Chapter 4: Stranger Danger

(Anna’s POV)

I blinked once, then twice and when I finally opened my eyes I felt a sharp pain at my temple that spread through my head.

It throbbed with every heartbeat, like my head was being squeezed.

I closed and tried to breathe slowly so my head wouldn’t feel like it would burst.

The bed under me felt soft and familiar. The sheets smelled like the lavender soap Margaret always used. 

I was home.

In my own bed.

But how did I get here?

I groaned softly and slowly opened my eyes again.

I sat up carefully and slowly looked around.

Everything looked normal, my gown from last night was hanging neatly on the chair, shining in the sunlight.

I was wearing my nightgown.

The soft one with little flowers.

I definitely did not wear this last night..

Think, Anna. What happened?

I closed my eyes and tried to remember through the fog in my head.

The party, the office, Richard and Jessica. 

I winced at the thought.

Then the divorce and... Nightangles.

Oh my God.

The memory came back slowly. The stranger.

My eyes opened wide despite the pain.

Oh no.

I had kissed him.

The memory hit me hard. I had told him I wanted to kiss him… and then I actually did it. Like a desperate woman who was starved of affection.

I covered my face with my hands, feeling my cheeks burn in embarrassment.

What happened after that?

I tried to remember but I couldn't. I had passed out.

How did I get home?

Did he bring me?

Did he… do anything to me?

I looked down at myself, trying to check. I felt normal, just tired with a terrible hangover.

Then there was a soft knock on the door.

I jumped, startled by the sudden knock.

“Mrs Anderson?” Margaret’s gentle voice said. “Are you awake? I brought you tea.”

“Come in,” I said, my voice dry and rough.

Margaret entered with a tray and a hot cup of tea. 

She looked calm, but I could see concern in her eyes.

“Good morning ma'am,” she said softly. “I thought you might need this.”

She placed the tray beside me. I smelled ginger and honey, her special tea for hangovers.

“Thank you Margaret,” I whispered, taking the cup with shaking hands.

I took a small sip. The warmth spread through my body and helped my stomach feel better.

Margaret stood quietly, waiting.

“Margaret,” I said slowly. “What happened last night? How did I get home?”

She looked at me with sympathy.

“You don’t remember?”

“I remember going to Nightangles,” I said, embarrassed. 

“I drank too much. A man helped me… and then I don’t remember anything after that. I don’t remember coming home or changing. Did you—”

“I helped you change when you arrived,” Margaret said gently. “You were unwell.”

Unwell. A polite way to say I was totally wasted.

“Who brought me home?” I asked quietly. “Was it the man from the club?”

Margaret opened her mouth to answer when the door suddenly slammed open.

I jumped and nearly dropped my tea.

Richard stood there, and he looked every bit furious. 

His face was red, his jaw tight and his hands clenched tightly.

“Do you have any idea,” he said in a low voice, “how stupid you were last night?”

I stared at him, still confused.

“Richard, I—”

“Nightangles?” he snapped, stepping into the room while Margaret quietly left.

 “You went to Nightangles? Alone? Do you know how scandalous that was? What if someone saw you? Took photos? Richard Anderson’s wife drunk in the city’s worst club, throwing herself at strangers?”

His words felt like punches.

“I wasn’t throwing myself—”

“Don’t you dare make excuses,” he cut in sharply. 

He paced the room angrily.

“Do you know what your careless action could do to my reputation? To my company? The biggest night of my career, and my wife is passed out drunk in a notorious club making a scene!”

“I wasn’t making a scene—”

“You vomited on someone!” he shouted, turning to me. “You were so drunk you couldn’t stand. You passed out and had to be carried out and—”

He stopped, breathing hard.

I sat still on the bed, holding my tea, feeling small and ashamed.

I had thrown up on someone.

I gasped, my hands flying to my mouth as I remembered throwing up on the stranger.

What have you done Anna!

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, not knowing what else to say.

“Sorry?” Richard laughed, but it wasn’t funny. “You’re sorry. Well, that fixes everything, doesn’t it?”

I looked down at my hands. The tea cup was shaking.

“How did I get home?” I asked softly. “Who brought me?”

Richard stopped talking. 

His face changed. He was still angry, but there was something else too. Almost like relief.

“You were lucky,” he said with sarcasm. “Very lucky. Out of all nights and all places you chose to embarrass yourself…” He took a breath. “It was were my father was too.”

At first, I didn’t understand.

“What?” I asked.

“My father,” Richard said clearly. “He was at Nightangles. He flew in last night, there was an urgent client he had to meet up, coincidentally it was at Nightangle that the meeting was set up."

He paused and looked at me with disgust. "He saw everything. He’s the one who brought you home.”

My father-in-law.

I had never met him ever since we got married.

He was hospitalized and couldn't make it to attend our wedding.

This visit was going to be the first time I'll be meeting him.

My father-in-law had seen me drunk and wasted in a randy night club and had brought me home.

What would he think of me.

“Oh God,” I whispered.

“Yes,” Richard said coldly. “Now you realise how bad this is."

How would I explain that it was a huge mistake and I wasn't that kind of woman.

I was still reeling in shame and trying so hard to recall the incidents from last night when the door opened again.

I looked up and gasped in shock.

It was the stranger from last night, the one who had protected me.

What was he doing here in the Anderson estate...

Had he followed my father-in-law to ensure I arrived home safely?

He looked at me a little smile tugging at his lips.

I looked at him and the memory of last night quickly rushed back...

The way I threw myself at him, then the kiss and finally passing out after I vomited all over him.

Oh my God!

I quickly turned my gaze away from him, wishing I could disappear.

"Anna, meet my dad." 

Then he turned to him. "Dad this is my wife Anna Anderson. This is the first time you're both getting to meet each other."

Did he just say dad?

I gasped in shock as the tea cup slipped from my hands and spilled on the bed.

No.

It couldn’t be.

But I could see it now. His face...

I looked at Richard and noticed the faint resemblance... they had same bright blue eyes and sharp jaw.

He walked up to me, his eyes still as kind and warm as I remembered.

“Hello Anna,” he said gently. 

There was something calm and mysterious about his voice that sent deep shivers down my spine.

“I think we should introduce ourselves properly,” he said, with a small hint of a smile. 

“I’m Alexander Anderson. Richard’s father.”

I froze,

unable to think properly.

This couldn't be happening.

I had kissed my father-in-law and I had actually enjoyed it!