-ANASTASIA-
“You did it girl!” Priya screamed as soon as she saw me enter her office. I smiled at her despite the internal conflict I was feeling.
“Yeah.”
“But how?” she asked curiously. I explained to her all that happened yesterday including the good cab driver. By the end her eyes were wide and mouth in an o shape. “I wish I was there. At least I can write about it. And who knows maybe people will start giving me more attention than the anonymous Key.”
Wait what? “What are you saying?” I didn’t want Priya to feel threatened by me at any cost. I was not even half as good as her also this would complicate me telling her the truth not that I plan on telling it soon.
“You do know Key right?” I nodded at her and sat down waiting for her to explain. She sighed, “That person is really good with his/ her words. Have you seen the likes and comments she re
-ANASTASIA-“You can’t hold me like this. Not again. I will scream and... And all this people won’t leave you.” I said trying to loosen his hold on my elbow. But instead of leaving me he pushed me to the wall and smirked ever so lightly.“Did you think you could play with my life and I will leave you alone?” he sneered leaning closer to me.“I was just doing my job.” I explained but all I got was a scoff. “You are hurting me.” I said in a small voice hoping he would loosen his hold but he didn’t. If anything he only grasped tighter.“Are you manhandling a girl in broad light, Mr. Dominic?” a voice said followed my multiple snaps. Now I would like to see him escape. I smirked at him but his expression didn’t waver.“Sir leave the girl alone.” I tried to pull away from him but he hauled me closer into a semi hug with my elbow still in his
-ANASTASIA-“One of them was this.” He said pointing to the papers in my hand. I stared at the papers helplessly, they had just lost 95% of their office to Mr. Dominic. Right now Mr. and Mrs. Vacanti had power only over 5% of The Daily, the rest was his. “We had no choice. Everyone here knows how hard we worked for this publishing house and now we are asked to give away everything.”“I am sorry.” I whispered. “What was the other one?”They looked at each other and then Thomas nodded at Mrs. V before noticing me again. “He specifically wanted to make sure we did this. Apparently he doesn’t want his wife working when there is a baby in the house. His words were, ‘there will be a lot of stress wouldn’t want her to worry about anything’ so Anastasia you are fired.”“You are seriously doing this?” I stood up outraged. I did everything these people a
-ANASTASIA-He signed the papers and passed them to me. Wiping the tears from my eye I signed them and looked away only to hear the clock chime. 12:00 Am. I am now officially married on Christmas without the normal ‘I dos’ or the vows.The irony of it all. I never imagined I would be wearing a sweater and jeans with a sling bag for my white wedding dress and the only people at my wedding is my ‘husband’ and myself. No priest. No family.“Merry Christmas, Mrs. Dominic.” His raspy voice wished and I glared at him in return. My eyes went to the window and saw a white ball drop followed by another. Oh my god it is snowing just like I always wanted but not with the man I love.I had to get out of here. As soon as possible. My flight didn’t leave yet, I had time. All I had to do was escape this man. “You made my job easier by packing your bags. Rick take her bags.” He looked at me while his
-ANASTASIA-“What do you want me to repeat?” he asked while I stood there trying to process everything he said. “That I saw you naked while you were dressing or that we have to go to dinner with the baby?”I pushed him aside and ran back to my room almost losing my way once. I sat on the bed and tried not to scream. I am stuck here whether I want to accept it or not. My eyes went up to the closet and the couch he was sitting at when I came out of the shower, shitting stupid dumb door. Why does he need a translucent door? Or better yet I should have checked before removing the towel.I can only hope he didn’t see much.He appeared to have seen more than you want to accept.I saw my bag sitting on the dressing table and took it and brought it to the bed. My IPad was still in it, god l knew his men were totally incompetent why does he still have them? After all they slept will I barged into his p
-ANASTASIA- Can anything be more awkward than spitting on your mother-in-law? Nathan passed me a napkin and I wiped my mouth while she wiped her face. “I am so sorry, Mrs. Dominic, I didn’t mean to. It’s just that you called him Natty and I couldn’t control myself, I am sor… sorry.” I rambled while Mr. Dominic tried not to laugh and Nathan well he had his hands on his forehead. “It’s okay dear. Why don’t we get started?” Mr. Dominic said passing me the mashed potatoes, I mouthed a thank you and the dinner went silently for a while. “Nathan what is your daughter’s name?” I looked at him expecting him to say her name but he looked uncomfortable. “Baby?” I coughed trying to hide my surprise. “Don’t tell me you named your kid Baby, cousin?” the guy next to Mrs. Dominic said with a sinister smile. “No... Absolutely not Peter.” I glanced at him with raised eyebrows, how come he didn’t name her yet? I could see the suspicion in Peter
-ANASTASIA-“I think Helena is hungry.” Mrs. Dominic said and that decided it for me. I rushed behind Michael who chuckled at my hurry and closed the door behind him.“I didn’t mean to keep you waiting, Michael.” I said looking at the place that appeared to be a study. There were a few books in a shelf and tons of files making it look like an office. He walked over and leaned on the table while I stood at a distance. Right now all I feel is confusion.“It is okay dear.” He didn’t say anything after for a whole minute not that I am counting. “Do you love my son?”How do I answer this question? The expected and intelligent answer would be ‘yes’ but even if I try I know I won’t be able to bring myself to lie to the old man. “He is my husband so that should answer your question.” It felt like we were in a chess game and we just did our first move. He sta
-ANASTASIA-I gasped at the sudden contact and tilted my head up to see storming chocolate eyes glaring at Peter. “Stay away from my wife, Peter.” He said putting an emphasis on wife. There is a heavy chance that I am reading this situation wrong but is Nathan jealous?“She sure seemed to enjoy my company.” He replied with a smirk. “You sure can’t keep something with you long enough huh?”“Don’t test me.” Nathan warned, if looks could kill Peter would be six feet under by now. “Let’s leave Ana.” But before he could turn us around Peter took hold of my hand again.This is not feeling friendly like before, I tried to remove my hand from his grasp but he had a strong hold. “Don’t forget to get my number from your husband, I am sure we will be great friends in no time.”Nathan growled beside me and pried his hand off me. “Your fianc&ea
-ANASTASIA-I stood up and pulled my sleeve back up. “It is none of your business. And you really should just accept the fact your father now knows the truth.” Pushing past him I went up the stairs not realizing that I actually didn’t know where my room is; I decided to enter the first room that came into view but before I could I was pulled back by my elbow. “Wh... what is wrong with you?”He is very angry! What have I got myself into? With his other hand he pulled my hair into his fist making my head lean up to face him, I tried to not let out a scream in agony. “I don’t like it when people disobey me and I am fucking paying you to so don’t try to cross me.”Paying? “I don’t want your money, you forced it on me and I am not...” I paused and stared at him with a fierce look. “I am not going to obey you. You are not my boss or parent so get that out of your mind.&rdquo
-ANASTASIA-“There you go.” I said pulling the t-shirt over my three-year-old and as always it was a green t-shirt, the boy didn’t like anything other than green. He gave me a cute smile before jumping off the bed giving me a heart attack and ran off to the kitchen to steal one of the cookies that Nathan made the other day. “Don’t take more than one, Chris.” I yelled but I know that it is off no use.Hurrying I changed into a maroon formal dress and did a half up and down before getting out of the room. “Come on Chris, I have a reading to be done with and then we have to go to your sister’s play.” By the time I reached the kitchen I was panting.Chris had cookie crumble all over his face, “Mama can I have another cookie?” I looked at the plate, out of six cookies that were there only four were remain, I gave him a knowing look which made him pout. “Two mama, yummy dada&rsquo
-ANASTASIA-Oof! All the bags were packed but I was only taking one with me, Nathan said he could send the rest to Philadelphia. No, he is not okay with me going but that is how it has to be. My bus comes at 10 which means I have to leave now if I want to catch that bus.I read my response to Philadelphia once again with a sigh. I guess I am happy with my decision, this is for the best. “Are you packed?” Nathan asked making me turn around and see him leaning against the door.Last night I thought he would not stay with me in the room but he did, he hugged me tightly almost as if I would get up and leave at night. Then again, I didn’t complain because I don’t know when I will get the chance to sleep with him again. “Yeah. Helena awake?”He nodded. I removed the shirt I was wearing noticing my belly, it was not showing yet, Dr. Melendez said I would have to wait for three months to see the bump but he sai
-NATHAN-“Why did you lie to me?” She asked tears filling her eyes. I thought she was bothered by me not being Helena’s father but her problem was that I lied to her.Sighing I pulled at the ends of my hair, I was going to tell her when we went on that date but then she felt insecure and the day went with that. I tried many times but backed off afraid of her reaction. “I was scared.”She scoffed. “Is that the truth? Because Nathan as far as I can remember from the time, we met you have only been feeding me with lies and me, like a fool believed each and every one of it.” Her words hurt but I deserved it and I won’t ask her to take it back or apologize.“I am now telling you the truth...” I said trying to reach out to her but she stepped away like I was a stranger, this hurt way worse than when Jocelyn cheated on me and I can’t imagine the pain I caused her. “Anastasia
-ANASTASIA-My eyes widened. “Ar… are you sure?” I asked trying to remember whether we used any protection, all the times we did it but I am not sure. I didn’t take any pills but about Nathan, I am not sure.“Yes. WE checked twice since we were shocked.” Should I panic? No, I am not sad, I have a life growing in me, in nine months I will get someone like Helena there is nothing to be sad only happy. But I don’t know if Nathan felt the same. “Anastasia, we took your blood with you pregnant that is not good.”I frowned. “How so? The baby is fine right?”“For now, yes but I don’t know about the future, because as you can see you have intense pain and that is not going to reduce. During the delivery you are going to have complications and anemia is something you will have to suffer throughout the nine months.” I smiled at him, making him raise his brow. &ldqu
-ANASTASIA-I had stopped listening to the doctor and had my eyes on a frantic Maria. Moving away from the others I walked over to her, somehow my mind kept telling me that something is wrong. But what could go wrong? Maybe Helena was being fussy so Maria brought her to me.Yeah, that is the best explanation. I touched her shoulder, she turned to me and heaved a big sigh of relief. “Tasha... Helena is not well.”I raised my brow before taking Helena from her, “What could be wrong? She was fine when we left her in the morning.” I said chuckling nervously. I touched her forehead, it wasn’t warm but she looked pale and wasn’t opening her eyes. “She doesn’t have a temperature but why is she so pale?”Maria shrugged. “She was playing with her toy when it dropped from her hand, I thought it was normal but when I looked at her, she was on the verge of fainting. I picked her up and calle
-ANASTASIA-Their eyes were wide like saucers when the door was bashed open and Nathan came in with the cops. “Surprised?”I smacked his arm. “Stop being so dramatic, they get our point.” Nathan glared at each one of them and I saw his clenched fists, I didn’t want him to fight in here no at least not in front of the cops. I took his hand in mine releasing the knuckles and then entwining our fingers.“You. Were. Alive?” Jocelyn asked still in shock.“Yes. If you only wanted to kill me and take my place in the company then why did you pretend to be in love?” Jocelyn’s head bowed in shame, his eyes were on Stella. Even when he says that he doesn’t care, I knew he did after all it was his cousin and first love.Stella was screaming and throwing her feet in air as they dragged her out. “Nathan we are cousins, why do you think that I would plot to kill you? I am&hel
ANASTASIA-Surprisingly Dave wanted to meet today, that is a week after our conversation. I wonder why he did that? “Park how long till we reach?” I asked him leaning over.“10 minutes ma’am.” Nodding my head, I continued to look outside. I knew Nathan was ten feet away from me but I couldn’t help but feel slightly nervous. If everything goes well, then according to the plan Nathan will announce that he is alive in the afternoon and from tomorrow I can go back to reporting and Nathan can go to his second home, his office.Dave wanted us to meet in a hotel, not a very pricey one but considerably cheap. It was a motel more than a hotel. When Park parked the car, I took in a deep breath before praying in my head. I am scared, I don’t want to do this. Shit! I am panicking. “Relax, I am right behind you.”Nathan’s voice calmed me and I smiled at myself. “Let’s go teach thi
-NATHAN-Jocelyn had entered my list as number three, yes, she managed to pass five other people. Seeing Anastasia’s shocked face, I could understand why she would think that I wouldn’t put Jocelyn’s name in the list. What she didn’t know was that I am way too rational and practical, I don’t trust anyone easily.And Jocelyn had stepped down from my trust list the day she cheated on me. Also, her sudden interest to be with me again was way too obvious, she wanted money which was actually greed but I knew what she wanted more and that is power. “Stop looking surprised, Monroe and tell me if you think of anything else. I will run this with Marco.”She nodded and went out of the room only to come back within minutes. I smirked at her, “Missed me already?”Rolling her eyes, she came near me past my desk and stood in front of me with one hand on her hip making her look sexy, the crop top she
-ANASTASIA-“I am sorry but you are wrong.” They looked confused and Cecilia’s face suggested that she thought I was crazy. Standing up I took my purse and said to them, “Come on, I will prove it to you.”Without waiting for their answer, I left the office and Stella glanced behind my back, I hope they don’t talk to her about what happened inside. I watched through the open elevator doors as they came out of the office eyes filled with tears and passed by Stella. Thankfully, they did not speak with her. “We will follow your car, Tasha.” Michael said getting out of the elevator.Nodding I got in the car and asked Park to drive to the Dominic residence. This was a better idea because then I might get a chance to warn Nathan. He is not going to expect this which makes his reaction almost unimaginable. I don’t want him to be mad at least not after last night.Last night’s memories au