Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Annabelle Piccolo's POV

I wore a normal track pant and t-shirt and went downstairs to the kitchen to help Melody. She is the head chef and takes care of almost everything in the house. She is a very kind person and is fourty five years old. I went to the kitchen and instantly a smile spread in my face by seeing the maids, who are my friends.

"Hey, Anna!", everyone greeted.

"Hey, guys! What are we going to do today for lunch?", I asked leaning against the kitchen counter.

"Nothing special. But there are a lot of things that need to be done by tonight", Sophia said while stirring something in the pan that is on the stove.

I nodded my head at her understandingly.

"Are you not going to ask why? As we all know that the Duke", Greta, one of the maids, pressed on the word Duke while looking at me with a smile on her face and I blushed a little, "is coming and there is a party tonight. So, we need to make so many items that are listed by Melody", she said grinning wickedly. I smiled at her and the other laughed by seeing my blush.

"Tell me what I should do today. What help can I do?", I asked while looking at them.

"You.... don't need to help us today", I heard Melody say as she entered the big kitchen.

"What?", I asked her with pure confusion in my voice and face. I always help them while cooking. That's why my step-mother has sent me here to help them. I get bored by just sitting in my room. Melody looked at other girls and they all grinned at her and then me.

"You need to get ready for the party tonight", she said and all the others agreed. On hearing that, I stood up straight.

"I can get ready in the evening", I told her like it's obvious.

"No dear. We need to make you look beautiful. More beautiful. Not that you are not now, but.... you know what we mean", she said while pointing to all the girls. I looked at her confused again.

"Why do I need to look more beautiful?", I said pressing on the last two words. Melody came to me.

"We all know what you have a very big crush on him, on Lucas, since you were a child Anna", she said.

I looked down shyly.

"Now he is going to see you after seven years. Don't want to look beautiful when you go in front of him?", she asked.

Go in front of him? It means he will see me. I knew I will see him, but I never thought the other way. Would he recognize me if I go in front of him? The thought of him not recognizing me, just pains.

"So.... we are buying you a new dress and doing your hair and everything", she said looking at me from my head to toe.

"But Melody, do you think he would still remember me?", I asked her while voicing out my fear.

"I don't know. But my heart says he will", she said smiling warmly at me. I smiled back. I hope so.

"Now go. Greta will help you. I will manage the evil witch!", Melody said, referring to my stepmother.

"Don't call her that. She is not that bad", I said defending.

"Sorry. But that is what she is", she said shrugging. I shook my head at her.

Just as I and Greta were about to go out of the kitchen, my father came in. My face lit instantly on seeing him.

"Bell, darling! Good morning!", he greeted cheerfully in his Italian accent. He is the only person who calls me Bell.

"Good morning Dad!", I greeted back.

"I have been looking for you around the whole mansion, but I still couldn't find you. Yet, here you are. How many times do I have to tell you that you don't need to work here in the kitchen? You never listen to me", he said in a scolding way, although he is not serious.

"Sorry. But cooking makes me feel good", I said walking along with him to my room as Greta followed me behind silently. He put his hand on my shoulder in a fatherly way. A happy smile stayed put on my face. He sighed hearing my answer.

"I hope you make some friends out of this house. Go out. Enjoy your life a little", he said and like always I just gave him a smile.

"Not interested", I replied.

"You are such a nerd", he teased. I laughed lightly along with him on his joke.

He fishes out something from his pocket and gives it to me. I took it. It's a credit card. He gave me so many of these and they all went into my dressing table drawer. I never used them, excpet for buying books.

"Use it this time", he warns like always. "Oh, but not for books, please. Buy something new. Like clothes or anything you want", he said and I nodded my head.

"I will this time", I agreed and he looked at me doubtfully.

"That's what you say every time", he complained. I laughed again.

"I swear, I will. I and Greta are going out today", I promised while pointing towards Greta, who stood behind me as we came to halt in my room. He turned back to look at her and gave her a small smile, then turned to me and he grinned. He ran a hand through my hair and kissed my forehead with fatherly. He then looked at my room and saw the stacks of books in my room.

"I saw your room just six nights back and you already have two new stacks of books in your room", he said pointing to the new stacks of books I brought when he went on a business trip five days back.

I shrugged and he shook his head at me.

"Have fun", he said smiling and I smiled back and he left.

Later after that morning, I and Greta went shopping. Me and her are best friends since I was sixteen years old. I brought some necessary clothes, nightwears and inner wears. Greta came made me buy some that I never brought, like lingeries. Urrgh! I never wore them! I am normally comfortable in my t-shirts and jeans pants or track pants.

Finally, we went to a shop to buy a dress for the party tonight. I tried many dresses as Greta kept rejecting them while sitting there like a judge. After trying at least twenty dresses, I gave up.

"I am not going to try anymore dresses", I said and sat beside her.

"Please, only this one. I serious, this is the last dress", she said while holding my arm and making me stand up and pushed me gently into the trail room.

I heaved out a huge sigh and wore it. It's a light pink knee lenght dress that fitted me perfectly. It has full sleeves and felt very comfortable. I looked at myself in the mirror and walked out of the room to show it to her. As she heard me coming out, she looked at me and her mouth dropped open before she squealed.

"God, this looks so beautiful on you! You look cute, pretty and beautiful! It suits you perfectly! We are buying it!", she said excitedly and I grinned at her.

"I love it too", I smiled.

After buying the dress, we bought some other dresses too or should I say she made me buy them. When I refused, she even blackmailed me about calling my father and complaining to him about me.

After a few hours, all our shopping is over and just as I thought we are going home, she said we done all the stuff they will do to me and let me pay her. We got facial, manicure, pedicure. She stopped there and refused on getting any further treatment.

She made me get a body massage and then finally my hair cut. My long brown hair, that falls to my hips is now only till waist. I refused on getting it cut more. I loved it.

By the time we reached home, it's already six thirty in the evening. We soon went to my room to get ready. There is no one in the mansion. Everyone must have already left. I checked my phone and saw three missed calls from my father. He must be worried! I quickly messaged him that I am home and will come to the party soon.

I quickly bathed neatly while putting my hair up, not wanting it to get wet. I dried myself once I am out and wore the dress. I let my hair down and Both Melody and Greta did my make up. They only did the makeup lightly.

"On my God dear! You look so beautiful! Even though he doesn't remember you, he will love you once he sees you now", Melody said and the smile on my face instantly vanished. I don't want him to love me like this. I want him to the Annabelle that he talked to thirteen years ago.

I want him to see the real me.

A/N:

Hey my cute dumplings!

I hope you guys like it. Please share it and tell me what you think about it. Also, don't miss the next chapter. It's in Lucas's POV.

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