Nathan's POV

I left office to go and check for Ananya at her home.
At her home there was no sign of either her mom or her. Where are they?
She couldn't just leace without answering me.
I decided to wait till she is back.
I was sitting on the swing in the porch for almost 2 hours now when i heard a car stop by in front on the other side of the road.
It was dark on the porch but I could see the car clearly.
It was her. And she came back with Alex
She missed work for her lover boy. I wanted answers and I wanted to catch her in the act but before I could do anything they saw me.
Her double game must end. She clearly chose him. May be he was the highest bidder, after all money was the only thing she ever wanted.
I decided not to confront them together. I would wait for her to build another story.

She stood there on the road staring at me like she has seen a ghost.
Ofcourse you would not be happy to be caught in the act, would you?

I walked towards her. But she still did not move.
"Oh so now that you are caught in the act you are scared to face me?"
Oh that look on her face proved everything.

"What..what are you doing here Nathan? You shouldn't have come here."

"Oh .. and miss this little love game of yours? I don't think so. You don't think you can get away with breaking my heart, my trust..do you?"
I grabbed her by her shoulders.
But looking at those eyes, made my organs turn inside me. This was not the usual effect she had on me but something different.

"Leave me Nathan. Leave me. Go away from here. After that night I never believed you would even dare to come in front of me."
She shrugged my hands off.

"Oh really. Because I caught your lies. Because I wouldn't believe in them anymore? Why did you play this game with me Ananya? You already had 2 rich boys on your finger tips, why play with my heart then." I begged for her to answer me.
"You.. you don't know what you are talking about Nathan. And please i beg you to leave me alone. I am already going through a lot and I can't deal with the memory of that night again. Please just go and don't ever come back."

"What memory? I was drunk and i might have said a few things because i was angry knowing that u spent your afternoon with Alex in the Palace. But no. I am sure that is not the reason. You got a higher bid for your body from one of the other two guys and you don't need me anymore."

She was confused at first. But then her eyes turned furious. She came forward and raised her hand to slap me but I caught it before it even touched me.
I wriggled her arm and turned it behind her back.
She dare do that to me. She was struggling to free herself and it gave me a saddist pleasure.
No matter how much she tried it will not be easy for her to get rid of me. I am going to screw her life so bad that she will never be able to play this dirty game of hers. And no one will be able to save her this time.

With her back facing me and her hand still turned at the back, i got closer to her. Her scent reminded me of all the moments I spent loving her.
I brought my face in the cavity between her head and shoulder while she struggled to free herself from my clutches.
"No no no...Ms.Donavan. No. Enough of your games. You think you can just leave stomping on my heart? Nah. If I can love you with all my heart, imagine how fierce my hatred will be."
Just then her scarf fell to the ground and I saw what looked like a hickey.

I pushed her away. She was crying. Her cheeks were red and eyes flooded with tears.
"You deserve this and more. And if you believe i am done with you, then No. Tomorrow if you don't report back to work you will get a legal notice from my office.
You remember the contract you had signed right? Let me tell you the clauses which were rather just a joke before."

She looked shocked and shook her head in denial.
Holding her by her arm I pulled her towards the porch swing.
"Sit here you bitch. Because what I am going to tell you now will cut the ground from under your feet."
On one side my heart melted looking at her, but  mind refused to be played with again.
She was showing no aggression anymore. She sat there like a lost sheep, pretending to be a victim. But now I knew she wasn't as innocent as she seemed to be.
"The contract Ms.Donavan suggests you are bound to work for me for a year and if you decide to break the contract then you are to pay me a sum of 1 billion $ or spend 6 months in federal prison."
I felt victorious seeing her destroyed face. Yes. This is how I take revenge. I am happy I made her sign the contract, althought then it was just a joke.

"What? None of your lover boys will pay for you? OH!! Get over it now. This is just the start of the things I have planned for you.I will ruin you so that no one will ever even look at you."

She did not say a word. I guess she had no stories left to take herself out of this mess now.
"So tomorrow be in office on time."
Her fake tears disgusted me now so i turned to leave.

"Nathan, out of all the things you have done or said to me... even that dinner night the other day. What you did today is the worst of them all. I will never forgive you for this."
I looked at her once and left. My blood boiling with rage.

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Ananya's POV

Everything blacked out in front of my eyes. Why is this happening to me?
Nathan has shattered my heart. I can never forgive him.
I can neither imagine seeing Nathan daily at work after what he has forced me to go through nor can I afford the contract amount.
I would happily have chosen the prison option but Maa needed me.
I so wish i had died on that fateful night itself. I would have spared so many people so much pain.

Alex! No! He cannot know anything. Mr.Lexstur knows and he chose to not tell Alex and I see the reason for that. No one should know about this contract. Mr.Lexstur would want to pay the bond money. I already owe them a lot.
I cannot take anything more.
My mind was churning thoughts at such a speed that all I wanted to do was scream my heart out.

Why me God? Why me!!!

Just then the doorbell rang.
It must be Alex i thought. I need to put up an act. He can never know.
I opened the door.
"Hey, you done packing? I got all your favourites and even told Mom that we would not be having dinner at home. "
Alex looked normal but I knew something was bothering him.
I hoped he doesn't read my mind like I did.

"Actually, I was thinking i would stay back here. "
I stammered.

"Ananya I think its a bad idea. You know staying here will remind you of Mrs.Donavan every moment. See i think you were crying just before I came."
He was concerned. I know he would agree with a little more insisting but Mr.Lexstur would be tough to convince. There is no way he would let me go back there. But i know i have to. I had no other option.
My desperation was now evident on my face.
"Alex, I know Mr.Lexstur would not agree for me joining work immediately, but I want to take care of Maa's hospital bills myself. I can't leech off you guys. You have already done enough. I was going to join in a month anyways. But I think I should start from tomorrow."

"Ananya, please don't bring money in all this. You know Dad will never think anything like that. He cares for you. But if you want to join work, i can talk to him ad try to.."
I didn't let him finish.
"No. He cannot know please. I need your support on this. It should be a secret  between you and me."

"Oh does that mean you have forgiven me?"
This guy cared for me so much. He has always been there for me and all i have done is hurt him in return, and now I was lying to him.

"I was never angry with you. I just never wanted to hurt you. Which is exactly what I did. And when you wanted me to go away, i had no choice but to do as you say. I tried."
I wanted to hold him and cry. Cry my heart out. Tell him everything, now that I have no one else to share it with. But I couldn't mess their lives anymore. They are good people.

"Oh. Its a deal then. I am so happy you gave me a chance. I will not disappoiny you again. I promise. Tell me whats the plan."
Alex was so cheery that it almost managed to get a smile on my face. But that happy feeling died instantly the moment I remembered what Nathan had said.
"Ok. I will start work from tomorrow. Your Dad cannot know. No one can know. I will ask Mr.Lexstur to let me stay here now. You need to support me in that. I will leave home early and spend some time with Maa at the hospital, before I leave for work and then in the evening also I will go to hospital after work. But you Dad cannot know I started work."

Alex was a little confused, nevertheless he agreed.
"Ok. But I have only one condition. I will not let you do all this alone. You will have me as your designated driver. At your service at all times."

No. I can't trouble him i thought.
"No Alex, you have a company to run. I cannot trouble you."

"Ananya, then I won't cooperate. You know how adamant I can be. And give me one chance of redemption please. Oh.. but if you are concerned why Nathan might say, then its a different thing. I dont wish to cause any trouble in paradise."

The mention of Nathan's name made me flinch in my place. I managed a weak smile at Alex's lame attempt at teasing me.
"No. He won't mind. I am all yours to drive around. But then this is a deal. Don't cone back saying after a few days that its an unfair bargain and i am making you drive around the entire New York."

He laughed out loud.

"Deal maam. If you want I can sign a contract."
This made me speechless.
"Alright. You serve dinner And i will deal with Father." I left him in the living room and started on unpacking our dinner.

I was worried if Mr.Lexstur would agree or not.
After around 15 mins, with an already occupied mind I started serving dinner when Alex jumped into the kitchen.
"Its done."

A wave of relief swept over me and I just fell on my knees on the kitchen floor.

'Oh God give me strength!' I prayed silently.