I am back baby - II

The moment Regan stepped in his office, he was swarmed amongst files and loads of work. Later, he had an online conference with some investors of Seattle owing to an upcoming project. No matter how occupied he was, his face was adorned with a faint smile all the time that was too rare astounding the people around him.

His thoughts were constantly drifting back to Anna. The last few days were extremely grueling for her, but he could sense some changes within her. She had started accepting him and his love. Although gradually, they were progressing with every passing moment and he was happy. Happier than he had ever been. His smile widened while thinking about her. Her happy face was enough to enlarge his smile.

It broke his heart to see her broken, to see her depending on something other than him for comfort. He didn't want to imagine about her sufferings and distress which had tormented her to the level that left her restless for three long years. The way she had confessed that she trusted him, she had unknowingly elevated his love on a greater magnitude. He wanted to keep her away from the world hidden in his embrace all the time. For him, she was too pure to be tainted with the harshness of the world.

Amidst his thoughts, his phone beeped with a message which lighted up her picture on the screen. The moment his eyes landed on her mesmerizing eyes, he felt stucked and drowning deep into them. The innocence they reflected was enticing and he couldn't help but trailed his long fingers over the soft features of her face.

"I have never loved anyone the way I love you Anna. I have never known anyone so well and still felt as if there is so much more to discover... What is it about you? I am a very impatient man, but I can spend hours with you and still long for more. I have never felt so close to someone. I am a man of few words, but with you...I want to talk for hours to tell you how much I love you and how much you matter to me."

He stopped when he heard a loud knocking sound. He rolled his eyes as he knew there was only one person who would dare to behave so recklessly around him. As he expected, it was Drake who barged into his office without waiting for his answer.

"How can I think you would grow up some day?"

Drake eyed him with a mischievous grin on his face as his eyes landed on Anna's picture on Regan's phone. He avoided his comment and replied with his own.

"Isn't it creepy to stare someone's picture like this? And the stupid smile that you are wearing since morning is scaring the shit out of your employees thinking that there is a problem with their eyesight." Drake said while wiggling his eyebrows.

"First.....The picture I am staring at isn't just someone. She is my wife and I have all the rights to look at her. Second...I am smiling because I am happy. They must get used to it." Regan shrugged nonchalantly and leaned back on his chair.

Drake laughed heartily on his confession.

"I can see that you are totally whipped but she's worth it." Drake smiled gently. "I am happy for you Reg. I admit that I was so wrong about Anna. I can see how changed you are...and trust me I am delighted to see that the reason behind them is her."

Regan nodded in approval. They dismissed their conversation as it was time for the meeting and they headed towards the Conference Room.

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As the door closed, Anna saw Zander with a glimpse of uncertainty in his eyes. She felt petrified when she noticed the fear that passed through his eyes for a few seconds before the door closed completely. It was the first time his face displayed any emotion as he was always reserved and stoic keeping himself miles away from giving away anything through his expressions.

As the elevator dinged, she realized that she was still holding the phone. To her surprise, although a few seconds had passed without her speaking anything, the call was not cut. It was from the same private number that had given her the couple of blank calls since morning. She had gradually brought the phone to her ear to hear from the other end when she felt a jolt and the elevator stopped moving. It was still reverberating with the abrupt force and she unknowingly brought her hand to calm her racing heart which seemed as if it would leap anytime out of her chest.

She was yet to overcome the shock that she was stucked in a elevator all alone when suddenly the lights went off and a terrified scream escaped her mouth startling Zander.

It was all dark around her. The darkness she was so scared of. And as if it wasn't enough, she heard the voice of a certain someone from her phone which fell down when the elevator stopped. She didn't know how but although it was far from her, she could hear the voice that echoed in the small space speaking her name in a gruff harsh voice.

"Anastasia."

It was familiar. A voice that was capable to terrify her core. Adrenaline flooded her system. Her heart was beating wildly as her eyes went wide with fear. She didn't want to believe what she felt about that voice as she knew who it was.

'It couldn't be him.' She thought.

She bent down to find her phone to assure herself what she heard and felt was wrong. With the remaining shreds of courage that was left in her, she again brought the phone to her ear.

"Who.....Who's this?" Her voice quivered as she gulped.

It was all silent for a few seconds when she heard it again.

"Anastasia."

Her hands trembled as her eyes started watering.

"How can you forget me little one after what I did to you and your lover boy? I guess it's been a long time since we met to make you forget about my existence in your life. Isn't it?" He laughed maniacally. "Don't worry. I'll remind you everything because I am back baby."

The sound of the insane laughter echoed again and her phone tumbled on the floor with a thud. She frantically reached her hands towards the door that was tightly closed. Her body felt hot and beads of sweat started trickling down her brows and neck. She hastily banged on the door with her fists crying to open it.

"Open.....Open the door. Please."

With every passing second, she got more and more terrified and her eyes flooded with tears. The darkness, the familiar voice, the demons of her past all together clouded her, making it difficult for her to breathe. She wanted to run away to safety, to Regan, with a hope that he would save her. The voice that evoked the hidden terror in her heart started reiterating in the closed space and she closed her ears tightly to stop it. She didn't know how long she stood there inside, with her hammering heart and quivering body. She could feel her breath quickened when she heard the creaking of the door. Suddenly, everything went silent, her tensed self relaxed as she engulfed darkness to escape the trepidation and pain that she felt on coming across her past again. A past that destroyed her. A past that scarred her soul with wounds that were yet to heal. A past that she never expected to face again.