Page 199 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

“Busy.” She imagined packing up his large house could be a bit time-consuming. “Anna, I spoke with Devin and he agreed to give you the weekend off.”

“You didn’t have to do that. I’m fine.”

“Nein, you’re not. Stay home and rest. Devin promised not to bother you over the weekend.”

She wanted to be bothered. She wanted to be distracted. But Alex had made the decision. “Thank you.”

“I know you’re at lunch, so I’ll let you go. I just wanted to let you know about tonight.”

On the way back to the studio, Nate walked next to her. “Are you doing anything tonight?”

Anna glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. “No.” Thanks to Alex.

He cleared his throat. “Do you want to... um... go see a movie or something?”

Anna looked back down at the floor. She knew Nate liked her, but she really wasn’t in the mood to go out. Too bad she wasn’t old enough to buy alcohol. But could she say no? “I don’t think I would be very good company. I’m not feeling very well.”

“Oh. Okay.”

Anna’s heart sank, a heavy feeling of guilt washing over her. Was this what it was like to be free? Feeling guilty because of saying no? Oh, this freedom thing sucked.

She drove home, the regret of turning down Nate gnawing at her heart. As she waited for the elevator in the parking garage of her apartment complex, two guys in their mid-twenties walked up and stood behind her. Anna stared at their shadowy reflections in the stainless-steel doors, her hands grasping her dance bag, praying they weren’t men Devin had sent over for her to have sex with. The doors opened and she stepped in, tapping her floor button and moving to the back corner of the elevator.

The guy with light brown hair went to reach for the buttons, but chuckled and turned around to smile at her. His gray eyes were kind. “Seems we live on the same floor.”

Anna’s eyes darted to the guy standing next to him. Just because they lived in the building didn’t mean they didn’t know Devin. Zach lived in the building, too.

The other man had curly blond hair and blue eyes. He grinned. “Lived here long?” he asked, his eyes flirtatious.

“No,” she whispered, backing hard against the handrails. The brown-haired guy gave her a kind smile and studied her for a moment and then turned back to face the elevator doors.

When the doors opened, they stepped aside, letting her out first. She gave them a timid smile and then hurried to her apartment. Glancing back, she saw them making their way to the opposite end of the hallway. The brown-haired guy looked back and smiled before walking into the apartment.

Anna fumbled with the keys, her hands trembling as she unlocked her door. Once inside, she shut it firmly behind her, locking it, and let out a deep breath, thankful they weren’t friends with Devin.

Chapter 89

Alex called Anna on Saturday morning to see if she’d like to go to dinner with him on Sunday night. He was leaving on Monday and wanted to see her before he left. Of course she accepted the invitation. She was obedient that way.

It pained his heart, knowing how deeply he had hurt her and how his impending departure only deepened the wound. But he didn’t have a choice. Remaining in San Francisco would only keep him vulnerable to Devin’s manipulation, and it was a risk he couldn’t afford to take.

He fervently prayed that someday she would understand his reasons.

Alex arrived at Anna’s apartment right on time on Sunday evening. His heart leaped as she opened the door with a soft smile on her face. “Hello, Schatzi.” He leaned down to kiss her and she kissed him back, though not as enthusiastically as he’d hoped. She was being an obedient slave, that was all. And it broke his heart.

He took her to a restaurant near Fisherman’s Wharf and did his best to engage her in conversation, asking her questions about dancing, but she only answered with the minimal words required, remaining polite and emotionally distant. He couldn’t blame her, though. Not after what he’d done to her. He’d shown her how much he loved her, attacked her, and then told her he was moving away. There was no comfort in the fact that it would only be for a few months.

Perhaps he shouldn’t have stayed that night; maybe he should have maintained his distance. Then Devin might not have felt the need to drug him and make him hurt her. Then she wouldn’t mind so much that he was leaving. But he couldn’t muster up any regret. Somewhere, buried deep inside her heart, she had to know that he loved her. He had done everything except utter those three words. Words were cheap; actions, he believed, spoke volumes, and he was certain he had shown her in every way possible.

He looked across the table where she sat, quietly eating her chocolate mousse. Her eyes remained downcast, back straight, small smiles when appropriate. All to keep her safe from his anger. But he had no anger toward her. Only toward himself.

Even now, leaving tomorrow, he wanted to take her home and tell her he was staying. Or take her with him. But he couldn’t. He couldn’t stay in San Francisco and learn what he needed to. Vati had always said that sometimes you had to cause pain to those you loved in order to help them. Alex had gotten a taste of it when he’d disciplined Anna for smirking at Kirsty, but that had been a small thing and he’d held her after. He hadn’t abandoned her while she cried on the floor.

Alex didn’t want to leave like this. He couldn’t leave her like this. When he walked her back to her apartment after dinner, he was determined to do whatever he could to smash through the walls of protection she’d put up.

“Anna,” he said, closing the door behind him. “I’m leaving in the morning. I don’t want things to—‍” He sighed. “I don’t want to leave you like this.”

“Then don’t leave,” she whispered so softly he wasn’t entirely sure he had heard her correctly. A tear slipped down her cheek.

He stroked her cheek, wiping away the tear. “If there was any way to not have to leave... I would do it in a heartbeat.”

“You have to do what you have to do,” she said, her voice tinged with resignation.

He saw her trying to control her emotions and lifted her chin with his index finger. “I will miss you terribly, Schatzi.” His voice broke.

She blinked and tried to look away, but he cupped her chin and captured her lips with his. She didn’t resist; instead, she clung desperately to his arms. He then scooped her up and carried her to her bed.

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