Page 29 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 2

The show went very well. Standing ovations and all. Aaron was spectacular, as always. She didn’t realize how much she’d missed his dancing. Without thinking about it, she went up to him after the curtain fell and hugged him.

He buried his face in her neck. “Anna...”

She jerked away, realizing what she’d done, then shook her head and sprinted back to the dressing room, taking shelter in the nest she’d built herself in the corner. How could she have been so stupid? She needed to keep herself away from people. For their sake, but also her own. My purpose in life is to please Devin.

Anna sighed and started getting ready for the opening-night party. She was zipping up her dress when a few of the other dancers walked into the room. Anna frowned at herself in the mirror, hating how she looked.

Cindy, a corps dancer, smiled as she walked by. “Damn, you clean up good.”

Anna gave a tight smile and made her way out to the lobby, where the party was in full swing.

She moved through the crowd, self-consciousness of the color of her dress—the color of the Red Girls. Many of the men she passed raised their eyebrows and let their gazes travel over her body, wicked smiles on their faces. She knew them. She’d met them and spent time with them, with Devin’s blessing. Eventually, she spotted Devin near a table laden with food and made her way over to him.

“Anna.” He kissed her cheek. “You danced well tonight.” He handed her a glass of white wine.

“Thank you, Ma—Devin.”

He pulled her close. “You look delicious in red. I’ve noticed many of the men admiring you.”

Anna forced a smile. She hated to imagine what they were thinking.

Jack walked up to them a few minutes later. “Look how pretty my little Anna is.” He grinned. “I think we should have put her in red sooner.”

Anna looked away and swallowed hard.

As the evening progressed, Devin sent her off with several men to find a dark corner where they could push her up against the wall and fuck her ruthlessly. One even went into her ass and she had to dig her fingernails into her palms to keep from crying out. When he finished, she returned to Devin, trying not to limp, and told him that the man had been satisfied.

He smiled, looking pleased. “Good girl.”

Some of the corps dancers had seen her walking away with the men Devin had given her to. A couple of them stood nearby, watching her with curious looks on their faces while she stood next to Devin. She flushed and stared at the floor as Devin put his hand on her hip and kissed the side of her head.

Anna hated how much she cared about the opinions of the other dancers. She was Devin’s slave and he treated as such, but he also expected her to be a respectable member of society. How was she supposed to do both? It had been so much easier when she’d been married to Alex.

“Ah, there you are Peter.”

Anna’s head snapped up and she bit back a gasp as the tall, handsome young Russian approached.

Devin motioned toward Peter. “Anna, you remember Peter, right?”

“Yes, Devin, I remember.” She desperately wanted to run away, but knew there would be terrible consequences if she did.

“We became reacquainted this morning.” Peter smiled. “Anna has been playing hard to get.”

Anna looked at Devin, then at Peter, then back at Devin. “You knew he was here?”

“I invited him to come.” Devin shrugged. “I’ve come to realize that you are much more... pleasant to be around if you are in some sort of relationship. Therefore...” He motioned to Peter. “I am providing you with a relationship. Peter knows me, knows what I expect from you, and has agreed to ‘date’ you and provide you with companionship that I approve of.”

“Devin, you can’t?—‍”

Devin narrowed his eyes and Anna cowered. “I am perfectly serious. You will give the appearance that you like each other and all that is involved when two young people meet. He will become your boyfriend and soon you will move in with him. He won’t interfere with any of my needs for you, but he will give you stability and, as I said, companionship.”

Anna pressed her lips together and clenched her fists. “I don’t want a boyfriend. Especially not... him.”

Devin’s brow arched. “It’s not for you to choose who you will be with, Anna,” he snapped. “You are mine to do with as I please. And you are lonely, even though you won’t admit it. You need someone to be with.” He nodded toward Peter. “I have provided you with someone I trust.”

Anna’s shoulders slumped and she looked at the floor. Arguing would just anger him. “Yes, Devin.”

“Now, why don’t you two run along and let your friends think someone has broken through your icy exterior?” He took hold of her arm and pinched it. “You will treat him with respect.”

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