Chapter 7 A Visit From The Billionaire CEO

• Anna stood in front of the door with her heart racing, she didn’t know if to open it or just wait till the person went away. She could still perceive that scent from last night, it was a unique and obviously expensive masculine cologne; she doubted the people who lived around here would be able to afford such.
• The knock came again and she quickly grabbed the handle of the door, she turned her back to it and breathed in heavily, before letting it out. Anna then opened the door and came to face a man who had his back to her, he turned around slowly and she froze. It was him!! Stephen Grey was standing at her door!!
• Anna couldn’t believe it, what was he doing here? How did he find her house? Why did he come here? Did he know she actually lived here? Was this a coincidence? These questions purged through her heart with the speed of lightning while she remained mute and frozen.
• Was he really there or was she just imagining it? The elegant young man, dressed in a royal blue classic suit and a black shiny shoes to match. His black sunglasses sitting perfectly above his pointed nose, the sun reflecting on his very easily cognizable light brown mustache and his majestic upper curls standing high; he was like a Disney Prince.
• Ana moved her eyes slowly above his head and she could see the luxurious black car parked in front of the house, she didn’t even hear it arrive. The engine was either very silent or her discussion with her mom was loud.
• After a minute of staring and saying nothing, which felt like an eternity to Ana because she was feeling so many emotions at the same time; confusion at the peak of them all. Stephen was the one to break the silence, it seemed like he had been taken aback as well by her appearance. Seeing her with drunk eyes, maybe this wasn’t what he expected to meet.
• “Hi,” he uttered softly and took a step up the threshold stairs.
• Ana took a step backwards immediately, fear flickering in her eyes. She was going to close the door on him when he spoke up immediately.
• “Wait… Please wait, I am not going to hurt you, just hear me out.” He pleaded.
• “What is worse than what you have already done to me? Just go away.” She replied immediately, trying to sound calm and undisturbed by his presence, even though it was just a pretense. She was terrified by his presence.
• “I am very sorry about last night, if you give me the chance, I would like to properly apologize.” Stephen said.
• Ana scoffed and shook her head. “Apologize for what? Abusing me? Ruining my life? costing me my job? Taking away my dignity and pride as a woman? Hurting me physically, psychologically and in every other way? What do you want to apologize for?” she queried.
• “If you would just listen to me…”
• His words were cut short by her mother’s voice. “Who is that, Anna?”
• Anna turned around immediately. “It is no one important, I will be there soon,” she replied immediately, and then she walked outside fully and closed the door behind her.
• Stephen sighed and stared back at the car, someone was waiting for him inside it. He turned back to Ana. “Anna…”
• “Don’t call my name,” she interrupted immediately.
• “Look… I know what I did was horrible and you think I am a bad person, but that is not the truth. I can't explain what happened or why I did what I did but I can assure you that I wasn’t in my right mind when it happened, I was under the influence of alcohol and I must have lost control of myself. This has never happened before, believe me.” He pleaded.
• “Why should I believe you? aren’t you Stephen Grey? Billionaire playboy; this is the way people like you behave, they have no respect for others, they do whatever they please because they know they can get away with it. So because you were drunk, that is a valid reason to attack an innocent girl and disrespect her in the worst way possible. You have ruined my life, Mr. Stephen Gray and I would never forgive or forget you. I know there is nothing I can do to you, but Karma would pay you a visit someday.”
• “Look girl, you have the wrong perception of me. If I was the person you say I am, do you think I would be here right now, apologizing to you?” Stephen queried.
• “So because you came to my house to say sorry, that makes you a good person and I am supposed to just forgive and forget what you have done to me? What about my dignity? How do I regain it? What about my job? What about my pride as a woman?”
• “I can get you another job, a much better one if you need. If you want money…”
• “I don’t want your money!!” Ana half-yelled, and then quickly turned back to know if there was any reaction from inside the house. “You rich kids think money can solve everything, I don’t want your money, Mr. Grey… Keep your stupid money to yourself. Just go away from my life and never come back, I hope our paths don’t cross again, I hate you so much!! You disgust me and I never want to see your face again!!” she spat as tears began to roll down her eyes.
• Stephen was silent for a while and then he sighed. “My friend is waiting for me in the car and so I would have to leave now, but I must let you know this before I leave. I am very sorry for what I did to you Anna and it wasn’t on purpose. When I realized what I had done when I woke up this morning, I went to ask of you but your manager reported that you didn’t show up at work after you abruptly left a resignation last night and your phone was turned off. I had to request your address from him which had led me here. I understand that you are in pain and it is all because of me, but I am really sorry about that, Ana. I know I cannot make up for what I took from you, but if you should ever need anything from me, please do not hesitate to contact me… here is my profile card.” He said sadly and pulled out a card from his breast pocket.
• Anna stood there staring at him while tears rolled down her eyes, she refused to accept the card from him and he had no other choice than to drop it at her feet. Stephen walked away towards the car, he stopped at the door and turned back to her with a sympathetic face and then he got in and moved away.
• Anna remained standing there while she watched the car drive away, she then sat down at the threshold of the building and let the tears flow freely. She didn’t know how to feel about this; now he was making it difficult for her to blame and hate him. Why did he have to be nice to her? Why did he leave her with mixed feelings? Was she supposed to just forgive him and move on with her life? or live with the hatred she has for him? Would she even be able to move on with her life if she doesn’t let go of her anger and hatred for him?
• Ana felt so powerless and with lack of direction. What was the next phase of her life going to be like? She had already quit her job and she stood on the ground that she was not going back to that hotel or any hotel at all.
• The door opened and her mother walked out. Ana was quick to clean her tears immediately and act normal before her mother would notice. She took the profile card and hid it in her palm as quickly as she could.
• “Who was that person and what did they want?” her mother asked while standing over her.
• “It was a stranger, he was asking for directions to the parish.” Ana lied
• “And that was why he thought it was necessary to knock on my door? The stupid thing doesn’t know how to use a google map?” she fired.
• “It is okay mom, he left already.” Ana replied and sniffed in to hold back the raging tears.
• “Are you crying?” Mrs. McCurry asked suddenly as she noticed her daughter’s red eyes.
• “Huh? No… not at all, I just got something into my eyes, and I tried to get it out so my eyes got teary.” She lied again; she didn’t even realize how good she was getting at this lying thing.
• “Well, go wash it out with water, don’t just sit there… chop-chop!!” Mrs. McCurry signaled and Ana got up, heading into the house.
• To be continued!!