ANASTASIA
"Anastasia," I heard my name again. I opened my eyes and found Harry in my room."I am sorry," he mumbled and quickly walked out. I sat up and wiped the beads of sweat that had dripped all over my body. "It was a dream," I whispered to myself.Feeling aroused and a little bit ashamed, I descended from the bed and made my way to the bathroom. Glancing at the wall clock, I realized I had overslept; it was already eight o'clock. I ran a warm bath, adding my rose-scented shower gel and a few drops of my favourite essential oils. I removed my nightwear and slipped into the bathtub.An hour later, I was dressed and seated at the dining table, ready for breakfast. The maid, Maria, who had introduced herself earlier, informed me that Harry was in a virtual meeting and would be joining me soon. I wasn't looking forward to seeing him, not after what had just happened that morning in my bedroom. "Why did he even come into my bedroom without my permission?" I mumbled to myself.I settled in and had a proper English breakfast, Harry was a no-show. I couldn't tell what exactly he had heard or seen while I was asleep. I wondered if, during my dream, I had called out Matthew's name.Even though I wasn't in love with Harry I didn't want to hurt him. I now felt bad that I didn't respond to the questions he had asked me on our way home yesterday.After breakfast, I went over to the patio and sat down on the wicker chair, the sounds coming from the fountain was really soothing my nerves.The rays of the sun warmed my skin.Yet, despite the serenity of my environment, my mind couldn't help but drift back to the days after I ran away from my wedding with Matthew.It had been a whirlwind two years. The memory of the morning I ran away from my own wedding was so fresh like it just happened.I could see myself boarding the flight and arriving with just a meagre amount of cash in my pocket and a heart heavy with regret, I found myself on Mia's doorstep, tears streaming down my face.Mia, was really understanding, she welcomed me with open arms. She spent countless evenings making comforting bowls of soup as I poured out my heart, seeking comfort in her unwavering support. One day, as she returned from her office assistant job, i could tell how exicted she was. ."Anastasia," she said, her voice filled with gentle firmness, "I think you should apply for this job. Having something else to focus on will help you move on faster."My phone buzzed in my hand, she had sent me the job advertisement. At that moment, a flicker of determination ignited within me. Taking a deep breath, I opened the email, ready to embark on a new chapter.The day before my interview, Mia, bless her heart, filled me in on the company owner."He's loaded, but doesn't flaunt it," she said. Truth be told, I couldn't care less about his wealth. I was thoroughly over billionaires and their bad attitudes. After all, my experiences with the rich hadn't exactly been sunshine and roses.Take Matthew's parents, for example. The first time I met them, they acted like I wasn't good enough. His mother kept droning on about a "classy wedding" and an "A-list planner," while eyeing me down through her fake eyelashes.The touched the fabric of the dress I was putting on, "honey," she said, "you really need a stylist." Matthew just sat there and listened while the mom turned down to me, he didn't say a word in my defence.i arrived for the interview, very nervous and disoriented. Reaching the waiting area, I spotted a man already sitted there. He was ridiculously handsome, like a model with dark, curly hair that brushed the collar of his perfectly tailored grey suit. He looked like he belonged on a magazine cover, not waiting for a job interview."Here for an interview?" he asked, in a deep barritone voice that sent shivers down my spine – not in a good way. I wasn't even remotely ready to date, let alone deal with a potentially charming distraction. So, I simply nodded, not trusting myself to speak.The next thing that came out of my mouth surprised even me. "If you are here for an interview," I blurted out, "you might want to go home and change."He raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "Do I look bad?"I shook my head quickly. "No, you don't look bad," I stammered, "but... you look like the owner of the company. And from what I've experienced, rich people don't like sharing the spotlight. They're not just arrogant, they can be downright mean, with no regard for how their actions affect us 'normal' folks."A short laugh escaped his lips. "Maybe the owner of this company is different," he said, standing up and straightening his already impeccable suit."Yeah, I doubt it," I muttered under my breath. He chuckled again, a warm sound that made me want to kick myself for being so suspicious. "You're a character," he said with a final smile before walking away.Five minutes later, my name was called. Heart pounding, I entered the interview room. There, seated right in the middle of the three interviewers, was the man in the grey suit. My jaw nearly hit the floor. It couldn't be... could it?ANASTASIA The man in the grey suit sat and listened attentively throughout my interview. A subtle smile was on his lips. After the interview, as I left the building, my mind replayed the entire encounter, the questions, my answers, and most prominently, the mysterious Mr. Grey Suit. Reaching home, I found Mia laying down on the couch with a tub of popcorn balanced on her lap. "So, how was it?" Mia asked. "How did the interview go? Did you wow them with your HR expertise?"I sat down on the opposite end of the couch, i sighed and looked up at Mia. "I think I might have… stuck my foot in my mouth," I confessed, I narrated my entire interaction with the handsome stranger.Mia's eyes widened in surprise. "You told him to go home and change because he looked too rich?" She asked and started laughingShe laughed so hard tears started flowing from her eyes. "Oh, Anastasia! What were you thinking?"I buried my face in a throw pillow, mortified. "I don't know! i was so nervous and looked
HARRY The second Matthew said, "What is she doing here?", I knew there was some serious baggage between him and Anastasia. My parents looked at each other and I could see that there was a lot I didn't know. After Matthew walked out, I became even more confused. "Why did it have to be her?", My Dad muttered, "I don't understand," I said. Mom, ever the voice of reason, dropped a bombshell. "Son," she said gently, " didn't you know that Anastasia was engaged to Matthew? Your nephew." My jaw hit the floor. I whipped my head around to look at Anastasia, expecting some kind of explanation. But she wouldn't meet my gaze. The revelation hung heavy in the air, adding another layer to the already suffocating silence. The air grew thick with tension, and the car ride back home stretched into an eternity. I kept stealing glances at Anastasia, hoping she'd finally break the silence and explain everything. But she didn’t, I finally spoke up, "why didn't you tell me that you were once e
ANASTASIA My makeup artist had just finished my makeup, and very soon, I would be walking down the aisle. It all seemed like a dream, Matthew Smith would be my husband. I couldn't believe I would be marrying the most eligible bachelor. I just couldn't contain my joy as I gazed at my reflection in the mirror. My engagement to Matthew had been on gossip blogs and magazines. It was a very romantic engagement. We had attended the Super Bowl together, and just as the halftime started, the camera landed on us, and I turned to Matthew, and there he was with a beautiful diamond ring. I accepted it with a continuous "yes." I had come into my hotel room to speak with Matthew. "In an hour, you'll be mine," Matthew had said, and I just couldn't wait. After talking to Matthew on the phone, I sprawled out on the bed and fantasised about our honeymoon. Images of us making love on the beach sent shivers down my spine, I was going to make sweet love to Matthew, and I just couldn't wait for the w
MATTHEW After more than twelve years away, my uncle Harry Smith was finally coming back home, and my grandfather was throwing a ball to honour his return. I didn't really care because very soon, I would have a bigger celebration of my own. Dressed in a black velvet suit and trousers, my white shirt spoke volumes, and it made my rich maroon velvet bow tie stand out. i looked at the mirror, and I saw a man ready to command attention at the ball, i was a vision of sophistication.Entering the beautifully decorated arena a few minutes later, I observed men coming in, dressed in tuxedos, each accompanied by a woman in their arms. The ladies wore elegant evening gowns, their makeup meticulously applied, and their hair impeccably styled.Surprisingly, I was remarkably calm. A year ago, this situation would have sent me into a panic. My grandfather had declared that ninety percent of his shares in all his companies would be transferred to my uncle if he was able to get married before his t
ANASTASIAAfter three long years, Matthew hadn't changed a bit. He was still very handsome. Those once captivating blue eyes, which I used to get lost in now, looked at me with so much surprise.As I stood before him, uncertainty gripped me. I hadn't known how I would feel seeing him again after i ran just hours before our wedding. Yet seeing him made all the feelings to return.The scent of him brought back a lot of memories, I remembered the times I ran my fingers through his beautiful hair. For years, the only way I kept tabs on him was reading about him from gossip columns in magazines, social media, and financial magazines.Standing just a few feet away, the truth hit me – I was still in love with him. He had this sophistication and sexiness that made me giddy and wet. Dressed in a navy blue tuxedo, he exuded timeless elegance, a sight that made my heart ache."Anastasia," he whispered as he stared into my eyes."What is she doing here?"Matthew asked as he sprang to his feet. "I