Anastasia walked back into the wedding hall behind Mr. Thompson, her expression hardening into a blank mask.
Whispers reached her ears—guests murmuring, pitying. "The Abandoned Daughter," "The Bride Left Behind." She hated that pity, hated it more than anything.
To Anastasia, death was an easier pill to swallow than pity.
"He's right there, sweetheart," Evelyn whispered, pointing ahead. Anastasia's eyes followed her mother's finger. She stopped, her breath catching in her throat.
The man standing before her was tall, easily six-foot-five, with a powerful, muscular frame. His black hair brushed his collar, a loose strand falling across a pair of piercing gray eyes. He exuded a commanding aura that made Anastasia's legs feel weak, her heartbeat quickening against her will.
He stepped forward, his presence magnetic, and extended his hand. "Jamie MacQuoid," he introduced himself, his deep, gravelly voice sending a shiver down her spine.
Anastasia shook his hand, forcing a smile. "Anastasia Gray." She shot a questioning look at her mother.
"Anastasia." He repeated, allowing the name smoothly roll out of his tongue.
Anastasia literally assended when he called her name. No one has ever made her name sound so worth answering.
Evelyn leaned in. "He's one of the most sought-after CEO by photographers," she whispered as Jamie stepped away.
Anastasia nodded, whispering back. "I know. How did you manage to contact him?" Her eyes remained fixed on Jamie.
Evelyn smiled. "His mother and I were friends. Even so, it took six months to get a reply. I'm glad he decided to attend."
Anastasia's heart pounded as she tried to steady herself. She felt torn between the raw emotions of their earlier argument and this unexpected introduction. Before she could think further, a glamorous older woman approached Jamie, taking his arm.
"Do you mind?" the woman asked, her eyes on Anastasia.
Anastasia hesitated, momentarily stunned. Evelyn nudged her. "Take their picture," she urged, her tone light.
"Oh," Anastasia breathed, quickly raising her camera and snapping several shots. A few moments later, the woman approached to inspect the photos, her expression critical.
Jamie's gray eyes lingered on Anastasia. "Let me know if she's good enough," he said to the older woman, then turned and walked away.
A pang of disappointment hit Anastasia as she watched him leave. From the corner of her eye, she saw Williams and Kathryn moving toward her mother, Kathryn's smug smile meeting hers.
Evelyn's smile faltered when she noticed Anastasia's discomfort. "Anna—"
"I'll leave you now, Mother," Anastasia cut her off with a forced smile, brushing a kiss on her cheek.
Williams stared at her with a sharp, assessing look, but Anastasia only offered him a polite smile before retrieving her camera from Jamie's mother and walking away. If tears could change things, she would be the one in a white gown today.
Six years! Six years of her life just ended in tears. Those years were more than just a short time.
Anastasia's feet led her to the rooftop. The sky was darkening, the night creeping in. She wondered why the party dragged on, why everyone seemed so eager to rub her pain in her face. She climbed up to the ledge, sitting with her feet dangling over the edge, thirty stories high.
Suicidal thoughts crept in, but she smirked at her attire. Who wears pants and a T-shirt to their sister's wedding? It was her way of blending in, pretending to be just a hired photographer.
She learned photography for nature. Nature was the only thing she had all her life. And for Wliiams, she decided to also take pictures of him and random strangers.
He ended it all, and she gave him a free pass. It hits different when she finally swallowed the bitter pills of how dumb she was.
Williams mistress was no other person than her twin sister. She couldn't even imagine Williams and her sister wrapped under the bedsheets. He had always hated Kathryn.
All of those lies just slipped away into a moment of time.
Taking a deep breath, she leaped down from the ledge, landing softly on the roof's surface. The adrenaline coursed through her veins, and she let out a wild laugh.
The fact she was able to turn quickly and dump her intentions startled her.
Jamie watched her from the shadows, his eyes tracing her every move, though his expression remained unreadable.
Anastasia's laughter faded into a soft sob. She pressed her back against the wall and slid down, her body trembling. Jamie's voice cut through the air, low and steady. "You need clear eyes for a photograph."
Anastasia jumped, startled. "Oh no, I'm sorry," she stammered, standing up quickly, wiping her tears with a nervous laugh. Her chocolate eyes glistened under the moonlight, trying hard to appear composed.
Jamie stepped out of the shadows, his tall frame coming into the light. "I don't need an apology," he said calmly. "Part-time or full-time?"
"What?" she asked, confused.
Jamie slipped his hand into his pocket. "You're approved. Do you want a part-time job or otherwise?"
Anastasia blinked, disbelief washing over her. "Just like that?!" she nearly screamed, covering her mouth with her hand. For the first time in days, a real smile lit up her face.
He nodded. "Your mother didn't overestimate you as I thought." He paused, closing his eyes briefly as if in deep thought. "You should have worn something better. Don't let others see your weakness."
Anastasia's smile faltered, his words cutting deep like a blade. She struggled to respond, but before she could say anything, Jamie turned towards the exit. He paused at the door, looking back. "Work starts tomorrow. My card is on the spot where I was sitting."
Anastasia's eyes followed his gaze. She walked over and picked up the card. Even after he had left, his presence lingered around her like a ghost. She bit her lower lip and sat where he had been, letting her thoughts consume her.
Getting a job in the most renowned and largest specialty retail store, Anastasia needed time to breathe.
Perhaps, this would be a good escape from her current situation.