Page 33 of Anastasia

“I don’t hate you, Jacob.” I laughed. “If I hated you, I wouldn’t be in your house.”

“Touché to that.” He chuckled.

My phone had been ringing constantly in my pocket. At first, I ignored it and continued to pet Max, but after a while I couldn’t anymore; it seemed too emergent. Knotting my eyebrows together, I pulled out my phone to see that I had several messages from Janice. Each message notified me how pissed Valentino was.

“Hey, um, I have to go,” I muttered before sliding my phone back into my pocket.

A huge smile broke out on his face again as he opened his arms out wide. I hurriedly walked up to him to embrace him in our second hug. He always managed to give the best hugs.

As I was pulling away, I muttered, “Bye, Jakey, and thank you for helping me return to a stable mentality.”

“What are friends for?” he questioned with a grin. I smiled before turning and walking toward the dog, where I ruffled his fur playfully.

“Bye, Maxy!” I exclaimed, bending down and kissing his snout.

Just as soon as I exchanged my goodbyes, I got back into my vehicle and raced home.

* * *

When I entered the mansion,I searched everywhere for any sign of life. Not even Sarah was in the kitchen, which was odd.

Maybe if I moved fast enough to creep back into my room, no one would see me. I could avoid Valentino’s wrath as well as the don’s.

Speed-walking all the way to my room, I entered and quickly shut the door behind me. When I turned around, Valentino was already on my bed, anger shedding off of him in waves.

“Oh, shit!” I gasped, clutching my hand against my chest. He startled me, and the fast pace of my heart was proof.

“So, tell me, Bambolina, where were you?” he asked.

I ignored him and tried to casually head to the bathroom so I could lock the door until he decided to leave, but he was quick to grab me and throw me on top of the bed. Alcohol was present on his breath.

“I was with a friend,” I told him. He scoffed before walking over to me. I had to prop myself onto my elbows to be able to look at him.

“The fucking doctor? Do you think I’m stupid?” he questioned.

Just as I was about to open my mouth to speak, his hands grabbed onto my thighs and pulled them apart. He was on top of me in a second. I was exhilarated, but I didn’t allow myself to forget that I needed to stand up for myself.

“So what? Just because I’m a woman and you’re a man, that entitles you to have friends, but I can’t?” I quizzed.

His eyes narrowed. He knew I was right, but his pride wouldn’t allow him to admit it. Without another word, he got off of me and exited the room. I couldn’t seem to grasp what his problem was.

I exhaled a breath that I didn’t know I was holding. Valentino was such a confusing man.

Placing my phone on the bed, I strolled over to the restroom. With my hands on the sink, I let out a loud groan. Guilt was starting to seep into my heart, and I hated myself for being so sensitive. He had been drinking, and I had never seen him so distressed.

My mind kept replaying the time I had gotten drunk, and the way he was there for me. He had shown me a lot of kindness, and the least I could do was talk to him.

“Don’t do it, Anastasia,” I whispered to myself as I felt the need to apologize.

Throwing open the bathroom door, I exited my room and made my way down the hall. My first stop was his office, but when I pushed the door open—he wasn’t there. So, I decided to go up two sets of stairs toward his bedroom. While he was away, I found myself wandering the mansion out of boredom. One day, I stumbled upon a room, and based on the scent, I knew it belonged to Valentino.

Once I opened his door, I walked in, and heard the sound of running water. He must’ve been in the shower, so like he always did to me—I sat down on his bed to wait.

His bed was much comfier than mine. It was also a lot bigger. Not only that, but his room was two times the size of my room, and it didn’t shed even an ounce of light.

My eyebrows came together as I looked on the floor, where a full folder of all kinds of papers and images sat. Just as I was about to reach down to read it, the shower turned off. I quickly sat down on the bed and pulled out my phone, as if I hadn’t been attempting to snoop.

Seconds later, the door opened. He had a towel wrapped around his lower region and a toothbrush in his hand. At first he didn’t seem to notice me and was about to remove his towel before a loud squeal shot out of me. His eyes met mine while his hand paused on top of his towel.

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