Chapter 67

Anna
What was I doing?
I was going to hurt him.
I was going to destroy him, all by attempting to save him.
Father wanted me closer to him, I became closer to him, but when he was telling me about going on a date, laughing along with me, joking with me like we used to when life was simple, when it was easy. I wanted him again and then the guilt hit hard.
"Oh, I didn't think you would be in the breakroom." Delilah says walking into the breakroom.
"Yeah, I remembered that you snort coke for a living and was wondering if I should break into your locker and steal some."
"Ha-ha, what are you doing in here anyways?" She asks as she walks over to the Frappuccino machine.
The breakroom is the same as the rest of Creations. Black and white, a sink, fridge, coffee machine, Frappuccino machine and a vending machine full of vegan items.
As you can guess the vending machine is still full.
There are a few benches and a couple of couches inside as well. I wanted my team to have somewhere comfortable to relax when they were on break and I think I gave them that.
"Eating. You know that thing that us humans must do at least three times a day or we will ultimately meet our end? That thing." I say with a sinister smirk and get blessed with one of her many eye rolls.
"I mean, why are you in here? You're usually up in your tower where the guards protect you from the dragons." She isn't exactly wrong. I am usually in my office when I eat lunch, or I go down to Luigi's. I just didn't want the silence and loneliness of my office or a lonely table. As pathetic as it sounds, I needed to be near people, otherwise I'm surrounded by my guilty thoughts.
"Yeah, well I thought I would take advantage of the many blessings of free doughnuts. Plus, I need to show my face in here occasionally, right?" I look down at my phone, the thirtieth time I've done it since I came in here and see no texts and no missed calls.
I don't know what I'm expecting. Jed most likely won't get a hold of me until he finds out how father knew about our contact with each other, and father doesn't need me quite yet or he would make himself known, but I still feel extremely restless.
I drink my coffee in silence, munch on my doughnut with dread, and stare at the breakroom clock as the loud tick's form with the deafening tocks.
Five-seventeen.
I was supposed to be off by now, but every fiber of my body wants to remain here instead of going home.
"Anna?" Meghan calls form the breakroom door. I was staring at my phone once more and snap out of the stupor when she calls out for the second time.
"What's up?" I ask when I walk over to her.
"Sorry to bother you, know you were getting ready to leave but, there is someone here to see you." My heart stops. I want to tell her to go over to this mysterious person and tell them to leave. Tell them that I am no longer here, that I moved far away, hell, that I died.
"Uh Anna." Meghan's concerned look clasps my professionally mask back on and I smile at her and thank her.
I walk towards the entrance and notice James is bouncing up and down. He is only nervous around good-looking men. I stop in my tracks and see the gorgeous Candice standing in the front of my salon and of course right behind her in his usually brooding form, is her man, Austin.
I was privileged enough to meet Candice and Austin when I visited Jared and Laynie right before I moved down here. I had to come down and sign some paperwork for the salon before I technically moved. When I came down, Laynie and I had gone to dinner and a spa day and she invited her sister in law, Candice. I was able to hang with her and her best friend, Lyla, whom I adored the moment I met the loud mouth, hilarious country girl.
After the spa day, Candice invited us to hang out with her boyfriend and his friends. Little did I know, her 'boyfriend and his friends' consisted of a fucking MC. The Nightmare Warriors are a local motorcycle club and after hanging out with them for a few hours, the fucking most awesome group of men this side of the Mississippi.
I later learned from a very drunk Candice, that her and Austin didn't have what one might call, a good start at their relationship, but where they are now, is true happiness. I envy them for finding their happy ending, even though fate fought against them, they made it out on top.
I breath out relief and breath in confusion. I have no idea why they are both here, but Austin's sour face has me a little on edge. His motorcycle club used to deal with Nicholas Cole and if they do their research well enough, they will most likely come across my name. The last thing I want, is to have Jared and Laynie find out who their friend of all these years, isn't who they thought she was, from someone else. I know the time is getting close to tell them everything, but I just don't know if I can.
"Hey love birds. What are you two up to?" I ask as I plaster on my professional smile and walk over.
Candice is probably one of the most gorgeous women I have ever met. Long thick red hair, bright blue eyes that match her brother's, she is on the tall side, like me, and has curves in all the right areas. The moment I met her I couldn't tell if I wanted to hurt her for being so beautiful or worship the ground she walked on.
"Hey Anna. I was wondering if we could talk to you. Privately." Candice asks. Her voice seems a bit on the hesitant side and that only has my eyes wondering over to Austin.
Austin is what one might call 'the hottest biker I have ever laid eyes on.' That's what some of club whores called him when we all were introduced in their MC. He has cropped brown hair, light brown eyes and a smile that will melt the panties off anyone near him.
"Uh, sure. My office is in the back, follow me." I try not to notice all the stares I am receiving from not only my clients, but my employees. Although I suspect they are not radiating towards me, but towards a certain, leather clad wearing biker behind me.
"So, what's up guys?" I ask as I take a seat. Candice sits opposite me and Austin stands.
"We wanted to invite you to a Christmas party." Candice says excitedly.
My confusion must have been a question for her because she continues. "I know it's a little strange to make it seem like we had something serious to tell you, but I wanted this to be a family and friends only party. For once, the club has no drama, and I thought it would be nice to have a traditional Christmas party. Austin and the guys are going to shut down their club Magic for us, so we will have the whole place to ourselves. I had to tell you in private because lots of people go to that club and if they knew the Warriors were going to be there, they would try to break in."
I laugh at Candice's exaggerated story and stand up to give her a hug. Not only am I relieved that the news they wanted to talk about was something as uncomplicated as a Christmas party, but they thought enough of me to invite me. They consider me family. I can't tell if my heart is overjoyed, or pathetically ashamed.
"Of course I'll go Candice. I would love to. Give me the details when you can, and I'll run it by with Laynie and the gang."
"Okay cool, and you can bring someone special too Anna. Just make sure they don't start shit with my guys." Candice laughs when Austin scoffs.
"Okay, sounds good. Thanks for the invite, but I have to ask, why didn't you just call me or text me?" This time I receive a smile and chuckle from Austin.
Candice turns around in her seat and narrows her eyes at him, in which she receives at smirk and wink. Good lord, the sexual tension between these two is going to make me combust in my office.
"Yeah babe, why didn't you just text or call?"
I raise my eyebrow and smile, knowing it's going to be a cute story. Candice is a lot like Laynie to me. Very unsure of herself, but in a way, confident.
"So, mom always taught me that if you wanted to invite family and friends to a Christmas party, you have to do either in person or by mail. I sent you an invitation but when I got no reply, Laynie suggested I come in and talk to you."
My heart beat hammers inside my chest. She sent me an invitation? I have been checking my mail constantly these last few days. I thought that maybe Jed hadn't been able to send me anything yet, but it makes more sense that he had my mail moved. Explains why I haven't received any of my regular bills or the usual credit card application.
"Oh, sorry, I haven't been checking my mail. I get so tired when I get home I just walk right past the mailboxes." I lie.
"That's what Laynie said. So, we will see you there?" I nod my head and walk them both out.
Once they leave I walk back to my office, grab my purse and head home. It's time I took care of this mailbox issue.

"Let me get this straight. You have been living here for the last eight months, but you want me to see if you have another mailbox, that most likely belongs to someone else, just in case you have mail in their mailbox?" Larry the manager berates me in his office.
Coming home, I went straight to the manager's office to see if he could help me out with checking to see if my mail has been going in someone else's box. It was a long shot, and probably stupid for me to ask him, but I had no other ideas. Jed had to have changed where my mail goes and although I have no idea how he did it, my main concern needs to be on the location.
"Uh, yeah, pretty much. Think you could do it?"
Larry stares, and stares, and stares some more. I almost slam my fist on his desk to stop him from blinking so slowly. Larry is your typical fat cat slumlord. He is a large man that only seems to own a dirty white tee and black slacks that he leaves unbuttoned.
The apartments are older and not well taken care of, but Larry just sits and collects rent. I don't think I have ever seen him come out of the office and fix anything either. I had more than enough money to move somewhere better, but with my main purpose on moving to New York, I needed something small and secluded. Something someone wouldn't peg me in. although, that didn't stop father from finding me.
"Can't let you in other people's shit. Sorry sweet thing." I roll my eyes at his disgusting nickname from him. If I didn't need a favor from him, I would sucker punch him in his jaw.
"Larry please, my grandmother's funeral information was sent to me, and I need to know when and where it is. My grandfather won't answer his phone and I'm afraid I'm going to miss it. I don't have to look, it can be you. I just want to see if my mail is going somewhere else." I lie. Seems the only thing I can do now.
Larry stays silent and leans back to begin tapping his enormous gut with his hands. He finally stands up and limps his way over to the wall of keyrings. He grabs the one labeled, mailboxes, and follows me out of the office. Larry checks one then another and another and another and before I know it, each box is opened, and my mail is still missing. I frown but thank Larry anyways.
I walk back up to my apartment via stairs and before I reach my unit, it dawns on me. Father not only knew that Jed was sending me things, he knew how. Mail. If I were Jed, I would put it somewhere that father would not think Jed would go.
I have weaknesses. I have many fears, and one of the happens to be the reason why I take the stairs the three floors to my unit every day. I hate enclosed spaces, always have ever since father's punishment of the coffin when I was nine, and father would never think I would get into an elevator.
My hands shake as I put my keys back in my purse. Sweat is pouring down my chest and back and I suddenly feel like I am on fire. I know what I need to do. I know something is in the elevator for me. I reach the doors and press the down button. I wait for the doors to open, the entre time my stomach is turning and making me feel like I am going to vomit.
The doors open, and my body stands frozen. I hate this, I feel weak knowing it's something so simple. Something people do every day, something that takes literally a few seconds at the most. I close my eyes and throw my body in to the elevator. I focus only on the task at hand. I can feel the doors closing and do what I do best in situations like this, I count. I count until I reach number thirty-six then open my eyes and start looking around. I touch all over the walls, try removing the floorboard piece, everything, but can't find one ounce of a secret compartment.
The elevator dings and when I look at the down and up arrows, I see the down arrow lit up. Someone is getting on the elevator from downstairs. I look frantically and hope I can locate what I need soon. I'm not sure how much longer I can last in here. Lower and lower the elevator falls and that's when it hits me. I look up and see mirrors upon mirrors. My reflection looks that of fear.
"Look at yourself when you feel like you can't go on anymore Belle. Find the bravery within."
Something Jed used to always say to me when we were kids. It's from the old stable book we were made to read weekly growing up.
"I hear you Jed."
I put my purse on the floor, stand up on it, use my tip toes and reach for the mirror directly in the middle. I lift it up and over and feel around with my hand. I feel a bunch of papers in my hand and I quickly pull them down.
My mail.
I was right. The elevator dings again and I quickly put the mirror back, get down, and grab my purse. The doors open just as I have my mail in my bag and walk out of the elevator, up the stairs, and to my unit.
If we get out of this alive, I am going to kill Jed for making me do this.

Junk, junk, bill. Junk, junk, bill. I find the invitation from Candice and mark it on my calendar. I also make a note to call Laynie and ask her about the party.
Junk, junk, letter.
I grab the letter, stand from my couch and walk over to my kitchen. This has become my ritual and after the craziness that has been the last month, I need a glass of wine. Or four.
I run my bathwater, mix my lavender bubble bath liquid, throw my hair up, plop in, and take a sip. I will need all the courage I have to see what Jed has planned for not only us, but for father. I told Jed I was protecting Alan, so I hope he won't do or say anything that will have father making good on his promise to harm him in anyway.
I take a bottomless breath and open the letter. It's the same as all the others. More pictures inside the envelope, more facts on father's business. The only thing this one has that's different is an address. It's written on the very bottom in small green ink and I recognize it as Jed's writing. I don't know who's address it is, but I know it must be important if he wants me to go there. I make a note to go there as soon as possible. The date on the letter is from a few days ago and who knows when Jed expected me at this location.
Once out of the bath, I relax on the couch and start watching my missed episodes of The Walking Dead. My phone dings from my purse and I pause the show to reach for it. I open it to see a text from Alan's father, Paul. I haven't spoken to Paul in months and as much as I hate myself for not keeping in contact with his family, when I moved out here, it just didn't feel right. I felt like two different people. The Anna they knew, and the one that hides beneath the surface.
Hey Anna. I have a favor to ask you.
I place the phone face down on coffee table and scoot away from the device. I want to run, hide and cry all at the same time. Paul and Marryanne King are the most amazing people in the word to me. They helped me back when I thought all parents were horrible to their children. Maryanne took Jared, Laynie and myself in and has always taught us to be ourselves. Paul is the only man in the world, other than Alan and Jed, I will let touch me. His touch screams warmth and love, instead hate and pain.
I berate myself for being such a brat, flip over my phone and reply to him. I await as I see the small little bubbles popping up, indicating that he is messaging me back. That was quick,
Marryanne and I are in New York this week up until Monday. Sunday is an important day for our family, and I would love it if you'd be a part of it.
I hesitate but know in my heart that this man is being genuine and probably just wants to see me, so I reply that no matter what it is, I will be there. When I get the reply that he can't wait to see me, I smile. For the first time in nearly a month, I have a genuine smile.