Chapter 2

Anna's Pov. 

I felt detached, it was like I was trapped in a distorted reality where I had no idea of what was happening. This was going to be my worst nightmare and I knew it, it was like Elijah put up a facade while he was being intimate with me earlier. 

I was already staying too long at the Hernandez mansion so I had to leave.

I had finally arrived home and noticed my father seated in the living room. Trying so much to pass by my father so quietly, I heard him call out.

 “Anna.”

My father's presence in the living room made my heart sink, the events that happened at the Hernandez mansion were stuck in my memories like a growing mold. 

“Do you need anything dad?” My voice gave off a bland tone. It would be pretty obvious to anyone that I wasn't really interested in having a conversation with anyone, especially him. 

“Sit,” he pointed for me to sit on the couch opposite him. His wife was not here so I was a bit relaxed. None of us said anything at first, the silence cutting deep through the space between us. 

If looks could kill, I was pretty sure I would have been dead with the kind of look my father was giving me. 

“You know I have known you for years now, and I know the kind of nasty behavior you have. You had better think twice before messing this marriage up. I want you to give their son everything he wants, even down to when he needs satisfaction in bed.”

The thought of even giving myself cheaply to a man like Elijah made my blood boil. My face went bright red with anger but I had learnt earlier on to keep my outburst to myself. 

“Now get out of my sight,” his voice was harsh.  

I didn't even bother to give him a reply before I dashed up into my room. Immediately I entered my room, I slammed myself on my bed, my face directly smashed in between my pillows. 

Since it had resulted into getting married from a billionaire family with high social status, it was only appropriate for me to quit my job as a clerk. 

Earlier last week, I heard about a vacancy in one of EH holdings. They needed a personal assistant for the boss. I contemplated on whether or not that I should apply there. 

I reached into my bag that I carelessly flung on my bed for my phone. I unlocked the phone and went onto their website. Luckily for me, the position was still open. After I submitted, it said I would be due for an interview tomorrow. 

‘Not bad.’

I stifled a yawn as I was already so tired. It was already late so I had to get some sleep. I knew my step mother wouldn't make any dinner for me so I made sure to have dinner before returning home. 

             **.**..**********.*******

The loud annoying sound from my phone's alarm made me jerk up from my sleep. I grudgingly reached over at the other side of the bed to turn it off. 

I stifled a yawn and rubbed my eyes. Just for a brief moment, I had a flashback of my life when my parents were still together with me and my brother around. There was a sense of belonging that I felt back then with them. My mother's death, brother's disappearance and my father's sudden transformation all seemed like I was in a daze. It was like a festering wound that was always there hurting. 

The shrill sound of my alarm blaring in my ear brought me back to the present. I glanced at my phone and saw that I had spent too much time thinking of the past, I needed to move forward. 

While I was still dressing myself up for the interview, I heard a sharp knock at the door. “I will need you to get me some groceries when you are done,” Victoria called out without any courtesy. 

I have been the one going to get the groceries right from when I could remember. Barbara never does anything in the house than prance around with different guys. I didn't bother to argue with Victoria because it was pointless. I was just going to have to get the groceries all the same.

I finally got dressed in a plain black skirt along with a blue chiffon top and I paired it with some black loafers. I tried my best to look decent and corporate. 

I descended the stairs, “Where are you off to dress so bland?” Victoria raised her eyebrows. Her band time gave off the insinuation that she was bored and disgusted by how I looked. I couldn't really explain what she was thinking but I knew it was not something good. 

“Just somewhere briefly,” I responded vaguely. I never wanted to engage with her so I darted out of the house, eager to get the interview done. 

Immediately I arrived at EH holdings, I hastened my steps inside to get the interview done with.

The receptionist raised her head up, curious about what I needed. “Hi miss, how can I help you?”

“Urhmm-I am here for the interview for the post available,” I nervously clutched my black hand bag in my hand. 

“Alright. You mean the interview for the post of the CEO's personal assistant. Just take the elevator up to the second floor,” she directed to her left hand side. 

“Thank you.”

The interview went as a blur as there were workers moving from place to place around the building. I was interviewed by the company's HR manager and one other colleague named Mr Thompson. I was told that I would receive an email two days later. 

‘I hope I pass this. At least it would be nice to have something finally work out for me.’

I couldn't imagine the kind of wrath I would face at home if I forgot to get the groceries. I quickened my steps towards the nearest grocery store to get the things Victoria sent me. 

My joy and sense of hope was short-lived when I got home. Barbara and my stepmother were waiting for me in the living room, their faces twisted with sneers. Barbara rolled her eyes at me watching me arrange the groceries in the kitchen.

“For your sake, I would hope you didn't omit anything on that list I sent you,” Victoria's voice filled with disgust and cruelty. She waved me off immediately and I was done arranging the groceries. 

I ascended the stairs hastily, my loafers barely made any sound on the wooden stairs. I was tired but tried so much to keep myself together. 

My instincts kicked in as I opened the door to my room. I kicked off my loafers and removed my clothes. I didn't notice the dress sitting comfortably on my bed earlier on because I felt so tired. It was after I had already arranged my clothes and loafers in my wardrobe that I noticed the dress on my bed. 

Staring at the wedding gown on my bed brought back the unsettling feeling I had. It was just a few days before my wedding and I felt like I had lost it all. The person I was getting married to was even the worst part, this wedding was definitely going to feel like hell. 

I lifted the gown on the bed gently into my hands to admire it. I felt a wave of nausea hit me, the gown symbolized my imprisonment in Elijah's home. I tried putting on the gown to see how it would fit on my body. I don't know who bought the gown but it was a perfect fit for me. 

Still admiring the gown on my body, Barbara suddenly barged into my room.

She eyed me from head to toe, taking in the appearance of the gown. I knew she wouldn't admit that the gown was beautiful but she knew it was. It hurt her that she couldn't give a bad comment about the gown, so she made a very interesting and at the same time annoying confession. 

“Just to show that you are such a useless brat, my dad switched my place with yours. Now you will be stuck with that beast and I will be here enjoying life as I please,” she waved her long acrylic nails at me, evil gleaming in her eyes. 

The heaviness of the words she just confessed to me broke me down. Her confession shook me to my core. I knew my father hated me so much, but I couldn't just imagine him going to this extent of proving it. 

I was going to make sure I stand strong in the marriage with Elijah. We both hate each other but I would try to manage the hurdles in the marriage with him, I was a strong woman after all. 

Barbara had already walked out of my room when she noticed her words were not getting to me. As I was about to remove the gown, Elijah suddenly burst into my room. 

My eyes bulged out of my sockets, I was left in awe as I stared at the man in front of me. Even though he was a beast, I still couldn't have disputed the fact that he was very attractive. 

His eyes took in the gown on my body. I felt goosebumps appear in my body as his eyes roamed around my body. I still couldn’t tell what was going through his mind because I very much was aware of his hatred towards me. 

He stood tall at the entrance to my door, his hand holding the door op

en with a hardened face, “We need to talk!” he growled, his voice was very low and menacing.