Anastasia's Contract With The CEO

The atmosphere had become intense as the the chirping sounds from the birds had seized. The moment Lucinda's hand struck Anastasia's cheek, the cottage seemed to hold its breath. The silence was broken only by the sharp sound of the slap, echoing through the small space. But what followed was a sudden eruption of emotions.

"Your father wasted so much money on you, you deserve to be put in a childless home". Lucinda had taken her eyes off the television set and faced Anastasia.

"Now drop the cup and leave my sight".

Anastasia too scared of Lucinda passed another way to drop the cup in front her stepmother. She was heading to her room when she heard the scream from the parlor.

"Come here you slut. Before you kill me, I'll make life unbearable for you. Where the hell are you?"

"Am here ma'am". Anastasia responded as she tried to control her emotions.

"Come closer".

"Are you deaf, or would you prefer to stay in the forest tonight".

The thought of the forest shook her as a flash back of the night she was locked out came to her mind.

The sound of her hand meeting Anastasia's skin echoed once again, a cruel and relentless percussion that seemed to shake the very walls.

"What is this?" Lucinda raised the glass cup and turned the hot liquid content on Anastasia's feet who screamed in pain.

"Answer me!"

"Coffee".

"Does this taste like coffee, is that what your whore of your mother taught you?"

"I'm sorry". Anastasia apologized, her lips felt swollen, the taste of blood was unmistakable as it crawled on her mouth.

"Take this away before I send you to your father's grave and clean this mess". Lucinda pointed at the coffee she had poured on the ground.

Anastasia felt her head spin as she tried her best to control her steps, her legs felt like it was stabbed. She had cleaned the mess and tried to compose herself for the next question that came to her.

"Please mother forgive me, I would be a good girl from now on". Anastasia had gone on her knees.

"Better". Lucinda focus was now back to the television set.

"I beg you mother to help me with some money for my treatment".

"How's that my business? You know where the money is, go get it".

"But -". Just then she felt a burning sensation on her, her stepmother was ready to turn her to a punch back this time.

"Your mother that's in the grave that's your mother, you stupid girl".

"Probably I should send you to her to give you the money you need". Lucinda spat on her as used her legs on her.

She had used her left hand to support her face, she felt each fists from Lucinda. Her stepmother's left hand had barely hit her before the other followed simultaneously.

" I'm sorry". She found it difficult to recognize her own voice which was now faint.

"You're a senseless ingrate, after taking care of you under this roof". Lucinda raised her right leg as she used it to hit her mercilessly.

Anastasia regretted asking her stepmother for money, she wished the beating would save her grandmother's life. Her grandmother who had suddenly stopped eating scared her.

"Mother don't stop, you haven't beaten her enough".

"Guess what she was up to today?"

"Mummy I don't care, I just wish she can just disappear". Lucy grumbled.

Lucy had been proud since her growing up, she got anything she wanted while her mother always supported her.

"I have a better idea darling, you don't have to disturb yourself". Lucinda gave her daughter a wicked smile.

Anastasia watched as both women planned to kill her, she laid sideways on the floor, all she felt were piercing pains.

"I didn't know you're still strong, mother, we're going to celebrate on that. What do you think?"

" You stupid whore". Lucy Green didn't wait for her mother's response before she faced Anastasia.

"Please help me".

"You're a bitch to lie there and ask me for help, suck it up". Lucy immediately gave Anastasia a hot slap this time her fingers had descended on her face.

"Isn't that too harsh honey". Lucinda gave her daughter a mockery tone.

"I learnt it perfectly from you momma".

They bursted out into laughter.

"Why is she here?" Lucy asked almost immediately.

Anastasia pretended not to hear their conversation, she tried to sneak into her room when she sighted Lucy's angry stare. The panic within her rose, running away was never an option for her, she rather stayed with the only family she had, her grandmother.

"Come back here?"

"Let her be". Lucinda patted her daughter's shoulder, we still got use for her.

"Go hide somewhere within twenty-four hours".

Anastasia without reluctance ran out, she had the least clue where she was heading to. Her body oozed out fresh blood, she felt her face swollen alongside her lips. Everyone that passed her looked back to catch a glimpse of her tattered cloth which was now partly torn.

***

"It's the same girl, let's get her". An impatient muscular dark man suggested he was in his mid 30s but looked younger.

"No, hold on". He paused for a while before he continued. "Let's go". He opened the door almost immediately.

***

"Lady Scarlet, Lady Scarlet".

Anastasia didn't bother to look who shouted from behind as thoughts crawled up into her head. She knew she had to clean up, she looked around for a closet. Her grand mother's sickness popped once more into her head. She found it difficult to shake it off her head, she wondered how she would be able to gather up the money. As she turned to admire the little girl that had passed her, it was too late. The minute she sighted the men they had closed up with her.

"Lady Scarlet, You're coming with us".

"I'm going nowhere". She tried to recover from the shock but was impossible, struggling with them weakened her.

"Yes you're her".

"If I were you I'll listen to him". The second man showed up while he walked by her side.

"You won't do anything". She had barely finished her last words when she sighted the knife that was so close to her. A black Mercedes 190 had driven to her direction, she felt her heart pounding fast.

"Enter the car" .

Without a word, Anastasia entered the car that was already opened, it looked like a film and knew she would wake from it.