Anna's POV“Hello? Who is there?” It was pathetic how my voice shook. No response.The only response I got was the sound of my voice echoing through the ominous street making it look like a scene from a horror movie and scaring the shit out of me.The figure wearing the hoodie didn't move, I could only tell he or she was standing straight with hands in the pocket of the hoodie but it couldn’t possibly be a she, the shoulders were too broad, way too broad to belong to a female, the arms looked muscular too.It couldn't be that… Could it be that it was him? At the thought of that, I could suddenly see a similar physique between them.The stranger was standing still.I did what any sensible person would do, I ran back into the house and locked the door. My heart was beating so fast as if it was threatening to fall out of my chest, my pulse quickened and beads of sweat had begun to form on my forehead and tears welled up in my eyes.I closed my eyes, pressing myself against the door whi
Caden's POVI was in one of those moods where everything made me angry.I pushed Rosey Claire away when she tried to kiss me the next morning and she left after a dramatic exchange of words.I left too early for the gallery to work on the papers which was a wrong idea because I ended up disorganizing everything Anna had arranged the previous day.Nothing seemed to be working and I didn't want to take the pills that were laying helplessly in the drawer beside my table, waiting for me to use them but I couldn’t, I didn’t want to.The buzzing of my phone wouldn’t let me be. Different people were asking about the opening and for the first time I thought of canceling the whole process.Wouldn't that be a slap on my face? On Mama's face? That I failed to keep my dream and hers, the one thing she always held with high esteem- after me, the one thing that made her happy when she was not caressing my face or when she was not tugging gently at the roots of my hair when she was not spending time
Anna's POV“Are you okay? Do you want water?” Erica asked me, the worry laced on her face.I shook my head. I didn’t want water and most importantly, I didn’t want to be left alone.I used the back of my palms to wipe off the tears.“Do you want to talk about the nightmare?” She asked me again.I shook my head.I didn’t want to talk about it. I wasn’t even sure what it was about. All I knew is that the nightmare made me cry and that was all I wanted to do. Erica waited for a few more minutes before she gave up on wanting my answers.She pulled me into a hug.“You’ll be fine baby, it was just one nightmare”.I knew it wasn't.But I couldn't tell her about the man I had seen outside - or I thought I had seen. I didn't want to terrify her. No, I didn't want to terrify myself.I drifted off to sleep in Erica's arms, hoping that everything would be alright. The next day I woke up feeling almost human again. I thanked Erica for being there for me and even managed a small smile.She told
Anna's POVTrevor asked me out on a date. Yes, you heard right. It was a funny sight because he was a blushing and stuttering mess and I was gaping at him like a fish that had been brought out of water.My mind was empty, my brain was fried. It didn't make any sense. I couldn't understand why Trevor would ask me out on a date, he was insanely good looking and I was… Well, plain Jane. They were so many people he could have noticed like Tricia with the gorgeous caramel skin who was always eye fucking him, Lois who seemed to glow when she was talking to him and he could have easily chosen anyone.I couldn't believe Erica was right.“Are you going to say something?” Trevor was looking at me expectantly. I even forgot that he was still in front of me.“Um… Er… Yes,” I stuttered.“Yes?” he looked so excited that I couldn't help but tell him that wasn't what I meant.“Yes,” I tried to catch my breath.“Great! I’ll pick you up by seven” And he hopped off, leaving me standing there.It was alm
Anna's POVMother always said art was in and for everyone, it didn’t matter what you were doing and how you were doing it, she could swear it was lying deep within you.She always said this when she was brushing the red hair I inherited from her, only that hers was a bit more startling and wild. It was a furious shade of red that reminded you of the beauty of fire and the danger around it.It used to warm my heart that I took over her and it warmed my heart even more when people said it.She was always a dreamer, she made me one and it took me a while to realize the world wasn't a place for my unrealistic dreams.It wasn't a place for people like me.It wasn't a place for people like her either.That was why she drowned in alcohol. She died from her unrealistic dreams of thinking my father would change, thinking he would love her again and they'll be back to that childhood sweetheart they once were.But it never happened.On the night he left, his voice ran around the house like a vio
Caden's POVWhat could be worse than Father blowing up my phone and Rosey Claire?Today, I got an invitation to a hotel opening in Brooklyn, it was scheduled for tomorrow evening. It wasn't necessarily a new opening, it was an opening of another branch since Mike Taylor had one in California already. The Taylors was a first-class hotel with first-class services and I had an extra invitation card to come with my assistant which was a waste because I didn't have one…Wait a minute. I didn't have one true but I had a receptionist who played the role of a receptionist and a personal assistant.A particular redhead…I could give it to her but would she want to come? I knew the answer to that, I'd like to see her argue and I'll break it to her that I was the boss and it was mandatory.I wasn't lying, Mike Taylor was a big name, and honoring his invitation simply meant he'll honor mine. It was how the system worked, it was how the wealthy and affluent stayed up.Jimmy was going to be in town
Anna's POVTonight was the party and it was hard deciding what to wear- scratch that, I had nothing to wear making me grow frustrated.Erica sat on my bed eyeing me quietly while she munched on a pack of chips.“There you go” She threw a black dress that I hadn’t noticed her with at me.When I observed it, it was her favorite bodycon dress with long sleeves, a deep back, and a thigh-high slit.“No I can't wear this,” I threw it back at her“Yes you can”“No Erica, I know how much you love that dress moreover you've seen the scars on my back” I mumbled the last part quietly.“They are not as bad as you think” She assures me. “And if you want, you can let your hair down but trust me when I say that they are barely visible,” She told me.I don't know how Erica managed to do it, but here I was wearing the dress while she styled my hair.The doorbell rang and Erica ran to get it, allowing me to wear my shoes.When I came out, I wasn’t surprised it was the famous Caden Gallagher but what w
Anna's POV“You've been stuffing your face with food for the last five minutes,” the stranger with dirty blond hair and warm brown eyes said when he realized that I wasn't going to say anything.It made me blush from embarrassment and I looked around just to be sure the room wasn't in awe over my gluttony.He must have read my thoughts because he said “Don't worry, your secret is safe with me” he assured me, causing me to laugh.“Sebastian” his hand was in front of me.“Anna,” I said, taking his hand that felt very soft and I noticed the delicate rings he was wearing. I didn't speak gemstones but I knew those were rare and most have cost a fortune.He was one of them. The top dogs.I let go of his hand realizing I had been shaking it for too long.“Sorry,” I mumbled.“It's okay,” he assured me. “As long as you are not a thief who is going to try to cut off my hand later”Wow!Joke or not, I felt insulted by it.“Oh my God, I just realized how terrible that must have sounded. I am sorr