INICIAR SESIÓNAnastasia's POVIt was the way he just stood there looking at me dumbfounded that irked me so much. Why wasn't he saying anything? Why wasn't he defending himself? Say something God damnit, Nikolai.I felt an arm wrapped around my waist and turned to see Zara standing beside me. She must have seen the situation and decided to come to my rescue.She pulled me aside from them. “What the fuck is Nikolai doing here? You sounded so sure that he wasn't coming, I thought he had a beef with Damon?” She asked, waiting for an answer from me.“And he even had the guts to come with the goddamn bitch, Leona? What's going on babes?”“Honestly I wish I had the answers to your question, but I'm as equally confused as you are and I'm pissed, irritated at him right now.” I replied, glancing at Nikolai who was already being dragged into the crowd by Leona.“I think the best thing to do right now, is that we lay low, avoid unnecessary attention and trouble that would arise from this uncomfortable situati
Anastasia POV Two days had slipped through my fingers like sand, and now the afternoon of the yacht party had arrived with an unwelcome finality. I stood in front of the full-length mirror in my bedroom, a cluster of dresses draped across the bed behind me, each one discarded after a moment of scrutiny. Zara was perched on the edge of the mattress, her legs crossed, her chin resting on her palm as she watched me cycle through my options. "The emerald one," she said for the third time. "The one with the plunging neckline. It makes your eyes look like they're glowing." I held it up, studying my reflection. The fabric was rich and luxurious, the color deep and vibrant. It was beautiful and is also completely wrong for the mood I was in. "I still think this whole thing is a terrible idea," I muttered, tossing the dress aside. "I can't believe I let you talk me into this." Zara rolled her eyes, but there was no malice in it. "You didn't let me talk you into anything. You agreed beca
Anastasia POVTwo days had slipped through my fingers like sand, and now the afternoon of the yacht party had arrived with an unwelcome finality.I stood in front of the full-length mirror in my bedroom, a cluster of dresses draped across the bed behind me, each one discarded after a moment of scrutiny. Zara was perched on the edge of the mattress, her legs crossed, her chin resting on her palm as she watched me cycle through my options."The emerald one," she said for the third time. "The one with the plunging neckline. It makes your eyes look like they're glowing."I held it up, studying my reflection. The fabric was rich and luxurious, the color deep and vibrant. It was beautiful and is also completely wrong for the mood I was in."I still think this whole thing is a terrible idea," I muttered, tossing the dress aside. "I can't believe I let you talk me into this."Zara rolled her eyes, but there was no malice in it. "You didn't let me talk you into anything. You agreed because you
Nikolai POVI watched Anastasia sleep for a long while. The moonlight shining through the curtains, casting silver streaks across her bare shoulders. Her breathing was slow and even, her face peaceful in a way that I never got to see.No tension creased her brow or worry, tightening her lips. She looked younger like this, softer, as if the weight of her family's chaos had been temporarily lifted from her shoulders.I tensed up thinking all about her family chaos. She had a messed up family. A father who used her like a bargaining chip. A sister who drained her emotionally and financially. A mother who'd abandoned her long and yet, she remained at the receiving end of all their dysfunction, the one who always cleaned up the messes they left behind.Her heart was too big for her own good and that was the problem. She couldn't look away when someone she loved was in trouble. Even when that someone had hurt her repeatedly, even when that someone didn't deserve her compassion.I reached ou
Anastasia POVNothing ever seems to go my way, it's from one thing to another. By the time I got home I was in a completely foul mood.Every step I took felt heavier than the last, the weight of Bianca's revelations pressing down on my shoulders like a physical burden. She got involved with a drug lord, and has a debt of 1.5 million pounds. My grandmother's life hanging in the balance because of my sister's reckless choices and not thinking about others except for herself. The entire situation had my emotions tied in knots, twisting and tightening until I could barely breathe.The penthouse was quiet when I walked in, the only sound I could hear was the soft hum of the air conditioning breaking the silence. I kicked off my heels, not bothering to put them away, and made a beeline for the kitchen.My hands moved on autopilot, grabbing a bottle of red wine from the rack and a glass from the cabinet. I didn't bother with the formalities of letting it breathe. I just poured and drank.The
Anastasia's POV‘...... before I die.’ Those words were like a punch to my stomach. They rang continuously in my head over and over again.She was going to die? I wanted her out of my life but I didn't want her to die, what the hell was she talking about? Dying?“What did you just say?” I asked, turning around to face her.“I said a lot of things, which one are you asking about?” She replied casually, sitting back on the stool drinking her coffee without any care.“The part where you mentioned that you were going to die, what does that mean? Are you sick? Have you been taking impulsive decisions and marking off your bucket list or something? Is that what this is?”She remained quiet, drinking her coffee without budging or answering my question.“Bianca I'm fucking talking to you!” I yelled at her angrily, my voice breaking. She finally turned still seated on the stool looking at me. I finally got her attention.“So all it takes to get your attention is to tell you that I'm dying, wo
ANASTASIA’s POV2 MONTHS LATER, NOTTING HILL, LONDON. ‘’Oh cut the bullshit, Bianca!’’ I screamed over the phone, my hand hovering over the lit screen in front of me.I was in my office, battling the worst headache ever after a board room clash and the Bianca was the least of my worries.It was D
‘’Strip!’’That command would forever be etched in my memory.The moment I breathed out those insane words about him fucking me, I regretted it instantly.He was swift.His hand gripped my legs and he pulled me close, wrapping my legs around his torso.He hoisted me up, carring me out of the club l
ANASTASIA’s POVThe instructions I’d given myself were simple. Fly to Monaco, secure the contract with the foreign investors, and head back to London proving once again why I was the undisputed head of Reeds and associates. Rivals didn’t line up around the block trying to ruin me just because I w
Nikolai POV I stepped out of her office, the door closing behind as I stepped into the quiet hallway feeling accomplished. I stood there for about three seconds before any further step.I took the elevator down, my hands in my pocket as I thought of the way Anastasia carefully read the contract, r







