Chapter 22

Chapter 22
As Anna and Alex stepped onto the dance floor, the emcee's voice boomed through the speakers, "Ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together for the arrival of the most prominent man of the evening, the number one youngest billionaire, Antonio Fernandez!"
Anna's eyes widened in shock, her heart skipping a beat as she heard the familiar name. Her gaze instinctively scanned the room, and then she saw him - Antonio Fernandez, standing confidently at the entrance, his piercing eyes scanning the room as if searching for someone.
Anna's expression changed from calm to stunned, her face pale as she felt like she had been punched in the gut. She stopped dancing, her body frozen in place, as her eyes locked onto Fernandez's.
Alex, oblivious to the sudden change in Anna's demeanor, continued to smile and dance, but Anna's reaction was a stark contrast. She looked like she had seen a ghost, her eyes fixed on Fernandez with a mix of fear, anxiety, and shock.
The music continued to play, but Anna's world had come to a standstill. She was trapped in a nightmare, and she didn't know how to escape. The crowd cheered and applauded, but Anna's only thought was, "What is he doing here?"
Anna quickly excused herself, trying to escape the awkward situation. "I need to go to the restroom," she whispered to Alex, her eyes darting towards Fernandez.
Alex nodded, and Anna swiftly made her way towards the restroom, but her escape was thwarted by Fernandez's piercing green eyes. He stood in front of her, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Ah, Anna," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I didn't know you were here."
Alex hurriedly intervened, greeting Fernandez with reverence. "Mr. Fernandez, it's an honor to meet you. I'm Alex, and this is my date for tonight, Anna."
Fernandez's gaze never left Anna's face as he asked, "How do you know Anna?"
Alex replied, oblivious to the tension, "She's my employee. She's been working with me for three days now."
Fernandez's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched in anger. He struggled to maintain his poker face, but Anna could see the fury simmering beneath the surface.
He extended his hand, his voice dripping with venom. "Nice to meet you, Anna. I'm Antonio Fernandez."
Anna hesitated, but Alex encouraged her to shake his hand. As their hands touched, Fernandez's grip was like a vice, making Anna wince in pain. He quickly released her hand, his expression unreadable.
"Do you know where Anna lives?" Fernandez asked Alex, his voice deceptively calm.
Alex replied, "Yes, I've driven her home before."
Anna couldn't take it anymore. She excused herself, her voice barely above a whisper. "I need to go to the restroom."
As she fled, Alex turned to Fernandez and said, "I'm in love with Anna, and I plan to pursue her."
Fernandez's face twisted in rage, his eyes blazing with fury. He struggled to keep his anger in check, his fists clenched at his sides. He forced a smile, his voice dripping with malice. "Good luck with that."
Alex continued to chat with Fernandez, oblivious to the danger he was in. "I couldn't take my eyes off her since the first day I saw her. And she told me she's single."
Fernandez whispered under his breath, "Single..."
Alex didn't notice, too caught up in his own words. "And I confessed my love to her at 8 pm yesterday night. I know it's fast, but I couldn't help myself."
Fernandez's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched in anger. He whispered under his breath, "Spam message..."
Alex smiled foolishly, still chatting away. "So, Mr. Fernandez, I was wondering if you could give me some relationship tips. You're newly married, right? I want to pursue her, date her, and even if she won't date me, I at least want to spend a night with her."
Fernandez's face turned red with rage, his fists clenched at his sides. He struggled to maintain his composure, but Alex just kept talking, digging Anna's grave deeper with every word.
"I mean, what's the best way to win her heart? Should I shower her with gifts or take her on romantic getaways?"
Fernandez's eyes flashed with anger, his voice low and menacing. "You want to know the secret to winning her heart?"
Alex nodded eagerly, still smiling.
Fernandez leaned in close, his voice barely above a whisper. "You'll find out soon enough."
Fernandez excused himself and strode towards the restroom, his eyes scanning the area until they landed on Anna. She was just emerging from the restroom, her eyes darting nervously around the room.
As their eyes met, Anna's practiced lines vanished from her mind. She couldn't maintain eye contact, her gaze faltering under Fernandez's intense stare.
Before she knew it, Fernandez had closed the distance between them, his body trapping her against the restroom door. His eyes blazed with a deadly intensity, his voice dripping with malice.
"Who do we have here?" he whispered, his breath hot against her ear. "The single Anna?"
Anna's heart raced, her mind reeling with fear. She tried to speak, but her voice caught in her throat.
Fernandez's eyes seemed to bore into her soul, his gaze piercing and unrelenting. Anna felt like she was drowning in their depths, unable to escape.