faded

29.0 - easy refusal

I pulled Harry towards the small hall leading to the plane. The sudden burst of energy coursing through me was for one good reason - to get away. The anxiety easily radiated off both of us and he gripped my hand tight, neither of us daring to look back at all.

Naturally, I felt like I was going to pass out. In that moment, I could physically feel all the color drain from my face. How did he find us?

"Go find our seats. I'm gonna talk to security," Harry motioned towards a man standing near the entrance.

"Okay, but come back soon," I said, wrapping my arms around his torso. "I'm afraid," I whispered.

He kissed my head, "Remember what I promised."

I forced a smile as I watched him walk away. I don't know what to focus my attention on as I find my seat and wait for Harry. I decide to call Amy before we have to leave, as people are boarding still and I have a few minutes.

As I press the phone to my ear, I notice just how much my hands are shaking.

"Hey, get on the plane already?" My friend answers cheerfully.

"He saw us, he fucking saw us, Amy. Zayn was here."

"Wait, what? Where's Harry? Did he say something? What happened?"

My mouth felt dry. "I think he saw Harry kiss me. He called my name. Harry went to talk to security."

"He won't know where you're going, you're fine. You just have to stick together, Ana, everything will be okay."

Her words made me feel a bit better. "You're right. I just have to focus on other things..."

"At this time we ask all cellphones and electronics..."

"Fuck, I have to go."

"Okay, call me when you can. I'm pretty sure it'll be a shit show once Zayn gets here and someone tells him he doesn't work here anymore. He might be in for another surprise, too."

I spotted Harry making his way through the aisle, looking calmer than he had when he was talking to security.

We said our goodbyes and I waited for Harry to tell me something about what security had told him, but he was quiet.

"Harry?"

"Hmm?" he answered as he turned off his phone and put it in his pocket.

"What happened?"

"You know, security told me something interesting. Zayn was on the news today."

I frowned. "For?"

Harry smirked. "Your father's half-brother is suing him... For quite a lot of money. Zayn's going bankrupt."

Holy fuck.

"Are you serious?"

"I swear. The guy told me that he'd make sure that Zayn didn't try to find out where we were going, he got escorted out."

-----------

"This is unbelievable!" I raged, sitting in my apartment hours later. "Liam!"

He appeared from the kitchen and put a bottle of scotch in front of me. "Harry fucking Styles with MY girl! What the fuck?"

"Zayn... I'm sorry, but you have bigger issues right now. You don't have a job, you're losing all your money, and you're going to lose your apartment. You need to get it together."

I couldn't believe what I had seen. I had tried calling her day in and day out, worried sick that she had disappeared. But there she was, kissing Harry as if I hadn't existed. How could she betray me? I should've known she'd go back to her whore ways, why did I believe I could break her until she became who I wanted?

The money... That was clever of her. Suddenly, she developed some intelligence. It didn't matter, because I knew she still loved me. I am the only one she loves and Harry is just a distraction, something to make me jealous.

Well, it's fucking working. I can't get that burning image out of my head. His hands on her hips, her hands on his chest... How my perfect Anastasia had thrown away all the progress she made by running off with him.

"Find out where she is and bring her to me."

Liam stutters, "Man, she doesn't want to be with you. Give it a rest."

I scoffed, taking a drink of the bottle in front of me. The burning liquid somehow distracted me from everything I felt, but only for a moment.

"She didn't want to be with you either, but I gave you that opportunity, didn't I?"

He went pale. "Did you forget? I didn't mind sharing and you shouldn't mind doing me this favor."

"W-what are you gonna do to her?"

I raised a brow, smirking at his mortification. "I'll take her to the dollhouse, she'll learn a lesson there."

"You'd do that to her?"

I nodded, wishing she was here with me now. "She'll be so fucked up she won't even know what's going on. Like last time."

Liam stood up immediately. "I want nothing to do with this. I won't help you kill her."

"You've already contributed, why are you playing the saint? Wasn't it you who got close to her so I could get her back? You're as guilty as I am for helping me drug her."

Liam just stared at me, his expression unreadable. I took another drink and sat back, waiting for him to continue his parade of excuses.

He simply left, walking away from me with no more words. Did it matter? No. I could easily get someone else to bring that bitch to me.

But this time I'd keep her and her fortune.

And I'd kill Harry just as I should've in the first place.