It was cold that evening, Annie didn't realize she was shaking not until Sasha grabbed her hands.
They were cold.
"Annie," Sasha said calmly, kneeling in front of her.
"Talk to me."
They had just gotten inside. Annie was shivering more than her. Not really from the cold. She was just so skeptical. The image of the slightly open car door was still playing in Annie's head
She tried her best to brush it off.
"It's nothing....It's not nothing."
They both kept quiet for some minutes. Sasha waited, staring at her trying to find answers to her unanswered questions.
And then... something inside Annie finally broke.
"It's him," she whispered slowly her voice breaking.
Sasha frowned. "Who?"
Annie swallowed hard.
She had not said his name in months. Saying it felt like reopening a wound that had refused to heal.
"My ex."
She said without actual emotion.
Sasha sat back slowly. " Roman Pierce?"
Annie nodded.
And then it all came out. All the memories, especially the ones she didn't want to remember, they were all just messy pieces.
She remembered how he used to call her constantly, how he would get angry if she didn't answer on the first ring, how he liked to decide what she wore, how he would squeeze her wrist just a little too tight when she disagreed with him. The multiple slaps she had received simply because guys flirted with her. How she had to silently cry and nurse her bruises alone.
How he said she belonged to him.
Sasha's face changed from confusion to anger.
"You never told me it was that bad. I asked you countless times, you said you were freaking good!" Sasha was almost fuming now. It was as if she felt all the pain Annie was feeling then.
"I didn't know it was that bad," Annie said quietly. "well, I mean not at first."
She told her about the other bruises. About the way he would apologize constantly and then do it again. About the night he pushed her down the stairs because she said she was tired. About the way he made her feel small and dramatic for being afraid. About times he made her feel she was the problem in the relationship. How she apologized for doing nothing.
Sasha looked like she wanted to break something.
"And now you think he's the one sending the messages?" she asked, anger visibly heard in her tone.
Annie nodded again.
"The photo in my bag… only he would have that. And the way the hoodie just stood there. He used to do that. Just watch me when I wasn't looking."
The room felt smaller suddenly.
"And tonight," Annie continued, her voice dropping, "the car door."
Sasha stood up. "We're calling the police. Enough of the shenanigans."
Annie hesitated.
"What do I say? That my ex is obsessed and maybe watching me? He hasn't hurt me, well not recently."
Sasha stared at her in disbelief. "He's already hurting you... Mentally and emotionally, can't you see that?
Before Annie could respond... The front door handle turned.
Both of them froze. Sasha made to pick up something to smash the head of whoever it was.
The room was quiet, and then, the sound from the door knob. The sound was low.
Click! And the door opened.
Annie's heart stopped.
He stepped inside like he still belonged there. He was not wearing hoodie this time, no shadow. Just him.
There he was... Roman!.
He still looked exactly the same. Maybe a little leaner. Same calm eyes. Same controlled expression. The kind that never looked bothered. But his beards were full now, like he deliberately refused to shave.
Sasha stepped in front of Annie in a defensive manner.
"What are you doing here?" Sasha demanded.
Roman's eyes moved past her and went straight to Annie.
"I missed you." he eyed her as his lips curved sexily.
His voice was smooth and familiar. And that was the worst part.
Annie's legs felt weak.
"You don't get to come in here," Sasha snapped.
Roman didn't even look at her.
"Can we talk?" he said softly to Annie. "Privately."
"No," Annie said, finding her voice. "You need to leave."
He tilted his head slightly, studying her.
"You look good," he murmured. "Black suits you."
Her stomach dropped. The club! He had been there.
"So you've been watching me," she said.
"I always watch what's mine."
Sasha moved toward the door. "I'm calling the police."
Roman's expression hardened just a little.
"Go ahead," he said calmly. "And tell them what? That your friend invited her ex over and now regrets it?"
"I did not invite you!" Annie's voice cracked.
He finally looked at Sasha.
"Can you give us a minute?"
Sasha hesitated.
Annie shook her head slightly, signaling Sasha to give them a minute but Roman stepped forward at the same time. The movement was fast.
Sasha grabbed her phone. "I'll be right outside, call me when you need me" she whispered to Annie, her eyes wide, and slipped into the hallway to make the call.
The door remained slightly ajar.
Roman turned back to Annie.
There was Silence between them for some minutes.
"You've been busy," he said quietly.
Annie moved back as he stepped closer.
"Stay away from me."
"You work at A&R now." He smiled faintly. "Impressive. Always my goal getter."
Her chest tightened.
"How do you know that?"
He ignored the question.
"And Adrian," he added casually.
Her blood ran cold.
He watched her reaction carefully.
"So you do react when I say his name."
"How do you know him?" she whispered.
Roman's jaw tightened slightly.
"I know every man who looks at you." He said disgust visibly written all over his face.
Fear crawled up her spine.
"You don't get to control my life anymore Mr," she said, but her voice trembled.
He moved faster this time. One second there was space between them. The next... His hand caught her wrist. Not hard enough to bruise instantly. But hard enough to remind her.
She gasped.
"Don't," she warned.
"You think I don't see what's happening?" he murmured, pushing her backward in a flirty way.
Her knees hit the edge of the bed. She whimpered in pain
He followed, pressing her down, though not violently, but forcefully enough that panic flooded her whole body.
His body covered her own body.
Her heart was racing so loudly she could barely hear her own thoughts.
"I let you go," he said, his voice low near her ear. "And this is what you do?"
"I left you," she said, struggling. "You didn't let me do anything."
His grip tightened.
"Don't lie."
She twisted, trying to pull free. The strap of her dress slipped slightly under the pressure. Her dress fabric strained.
Her breath hitched.
"No," she said sharply.
He leaned closer, holding her waist and touching her butt in the process.
"You don't get to move on. You don't get to let another man touch you. Especially not him." he stared deep into her eyes.
Her mind spiraled. He knew about Adrian. Not just his name, the way he said it. Roman had been watching. But for how long?
She shoved at his chest with all her strength.
"Get off me!"
For a split second, something darker flashed in his eyes...That possessive angry and unstable look.
The fabric near her shoulder pulled sharply. A soft ripping sound as her breasts popped out slowly. Terror overwhelmed her.
"Hmmm... Succulent" he whispered as he watched her breasts pop out.
She screamed loudly without restraint
The sound echoed down the hallway.
Roman froze.
They heard footsteps outside, and sasha's voice shouting her name.
Roman's expression shifted back to calm in an instant. He leaned close, his breath brushing her ear.
"I told you," he whispered, "you're mine. And I will never let another man have you. Not even Adrian."
Then he stood, just like that. As if nothing had happened.
By the time Sasha burst through the door with her phone in hand...He was gone.
Annie lay there shaking, dress strap hanging loose, chest rising and falling too fast.
The door was open, and the hallway empty. But the air still felt like him.
Sasha rushed to her side.
"Annie—"
Annie stared at the ceiling, one thought repeating in her mind.
Roman knows about Adrian.
Which means, she had never stopped being watched.
And the anonymous sender...