Are You Kidding Me?

As Vincenzo drove into the mansion, he saw a slender figure coming out of the house. One look and he could tell who she was. But why was she in his house after all these years?

"What the hell is she doing here?" He asked, looking at her.

"Maybe your grandma called her over?" Martin suggested.

Did his grandmother call her over? As the thought came to his mind, he was suddenly filled with anger. He got out of the car and walked briskly towards the girl.

It had better not be what he was thinking!

"What the f**k are you doing here, Tracy?" He asked, angrily.

"Is that how you greet your ex-girlfriend?" Tracy asked, her eyes roaming all over his body.

"I warned you never to come here, didn't I?" Vincenzo asked.

"You did? I didn't know… don't worry, I don't think I will be coming here again. I just wanted to see you for the last time" Tracy said, looking at his expression.

"If you are done, then get the hell out of here!" He said.

"You are not even interested in the reason I wanted to see you… for the last time?" Tracy asked, her eyes flashing in hidden anger.

"Should I care?" He asked back, trying to control his anger.

Tracy let out a bitter laugh before turning to face him," I forgot you are always delusional on this very day and…"

"One more word from you, Tracy and I will make you regret ever knowing me. Don't take my leniency for granted" Vincenzo warned her. He was already at his limit.

He was being kind today because he didn't want any unpleasantries. Tracy knew he hated showing his ruthlessness on this day yet she was bent on tempting him.

"Vincenzo… "

"Will you get lost or should I make you?" Vincenzo asked, looking at her.

Tracy felt the chilly eyes on her and she shivered in fear. Without another word, she turned around and left in her car.

Vincenzo took a deep breath to calm his mind. He suddenly remembered that he still had one thing to do before the end of the birthday. He always does it every year and he wouldn't miss it this year.

He turned to his assistant and ordered," Let's go back"

"What about grandma?" Martins asked, surprised.

"Let her be. We will be back soon"

Then from behind them, his grandmother's voice was heard," If you take a step out of this house without talking to me, I will kill myself"

****

Vincenzo, who was about to leave, froze in his steps. He knew right from last night that his grandmother was up to something.

"What do you want, Grandma?" Vincenzo asked, surrendering to his grandmother's threat.

"Follow me to the study," Grandma Winston said.

Vincenzo took a deep breath before following his grandma. When they got to the study, his grandfather was already waiting there too.

" Sit down, Vince," Grandpa Winston said, bringing out a file. He handed it to his wife who gave it to Vincenzo.

" Read this contract. If you agree to what is written there, we will let you do as you want," Grandma Winston said.

Vincenzo frowned. What exactly were these two people up to? He looked through the contract and his eyes immediately burned in anger.

" Grandma! And even you, Grandpa?" Vincenzo asked, looking at his grandparents incredulously.

"What's there that you can't do? You want your freedom not to get married unless it's your childhood lover and we want an heir as soon as possible," Grandma Winston said, crossing her arms.

"What has it got to do with sleeping with an unknown girl to get an heir? Are you serious, grandma?" Vincenzo asked, looking lost for words.

"It's either this or we will rather just die! I promise you that I will surely kill myself!" Grandma Winston said.

"Don't threaten me with your death! How do you expect me to sleep with some random girl?" Vincenzo asked.

"Aren't we also going to accept the random childhood lover of yours? We are not telling you to get married to her. All we want is for you to give us an heir"

"By announcing it to the world?"

"Not the world but within our circle and the girl would be heavily compensated for her trouble," Grandma Winston said.

Vincenzo knew that his grandparents had already made up their minds.

" Fine! Do whatever you want but I am not marrying anyone except for her!" Vincenzo said, walking out of the study in anger.

He needed a place to cool his temper. Thinking of what he was about to do earlier, he got into his car along with his assistant who was waiting for him. They drove to the candy shop he frequents on Anastasia's birthday.

******

Anastasia was in deep thought as she drove away from the orphanage. She couldn't stop thinking of how and why she was connected to that place. She suddenly stopped the car so that she could think clearly.

"Why do I have the feeling that I have been in that garden before ?" Anastasia asked herself as she looked outside her car window.

Just then her phone rang. She saw that the caller was her other best friend, Sharon. She was the daughter of the CEO of the famous Harris Textile industry and they both attended school together. They were childhood friends.

Last night, she had explained her father's situation and their impending bankruptcy to her and Sharon had promised to find solutions together. They were supposed to meet in an hour.

"Hey, Sharon! I am on my way already," Anastasia said.

"Have you heard the latest news in our group chat?" Sharon asked, her voice excited and gossipy.

" You know I hardly open that group chat," Anastasia said. That group is known for its fast gossipy channel and she hates gossip.

" You wouldn't want to miss this one! It is said that the renowned Winston family is looking for an eligible woman to bear their heir!" She said, excitedly.

"Why would they search for a woman? Isn't the grandson capable of getting a woman himself?"

"I don't know that much but it is said that the chosen woman would be given half the price once she sleeps with him and the remaining half after bearing the child. If it's a son, the pay is going to be triple!"

"Sharon, thanks for the information but you know I don't have time for this," Anastasia said.

" Even if the payment is five billion dollars?" Sharon asked.

" What? Are you kidding me?" Anastasia asked, parking her car in front of a shop.

" I am damn serious! That's 2.5 billion dollars just to sleep with him! What do you think, girl?" Sharon asked.

" Let's meet up at our usual spot in thirty minutes!" Anastasia said her mind in a mess.

Just then her eyes traveled to a shop and she saw candies displayed in front of it. It's been a while since she last tasted candy but she doesn't know why she cannot forget the way it tastes.