BEFORE THE STORM
1160 Words
Nicole knocked twice before letting herself into the apartment. Her heart had been heavy all morning, and seeing Anaya sprawled out on the couch, half-dressed in yesterday's clothes, only made her chest tighten.
"Anaya," she called softly, stepping in, placing the snacks she’d bought on the small dining table. "You okay?"
Anaya stirred, her head pounding, and tried to sit up. "I don’t even know what happened. My head’s splitting."
Nicole moved closer, crouched down in front of her best friend. "Do you remember anything?" she asked, her voice calm but worried.
Anaya shook her head slowly. "Just flashes. We danced. We drank a lot. He took me upstairs. That’s all I know."
Nicole sat beside her, pulling her into a soft hug. "I was so scared, Anaya. You just vanished. I searched everywhere. I even waited till the club closed."
A guilty silence fell between them.
"It wasn’t planned, Nic. I just needed to forget everything."
Nicole squeezed her hand. "I know, babe. And if it helped even a little, maybe it wasn’t a mistake. But please next time, tell me. Don’t vanish like that again."
Anaya nodded slowly. "I promise.”
Nikolai sat on the edge of the luxurious bed, his fingers brushing through his hair, the room still faintly smelling of perfume and whiskey. The dim lighting of the club’s private suite made everything seem hazy, but the scarf he held in his hands was real. Soft. Worn. Personal.
His PA, Marcus, entered the room briskly, wearing his usual black suit and an expression that didn’t waver easily. He took one look at his boss and raised a brow. “You’re still here?”
Nikolai looked up, his expression unreadable. “Yeah.”
“You’re not usually one to hang around after these kinds of nights.”
Nikolai didn’t respond. His gaze dropped to the scarf again.
Marcus folded his arms. “You want me to check your things? Make sure she didn’t take anything? You’ve had a few of those lately”
Nikolai looked up sharply. “No. Don’t. She didn’t.”
“You don’t even know her,” Marcus pointed out calmly.
“I don’t,” Nikolai admitted, voice low. “But I know she didn’t come here for that. She was different.”
Marcus gave a slight nod and gestured toward the open drawers and untouched wallet on the table. “Still, I’ll do a quick sweep. Just in case.”
It didn’t take long. Everything was where it should be. No watches missing. No money. Not even a cufflink out of place.
“She didn’t take anything,” Marcus confirmed. “Looks like she just walked out.”
Nikolai’s grip on the scarf tightened. “We have to find her.”
Marcus sighed, hands on his hips. “Boss, you don’t remember her name. You don’t even remember her face.”
“I remember her laugh,” Nikolai said quietly. “I remember how broken she looked. And I don’t know how she made me feel less broken too.”
Marcus gave him a long look, then gestured toward the exit. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
Nikolai followed him out. The club’s loudness had mellowed into a slow pulse. As they stepped outside, the cold night air hit his face. He held the scarf tighter.
He didn’t know her name. He didn’t know her story. But for the first time in a long time, he wanted to.
They walked towards the car park, Marcus stretched his hand and opened the door at the back for them to sit. The driver was already sitted.
Thirty minutes later, the black Maybach pulled into the private Romanov estate. The gates, laced with gold accents, opened without a sound, welcoming the heir back home.
Nikolai’s mansion towered under the moonlight, more palace than house. Carved stone lions guarded the entrance, and pillars stood like soldiers lining the marble driveway. Manicured gardens, lit by soft ground lights, extended on either side like art pieces sculpted from living plants.
Inside, the foyer stretched two stories high. Crystal chandeliers rained light from the ceiling, and a grand staircase curved on either side, leading to expansive hallways with velvet carpeting. Every corner whispered opulence. Oil paintings of past Romanov generations hung like silent judges on the walls.
Servants bowed as Nikolai entered.
“Welcome home, sir.”
He nodded absently, his mind elsewhere.
He passed the lounge room, the library, the indoor garden, and even the private wine cellar heading straight for his wing. Everything was quiet, luxurious, cold. His footsteps echoed until he reached his room. And even surrounded by all this wealth, all he could think about was the girl he spent the night with.
The next morning, sunlight spilled through the thin curtains of Anaya’s small apartment. The clock ticked. A kettle hissed. And Nicole, curled up on the worn couch, was already scrolling through job ads.
When Anaya stepped out of the room, dressed in a plain white tee and jeans, her eyes looked tired.
Nicole looked up and smiled faintly. “You good?”
Anaya nodded, forcing a smile. “As good as someone who doesn’t remember what happenedto her.”
“You look like you didn't sleep.”
“I wasn’t able to. I thought about everything that happened and i hav me decided to forget about it.”
“Thats the spirit “ Nicole said handing her a resume folder.
"Time to find a job. You’re on your own now. And we’re not letting your mom’s death bury you. She raised a fighter."
Anaya smiled weakly, leaning on Nicole.
"Thank you. For everything."
The day dragged as they both submitted application after application. Offices, stores, restaurants anywhere that had a sign up. By the time they returned home, dusk had settled, and exhaustion clung to their bones.
By the time they returned to their apartment, the hallway felt like a tunnel. Anaya barely managed to unlock the door.
She pushed the door open, her legs trembling slightly. She barely made it three steps into the living room before collapsing.
"Anaya" Nicole screamed, rushing to her.
Panic seized her chest. She shook her, tapped her cheek. "Anaya, wake up What’s wrong?"
No response.
Nicole fumbled for her phone, her hands trembling. "Please, please don’t do this."
She called 911.
"My best friend just fainted I don’t know what’s wrong please, send someone now"
As the operator assured help was on the way, Nicole knelt beside her unconscious friend, brushing back her hair and fighting tears.
"Please be okay," she whispered, holding her tightly. "Please don’t leave me too."
Tears welled up as she held Anaya’s hand tightly.
“You’re going to be okay,” she whispered. “You have to be.”
She didn’t know it yet, that the fall that took Anaya to the ground would set everything in motion.
A storm was coming, and nothing would remain the same.
- Writer
