A stranger

"Jack! Please listen up. I am sorry okay. I didn't mean to hurt you. You know that, right?"

"But you have hurt me Anna. You have been in Seattle for twice but didn't find any time to meet me for once. You even chose to stay at a hotel. I know the last two times you were engaged in your work but this time you are free. Why can't you just come over here to stay with us?"

"Jack I can't. You know that. I.... I don't want Emily to see me like this. I know I said that I would be alright but I don't feel like that. I think atleast you would understand me. It's just so difficult for me."

"Then let me come over to you. It's always good to have someone to talk to Anna. If not being as your brother then atleast as a doctor."

"I don't think I can handle either of them. I know you worry about me but it's just that I... I need some time alone. It's not that this is the first time I am going through something like this. I have managed till now, I'll manage further. And you have Em who needs you more than me. Take care of her."

"Anna"

"Bye Jack." She hung up the phone not allowing him to speak further and sighed. It was still early in the morning when she got a call from him. Before she could think about anything further, her phone rang again. She frowned on looking at her screen flashing Emily on it.

"Hey Em!" She cheered in a fake happy voice.

"Baby girl!" She sniffed.

"Em? What happened? Are you crying?"

Instead of hearing an answer, she heard sounds of sobbing and her heart sank in anxiety.

"Em?"

"Anna... it's me Jack. Don't worry, Em is alright. She just wanted to see you so bad that when I informed her that you are not coming over, she started crying. You see the pregnancy hormones in her are growing crazy."

"Oh My God! But she sounded so sad. I... I am coming there okay. Ask her to stop crying first, please."

"Anna its not needed if you don't feel like doing it. I am here. I'll take care of her."

Inspite of denying her to come over, he could here some voice of shuffling stuff here and there in the background and he could guess that she was already preparing to come over to them which made him smile.

"You aren't going to listen to me, are you?"

"You know me too well."

"Alright then, be careful on your way."

He hung up knowing that it would be futile to convince her to stay at home as she was quite stubborn for her loved ones. He suddenly remembered about Emily's crying face. He turned around to coax her and inform her about Anna's change of mind but to his surprise, she was already sitting on the couch with a big bowl of crackers and nutella jar in her hands munching happily on the weird combination of her so called food. He rolled his eyes on her act.

"You knew that after hearing you sobbing, she would directly come over, didn't you? You are such a drama queen baby."

"Hah! I know my baby girl too well. She loves me too much to ignore me in such a state. I just want her to be here with us. She doesn't want to but I'll make sure to boost her mood."

He shook his head and pinched her nose. "You and your antics. Now what will you do to cheer her when she will come over?"

She tapped a finger on her chin and replied with a big grin on her face. "What about lunch at Anna's favourite place? You know there's a place where she used to often have lunch and dinner with her family in Seattle. Earlier, she used to tell me about it while recalling the memories."

"Hmmm.... sounds like a plan. But what if she doesn't agree?"

She rolled her eyes and flicked her hair. "Then when will my acting skills be useful? Haven't you seen a glimpse of it right now?" She wiggled her brows.

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The trio soon reached the Westin Seattle which happened to be one of the most prestigious hotel of Knights Enterprise. Nevertheless they didn't mind going there as Emily and Jack wanted Anna to feel happy while she was nostalgic about the happy time she spent at that place with her parents on some special occasions like her birthdays and other celebrations. They had just taken their seats over the table when someone cleared his throat. They turned to look around and found a tall young man hovering over the table behind Anna.

"Oh My! Is that you Kingsley?" Jack exclaimed in surprise.

"You got that right Blossom!" He retorted with a smirk. He briefly glanced around the table and said, "I hope I'm not disturbing you all. I just couldn't walk out after spotting you after so many years without acknowledging you."

"Oh come-on man!" Jack stood from his chair and gave him a man hug rebonding with his long lost batch mate. "It's so good to see you after so many years."

He then introduced him to Emily and Anna as Creed Kingsley. He was a cardiologist who settled in New York with his family after his studies to pursue his career. He was about to leave after a quick patch up but Emily insisted him to join them as he was alone with no one to tag along to which he readily agreed. However, Anna was mortified with the idea of a stranger sitting beside her chatting happily with all of them like he had known them for years. He amused her more by asking random questions about anything and everything related to her. She was hesitant but answered them anyways with short words.

Creed was sitting beside Anna. It had only been half an hour but he could easily say that she was reluctant to talk to him. However, his lame jokes and funny incidents with Jack back at University made her laugh frequently and he couldn't help and felt drawn towards her. They were having their time when Emily grumbled about feeling low and stated her wish to go home. Jack was bemused on her reaction and seemed anxious but instantly relaxed when she secretly winked at him. He squinted his eyes but helped her to get up to go back home. Anna was anguished as well. She too stood up to leave with them but was stunned when Emily crushed her in a hug and whispered something unexpected in her ears turning them into different shades of red.

"Baby girl please... I don't know what happened but I am feeling a bit horny and I need Jack to calm myself down."

"Em!"

Anna couldn't help but gasped at her revelation and yelped. She instantly flushed on hearing about her bold desires and intentions. She separated herself from her and saw her pleading eyes.

"I know.... I know but you see my hormones are getting haywired and....."

"Okay okay..... I get that." Anna immediately stopped her from talking further as she saw Jack and Creed looking in their direction through her lashes which made her more embarrassed than she already was.

"Ummm.... I think I would too like to leave then. What would I do without you over here?"

Emily rolled her eyes and said exasperatedly. "Anna.... I can tell you this cause you are my sister. How would I tell Creed about it? Please accompany him for the lunch. It was me who invited him and I don't want to hang him in between, please."

"What?" Her eyes widened on hearing her crazy thoughts. She was about to deny when Emily announced loudly.

"Creed it was nice meeting you but you see I don't think I would be able to sit more in this condition of mine." She caressed her baby bump. "But don't worry, Anna will accompany you for the rest of the lunch."

"Sure. No problem. Take care of yourself." He instantly agreed.

Both of them left shortly leaving Anna behind with Creed in the most awkward situation she had ever faced in her life. She was still standing looking here and there thinking about her next step when she heard him speaking.

"I know this is may be unpleasant for you. If you want you can leave. I don't mind."

She finally glanced in his direction and caught his amused gaze already transfixed on her. Her cheeks were still flushed and she was certainly uncomfortable with the changing situation but she knew that she had to bear with him as he was at no fault.

"Ummm.... it's nothing like that. Let's have the lunch." By the time, the lunch was already served and she sat across him.

He chuckled on her reaction. Her innocence and timidness instantly speared his heart and he couldn't help but smiled on the turn of events which were obviously a set up that he instantly understood. Nevertheless, he didn't mind it at all as he found pleasure in sitting across a beautiful girl like her. She was quietly eating constantly holding her gaze down when he cleared his throat to draw her attention.

"Well... I see you are not good around new people."

"It's just that I feel a bit uncomfortable around strangers." She accepted truthfully.

"Hmmm..... So let's talk about something to know each other better. I am sure by the end of this lunch, we won't be strangers."

She smiled on hearing him. "There's nothing much to know about me."

"Really? But you are one of the most interesting person I have ever come across. How can there be nothing?"

She gawked him like he had grown two heads and he chortled on the most unexpected reaction from her.

"I mean I could have never expected that the renowned CEO of New York would be so timid and low key while dealing with strangers. I mean that's what you always have to do to be at your position, right?"

"It's something that I am good at. May be I am able to get a grip over my inhibitions during business deals and meetings even around strangers. However, it amuses me as well." She said with a smile.

Later, they talked about random things with Creed taking the initiative to keep the conversation going throughout the time they ate. He informed her about his family of being doctors since generations and his passion to continue the stream and serving the needy with all his might. She too shared a few of her experiences of the business world. By the end of the lunch, they get along well. Anna was still not completely comfortable around him but she certainly admired his ardous passion towards his work. She later came to know that he owned the famous chains of Kingsley hospital in America whose one branch was in New York and he was the chief over there in which Richard too was getting treated.

Soon after the lunch, she had excused herself to visit the restroom where she had barely stopped herself from colliding with the person in her front. She had just moved her gaze upwards to apologize but was mortified with the intense grey orbs holding her ocean blue orbs not allowing her to waver them even for a second. She was shocked, surprised, ecstatic and even scared at the same time as various emotions ran within her along with different memories and she could barely speak the name of the only person who was capable to bring out this side of hers which she thought was long lost within her.

"Regan?"