Chapter four—The mysterious intruder

Chapter four—The mysterious intruder

“The name’s Annalise Heathrow. Twenty-six. She studied the arts for a while at the UC Berkeley, right before transferring into a nursing program at LSU. Her father is dead, she has a mother in the nursing home but isn’t a frequent visitor. She lives in the upper east, in a rundown apartment which I think she pays too much for to be honest. She’s a nurse at St John’s, been a bonafide staff of three years.”

“And her finances?”

“Oh that’s touchy one.” The investigator snorted a laugh, “She’s broke. She’s drowning in too much debt for a woman her age, she also takes a weekend shift at a club working as a waitress. A hard worker I can’t lie, with shitty insurance for a medical practitioner.”

“Health records?”

“She’s healthy. I called in a favor and pulled all of her records. There’s no sign of any flawed genetics, or familial disorders. Although she has a grandmother who’s a redhead, you might want to consider that.”

Stephan frowned, “She smokes.”

The investigator shrugged, “Don’t be a prude, Steph. Everyone smokes.”

“Don’t ever call me Steph. You’re not my friend, you work for me and you will address me formally.”

The investigator surreptitiously rolled his eyes, “She smokes only when she’s stressed. It’s a once in a month kind of thing, I promise she’s of great stamina. It’s not going to be an issue.”

The CEO stared at the photo of Annalise during her high school days. He couldn’t help but wonder how those vibrant eyes of hers could dim so quickly, ignoring the stress and all—she genuinely seemed miserable.

She was the perfect candidate.

*********

“He’s a fucking prick!” Annalise grumbled out loud as she saw plopped a serving of mashed potatoes on her plate, the hospital food was getting worse by the minute, “Stephan Ashford could eat a bag of dicks for all I care.”

Alexis couldn’t believe her ears, “So you’re not joking about the Stephan thing??”

Annalise grunted over a mouthful of pressed potatoes, “Of course not! Like I said…..he’s a prick with no regard for humanity. Can you believe he offered me a new car?”

“And you said no?”

“Yep.”

“Why?!!”

“It’s my father’s—

“It’s a shitty car Anna!” Alexis yelled, unable to fathom the information being given to her, “It’s not everyday you get a friggin billionaire at the palm of your hand. It could’ve been a Porsche for all you know, even if you didn’t want it. It wouldn’t fetched a pretty penny!!”

In retrospect her friend was right. Taking a new car was the more logical choice, but she had her whole heart bonded with that car. It was her father’s, the only thing of his she was able to keep, whilst the loan sharks wrecked their home dry from all the debt of his medical bills.

She remained silent for a mile and gulped hard. She’d lost her appetite, a bile in her throat forming as she looked up at the ceilings. She still hated the damned fluorescent bulbs.

She was in the presence of a billionaire.

She’d looked him in the eye, dared him.

She made him apologize.

What had she done? Someone as powerful as Stephan Ashford could ruin her life with the flicker of a finger; and yet she made him squirm, she basically trampled him at the soles of her feet…..and she felt good doing it at the time!

Now she was back to her miserable shift at the hospital, with realization finally sinking into her. It didn’t take long before she heard oncoming footsteps from behind her. She turned around,

They were law enforcement. Unofficial. She could see their glistening metal badges from their belts, despite them being without uniform.

Oh God.

“Miss Heathrow?” One of them stepped forward.

She wanted to deny, almost pleaded with Alexis with her eyes to take the fall. She couldn’t have a record on her case, not when she could lose everything. She hadn’t committed any crimes, but an innocent lass as herself knew she was in dire trouble.

“Yes?” She finally answered.

“We need you to come with us ma—

“For what exactly?” Alexis spoke up, “My friend has done nothing wrong.”

The officer glared at her, wishing she would keep her mouth shut, “Miss Heathrow?”

“It’s fine.”Annalise sighed deeply, she turned to Alexis, “I’ll be fine. Feed Momo if I don’t get home early will you?”

A nod of acknowledgment was exchanged between the two. Annalise stretched forth her arms for handcuffs but the officers looked at her with bemusement, embarrassed she dropped her hands to her side and followed them outside the hospital.

There wasn’t a cop car. She hadn’t committed any crimes to be transported with a limo which was parked right in front of her, she frowned deeply as she turned to the men—were they even cops?!

“Wai—

Her words seized as a bag was wrapped over her head.