Chapter 15

Chapter 15
Anna arrived home, still basking in the excitement of her new job. She and Nanny were celebrating, laughing and chatting, when Fernandez walked in 15 minutes later. They quickly composed themselves, trying to appear nonchalant.
Fernandez's eyes scanned the room, his gaze lingering on Anna's formal dress. His eyes darkened, his expression intense, as if he was a predator eyeing his prey.
"Where did you go dressed like that?" he asked, his voice low and husky.
Anna shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "Why can't I wear a formal dress? Is it only you who can wear formal clothes?"
Fernandez's gaze drifted to her lips, his eyes burning with intensity. Anna felt a shiver run down her spine, unsure of why he was staring at her like that.
"You've never worn lipstick before," he said, his voice dripping with seduction. "Except for that night."
Anna's eyes flashed with anger, her glare piercing. "Yes, that night," she spat. "The night I became the unfortunate one alive."
Fernandez's eyes never left hers, his gaze holding a hint of danger. Anna felt trapped, unable to look away from his intense stare.
Nanny, sensing the tension, tried to intervene. "Fernandez, dear, let's not—"
But Fernandez raised a hand, silencing her. His eyes never left Anna's face, his gaze burning with a fierce intensity.
The air was thick with tension, the silence between them palpable. Anna felt like she was drowning in his gaze, unable to escape the memories of that fateful night.
Nanny slipped out of the room, a knowing smile on her face. She prayed that the tension between Anna and Fernandez would dissipate, and they would patch things up.
Anna stuttered awkwardly, trying to composed herself. "Y-you shouldn't think that whatever happened that night will happen again. I can never go back to my vomit."
Fernandez smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement. He caged her against the corner, his body inches from hers. "Why? Were you thinking of another night like that? I can fulfill your dreams."
Anna's heart raced as she tried to control herself. She pushed against his chest, her voice firm. "In your dreams!"
Fernandez chuckled darkly, his breath whispering against her ear. "Don't cross me, Anna. Don't do anything you'll regret."
He stepped back, his eyes never leaving hers. Anna breathed a sigh of relief as he turned to leave and left for his study room. He came to picked a file he forgets, but Anna heart still pounded in her chest.
As he passed her, he whispered, "My eyes are on you, Anna."
Anna rolled her eyes inwardly, but controlled herself, not wanting to provoke him further. She watched him leave, her heart still racing from the encounter.
She took a deep breath, calming herself. "Thank God he didn't see how affected I was," she thought. "I would have been finished."
Anna changed into a comfortable dress and spent the rest of the day with Nanny. As Nanny grew tired, she went to rest, leaving Anna feeling bored.
"I'm so bored," Anna said to herself. "And Fernandez isn't home, so why can't I go into his study room."
She looked around the room, her eyes landing on the door to Fernandez's study. She hadn't been in there before, but her curiosity got the better of her.
"Maybe I'll just take a look," she thought, getting up and walking to the study.
She pushed open the door and slipped inside, her eyes scanning the room. The study was dimly lit, with only a few lamps casting a warm glow. The walls were lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, filled with leather-bound volumes and modern bestsellers. A large, ornate desk sat in the center of the room, with a high-backed chair behind it.
Anna wandered over to the bookshelf, running her fingers over the spines of the books. She pulled one out at random, opening it to reveal yellowed pages and intricate illustrations. As she opened the book, a picture slipped out, falling to the floor.
Anna bent down to pick it up, her curiosity getting the better of her. It was an old photograph, showing a small boy and his parents. They were smiling and happy, looking like a perfect family. Anna's eyes scanned the picture, noticing the words "Nando" written on the boy's head.
"Who are they?" Anna wondered, her mind racing. Could it be Fernandez and his family? She felt a pang of guilt for intruding on his privacy, but her curiosity kept her rooted to the spot.
As she gazed at the picture, Anna couldn't help but think of her own family. Were they like this too, when she was small? She couldn't remember, and a pang of sadness hit her.
Just then, she heard the sound of the front door opening. Fernandez was home. Anna hastily dropped the picture back into the book and left the study, not wanting to get caught snooping.
Nanny called them for dinner, and they all sat down to eat together, enjoying a peaceful meal for the first time in many days. As they finished dinner, Anna couldn't help but feel excited about starting her new job. She was grateful that the rashes from her allergy had cleared up, and she was feeling more confident.
As she got up to leave, a word slipped out of her mouth before she could catch it. "Nando."
Fernandez, who was heading to his room, stopped dead in his tracks. He turned around, his eyes narrowing as he walked back to Anna. "What did you say?" he asked, his voice low and menacing.
Anna mumbled, looking up at him, "Nando."
Fernandez's gaze darkened, his eyes flashing with anger. Before Anna knew what was happening, he had grabbed her neck, his fingers closing around it like a vice.