The maid was in the room, diligently packing a bag that belonged to Annalise as the girl directed her on what to include. "Do you have my heels? The Louboutins?" she demanded sharply, watching as the maid shook her head. "Then retrieve them from the cupboard," Annalise ordered with clear authority.
The maid, now an elderly woman, moved slowly, and Annalise's impatience began to surface. "Is that all, Anna?" the woman asked, prompting an immediate shake of
Annalise's head as she scrolled through her phone for the remaining items to pack.
"Make sure to include my makeup products; we're scheduling a makeover," she stated with enthusiasm.
"Anna," the old woman sighed, causing Annalise to fix her with a piercing glare. "It won't fit," the woman reported, hesitating.
"Then make it fit," Annalise responded firmly. "Are you asking me to tell you how to do your job? Use your brain!" she admonished, her frustration evident despite the age gap.
At that moment, her mother, Keira, walked into the room, and Annalise's demeanor softened slightly. Keira held a cup of chocolate drink for her daughter, approaching the couch where Annalise sat. "Mom," Annalise greeted with a smile.
"What's going on? Are you stressing yourself?" Keira asked, concerned.
Annalise sighed, shaking her head. "Nothing, mom. I'm just giving the maid instructions on her duties," she replied, casting a pointed glare at the older woman, who was now packing her makeup items.
Keira began to feed Annalise the chocolate drink, treating her as if she couldn't drink it herself.
"I'm done," the maid announced.
"You may leave," Annalise said dismissively, and the maid exited the room.
"Are you ready to visit your island?" Keira inquired, and Annalise nodded enthusiastically.
"I'm all packed. I wish you could come with me, Mom," she said with a pout.
"You know I can't," Keira smiled gently. "I have to stay here for your father, and I wouldn't want to spoil your fun over there. Just enjoy yourself with the girls, okay?" She pinched Annalise's cheeks affectionately, and Annalise nodded in agreement.
With Marcus at work, it was only Keira who saw Annalise off. They exchanged waves as the driver began to head toward the airport. Annalise enjoyed the ride, texting her friends to check if they had arrived.
Upon arrival, she stepped out of the car while the driver assisted with her luggage. "Have fun, miss," he said to her.
"I will," Annalise replied curtly, her annoyance flickering across her lips as he bowed and left. She removed the handle from her heavy luggage, dragging it while grimacing. "Why is this so heavy? My arms are killing me!" she complained as she struggled.
"Girls!" she called out, waving to her friends who were already at the airport. Unlike her, they had only brought small luggages, which were easy to manage.
It was just a three-day trip, but Annalise had packed nearly her entire wardrobe, eager to showcase her expensive items.
"I'm so excited about this!" Astrid exclaimed with a bright smile. "Why did you bring such heavy luggage?" Her smile dropped on nearing, her face marred with confusion.
Annalise shot her a pointed look. "Did you forget I said we were having a makeover?" she retorted sharply.
"Oh," Astrid responded, a hint of embarrassment coloring her cheeks.
"We need to hurry; our flight is soon," Portia reminded the group, prompting nods as they moved to check in their luggage. Soon, they boarded the plane, heading straight for the island.
When their flight landed, they excitedly exited the airport, finding a car ready to take them to their destination. They arrived in front of a massive villa surrounded by palm trees, swings, a swimming pool, white sand on the beach and bright blue sea. It was everything they could have imagined.
"Is this it?" Remi asked, incredulous.
"Yes, this is our destination," Annalise declared, leading the way as she squealed, "Let's go, girls!" They approached the villa together, met by the maids and servants employed to cater to Annalise's needs.
"Miss Annalise?" they inquired.
"Of course it is," she replied, rolling her eyes, and they bowed in respect, ushering her and her friends inside. The opulence was undeniable, with luxurious beds, decorative pillows, a fireplace, and an impressive lighting system.
"The master requested that you all rest first since you might be exhausted from the flight. The after-party will be later tonight," one of the maids informed them.
Annalise considered this but already had a different plan. Who needed rest, when they could party? She sighed eventually.
"Fine" she agreed through gritted teeth.
"Alright, Miss, we'll handle the refreshments," she announced, and Annalise nodded in agreement.
Turning to her friends, she proposed, "How about we all take our baths and enjoy a little spa session?" They instantly agreed, rushing around the villa to prepare. Soon, they were settled in, with the maids giving them massages under Annalise's directive as the refreshments—cocktails and desserts—were served. Everything was precisely as she envisioned, and she felt a swell of satisfaction.
As Annalise reveled in her massage, a call came through, and a smile lit up her face upon realizing it was a video call. She connected it, revealing her father, buried in paperwork at his office. "How are you, princess? Did you like your gift?" he asked.
"Thank you, Father. It's lovely, but I noticed there's no jacuzzi—just as I mentioned," she replied, a hint of a pout in her voice.
"I'm sorry about that. We'll get it sorted, I promise. Just be patient," he reassured her, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.
"I'll be patient, but you need to fix it. That's non-negotiable, Daddy. Goodbye," she said firmly.
"Alright, my princess," Marcus replied before the call ended.
Annalise resumed sipping her cocktail, a broad smile on her face as she enjoyed her massage.
As night fell, the party was in full swing, with loud music and dimmed lights creating a vibrant atmosphere. The table overflowed with drinks, desserts, and enticing food, and the girls were all dressed to impress. Annalise stood out in a pink dress, her ginger hair cascading behind her, her cheeks glowing. They clinked glasses and toasted.
"A toast to you, Annalise," declared her best friend, Astrid. "To a blessed year! May your eighteenth year be filled with happiness, fulfillment, and even more wealth!"
"Thank you, bestie," Annalise replied as they clinked glasses and took a sip.
They began to dance, lost in the music, when suddenly, the music stopped, and the lights blared back on. A group of armed men had entered the villa.
Annalise frowned, her expression sharp. "What's happening?" she demanded.
"Everyone needs to leave this property now!" one of the men ordered.
"How's that possible?" Remi inquired.
"Right, tell us what's going on!" Astrid inquired.
"Exactly, why?" Annalise shot back bravely. "I'm the owner here. Get off my property immediately!"
"This property has been sold, and the new owner insists you vacate immediately," He stated flatly.
Annalise scoffed, "I'm Annalise Grey, the rightful owner. You're mistaken," she challenged firmly.
"The owner is not Annalise Grey. The building belongs to someone else. Enough of this, young lady. You and your guests need to leave," the man barked at her.
•
•
•
Annalise and her crew were brutally chased out of the villa, and the men did not explain their actions. Their luggage, party supplies, and decorations were carelessly thrown out. Despite Annalise's insistence that she was the rightful owner, they ignored her claims, adamantly stating that the real owner had requested they vacate the property.
Standing outside the villa, Annalise felt her frustration boiling over. This situation was beyond absurd.
"What are we going to do? We can't just stay here," Astrid, her best friend, said, anxiety creeping into her voice.
Remi turned to Annalise, suggesting, "Try calling your dad and see what he knows."
Annalise shot her a fierce look, her annoyance evident. "You think I haven't already done that?" she snapped, dialing her father's number yet again. He had failed to pick up amidst the chaos, and now the call wouldn't even go through. Anger coursed through her; did her father send her to an island that belonged to someone else? It was impossible. These people had to be mistaken, but why was her father unreachable? She needed answers.
After a couple more failed attempts, she clenched her jaw. He'd better have a good explanation—or else.
Annalise then tried calling her mother, but that went unanswered too. "Looks like there's no one to reach out to," she said, frustration lacing her words.
"We can't just stand here; we need to take action," Portia urged, casting a nervous glance at the men still positioned in front of the villa, watching and waiting for them to leave. After their earlier harassment, the girls had protested loudly, and the men had backed off as soon as they were outside.
"Let's find a hotel to spend the night. If we can sort this out by tomorrow, we can deal with these guys," Annalise said firmly, pulling out her phone to search for the nearest hotel.
"All the hotels are booked," she muttered, biting her lip in annoyance.
"Let me check," Portia offered, scrolling through her phone. "There's one nearby, but it's not great."
"I'm not staying there," Annalise said decisively, eyeing the listing with disdain. She could tell the place would be cramped and the service subpar. "There's no way I'm spending the night there."
"Me neither," Remi and Astrid chimed in, exchanging knowing glances.
"But we can't just stand out here either; it's not safe at night," Portia argued, her voice tinged with fear.
"Then go if you want," Annalise challenged, crossing her arms. "I'd much rather take my chances outside than stay in that dreadful place." Her friends nodded in agreement.
Frustrated, Portia said, "I can't spend the night in the open with those men lurking around. I'm heading out." She grabbed her luggage and started to walk away.
"See you later, then," Annalise mocked with a smirk, annoyed that Portia wouldn't heed her warning. However, she was relieved that Remi and Astrid decided to stick with her. But just as Portia got some distance, they exchanged another knowing look.
"Maybe Portia has a point. It's probably wiser to follow her," Astrid suggested.
"I hate to say it, Annalise, but we need to find somewhere to stay, even if it's not ideal," Remi added, placing a reassuring hand on Annalise's shoulder. Without waiting for a reply, they began to drag their suitcases towards Portia.
"Portia, wait!" they yelled, picking up the pace.
Annalise watched them head off with a scoff, firmly deciding she wouldn't be going anywhere. She'd much rather spend her night here than be cooped up in a cramped, smelly place swarming with flies. But after taking a closer look at the villa and the intimidating men, she changed her mind and grabbed her suitcase. "Guys, wait for me!" she called out, but they were already too far ahead.
Clenching her teeth, she struggled to fit everything into her large suitcase. It didn't all make it, so she had to leave behind some expensive items. She started toward her friends, handling her luggage all on her own.
The day had been incredibly stressful, and she found herself cursing everyone and everything. She was furious, especially because her parents were ignoring her calls. She needed their explanation, and it better be a good one to make her forget this whole ordeal.
The night was unbearable for Annalise, just as she had expected. Mosquitoes buzzed in her ear, the bed was uncomfortable, and the toilet did not meet her standards. She felt completely ruined—there was no light, the heat was oppressive, and she was livid. How could this place even be called a hotel? It was a hellhole.
The night dragged on torturously, and despite her irritation, she reluctantly dozed off. When morning came, she opened her eyes to the grimy ceiling and let out a scream as if waking from a nightmare.
It truly was, in her eyes.
Annalise checked her body only to find it covered in red spots from the mosquitoes. Great, she thought, she was almost guaranteed to catch malaria from this experience.
Fueled by anger, she grabbed her suitcase and stormed out of the room, not bothering to mask her disdain. "Don't even greet me," she shot at Portia, the one who had suggested this disaster, as she walked past with fury.
"I guess not everyone had a good night," Portia remarked while Remi and Astrid shared the complaints.
Annalise dialed her father's number, her frustration mounting until it finally connected. "I've been trying to reach you! Why didn't you answer?" she demanded, her voice shaking with barely contained emotion.
"I'm sorry, honey, but there's a major problem. You need to come home immediately; book the next flight," Marcus responded sternly.
Annalise's brow furrowed in confusion. "Dad, you said I could stay at the island for three days! What's going on?" she pressed.
For the first time, her father's tone was harsh. "Listen to me, young lady; you need to come back home now!" he instructed before abruptly cutting the call. Annalise's eyes widened in shock as the phone slipped from her hand—she had never encountered such a reaction from him before.
"What happened?" the other girls asked, noticing her expression was one of sheer disbelief.