~~Anastasia's POV ~~
It's been 5 years since I lost my father, his family took everything away from me since they never supported his union with my mom who died early at my tender age. My father's disobedience to his family made every other relative discard me, except my aunt Jessica and her family, who sheltered me, even though she made sure to remind me of how worthless I am at every slightest chance she gets, I'm still very grateful to her.
Many years passed by in very hard conditions for my aunt Jessica and her husband. We were living in debt increasingly each day the sun rises, so I had no choice but to find a waitress job at a local restaurant where my best friend Emily works. Circumstances made me drop out of school at age twelve, and Situations forced me to grow up before my time. I was only eighteen years old, but I couldn't behave freely like most of my peers would.
" Anastasia," Aunt Jessica's harsh voice from downstairs interrupted my thoughts and I had to rush downstairs.
Today is a work-free day, but I wasn't still free as I was preoccupied with house chores and Aunty Jessica's constant nagging.
"Anna, don't make me call you again," she repeated call as she yell at the top of her lungs calling me by my half name.
"I'm here ma'am," I rapidly said as I stood before her in the kitchen, and the sight before me in the kitchen left me dismayed. The kitchen sink was filled with dirty dishes and a sachet of spices that she had used was all littered over the floor.
"Get this kitchen sparkling clean, I'm going out and make sure you're done before I return." And with that, she left the house and I was made to clean everything all by myself.
*****
The next day was very hot, as the sun wasn't friendly. I made my way to Emily's house so we could go to work together, which was my normal routine with Emily.
The job was draining me but I couldn't quit, as it was also one of our sources of income in the house and my ticket to a little freedom away from the house.
When I got to Emily's house she was already waiting for me outside as we made our way to the restaurant together.
We entered the restaurant and everywhere was already filled with customers and it was only Jake who was serving the customers and taking orders.
"We'd definitely get a query today," Emily whispers to me as we both hurried to the changing room to get changed.
After a few minutes, we were done as we hurriedly rushed to our tables to take orders.
Most of the guests of the restaurant were local, they were everyday people from our town which we all know.
As I continued to work, Mr Lexus hurried in, ordered me to clear a table for a group of men that has already caused commotion from the entrance of the restaurant, and asked Jake to show them to the table.
The three men were neatly dressed in black suits like undercover lords, as they made their way to their table one of them who walked with so much pride quickly stole a glance at me and I felt obliged to hold my breath, as I tore my gaze away from him. His hair was neatly trimmed and he was looking very serious.
After they sat down I picked up a ready order in the kitchen and discovered it was the men in black suit table's order.
Mr Lexus was all over the place. Honestly, this was the first time such people of high value visited our restaurant and I don't blame Mr Lexus for trying to make everything look perfect.
But as I got to their table with the tray of their orders, this particular stranger in a black suit stared at me, he had been staring at me the very moment he stepped into the restaurant, but this stare was more obvious as I was placing their food on the table, The tray almost dropped from my hand because of his intense gaze.
Out of nowhere the stranger asked, "What is your name?" I was muted by the power that drips from his voice, but before I could answer, he spoke again, "Anastasia..." I was struck by the almost unreal perfection of the sound of my name falling from his lips, as the sound of his gentle voice made me forget how to breathe, with his gaze never leaving mine, he took a sip of his drink.
-Put yourself together Anna- I said to myself.
Even the men who came with him were surprised by the sound of my name from his lips, they also seemed to fear him.
What is it about one man that even the atmosphere stands still at his presence?
With shaky breath, I quickly ripped my eyes away from him and dropped their orders on the table as I hurried back, but I could still feel the dark piercing gaze of the stranger that followed my every move until I disappeared between the walls of the restaurant.
It wasn't long before Mr Lexus sent for me from the kitchen. I placed everything down and hastily made my way to his office with fear in my mind that I must have offended a guest and they ended up reporting me.
Immediately I got to his office, I was aghast to see the stranger sitting there already, looking very calm and organized. But something about his calmness screams danger.
"Good evening Sir, you sent for me," I said with a very low and humble voice.
"Oh yes, yes Anastasia, Meet Mr Ricardo Antonio," He gestured towards the stranger in a black suit sitting, and as I turned my gaze to look at him, his dark eyes looked so cold, like they were a hidden agenda that I couldn't place my hands on. At that instant, I felt a shiver of an unknown fear. His stares scrutinized and assessed every inch of my body from head to toe, he wasn't even hiding the fact that I was aware of his unpleasant dark inquiring stare.
"I've met her already," Mr Ricardo replied as he extended his hands for me, without taking his eyes away from me, not even for a split second. I gently placed mine and an electric shiver rushed through my entire body. A shiver of negativity.
"Nice to me..et you sir," I stuttered. He only responded this time with a now and a brief smile that didn't reach his face.
"Mr Ricardo finds your service impeccable, he'd like to spend more time with you, to get to know you, so I told him you're free, ain't you?" Mr Lexus stares at me with knowing realizations of what he wants my response to be. I could also see something else in Mr Lexus' eyes, fear.
-What is going on with Mr Lexus? He has never supported going out with customers or even making friends with them. Then why this man? And why me?
I had so many questions left unanswered in my head, but I still managed to give the reply Mr Lexus was anticipating.
"Yes, I'm free," I gently reply in a barely audible voice.
As I stood there, looking between Mr Lexus and the stranger who was no longer a stranger, silent and dumbfounded, I was paralyzed by the weight of what my response was and my instinct warned me to run as far as I could from this sudden demand.