-ANASTASIA-
Knock. Knock.
Who was it now? It is already 11:30 pm and no one knows where I live exactly. At least not in my new place. I closed the binoculars that showed me the exact view of Mr. Dominic’s room, who was actually pretty engrossed in his laptop. And then I hid the tiny cameras that I had laid out on the bed to check them out. Knock!
Surely the person on the other side lack patience. I rushed to the front and opened the door only to find Priya standing there with take out and pajamas. Oh yeah she knew about this place! “Where is your patience, Priya?”
“In the bin. I wanted to see you and spend some time with you okay so move aside now. Choo choo.” She said making what sounded like train voices. “By mistake I had first visited your apartment then remembered you had temporarily moved. Here’s your mail.” She tossed me the mail from the back of her head and I barely caught it.
<-ANASTASIA-It’s 5 in the evening and I have a date in two hours. Obviously with Dave, who else could it be? This would be the third time we are going out and it is going in a good direction I presume. He makes me happy. Looking out the window, the subject had just arrived from office and is back on his computer.All this man thinks about is work and occasionally girls. Does he even know that there is life beyond all this? And guess what I found yesterday when I was as usual watching over him?He was going through an anger management class brochure. Really. He threw it aside and that’s when I picked it up surely after he was no longer there and went through the page. But from how the paper was crumbled and thrown aside, our man was not interested. I saw him go into the washroom to take his shower assuming from the towel in his hands and the way his housekeeper enter and take all the laundry out. This gives me a free 20 minutes space
-ANASTASIA-Two weeks later…9:30pmTapping my fingers lazily on the countertop I waited patiently for the bartender to bring me my cocktail even when what I really needed was that beer. Since I had the leisure of time I looked around the part of the bar I never visited because if I was here at any other time my purse would be ripped and yet I won’t be able to afford getting in. The blue neon lights were nearly blinding but it screamed rich in every corner. Even the drinks were double my salary. There were men in suits all around and so many women looking like models floating from one table to another. There was a freaking waitress/bartender at everyone’s side and even they looked freaking rich. Overwhelming much?Yeah no doubt! But I had a job to do and not a one that I am fond of. Period.“Can I buy you a drink?” I looked at the man well more like a boy take a seat next to me. His b
-ANASTASIA-Two weeks later…9:30pmTapping my fingers lazily on the countertop I waited patiently for the bartender to bring me my cocktail even when what I really needed was that beer. Since I had the leisure of time I looked around the part of the bar I never visited because if I was here at any other time my purse would be ripped and yet I won’t be able to afford getting in. The blue neon lights were nearly blinding but it screamed rich in every corner. Even the drinks were double my salary. There were men in suits all around and so many women looking like models floating from one table to another. There was a freaking waitress/bartender at everyone’s side and even they looked freaking rich. Overwhelming much?Yeah no doubt! But I had a job to do and not a one that I am fond of. Period.“Can I buy you a drink?” I looked at the man well more like a boy take a seat next to me. His b
-ANASTASIA-After five shots I am drunk… or maybe sober I don’t know anymore. Did I tell you that I can’t handle too much alcohol? “What are you staring at?” I snapped at the bartender. “You… you think I am beautiful?”He gulped then shook his head nervously making me groan. This grey blue shimmering item didn’t make me look beautiful… I pouted and left the table after taking my card back from him.I may be drunk but I know to be responsible. On your face! Dave.Now the other one where is he? Squinting my eyes around the bar I looked for my ‘target’ and I found him. Giggling I saw the chocolate eyes in the same place where he was when he came. I wonder why I didn’t see him the first time.I swayed all the way to him or I think to two hims. He looked up at me from the neck of the girl sitting on him. “?”The girl turned and glared at
-ANASTASIA-“I have to go.” This made me look up with a pout, I didn’t get to thank Michael Jackson. I turned around and pulled the sleeve of his jacket. Making him turn and come back to where I was. Just the way his eyes wandered over my face made me feel the churn in my stomach. That’s weird isn’t it? When we accidently ‘kissed’ I felt butterflies but now an ugly churn filled my poor tummy.“What?” he asked irritated.I hugged him tightly causing the audience behind us gasp but I felt the way he tensed and become stiff. He removed me from himself and stared at me not knowing what to do.“Thank y...” I started but the bile rushed to my throat before I could warn anyone. Yellow vomit spewed out and all that I had eaten and drunk from morning flew in the air and more importantly on someone.He jumped back surprised. “Bloody hell!” oh no... Puking definitel
-ANASTASIA-Since Christmas is close the crowd in the bus won’t be seeing a decline any time soon. Whatever that may be I love riding the bus and I guess it will always remain my second favorite mode of passage. I removed the phone from silent and opened my messages.Me: am in the bus. Will reach soon!I smiled at the message I sent Anna. In another 5 minutes I will reach Brooklyn hill Avenue where my sister lived with her husband and two kids. I usually visited her every once in a while but I couldn’t make a stop this month but we met at home in Chicago so she shouldn’t be that mad.I know I should be working on Mr. Dominic but today is a Sunday and I need a break from my stressful morning. And I will still have 24 hours after today.Also I needed to collect the pencil stands I had asked her to make for me. The five colors that won were going to get some pretty simple handmade pencil stands. Anna
-ANASTASIA-It almost felt as if the smell is mocking me for not remembering it. “No… weirdo.” she said chuckling.“But I have smelled that before.” I said feeling confused but where did I get that? I am sure I got the smell before and it had confused me even then.She ruffled my hair making me glare at her. “This is the smell of Roy’s milk. Almost all babies’ milk that are bought from the store smells similar. You don’t even have a kid then how did you smell that?”“I don’t know.” she came to touch my hair again but I stopped her. “Don’t.”She frowned. “Are you done Anna? I would appreciate some help.” Chris yelled from inside. We looked at each other for a second before bursting into laughter.“Oh my god. I should get in there before he decides to leave me. You should go now as well if you don’t want to
-ANASTASIA-OH MY GOD! MR. DOMINIC, THE MULTI-BILLIONAIRE HAS A BABY?That is absurd. I slapped my forehead. No this is not possible. Reasons? Many. He is just hooking up with another girl in there. I am sure no wife or girlfriend in the world would accept her husband or boyfriend to cheat on her with numerous women. No that would be loco.But that can also be because he’s wife left or something like that.Another reason, he can’t hide such a big thing from the world for such a long time. Like literally I have been cooped up here for almost a month but I didn’t catch anything. I am not Sherlock Holmes but it won’t be that difficult to find a hidden baby. After all how big can a baby be? Just a few pounds and a few centimeters tall.Phew! Just another day for Christmas and probably I will be jobless. Not if I can find some proof for the existence of that baby. Or he might have a friend who has a baby th
-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