I trust him because you trust him

Richard turned around to see Anna. He could clearly see her questioning gaze. However, he was ready to face it.

"Dad? What's going on?" She asked again. "Did you really asked Regan to work from our office?"

He went to her and replied, "Yes, I did."

"But why dad? What was the need? I know you are still worried about me but look I am more than good now. You don't need to put yourself down for me dad. You don't need to ask for favours from anyone. Seeing you like this pains my heart." She said with some tears in her eyes.

Richard came forward, wiped her tears and said, "Princess... I have not asked for any favour from anyone. In fact when I met him today, it just came to my mind and I offered him our place which he readily accepted as you see..... it will be convenient for both of you when you will be working together for the same thing. And what's wrong in it if I do something to ensure my daughter's well-being? I know how hard you have worked in all these years to bring our company where it is today. I know you can manage everything on your own but with Regan I would be rest assured that you will not exhaust yourself completely because I know what this project means to you. I too want it to be accomplished at the earliest to see my son's dream come true but not at the cost of my daughter."

Anna immediately hugged Richard. "Have I ever told you that you are the best dad in the whole world?"

He chuckled and said, "Um.... Hmmm.... a million times princess."

"I love you dad. Thanks for everything."

"I love you too princess."

"Dad? Can I ask you something?"

"Is it about Regan?"

She nodded her head in a 'yes' and looked down. "Do you trust him so much?" She whispered.

Richard frowned upon hearing her as he could not understand what she wanted to say. As she moved her gaze to him, she saw his confusion and spoke further, "You trust Regan dad..... don't you? You..... you are entrusting me with him? You have never did that before with..... with anyone. Have you? You have never brought anyone home before..... like this. You have always kept me away from others thinking that I might get hurt. You were always there for me..... with me even when Ashton was there to take care of me. Then..... then what has changed now? You are going to be with me right? I.....I need you dad. I always will. You are not going anywhere right? I have already lost Mumma, Dad and Ashton. I..... I would not be able to survive if something would happen to you too dad."

Richard immediately cupped her face and wiped her tears, "Princess first stop crying and listen to me. I am not going anywhere. You and Emily are my world and who told you that I am going away from you? I will always be with you even if someone would be there to care for you."

"Then Why?"

Richard smiled on hearing her and retorted, "Because I trust Regan."

She blinked her eyes in bemusement. He continued further and said, "I trust him because... you trust him Anna."

"Me?"

"And you said I would go somewhere leaving you behind. How can I do that when I know that my daughter is too innocent to know about her ownself?"

"Dad I don't understand..... what are you saying?"

"What I am saying is that how can I not trust a person whom my daughter trust so much? You wouldn't have realized it princess, but you really trust him. You trust him enough to hold his hand. You trust him that's why you went with him to his home and I know a lot more which you haven't told me yet."

"Dad I..... I don't ....."

"Princess... there is nothing wrong in trusting someone or leaning on them for their support especially when you know that they are worth it and will never hurt you. In all these years I have never seen you this comfortable around anyone not even with Ashton. You took your time with him too but with Regan it's different Anna. Isn't it? It's good princess. He is without a doubt a trustworthy person and when you yourself have approved him then how can I doubt him?"

"But dad...."

"Anna it's okay and enough for today. Don't think too much about it. You will soon understand what I want to say when you will work with him. You have not recovered fully, still I am allowing you to work. But promise me that you will take care of yourself."

"I will"

"Then utilize this day and relax because I know you are not going to sit still as soon as you will start working again."

"Okay"

----------------------------------------

'I trust him because you trust him Anna.'

'You trust him enough to hold his hand.'

'You trust him that's why you went with him to his home.'

It was already evening. Anna went to the patio and was blankly watching the sky which was changing its colour from bright yellow to red and slowly consuming the darkness. Time and again Richard's words were ringing in her head. There was a storm in her heart and she wanted to find some peace to pacify it. But she didn't know how.

'Do I really trust him?' She thought.

"Is it true? But how? Dad was right. I.....I have never been comfortable around anyone before.... that too so easily. But.....but I do trust him. How can't I? He has always been so considerate and protective towards me. I would have freaked out that day in the car if it was someone else.....so close to me. But I didn't because it was him. Dad is right. I trust him... I trust him and believe that he would never hurt me. But since when and how?" She said to herself.

She didn't know for how long she stood there in a stupor thinking about him and about all the events that occurred during the past few weeks with him. She never realized before what Richard said was indeed true that she trusted him more than her own liking and not because she wanted to but because of him... his honesty, courtesy and sincerity made her to trust him.

Eventually, she moved her gaze to her phone which she was holding in her hand. She didn't know what came to her and she dialled Regan's number. It was ringing and she felt her heart beating at an unusual speed which never happened before.

It was still ringing when she came back to her senses and decided to cut the call immediately. But before she could do that she heard his voice which instantly calmed her heart which was beating erratically a few moments before.

"Anastasia?"