouted in disbelief as they looked at the new person in shock."I am Anastasia's uncle." The man said with a proud look on his face as he said that.The man was in his late thirties and was a fine looking man. He has muscles and a strong aura. He was carrying a confident posture. Oddly enough, his facial features matched Anastasia a lot."Unbelievable! She… she is an orphan. She has lost everyone in a tragic accident. How can you be her uncle?" Selena asked in shock."You are right. We both lost our every closed one in the preplanned murder. Be she got saved because she was a lucky charm and I got saved maybe because I was her favourite person in the house." He said and let out a light chuckle after remembering some past memories.Even in that situation, Diana and Selena couldn't help but cru
"So, what was I saying?" Richard asked."Something about my past." She reminded him and he smirked."Right. So, are you excited to know about your past?" He asked with a smirk. She didn't say anything, just kept quiet. But that seemed to anger the psychopath as he landed another slap on her cheeks. She gritted her teeth as she could test blood inside her mouth. That bastard just busted her lips! "Answer me when I ask something. You seem to forget all your manners in this three years, huh?" He shouted at her face.She wanted to shout at him in the face and say that she has changed. She wanted to let him know that she wasn't the meek Anastasia whom he used to torment anymore. She has changed and changed for the better. She is now capable of fighting for herself. She is now capable of protecting herself.But she can't say that. It's going to ruin everything for her. It's going to ruin everything that
"You all must have a lot of questions, right? About how I know her? How am I connected to her? Why am I reacting like this? How do I know that man? So many questions, right?" Selena asked in a small tone while looking at distance with a blank look.Everyone just exchanged worried looks but didn't interfere in her talk. She let out a humourless laugh after a few seconds, confusing everyone more than necessary."You all will be shocked to know that I don't know her recently, three years ago, five years ago or ten years ago. I have known her since she was five and we were six." She said with a sad smile as tears kept rolling down her eyes without any break. She didn't even try to wipe them and let them fall freely."We?" Noah asked in a low tone while looking at her with a small frown. She looked at him with a smile of agony and he felt like it was a stab at his stomach."Me and my identical twin sist
"Anastasia… got kidnapped." He said in a breathless tone and there was a pin drop silent for a second before Selena lost the strength on her legs and was going to fall down.Luckily Noah was close to her and was quick to hold her by her waist before she could drop on the ground and hurt herself."Selena! Be strong! Please! Be strong!" Noah said while taking her in his arms and made her sit down on the couch. She let out a small humourless chuckle, her face was blank, void of any emotions."I… I… must have heard him wrong, right? Anastasia is fine, right? She is… sleeping in the suite. Why did you leave her alone there?! Do you know that she gets nightmares?! She is going to be so scared! I have to go to her! If she has a nightmare, only I can handle her. Oh god! How stupid you are to leave her there alone! Noah, can you please take me to her. I have to be with her." Selena kept blabbering while not giving anyone any chan