A Night With Him

CHAPTER TWO

Anastasia woke up to the sound of her phone ringing and she groaned, reaching for it on the nightstand.

With eyes shut, Anastasia swiped the call to receive and placed the phone to her ear.

" Hello? " Anastasia said into the phone, her voice croaked.

" Hi, darling. " A male voice said and Anastasia's heartbeat thudded against her chest as she immediately sat up on the bed.

" Dad? " She called.

" Have you missed me? " The male voice questioned and Anastasia swallowed deeply as she pulled the phone away from her ear and stared at the ID Caller which showed 'Chloe'.

Her brows furrowed as she returned the phone to her ear.

" Why are you with Chloe's phone? " Anastasia questioned.

" Why don't you take a guess? " Her Dad uttered.

" What the hell did you do? " Anastasia asked with a racing heartbeat as she couldn't fathom why her Dad had her best friend's phone.

" Where is Chloe, Dad? Why do you have her phone? " Anastasia asked and nothing but silence met her.

" Hello? " Anastasia called.

" Hello. Ana! Ana. It's me, Chloe. " A feminine voice said in panic and Anastasia sprang up from the bed.

" Chloe? What's going on? " Anastasia asked and nothing but silence met her.

" Hello? " Anastasia uttered, pacing around the room.

" If I were you, I would come home real quick. " Her Dad's voice boomed into the phone and Anastasia haltered abruptly on her track. She moved her mouth to talk but the call went off.

Anastasia pulled the phone off her ear and stared at it with a racing heartbeat.

She immediately picked up her clothes from the floor and she hurriedly wore them on. She bent and put on her heels. Once done, Anastasia grabbed her purse from the bed and her necklace fell but Anastasia didn't notice as she rushed to the door. She turned the doorknob but then, she halted turning to Derek who was still fast asleep.

She bites her lower lip and grabs the doors open, walking out of the room and shutting the door behind her.

Anastasia exited the hotel and grabbed a cab. While inside, she immediately booked the next available flight to New York.

She arrived at a building and Anastasia alighted the cab and rushed into the house. She hurriedly went up the stairs and went to her room. Anastasia walked to the wardrobe and packed out all the things inside. She dumped them on the bed and brought out a box. She hurriedly folded the clothes into it. As soon as she was done, she locked the box and grabbed her phone and bag, dashing out of the room and exiting the house. She hailed a cab and the cab man pulled over beside her. She hopped in and told him to take her to the airport.

Anastasia stared out the window, hoping against hope that her best friend was fine.

Anastasia alighted the plane, and she stood at the airport in New York with her luggage. She looked around and inhaled deeply.

She couldn't believe, after so many years, that she was back to the one place she never dreamed of coming to ever again. Anastasia licked her lips, exhaling, and she hailed a cab.

Each minute they got nearer to her destination, Anastasia dreaded every second. The cab man finally pulled over at a gigantic building and Anastasia alighted the car.

She grabbed her luggage and stared at the building in front of her and Anastasia's eyes were full of nothing but pain. She gently walked into the building and she could see the tons of cars parked in the garage and the guards dressed in black suits that were standing at each corner of the house.

She walked to the door and Anastasia inhaled deeply. She gently exhaled, opened the door, and walked in.

Anastasia was welcomed by a grave silence as she stepped into the living house. She gently shut the door behind her and gently counted her steps to the enormous living room.

Anastasia sucked in a sharp breath, staring at the place she used to call home. She bit her lower lip hard, folding and unfolding her sweaty hands. She moved and dropped her bag on the center table then she heard footsteps approaching. Anastasia raised her gaze to see William Grey, Her Dad descending the stairs

" Oh, look who it is... The runaway princess " William uttered, finishing off the stairs and Anastasia glared at him.

" I didn't think you would come. " He added, walking close to her.

" Where is Chloe? " Anastasia questioned and her Dad smacked his lips.

" You have been a very troublesome child. " He mumbled.

" And you have been nothing but a jerk of a father! " Anastasia retorted and her Dad sent a slap across her cheek.

Anastasia yelped in pain, her head shifting sideways. She chuckled bitterly, raising her gaze back to meet his deep, blue angry eyes.

" Is that how you hit mom too? " She asked, tears brimming her eyes which expressed nothing but pain and anger. " Tell me. Is that how you hit her too, huh?! " Anastasia yelled and he just did nothing but stare at her.

" You are nothing but a disgrace to my name. " William finally uttered and Anastasia scoffed.

" If that's true. Then why won't you just leave me alone, huh? " Anastasia yelled.

" Oh, right. It's because you need me, isn't it? You need the same daughter who has disgraced you, "Anastasia said.

" The game of your hide and seek ends right now. You will serve your purpose as my daughter, "William said.

" By purpose, you mean pairing me up with some stranger to boost your business which you love so much? "

" If you think that I would for one second consider it, it is less accepting. Then you are in for a rude disappointment, "Anastasia said.

" You can prove stubborn all you want. But you will get married to Wilson's son ", her Dad said, pointing a finger.

" There is no more running for you. You should comply now while I am still being nice. " He added, and Anastasia scoffed.

" Nice? You have never been nice. You have always been nothing but a control freak! And I am not going to get married to Wilson's son or whoever it is you want! " Anastasia snapped and William nodded slowly.

" I doubt that. " He muttered and Anastasia furrowed her brows.

" What do you mean? " She asked.

" The Wilsons will be coming for dinner tomorrow night, "Her Dad said, ignoring her question.

" What?! " Anastasia asked, knitting her brows.

" Yes. I invited them over for dinner. " Her dad said.

" And you seriously think I will sit at the same table with them? " Anastasia questioned, raising her brows

" Yes. This is all for the sake of the family business! " Her Dad snapped.

" Which I want no part in. What part of that don't you understand? " Anastasia questioned in agitation.

" You know, I thought we could talk like the father and daughter we are, but I guess it's not working. You have always been stubborn. Just like your mom. " William uttered.

" Don't you dare mention her name? " Anastasia said in anger, her eyes shooting daggers at him.

" Well, guess what I found out? It appears my P.A., Chloe Decker, has been spying on me all along. And I couldn't help but wonder why. " Her Dad said and Anastasia gulped in.

" I had my guys do a little background check on her and I found out you two go way back. In fact, you are best friends. " William said and Anastasia bites her lower lip.

" I have her with my men. She is kept in the basement as we speak. " He added.

" What did you do to her?! " Anastasia snapped.

" Oh, I haven't done anything... yet. She is doing perfectly fine. " Her Dad responded.

" But that will only remain the same if you cooperate. " Her Dad added.

" Really? Threatening me with my friend? Now, that's low of you. " Anastasia blurted in disgust.

" I don't care what you say. I don't give a damn. All I want to hear is that you will agree to marry Wilson's son and attend the dinner tomorrow. " Her Dad said.

" And if I don't? " Anastasia asked and William shrugged.

" Well, then I can't guarantee your friend's safety, "he responded.

" And somehow I am just supposed to believe all of this? " Anastasia questioned, folding her arms.

" You heard her voice over the phone, didn't you? " Her Dad asked back.

" You must think I am stupid. If there is one thing I know about you, that's the fact that you are very manipulative. And I will be damned to fall your games. " Anastasia said.

" I see. Well, I guess there is one more thing you should know about me and that's the fact that I don't bluff. " Her Dad uttered and Anastasia gulped, staring in silence at him.

" Fine, I will give you proof. " Her Dad said and with a snap of his fingers, two guards appeared and Anastasia's eyes widened when she saw them grabbing her best friend, Chloe. She watched them push her to her knees and Chloe whimpered.

" Chloe! " Anastasia yelled. She tried to move towards her but her Dad held his hand up, halting her.

Anastasia stared at her best friend who was roughened up. Her eyes were puffy, probably from too much crying and there was also a cloth tied around her mouth making it impossible for her to talk.

" How could you? " Anastasia asked, snapping her gaze to her Dad.

" She has nothing to do with this! " Anastasia half yelled.

" She has everything to do with it. She is your weak spot and now I can use her to my advantage. " Her Dad uttered.

"You should blame yourself. You should know better than trying to spy on me. " Her Dad added and Anastasia clenched her fists.

" Let her go. " Anastasia demanded.

" It isn't that easy. Once you agree to my terms. Then I will let her go. " Her Dad said and Anastasia scoffed, staring in anger and disgust at him.

" You are really unbelievable. " She mumbled and William ordered his men to take Chloe away. The two guards grabbed Chloe, taking her away.

" So... What do you say? " Her Dad asked and Anastasia clenched her fists.

" I can ask my men to do whatever they want with her. " William said.

" Those filthy dogs of yours better not lay a hand on her. " Anastasia gritted.

" It's your choice. If you refuse, I give them the order. Agree with my terms and your friend goes home safe. " Her Dad said and it took seconds before Anastasia spoke.

" Fine. " She mumbled.

" I will do what you want. Now tell your men to let her go. " Anastasia said.

" Oh, it doesn't work like that, darling. She will remain under my men's protection until the day of the wedding, " William said.

" You should get settled and prepare to meet the Wilsons tomorrow. " Her Dad added, walking away.

Anastasia slumped into the sofa, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall.

She palmed her face, feeling really miserable. She can't believe after so many years of running, that she was faced back with the one thing she had been running from.

Marriage is the least of the things she wants to do in so many years to come, especially if it is an arranged one.

If only her Dad never found out about her best friend, Chloe. If only. Anastasia thought.

" Dammit! " She cursed, biting her lower lip.