Chapter One

Anna Jones’ forehead creases like a crumpled paper as she walks down the pavement– shoulders dropping on the floor– feeling miserable now more than ever. Rage engulfs her head, as she cannot still fathom the fact that she was fired from the restaurant she is working at, after ‘winning’ the petty little altercation that took place between her and a rude customer. 

 “I still don’t get the reason why I was fired from my job when all I did was just defend myself. Am I not allowed to do that?!” the 22-year-old blonde asks herself as she kicks off literally every pebble she sees on her way. 

 As Anna decides there are no second chances left for her to be summoned back by her employer and tell her everything is only a prank, she heads to her best friend’s unit to give her the biggest news of the day. 

Her best friend ever since the world began, Emily Smith, owns a unit just outside of the unmanaged and the only mansion in the Moonsdrive Village. She has lived with her for quite some time now, so if there’s anyone who needs to hear the news first, it’s got to be her. 

But when she reaches the gate of Emily’s unit– as she rummages through the insides of her bag– walking absentmindedly, she bumps against a wall– or so she thinks. 

It’s not a wall. Definitely not the gate either. Rather, it’s a chest so hard that she almost thought it was a wall. It’s solid enough to knock Anna to the ground and give her migraines for a minute. 

Feeling the veins on her temples shake in pain, she looks up at the man unapologetically planted in front of her. He stands gigantic, blocking the rays of the sun from touching Anna’s bare skin. 

“Seriously? So, are you just gonna stand there and do nothing?” She grunts. 

The sophisticated-looking man in black tuxedo suit stares straight, skipping the mad woman in front of him. He only pauses for a quick second and resumes moving forward after. 

“Hey, come back here!” Aggravated and angry, Anna grabs the man by the leg. Her grip is so strong it rips a portion of the back of his pants off. 

The man turns around and looks down on her but does not say anything. He only stares at her sharply, the kind of which if only looks could kill, she would have been breathless on the ground already. 

Instead of being sorry for stripping off the man’s trousers, Anna exclaims, “Apologize to me or I’m going to rip this even more!” She tightened her brace to the fabric. 

Deadpan, the man speaks in a cold and unremorseful manner,   “Let me go. I don’t have time for a nuisance like you.” He shakes his leg until Anna loses grasp to her pants. After a successful attempt, he walks free like nothing happened. 

“What did you say?!” Anna hurriedly stands on her feet and tries to chase the guy, but he slams the gate-door close to her face. She opens it again only to realize that the man who knocked her down has already gotten away, riding in his matte black Bugatti Chiron sportscar.

“I can't believe it! Just who does he think he is?!” She feels her nerves about to explode. “What an unlucky day! F*CK THIS!” She snatches her bag from the floor and gets into the house. 

She opens the front door and calls for Emily. She is not answering. 

“I swear to God I'm gonna burn this house down if she has gone shopping again!” She continues to the living room— it's empty. She goes to Emily's bedroom next— it's locked. She climbs upstairs to check on her own room but Emily is not there as well. She returns to the dining room, mumbling her best friend’s name in between heavy breaths. 

She treads to the kitchen when she feels her throat is longing for cold water. But just as when she is about to turn right where the refrigerator is the first thing to see, a pink bikini scattered on the floor catches her attention. 

She pats her head in disbelief, triggering her migraines to revisit again. “Oh, Lord. Please don't tell me she's b*nging with Nick Johnson again.” 

Anna moves closer to the kitchen counter that parts the room in half. She grabs a rolling pin with her right hand, and a frying pan with her left. 

While pretending she doesn't hear the soft groans and stifled moans from the other side of the counter, she pounds the rolling pin against the frying pan. 

The sound reverberates inside the room causing Emily and her boyfriend to sprout off the floor like wild mushrooms. 

“Oh, my God, Anna!” Emily yells, naked. Her hands are clasped on the neck of his boyfriend, who, by the way, is naked too. “What’s your problem?!” 

“Is that a serious question?” Anna plucks a piece of grape from the kitchen table. “Because I can answer that and you'll be in massive disbelief once you hear what I'll say.” She tosses the grape into her mouth. “By the way, s*x is over. Now put on some clothes.” 

“Whatever!” Emily detaches from Nick and walks out of the kitchen. She picks up her pink bikini along the way. 

Nick is left awkwardly standing on the other side of the counter, hands covering his private part. He looks at Anna with crashing eyebrows. 

“I am so sorry to interrupt you in the middle of your merry-making but I— well— that's what you get when you're doing it in the kitchen.” Anna turns around and opens the fridge. 

“We were just trying to make it more thrilling this time,” Nick explains. He's covered in sweat and his hair is severely disheveled. 

After filling a glass of water, Anna says, “Was it worth it?” 

Nick nods his head in disapproval. 

She smirks. “I figured.” 

“Anyway, get yourself dressed now and you better leave before Emily comes back.  You can resume the s*x next time— when I'm not around.” 

Nick sighs. “You're such a d*ck, Anna.” He pulls his trunks from the kitchen counter and puts them on. He grabs his shoes under the condiments rack and exits the kitchen. 

Anna returns to the couch in the living room and waits for her best friend to go downstairs. By the time Emily returns, Nick is already gone. 

“Don't worry about him. I just temporarily shooed him away. He'll be back soon.” 

“I'm not looking for him,” Emily pretends. “Why are you here so early anyway? I thought you were at work?” 

“I was.” Anna punches a heavy breath. “Not until I was fired after arguing with a stupid customer.”

Emily swallowed a spittle. “Wait… YOU'RE FIRED?!” 

“Unfortunately, Emily. But I hate that job anyway, so it's not like it was a big deal.” 

Emily rushes to the couch to sit beside Anna. “It is a big deal, Anna. You needed that job.” 

Anna turns to face her best friend. “I needed that job because that was my only choice.” 

“Girl, I’m literally gonna be gone in two weeks. Where are you gonna get money now that you're…” she hesitates for a moment, but then proceeds, “... now that you're jobless?”

“Chill, Emily. I will look for another job tomorrow. Easy as that.” 

Emily picks up her phone from the coffee table just next to the couch. 

“What are you doing?” 

Emily sends a text on her phone. “I'm doing what I always do best— saving your ass.” 

“What was that?” 

Emily tosses her phone back to the table after she sent the message. “I just texted a friend of mine to find you a job vacancy. He'll let me know when he finds one.” 

 “Okay?” 

“Yeah, you're welcome.” Emily flashes a fake smile. 

Confused, Anna straightens her posture and focuses all her attention on Emily. “By the way, when I was on my way in, I bumped against a suspicious-looking guy at the gate. Did you know him?” 

Emily stands up and heads to the kitchen to get a bowlful of grapes. While on her way out, she explains, “Suspicious-looking? Oh, the one with an expensive car parked outside? He was just a random bloke who sent us an invitation to his cocktail party. I'm not really sure, but I think he now owns the mansion next to our unit.” 

“Woah, hold on. He bought that?!” Anna almost jumped out of her seat. 

“Yeah, and he's having the party tonight.” Emily jumps back to the couch just after she got her bowl of grapes. “We should come!” she utters excitedly. 

“No, Emily. I don't think that is a very good idea.” 

“And why do you say so?” 

“First of all, I don't like him. He was rude, he was passive, and worst of all, he was feeling entitled,” Anna explains with her fingers gesturing in the air. 

“Well, based on his looks— and the new mansion he bought— I’d say he has every right to be entitled,” Emily counters. 

“Not only that, Emily, because I also don't have the wardrobe that suits perfectly for that kind of celebration. I mean, a cocktail party? Is that even a thing?!” Anna puffs. 

“That's not a problem anymore, Anna. Because fortunately, Nick was able to buy me a couple of new dresses before he got here. Tonight's the perfect time to use them!” 

Anna laughs lightly.  “So, are you telling me that the s*x was your kind of compensation to—” 

Emily intervenes, “Shut up. I'm still going to have s*x with him even without the new dresses.” 

After a short banter, Anna finally agrees to go to the billionaire nextdoor’s cocktail party.  

*****

On the night of the random guy nextdoor’s party, the two seem to be out of place. Emily is in her flowy yellow dress, while Anna is wearing a shiny, tight above-the-knee dress with laces on both sides. 

“I don't know about you, but I really think this would have been better if we stayed at home,” Anna says, gripping tightly on Emily's left arm. She quivers as she stares at the massive crowd of what looks like philanthropists and businessmen. 

“What are you so intimidated about? We were invited in this party, we are not doing anything illegal, and we are definitely dressed like the rest do. So, chill, take a deep breath, and let's enjoy this night away,” Emily explains, grabbing a glass of cocktail from a waiter's tray. 

She drags Anna into the yard where tall tables have been set up and the guests are enjoying the music. 

As soon as they blend in with the crowd, a man in his alluring dark blue suit with silver outline approaches them. Anna recognizes the face; the sharp structure of his cheekbones, and the taper-fade cut of his hair. 

“Oh, shit! You've got to be kidding me,” she whispers to herself. 

“Look who's in for the party,” the man says invitingly. “What's up, ladies? I hope you are having a great time here.” 

Emily could not help herself but smile. “Indeed, we are. Never been to a cocktail party as grandiose as this.” She lifts her cocktail glass and takes a sip. “What's this for, by the way?”

“Oh, nothing really. I am just used to celebrating each time I buy a real-estate,” he utters. “What's your name again?” 

“I'm Emily.” She raises her hand for a shake.  “And you are?” 

“Noah Scott.”

The two shake hands, while Anna is left silent on the side. Noah notices her awkward gestures and so he tries to initiate a conversation with her. 

“How about you, gorgeous lady in red?” He narrows his look at her, scrutinizing her from head to toe. 

Anna pauses for a moment, eyes roaming around as if trying to look for something. She pretends she didn't hear what the man said and excuses herself instead. 

“You know what, Emily? I think I need to go to the toilet.” 

And just like that, she forces her way out of the mini conversation, feeling the numbness of her cheeks caused by what she thinks is anger but is actually something else.