Anastasia Chapter 7 #3
“We’re here to deal with whether this is unlawful entry or not. Ms. Shah, do you want Mr. Shah and Mr. Joshi to leave? And for Mr. Caldwell to stay? Do you feel you need medical help?”
I glared at my smug brother and his friend.
“I do want them to leave. And if they come back, I will call the police again. I want zero contact with either of them. As for medical attention, I don’t need it. I’m totally in control of my faculties and able to make my own decisions. Mr. Caldwell is the only one I want to remain.”
That seemed to end it. Despite Arish and Sam protesting, declaring they would report the officers for not doing their duty, and pretending they were here to protect me, they were shown out by the cops. After they left, Sierra handed me her card.
“If they return, please call if they keep bothering you, even if only by phone or text. You may want to get a lawyer and have an order of protection filed with a judge. They believe the fact that they’re lawyers makes them exempt. Watch yourself,” she said softly.
I took the card and thanked them both, as did Reign. When the door shut, I turned to him. He said nothing, just opened his arms. I walked into them. They closed around me, being careful not to squeeze me too tightly. He kissed the top of my head. As we stood there, I felt the need to reassure him.
“Sam and I never slept together, I swear, Reign. He lied. We never even kissed.”
“Shh, you don’t need to tell me that again. I believe you. It pissed me off when he lied. He’s trying to stake and keep a claim that he was never given. I need you to listen to something.”
He led me to the couch and brought me down onto his lap.
Reign removed his cell phone from his pocket.
After pressing a few times, I heard voices come from it.
It was Sam and Reign. As I listened, my anger grew.
This recording was from that day at the hospital.
To hear Sam speak those words about how he’d change me to be what he and my family wanted made me flush from ice cold to raging hot. When it ended, Reign disconnected.
“What made you record it?” I asked.
“Honestly, I’m not sure, just a feeling of unease.
Sam looked away at a bunch of people exiting the elevator after he approached me, so I hit record.
He has no clue I have this. But I think it’s clear he conspired at least somewhat with your brother to fool you into falling for him in the hopes you’d marry, and then he could spring his true self on you. ”
“Why didn’t you let me hear this last night?”
“I wanted to be sure you chose me without outside influence. I debated whether to let you hear this, but after today’s incident, you had to know that you made the right choice.”
“Oh my God, what if I’d been stupid enough to fall for him and let it get to that? I would’ve been trapped with a man who doesn’t respect me. Even if divorce is possible, it would’ve been ugly. Sam and Arish proved that to me today.”
My phone rang, causing me to jump. I had to shift to get it free of my shorts’ pocket. The name on the screen read Arish. I declined it. Moments later, another call showed the name Sam. I declined it, too. I eased off Reign’s lap, although I wanted to remain snuggled there.
“I was in the middle of making us strawberry lemonade. Let me fetch it.”
He rose and followed me. I had to pour out the half-melted ice and refill the glasses.
Reign insisted on carrying the tray to the table in my living room.
He set it down and poured it as I sat. When he sat down, he made sure our legs were touching from the knees to the hips. I watched him take a drink.
“Ahh, that’s fantastic. Better than any strawberry lemonade I’ve had. I love how it’s balanced with the sweet and tart. Most are one or the other,” he exclaimed.
“It’s how I like it best, too. The secret is to use actual fresh lemons and strawberries and simple syrup to sweeten. Buying that store-brand stuff and tossing in a few berries doesn’t do the trick,” I stated.
After a couple of drinks, Reign got back to the drama. “I don’t want us to spend our day consumed by those two, but you have to be careful. I don’t trust them not to return. They seem like the type to hassle. If they do, I need you not only to call the police, but to call me.”
“I’ll for sure call the police, but I don’t want to drag you further into this than I have to.”
“Anastasia, you agreed to date me and for us to work on establishing a relationship, right?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Well, for me, I need to know that you’re safe. It’s not drawing me into drama or trouble. Please, do it for me.”
He gave me beseeching puppy-dog eyes rather than making it a demand. I laughed and pressed him away. But he pushed in close. Right before his mouth closed on mine, I whispered back.
“Okay, I’ll call you if it happens. Now, I need my kiss.”
And oh boy, did he kiss me. It curled my toes and left me breathless. It was disrupted by my phone chiming with a text. I checked to see who it was. It was Arish. I silenced my phone and placed it face down on the table so I could enjoy some time alone with Reign.