6 Years Ago
Anna
I was 16 the first time I saw him...
That day, I stopped by the office where my dad worked. My literature teacher had fallen ill, so the last class was canceled, and I had to kill time here. After school, I usually went to dance practice, and on days without dance, I had French tutoring. Heading home didn’t make sense, so I decided to swing by Dad’s office. We’d planned to meet in the lobby, but I got tired of waiting and figured I’d head up to his office instead. Honestly, I’d been here so often that the staff at Dad’s company were used to seeing me around.
I stepped confidently into the elevator, pressed the button for the second floor, and rode up. In the reception area sat Dad’s secretary, Vera. She looked about 45, always composed and polite. She greeted me with a smile and explained that Dad was in a meeting with a new business partner, so I’d have to wait a bit.
I settled comfortably on the couch and waited patiently for Dad. The meeting was supposed to wrap up soon, and I could hear noise from the office as someone approached the door. In that moment, my heart started pounding so hard I could feel it slamming against my ribs. Maybe it was that cup of coffee I’d had while waiting, but deep down, I knew it wasn’t the caffeine.
The door swung open, and two men stepped out unhurriedly. One was my father, Stephen, and the other—him, his new partner. I don’t know what came over me, but when our eyes met, it felt like an electric shock jolted through me. I sprang up from the couch like I’d been burned, frozen in place, unable to move. Nothing extraordinary had happened, just a good-looking guy standing there—maybe 25, tall, broad-shouldered, with dark hair. But his eyes… so dark and deep… They held a mix of strange, mesmerizing shades, carrying a hidden magnetism, yet they were so cold, commanding, and… dangerous.
I must’ve looked ridiculous. I tried to take in every detail of his face, to memorize every feature. My gaze was glued to this stranger, and I couldn’t tear myself away. My cheeks flushed, my knees started trembling, and I had no control over myself. He stared right into my eyes, making me shake even more. Our silent exchange was interrupted by my father.
“Oh, Anna, you’re already here? Vlad, meet my daughter, Anna,” Dad said with pride. Vlad gave a faint smile and extended his hand to me.
“Nice to meet you,” I croaked, touching his palm. That innocent contact sent a powerful surge through my body, striking straight at my heart. Heat rushed through me, and my knees betrayed me, trembling and revealing my wild nerves.
“Likewise,” Vlad replied coolly, quickly pulling his hand away, leaving a deep disappointment in my soul. I faltered for a moment at his gesture, biting my lip, but I still couldn’t break away from the dark intensity of his gaze.
“Sorry, Stephen, our meeting ran a bit long. I have some other matters to attend to, so I’ll have to take off,” Vlad said curtly, then strode out of the reception area with confidence.
“I understand,” Dad nodded, watching him closely as he left.
Vlad was gone, but I stood rooted to the spot, my eyes still fixed on the door where this chilling, captivating man had just disappeared.
“Sweetie, are you okay?” Dad’s question finally snapped me out of it.
“Yeah, Dad, I’m fine,” I stammered, shifting my dazed look to him. He didn’t seem to notice anything off.
“Then let’s head downstairs to the café and grab a bite. I’m starving,” Dad said, nodding toward the elevator.
“I’m fine”… The words kept swirling in my head long after…
What the heck was that? I still couldn’t wrap my mind around it. The image of that stranger wouldn’t leave me alone. He’d burrowed so deep into my heart that for the next few days, I couldn’t think about anything else.
I wanted so badly to see him again. I scanned the faces of passersby, lingered outside Dad’s office, but luck wasn’t on my side. He vanished as suddenly as he’d appeared, completely unaware that some teenage schoolgirl had fallen for him.
And I had fallen—hard. From the first glance, the first touch, the first word. I never thought something like this could happen…
Because of him, I wouldn’t have a serious relationship with any guy for the next five years. I just couldn’t forget those eyes—deep and dark—leaving an invisible mark on the bottom of my soul.
Present Day
This morning felt especially magical because today was her graduation. It wasn’t just a university graduation; it was a truly significant milestone in Anna’s life. After today, everything would change. After today, real adult life would begin, the kind you could only imagine. Thoughts of the future flooded Anna’s mind, but only for a moment. Today, she wouldn’t dwell on it. Today was too important, and she needed to get ready for the celebration.
The formal part was over. The air carried a magical scent… the scent of freedom. Freedom—that’s what Anna had been missing for so long. Her whole life, she’d felt like a hostage. She went to dance classes even though she hated dancing, enrolled in law school even though she dreamed of becoming a designer. Her parents had always decided everything for her, but not today. Today, she was determined that her future would be hers to shape. No one would force her to go against her will ever again. Anna’s thoughts were interrupted by Marta, her college friend.
“Anna, I hope you haven’t changed your mind about hitting the club? Everything’s booked, and it’s the perfect time to unwind and enjoy the night.”
“This time, I’m in. Let’s light up the night!” Anna replied with a spark of excitement.
The girls were glowing with happiness and the indescribable joy that filled their still-naive hearts. They called a cab and headed to the hottest club in the city. Their classmates were already there, and the party was in full swing.
Anna’s long red dress with a subtle slit and bare shoulders made her even more striking. Her chestnut hair cascaded in elegant waves over her delicate shoulders. The girls made their way to their table with light steps, where nearly the entire graduating class had gathered. They laughed heartily, reminiscing about funny moments from their school days. One of their classmates, Sergey, filled their glasses with champagne and said,
“Alright, losers, how about we finally drink to this!”
The glasses clinked loudly, cutting through the thumping music. Cheers, laughter, and joy erupted from the rowdy group.
Anna raised her glass and downed it in one go. What was happening to her? She’d never been drawn to alcohol before. But today, it was okay—it was her graduation. Couldn’t she let loose just this once? A glass of champagne wouldn’t hurt, she thought. In fact, it might even help push away the thoughts that had been nagging at her since she left home. Sure enough, her head felt lighter, her worries faded, and the alcohol coursed through her veins. Glass after glass, though, and that lightness started to slip away. Her body stopped listening to her; her movements became sloppy and erratic. Marta noticed Anna needed fresh air ASAP. She took her friend by the arm and headed for the exit. Anna could barely move her legs, but Marta managed to get her outside.
A gentle breeze hit Anna’s face, and she started to come back to herself.