Chapter 7: The three conditions

When she reached home, she was greeted by Jonathan, her father, with a big grin on his face. He didn't have a lot of work that day, so he decided to spend time with his daughter, but one look at her, and he knew something was wrong. His grin fell, and he became serious "Ana dear is everything alright?" Anastasia was contemplating whether to burden her dad with her troubles or not "Look I know I'm not your mother Ana but I'm here for you if you need anything, I'm all ears and more than willing to help you out. So tell me what it is and this old man will try his best to help you out." Anastasia felt overwhelmed, her father had always been strong support, she hugged him "Can we go to your study?" He nodded and both of them made their way to his study. After settling down Anastasia briefed her father on the events that happened and how she had one week to give new designs. Her father sighed and both were engrossed in their thoughts trying to find out a solution. Jonathan suddenly rushed towards a cabinet in his study and started searching for something. Anastasia was still lost in her thoughts when her father gave her a pile of sketchbooks. She looked at him perplexed when Jonathan spoke again "These are your mother's designs, these were some of her last works, and so they are incomplete. Why don't you finish her work for her? I haven't seen your work yet but I'm sure you are as good as your mother darling. Go ahead make the most out of these and win that competition for this old man." 

Anastasia had unshed tears in her eyes, she was grateful to have a father like him. She immediately started to work on it "Father, please can I use your study for a few days?" "Of course dear, there's no need to take permission, this is all yours." She wanted to be careful this time with her designs. The study wasn't accessible to anyone but her father, so she could keep the designs safe here from Cordelia. 

The whole week she was busy with the designs. She loved the result of her mother's incomplete work. On the day of submission, she rushed to college and kept the portfolio in her locker, and went to class. After lunch, Anastasia and Eva were called again to the principal's office. 

Her eyes searched for a certain someone, but felt disappointed when she didn't see Hades. 'why do I feel disappointed, urgh! Ana focus! Thank goodness he's not here.' The principal and the other two judges were busy assessing their work.

" Your work is amazing Ms. Kimberly. This is better than the previous design, this is a winning design" all of them were impressed by the work in front of them. Eva however couldn't comprehend what was going on. She had swapped her designs with Anastasia so the design they were impressed with had to be her work, she immediately objected "Wait, those are my designs, she swapped them before coming here, I don't know how but those are my designs. The one I gave was her designs." Anastasia was standing there calmly as if nothing was wrong. The principal was not pleased with the turn of events "Well I'm tired of this situation repeating so I'm going to disqualify....." Anastasia cut him off  "with all due respect sir, the designs that Eva has given you are mine as well. I had knowingly left them in my locker this morning and I have proof to prove my innocence. The color drained out of Eva's face, and she tried to defend herself "First you take all of my hard work and then speak nonsense in front of them. What do you mean by having proof? I can prove to that I'm innocent and you are the one who's stealing my work" she bluffed but was losing every bit of confidence each second. Before Anastasia could say anything Hades entered the room "Well go ahead then Ms. Matthew, show us the proof that you are talking about" Eva didn't know what to do she didn't have any proof, all she was doing was bluffing and trying to irritate the impatient principal so that he would disqualify both of them in a fit of rage. "I...uh...I don't have it with me right now!" Anastasia wanted to get over with it however she knew Hades had planned something, so she went along with it. Hades smirked after hearing Eva and placed a file in front of the principal, he had investigated Eva and found out that she had conned people before. Eva knew this was the end for her "Tha...That was my past, I've changed now and Anastasia is ruining it for me. These are my designs!" Anastasia couldn't take her whining anymore, so she placed a pen drive on the table "This has CCTV footage of her stealing the designs from my locker. I've already given you the proof, if I'm still in the competition please let me know, I'm out of here" with that she left the office. She knew it was rude of my to do that, but she couldn't take all the drama that unfolded there, and she had to get away from Hades's piercing gaze on her. 

She went and sat on a nearby bench and called her dad and informed him about everything. She was about to get up when Hades approached her. She sighed, she knew he was up to no good.          "Hello, Love!" She always turned red after hearing his endearment. "If you are expecting a thank you then don't," she said emotionlessly.                         "Oh no! Don't worry, I wasn't expecting one. Well first things first, congratulations for qualifying for the second round" he winked and smirked. 'He does that a lot she thought to herself.              "Thank you. If that's all then I'll be on my way. Goodbye" As she turned he pulled her back towards him and wrapped his hand around her waist caging her into him. Her hand naturally went to his chest to push him away. Hades loved how she felt against him and the blush that rose on her face. He thought she looked too adorable, he was in a trance. "Leave me, Mr. Shaw. What are you doing? Everyone is looking this way." She tried to get out of his grip but eventually gave up. "What do you want from me, Mr. Shaw?" She asked him defeated. "I want a lot of things love, and you are the only one who can give them to me" Anastasia didn't know how to respond and just kept looking at him. She sighed and murmured to herself   'Can he be any more puzzling?' and rolled her eyes but Hades heard her anyway. "To clear your confusion love, you have to agree to three things if you want me to leave you."