With a sense of premonition, Devin held a glass of whisky in hand and stared broodingly at the A4 white envelope lying on his office’s desk, recently being delivered by a peon from Angel Agency. After three weeks of total silence, not even a word from her had been heard, he was facing a new challenge with apprehension, not wanting to know the content of the file.More than once, he’d been sorely tempted to call her under the pretext of informing about the status of her new mission. She’d been so adamant, so determined the last time they’d spoken that he felt like she was literally throwing him out of her life. What sane woman wouldn’t? What woman would want to deal with a monster like him for more than strictly necessary?Had she succeeded in her quest? Had she acquired the properties he would have given his life to possess only one month ago? Was that her final memorandum that she was sending him? A white envelope clearing his dues, with the subtle message to get the hell out of her
Eyes darting furtively across the room, Ana tried not to let it seem too conspicuous that she was searching for Dev who seemed to have vanished into thin air. It was silly that she was trying to avoid him, but any sign of weakness would be a dead giveaway that she cared.Why did she care anyway? She deserved so much better than an asshole carrying around a revenge agenda against some crime she hadn’t committed.Mood spoilt with self-recrimination, she returned back to her apartment, after having succumbed to the temptation of asking around for Dev. The guard had duly informed her that the latter’s car was no longer in the parking lot which had inexorably meant that he was already gone. Puzzled, she tried to figure out the reason for his second reappearance in her life although she had a pretty good idea. It was to thank her for returning back his bloody money.However, she was not in the mood to attach any undue importance to that man that evening. The mention of her mother’s name had
“There must be some mistake,” Dev announced to the lawyer as he entered his office dumping the files on his table along with his huge body on the chair opposite.Jeremy Miller stared at him for a second, before lifting the documents he’d flung on his table and presenting them towards him. “No mistake, young man. Anastasia specifically sent over the two transfer papers in guise of compensation for your family’s loss.”Her selfless act only served to fuel his anger. How dared she undermine what they had shared by paying him off like a vulgar gigolo? How dared she?“Really? How is she going to pay back for the other things we’ve suffered?” he inquired with sufficient amount of sarcasm to make the lawyer sit back in his chair and give him undivided attention. Trying not to squirm under the scrutiny, Dev frowned furiously to give more credulence to his anger. “You tell Ana that she will never be able to atone what her father did to my family.”Miller still stared at him with fascination,
It hadn’t been easy pushing Dev away so heartlessly, but Ana simply couldn’t give him what he was asking for. Forgiveness. She didn’t know if she had it in her to exonerate him for his crimes. It was asking too much of her - she wasn’t that much of a saint.Besides, he must have found out the whole truth from Uncle Jeremy, and that was probably the reason why he’d landed on her doorstep so early in the morning. A guilty conscience had the ability to meddle one’s head. But it was okay – she was okay now. Now that she’d settled that debt, she would find the force to continue her life without any ounce of happiness on horizon, wouldn’t she?Then, why did she feel that horribly heavy burden in her heart? Like someone had taken hold of the organ and wouldn’t let go? Bygones were bygones. Now, they both had to look forward to the future, but whatever life she was envisaging without him seemed bleak.Was she ever going to outlive that jinx? The curse of loving a man who simply didn’t deserve
Being a man of various devises, Dev came up with several strategies, exploring different scenarios but ultimately realized that things didn’t quite worked systematically in the matters of heart. Finally defeated, Devin found himself doing the only thing he’d promised himself he wouldn’t succumb to – phoning the aggressive Aimee McKenzie.He was adamant to conquer her back. There was no way he would let her slip away from his fingers, he would beg and grovel until she would have no other option than to accept him back. There was no other salvation for him – he was too far gone to ever hope for peace of mind. He was going to be her redemption.It had not been easy to convince that harridan McKenzie of his sincerity; she had railroaded him so much that he had to ultimately beg for her cooperation.“You don’t have to like me,” he abruptly announced the moment she arrived at the restaurant after several persistent calls.“You’ve better come up with a good explanation right now!” she retort
“Put me down, DEVIN!” Ana screamed with outrage to the Neanderthal, pounding furiously against his broad back for good measure. Not that it was serving any purpose, she felt like one of the minuscule Lilliputians trying abortively to harm the giant Gulliver with small pins.“Don’t hold your breath baby,” he replied insolently patting her on the butt.Aware that a phalanx of reporters was starting to surround them with their cameras, Ana schooled her expression into an impassible one but for once she felt her mask slip. It was difficult to maintain dignity in the upside position she was it, whenever she turned to address her abductor, it felt like she was talking to her butt.Irascible anger gripped her at the realization that the tabloids were going to have fun at her expense, the images of the scandalous pictures which were going to be splashed in the gossip magazines making her cringe inwardly. Incredible at it might sound, she had managed to dodge a single disgrace throughout her c
Dev awoke with a start like he’d been jerked from a profound dreamless sleep, something which had always eluded him in the past. Then, something that he could feel even in his deep subconscious had changed.Ana was gone.For a panicked moment, a feeling of abject desolation gripped him as he fumbled in the empty sheets trying to get his bearings. He felt like that lost teenager once again caught up in indecision and despair, struggling to adjust to the cruel reality of life.What appalled him was that Ana had left despite the beautiful intimacy they’d shared, making a point to turn into something sleazy and cheap. Not because she was aiming for retribution – no, that was not in her nature, but she was most probably trying to protect herself from him.From the monster he was.Completely wretched, he could only stare blankly at the wall, trying to figure out his next move. How could he offer any future to Ana when he could not even forgive himself? Then, her words from the previous migh
Two days later, Ana peeped surreptitiously through her apartment windows for the hundredth time, trying futilely to wait for the phalanx of paparazzi to subside. Her whole building was surrounded by those leeches, like hounds being unleashed on some defenseless prey.Not that she was without armor. Her malevolent cover was protection enough against anyone with baleful intentions. Yet, she was stashed in her apartment, struggling to make herself unobtrusive feeling very reticent to face the media after her disastrous farewell with Dev.As for her career going downhill like Aimee had been so worried, everything was finally sorted out. Jennifer had changed the whole dynamics of the story by masterly transforming it into an epic love story. Photos of their heroic exit had been deliberately provided to serve as ammunitions for backing up the forfeit fairy-tale. Not that she gave a damn. She was no longer concerned about what the world thought of her – she just wished they would leave her a