Anastasia's Contract With The CEO

Chapter4:Anastasia's pov

"Grand ma, I will be with you right away". She hung up the call almost immediately. She chuckled at her mother's calm tone, she was excited her grandmother had become healthy. The thought of pretending to be someone else sent shivers down her spine, she immediately shook the thought out of her head. She hurriedly slipped on her coat, ready to step out of the imposing mansion. She knew she had to keep up appearances, even though every fiber of her being resisted. Just as she was about to open the door, Alex, the enigmatic man who had brought her into this complicated life, appeared before her.

"What are you doing here?"

"Where are you going?" His voice was as smooth as silk, but his gaze held an intensity that made her nervous.

She swallowed hard, the lie slipping from her lips with practiced ease."I need a job, I have to go out".

Jace bursted into laughter which embarrassed Anastasia.

She forced a hesitant smile, her voice shaking slightly. "I just thought it would be a good way to keep busy, you know?"

Jace with an arched eyebrow, scrutinized her carefully. His expression darkened with a mixture of confusion and disapproval."Searching for a job, huh? That's unnecessary, Lady Scarlet. You're a Morray now, and you don't need to work."

"For your information, you're not going anywhere".

"I'm going and you can't stop me".

" Oh yes I'll if you give me no choice". He gave her a wicked grin.

She hated threat, something told her he meant it. "I can't be sitting in the house doing nothing". She continued, her voice trembling with frustration, "I can't just stay locked in here. It's suffocating."". As the tension thickened at the doorway, Anastasia struggled to maintain her façade, her heart pounding with anxiety. She knew she had to play along if she wanted to protect her real identity.

"May I remind you that you worked for it, it's also stated in the contract you signed". He slightly smiled at her.

She had forgotten about the contract and was surprised he remembered each of them. He would definitely know her whereabouts with the guards on her raider.

"Can you atleast pardon me for today?"

"I'll, but you will go with the guards I've appointed for you". He looked at her with questionable eyes. His response was swift, "You're a Morray now, temporarily. You don't need to work." He added.

Linda's spirit bristled at the thought of being confined to the opulent yet stifling mansion. She pointed to the fine print, her voice edged with frustration, "Well, it's in the contract, isn't it? Your rules."

"Know this, the contract will be breached the moment you step out of this house".

"I'll be back". Scarlet's jaw clenched at the thought of being constantly watched. "I can take care of myself, Alex."

"Of course but my men will follow you".

"You can't just come and go as you please. If you want to leave the house, you'll have to go with a guard." He concluded.

She felt tempted to spill everything to him which would cost her the contract.

"I'll advise you go inside and redress". He continued to eye her suspiciously.

Her heart sank as she considered her limited options. Going out with a guard meant constant surveillance, but it seemed like the only way to keep her secret hidden. "Alright," she muttered reluctantly.

"Hello lover boy".

The female voice had startled Anastasia, since she moved into Jace's house, she had barely seen a lady with him or talk to him. At some point she felt he was a gay and had forced himself to make a contract with her.

"What a surprise visit?"

"Yeah, you can say that again".

Anastasia sensed the strang lady's mood had changed almost immediately, she passed a look to Jace who understood. Jace opened his mouth to say something when his phone rang.

"Ladies, excuse me". He gave Stacy a wicked grin.

"Grace?"

"Hello". Anastasia forced a smile on her face, she had forgotten her name was no Scarlet Grace. She didn't miss the surprise look from this stranger.

"Where have you been?"

Stacy gave her a tight hug, Anastasia tried to release herself from it but she tightened her hold. Their argument was interrupted by the arrival of Alex's best friend, Stacy. Scarlet's heart raced as she watched the worry flash across Stacy's face.

"You're not looking bad with these new looks".

"Thank you". Anastasia tried to recover from the tight hug she had just had when she felt another grip on her elbow.

"Where are you taking me to?" She asked almost panicking her, her struggles had become useless, she was stronger.

"Don't raise an alarm". Stacy quietly shunned her. She seized the opportunity and held Stacy's elbow closely, as she pulled her into a dimly lit corner.

Anastasia got the body language that the strange lady wanted to tell her something else and she calmed down.

"Where have you been?" Stacy's irritation was palpable as she glared at Scarlet. "Scarlet, you have a lot of explaining to do. You vanished without a trace, and now you're back, acting like a stranger."

I've been out of town of course". Anastasia pinched herself from pulling her cover, this lady appeared to be Scarlet's friend and definitely a friend of Jace.

"I thought you stated clearly of you leaving the relationship".

"I changed my mind". Anastasia folded her hands which helped her control her unsteady emotions. This stranger's look gave her some guilt feeling, her eyes had fallen down to the ground.

The worried look in Stacy's eyes deepened with each word Scarlet spoke.

"He cheated on you and you still want to stay?" She gave her a disgusted look.

Stacy's anger turned into confusion and concern. "What's going on, Scarlet? Why the secrecy?"

As Alex's best friend demanded answers, Scarlet's mind raced, trying to come up with a believable explanation. The tension in the room was palpable, and the truth remained hidden, buried beneath layers of deceit and fear.