With eyes spitting anger and fury, Anastasia Beverly glared at the young man who just kissed her, accidentally. Although she knew it wasn't his fault, he still kissed her!
"You! How dare you kiss me! You took my first kiss!" She vented at him, her blue crystal-like eyes glittering with anger.
"You should have given it to your boyfriend before bumping into a stranger. Next time watch where you are going" the man replied, raising his head to look at the fuming Anastasia.
His eyes seem to look all over her face and body. Was he a pervert?
"Shouldn't you be apologizing, instead of acting like an asshole? Pervert" Anastasia scolded, wanting to tear that look from the man's face.
The man turned to look at her and they both stared at each other for a while and without another word, he walked out on her.
"He is so arrogant Jeez," Anastasia said to herself angrily.
She bites hard on her lips to hold her anger back. She wished she could hit the young man, however, the only reason why she controlled herself was because she was in a mall and she would not like to embarrass herself.
Anastasia was a beautiful, golden-haired nineteen-year-old girl. She was a stubborn girl that loves doing what she wants. She refused to work in her parents' company because she thought it was her own and everyone would give her too much respect.
She hated when people tried to ride on her just like the young man just did. Her anger rose again and she ran to the man, holding his hand.
"You had better hope I don't see you again, pervert!" She whispered in his ears. Then she turned around, leaving the young man staring at him.
Anastasia was about to drive away from the mall when she saw four men in suits walking closer to her, she put her hand on her forehead tiredly.
"Not now please." She said to herself and they got to where she was standing.
"Good day madam, your dad sent us to…" She raised her hand to stop them from speaking further.
"Don't worry I know what you are about to say, '' she handed her car key to one of them and followed them in their car.
While they were driving, she kept wondering why her dad suddenly wanted to see her. He had been calling and she kept giving him excuses and reasons why she cannot visit now.
"I guess he got tired of my excuses," Anastasia said to herself and looked at the man sitting beside her.
They finally got to her house and she walked inside.
"Dad, I told you I'm busy with work," Anastasia said to her dad in a loud voice.
She moved closer to her parents so she could kiss them but noticed her dad looked very sad and worried about something. She looked at her mom too and it was the same with her mom.
She sat down on the chair and was wondering what was going on.
"Mom, dad, what is it?" Anastasia asked her parents.
Her mom turned to look at her, face filled with sadness and tears that were threatening to fall. Then all of a sudden her dad's phone rang, and he picked up the call immediately.
Anastasia noticed he kept apologizing on the phone, this got her worried, what was going on?
"Mom, please tell me, what's going on?" Anastasia asked her mom and her dad dropped the phone. The look on his face says that there was something wrong.
"Please can someone talk to me, I'm going crazy," Anastasia said, anxiously.
Her dad turned to look at her. Her mother was about to talk but her father knew it would not be easy for her to say it.
"Don't worry I will tell her," Anastasia's dad said to her mom.
Anastasia was slowly going crazy trying to think of what might be the cause of their moody face.
"Sweetie, as much as I don't want to trouble you, I just have to let you know. We are going bankrupt," Her dad said, closing his eyes as he clasped his hands tightly.
Anastasia closed her mouth with her hand. She never expected such a thing to happen this time. Her parents' company was doing very well. How are they going bankrupt all of a sudden?
"How is that even possible, the last time you told me to help with the company finance it was more than enough to last us for the next ten years," Anastasia said to her dad, still shocked about the news of their bankruptcy.
"Yes it was supposed to be enough, but we lost the contract we invested almost all the money on, and now we don't even have enough to pay our staff. The board is saying if we can't settle this I'll have to step down as the CEO," Her dad explained. He had opened his eyes and was staring at his daughter.
Anastasia was particularly shocked about this because her dad told her the story of how he worked his ass off to build that company. She will never let anyone take it away from him.
"No, no one will take that company from you dad," Anastasia said to her dad.
"We called you here to tell you about it so that you can understand if you don't get anything this month as your monthly allowance." Her mom added, Anastasia stood up and sat in the middle of her mom and dad.
She held both of their hands and they looked at her. "I still have some money in my account, why don't we…"
"No, that will not be necessary dear," Her dad interrupted her immediately.
She turned to look at her dad. She knew he would never accept her idea but she still wanted to try.
"We will get through this," She said to both of them and rested her head on her dad's shoulder.
Her dad was only trying to be okay. He was not because the calls were getting too much, he wanted a solution immediately.
"Dinner is served." The maid came to interrupt them.
She used her hand to tell the maid to leave, she looked at her mom and her dad then she stood up. She knew if she was not in the house her dad and mom would not eat anything. So she was happy she was around and did not go anywhere.
"Let's go eat something then we will talk about how to settle the bankruptcy." Anastasia encouraged them.
Her dad smiled, he was happy they had a daughter like Anastasia that can help them hone their spirit when they are down.
"We will get through this, dad," Anastasia said, leading them to the dining room.
But as soon as they sat down, one of their maids rushed in, panting and panicking. Without being told anything, Anastasia's father held his chest tightly as he slumped to the ground.
"Daddy!," Anastasia screamed, rushing to her father.
She prayed fervently not to lose him.
******
"Daddy! You are not allowed to die on me!" Anastasia screamed as she performed first aid on him.
Her mother stood petrified as her daughter tried to revive her husband who just had an attack. It wasn't that she doesn't want to help or the fact that she can't scream. The issue was she was too afraid to feel anything.
"No. You can't leave me, James," was all she could whisper to herself.
Soon, there was a long drawing of breath as her father slowly opened his eyes. Anastasia, who hadn't noticed her father had opened his eyes, kept bawling her eyes out until his hand touched her golden silky hair.
"Anny, I am-fine. I just had-an attack. I will-be fine," Her father said, trying to wipe her tears away.
"Daddy, don't you dare leave me and mom! I won't forgive you!," Anastasia said, embracing her father with her tears flowing freely.
"I won't, sweetie. I am sorry for frightening you and your mother. Celine, come here," James beckoned to his wife.
Anastasia's Mother, Celine who had frozen since her husband collapsed, breathed a sigh of relief. She still looked petrified and her hands were still shaking. At her husband's command, Celine walked towards him, her eyes never leaving him.
"You… you want to leave me alone because we… we are about to go bankrupt?" She stuttered, her voice shaking and laden with sorrow. She was staring at him accusingly.
"I am sorry, Celine," James said, trying to sit up.
Just that word and Celine burst into uncontrollable tears. Anastasia held her crying mother tightly as she whispered words of comfort to her. That was her mother. She was the type that rarely reacts even in times of difficulty but when she does, it's difficult to comfort her.
Except her father.
Anastasia watched as her father consoled her mother while she accused him.
"You promised to always protect me when I marry you! If you die, who is going to protect me?" Celine accused her husband amidst sobs.
Anastasia's mind suddenly felt foggy as a Deja Vu flashed through her mind. Why does it feel like someone had also told her this before?
Was it an illusion or real? But she has no recollection of anything. She quickly snapped out of it and continued consoling her mother who had been crying a river.