CHAPTER 21
ANNA’S POV
Just a few minutes after I finished eating, my phone buzzed beside me. It was a message from Ryan. He said, “Go to my room. Check the drawer beside my bed. You’ll find my card holder there. Take the block card and replace your friend’s dress. The pin is 0000,”
I stared at the message for a while, frowning a bit. That was all? Just like that? He didn’t even say anything else? Maybe an explanation about who Sophie was?
And come to think of it, doesn’t he always lock his room door?
I sighed, slipped my phone into my pocket, and headed to his room. The knob turned easily when I twisted it, and just like that, the door swung open. I stepped inside slowly, glancing around. It smelled like him. My eyes immediately landed on the bed, and I swallowed hard, pausing for a second as my mind suddenly flooded with the images of everything that happened on that very bed. I took in a deep breath, shook the thoughts out of my head, and walked to the bedside drawer.
I opened the first drawer and, just like he said, the cardholder was sitting right there. I picked it up, opened it, and saw the black card tucked inside neatly. I took it, but just as I was about to close the drawer, curiosity got the better of me and I opened the second one. There were files, nothing too interesting, but then I saw a small remote tucked in the corner. I picked it up and faced it towards the TV, thinking maybe it was some fancy remote for that, but when I pressed the button, nothing happened. I frowned, tried again, but still nothing. I placed it back where I found it, still wondering what it controlled.
I left the room, went back to mine, changed into something simple, grabbed my bag, and took a ride to the boutique. I found Sasha’s exact dress without much stress. The moment I saw it, I realized it was the fake version she had, and beside it was the original. I didn’t think twice. I picked the original and paid for it with Ryan’s card, then headed straight to Sasha’s dorm.
She was already waiting outside, after I’d called her I’d be coming over.
“You bro
brought it already? I told you you could give me on Monday. It’s just Saturday,” she said, raising an eyebrow.
“I just wanted to get it over with,” I replied, smiling a little.
She took the bog and didn’t suspect anything until we got inside her dorm room. It was a single room, neat and filled with scented candles and throw pillows. Typical Sasha. She pulled out the dress, looked at the tag, and her brows knitted.
“Wait… did you buy me a new one?” she asked.
I nodded, trying not to look at her directly.
“What happened to the old one?” she asked, tilting her head. I didn’t say anything. I just blushed, the memory flashing in my mind.
“Oh my God…” Sasha’s eyes widened as she covered her mouth, grinning. “Don’t tell me it was ruined while you were… you know…” She wiggled her brows.
“Shut up!” I groaned, laughing into my palms.
“So what happened? I saw you with a guy making out at the club’s lot. You guys looked hot together outside a car. I didn’t want to disturb you so I left. That guy was hot as hell, though. You lucky bitch. So tell me was it good?”
1/3
+25 BONUS
“Sasha!” I covered my face again.
“Oh my God! It was good! I freaking knew it!” Sasha squealed, practically bouncing on the spot. “Wait… who is he? Don’t tell me it was just some random guy from the club.”
“No,” I said quickly, shaking my head before she got the wrong idea.
“So what then? A friend?”
I shoook my head again.
“An old schoolmate?”
Another head shake.
“Ughhh, then who is he?!” she whined, drogging the word with exaggerated frustration.
I looked down and mumbled, “My childhood crush.”
“What?! Anna!” she gasped, grabbing my arm like I’d just told her I kissed a celebrity.
I didn’t even know how to explain it, or if I even should, especially the port where he wasn’t just my crush, but also my ‘supposed‘ big brother.
“I didn’t even expect to see him at the club,” I muttered, half–laughing, half–embarrassed.
“Hold on, hold on,” she said, sitting up straighter, eyes wide. “So let me get this right–you ran into your childhood crush at the club, and somehow, you guys ended up making out… and he’s hot? Like hot hot? And you, obviously, were looking like sin in that dress… and it got ruined, which means…”
“Sasha!” 1 groaned, face heating up.
“What?” she laughed, grinning. “That’s literally the plot of every steamy romance book I’ve ever read. You gave your first time to the guy you’ve loved since you were little? That’s insane in the most romantic way! You should be on cloud nine right now!”
I paused, and her smile foded just a bit.
“What?” she asked, frowning. “What’s wrong?”
I hesitated for a second, then sighed. “This morning, while we were having breakfast… his phone buzzed. And it wasn’t just any message. It was from a girl named Sophie. And the message had a red heart emoji.”
Sasha frowned instantly. “What did it say?
“Hey babe, I’m backkkkk! Wanna meet up?”
“Shit…” she whispered.
“Exactly,” I said, rubbing my arm slowly. “I asked him who she was, and he just brushed it off like it meant nothing, said he had something to handle, and then he left… just like that. Didn’t explain anything. But my head….. it’s been spinning since.”
“Okay, girl, listen,” Sasha said, sitting forward. “Instead of sitting here and torturing yourself with assumptions, just ask him. Don’t keep quiet about it. You have a mouth. Use it. Communication, babe.”
“Are you sure?” I asked, unsure.
“Yes! I’m twenty. I’ve been in three messy relationships. And the one thing I learned is, talk before things get ugly.
2/3
+25 BONUS
I nodded, feeling a bit braver. “Okay. I’ll call him.”
She smiled. “Atta girl.”
I hugged her quickly and left her dorm. As soon as I stepped out, I dialed Ryan’s number. He didn’t pick up. I tried again. Nothing. I frowned and decided to take a taxi to the company. Maybe he was there.
When I got there, I walked to the reception and told the lady I wanted to see Ryan.
“Excuse me?” she asked, raising a brow. “You mean, Mr. Ryan Wolfe?”
“Yes,”
“I said, not really liking the tone in her voice.
“Who are you to address him so casually?”
I quickly brought out my phone, pulled up a photo of us with Dad, Mom, and Ryan. “I’m his sister.”
She stared at the phone, blinked, and then slowly nodded. “13th floor.”
I didn’t waste time. I got into the elevator, and my heart was pounding so loudly I thought everyone could hear it. When I got to the 13th floor, his secretory stood up the moment she saw me.
“He’s in a meeting with someone very important. He asked not to be disturbed.”
“I’m important too. I’m family,” I said firmly.
“Still, he said-”
But I didn’t wait. I walked straight to the door and opened it.
And what I saw shocked the hell out of me.
