"Diana, I didn't know you had a daughter." One of the too many people we've talked to tonight said. It was like a never ending sea of stuck up people. Each one shocked that Diana herself had another child. She of course milked the whole situation into a tragically beautiful story about our separation.
Gag.
But I played nice and went along with whatever she said. In fact, I don't think I actually spoke one word.
"I'm going to use the rest room." I said, stepping away, but she caught my arm, a fake smile still on her face.
"Come right back,"
I took my arm from her grip and quickly walked out. I found the ladies room and locked the stall. This place was so huge each stall had a freaking couch in it! That couldn't be sanitary, but I sat on it anyway, trying to calm down.
I wanted to calm my dad but I knew how much it was stress him out. I took my phone that I had stuffed in my bra and dialed Julia. There wasn't anyone in here luckily.
"Hello?" She answered almost immediately.
"Julia, thank god, I'm going to go crazy."
"Ana? Are you okay?" She asked, sounding alarmed.
No. "Yes, I... I just needed to talk to someone from home." I said, all of a sudden feeling home sick. I've traveled before and for periods at a time, but this was different.
Julia sighed, something she did when didn't know what to do. "It's going to be okay," her voice was calming.
"How's dad?" I asked.
"Same as he was this morning," she answered.
Right I just saw him earlier today before I left...
I laughed lightly. "Sorry, I'm just worried."
"We all are, but he's going to get the help he needs. Because of you," her last words were encouraging.
I heard the door opened and mentally cursed. "I've got to go, but I'll call you soon." I whispered and then hung up.
I walked out of the stall and washed my hands before returning out to the main area. I opened the door and as I began putting my phone back I slammed into someone.
"Oh, I'm so sorry-" I looked up to see no one other than Dimitri.
"Anastasia," He said my name with distaste. I knew he didn't like me, he never had. This was the first time I'd seen him since I arrived.
"Dimitri," I said with the same tone.
"Your mother is looking for you." He said.
"I told her I'd be right back."
He mumbled something under his breath before walking away.
I shook off the exchange and made my way back in to the gala. Everyone had taken their seats and when I arrived at the table I took my seat between my mother and some other man.
"Where have you been?" My mother hissed under her breath as I sat down.
"Bathroom," was all I said. I wasn't one to keep my mouth shut usually, but I needed to keep my end of the bargain for her to keep hers.
"Diana, who is this?" I looked over to see the mans eyes looking between mother and I. He was very handsome and almost rugged looking with the slight stubble on his face. His chocolate brown hair was tousled in the most stylish way and his brown eyes almost had a golden tone to them.
But I didn't like how he asked about me as if I wasn't sitting right here.
"I'm Anastasia," I introduced myself, not waiting for my mother to tell the sob story of our reunion.
His sharp gaze focused solely on me as I spoke. "Alexander," He said.
"This is my daughter," Mother spoke up. "she'll be staying with me over the summer." Unfortunately.
"Anastasia, tell Alexander here about our wonderful reunion." She batted her eyelashes at me in a way that said I should defy her.
"I don't think he wants to hear that right now." I muttered, trying to keep a smile.
"Maybe you can tell me over dinner one night?" Alexander said, making me look over to him.
Is this man, basically a stranger, asking me on a date?
"She'd love to," mother accepts for me.
I look between the two of them and shake my head. "No, trust me it's a long story-"
"Ok then we'll have dinner twice this week."He said with a smug smile.
I narrowed my eyes at him. Who does he think he is?
Before I could protest any further, the speaker on stage spoke announcing the charities they are sponsoring.
"A date night for two at the lovely La Grenouille restaurant. Let's start the bid for ten thousand." I nearly spit my water out.
Ten thousand dollars for a reservation for a restaurant?!
"Ten thousand!" A man shouted from a cross the room.
"Ten thousand to this gentlemen, do I hear eleven?"
"Eleven!"
It went on and on until the bidding had gotten up to sixteen thousand dollars.
Oh to be rich...
"Twenty thousand dollars," I looked over to see Alexander with his arm raised and shooting me a smirk.
"Twenty thousand! Going once... going twice... sold to Alexander Knight." The crowd clapped for him.
Wait.
Alexander Knight.
He's...
Dimitri's biggest competition and youngest CEO of New York.
At twenty seven he managed to take over his father's company and do something with it that not even his father could. It was a multi billion dollar company that seemed far too much for some his age could handle, but he did anyway. Not only is he known for that but also being New York's most eligible bachelor.
Pft, eligible my ass.
This guy is probably a walking STD.
"I hope you like French cuisines." Alexander said with a smirk.
I groaned over the sounds of clapping.
The rest of the evening went by slowly with many other auctions happening and rich people talking about uninteresting things.
It was no doubt nearly everyone there was attractive, but everyone I'd talked to had the personality of a door knob.
The morning after the gala I had to be up early, which I was dreading. If I hate anything it's mornings. I wish everyone started their days after one o clock.
I got up and put on a simple navy blue sundress. It was hot today so I stuck with minimal makeup and keeping my hair in its natural wavy state.
I went downstairs and to the kitchen. Roberto, the in-home chef, was cooking the most delicious breakfast. My eyes lit up at the site of bacon.
I nearly moaned as I took a bite. How could anyone hate bacon? One things for sure is that I could never be a vegetarian.
"Oh good, you're awake." I turn to see my mother walk into the kitchen. "Come with me," she said.
Not feeling like arguing, I followed behind her and walked into an office looking room. There Dimitri was sitting at his desk and no one other than Alexander Knight was sitting across from him.
"Ana, you remember-"
"Anastasia," I corrected.
Mother furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "What?"
"You may call me Anastasia." I clarified. Only people I was close to, or at least liked, were allowed to call me any type of nickname.
She looked taken back by my words, but nonetheless kept talking. "Anastasia, Alexander here has proposed a deal that we simply can not turn down."
I raised an eyebrow. "And that is?" Looking between them all with my arms crossed.
"I want you to come live with me." Alexander spoke.
My eyes went wide. "Are you stupid?"
"Anastasia!" My mother scolded.
"What? I'm serious, I genuinely want to know if you people are actually stupid." I said, dumbfounded that he'd even offer I lived with him. A complete stranger!
"Damn it can you take anything seriously?" Dimitri gritted out, as if he knows me.
"Enough," Diana said, stopping this argument. For now.
"I will not live with you." I said, my tone as serious as possible.
Alexander got up from the seat and stood a couple feet away. He towered over me, something I hadn't realized yesterday since I was wearing six inch heels. He had to be 6'6 at least.
"The alliance between Sterling Enterprises and Knight Corporations would be one to reckon with. It would put both of us at the top of not only New York, but the country, and further opening opportunities outside of the USA." Alexander began explaining, but all I could focus on was the living with him part. "If we just merge other companies would get the same idea, potentially knocking both of our statuses. So that's where you come into the picture."
"How is me living with you going to solve anything?"
He took a small step forward and his eyes on me. "We would be getting married,"
My mouth fell open. "You are crazy!" I yelled out. Marriage?! Why on earth would we need to be married. "This makes no sense." I said, almost to myself.
"We need a reason to merge companies. You, being the daughter of Dimitri-"
"Step daughter," I made sure to clarify. I wouldn't want anyone thinking I was actually related to that monster.
"Step daughter," he fixed his mistake. "It would make perfect sense. We get married, merge our companies, and that's it. The press will eat it up and we'll have people begging at our knees." He said with a hopeful look. "We can divorce-"
"I don't even like these people!" I exclaimed, gesturing to the woman I legally had to call my mother and her ugly husband. "Why would you think I'd marry someone just like them?" He visibly winced at my words. "I came here for one purpose-"
"Your father," Alexander said.
He knows.
"How do you know about him?" I looked at him and then back at my mother.
"Anastasia, if you don't accept his offer then our deal is off." Diana threatened.
Panic.
I felt panicked.
Helpless.
When it came to my father how could I say no? I mean, if we get divorced then what's the big deal? I would be saving my father's life, something I knew I'd do anything.
"I hate you," I said to her. I thought I saw hurt flash through her eyes, but that woman is stone cold. The botox wasn't the only thing that made her motionless. It was her stone cold heart. "How long?" I asked Alexander. I can't believe I was actually considering this... but what other choice was I left with?
"One year," He said.
"One year?" Its only a year...
He nodded.
"I want it written down. Everything, I need a contract in front of me to ensure my father will get the help he needs." I said.
"Of course," Alexander said.
Moments later a contract was written up and I was handed a pen by Alexander. I read over it numerous times, making sure everything was the way we agreed on.
I scribbled my signature at the bottom, truly feeling like I had just made a deal with the devil.