Chapter 2 2

ANASTASIA'S POV

"I can't believe my dad is setting me up with someone I've never met just because he thinks I need a man's help to run the family business I've been preparing for my entire life," I ranted to my best friend, Athena, pacing back and forth in the room.

Athena and I have been friends since we were kids. We both grew up in the same environment filled with rich and snobby people.

Athena wasn't the prim and proper lady you would expect in this kind of environment. That's why I couldn't even stay mad when she said, "It might not be as bad as you think. Who knows? He could be handsome and sexy as hell. Win-win."

"Ugh, you're missing the point, Athena!" I snapped, throwing my hands up. "I don't need a man's help to run this business. I've been training for this my whole life!"

I paused, the memory of earlier that day flashing through my mind. My father had barged into a meeting I was leading with our shareholders and pulled me aside. I thought he wanted to discuss new strategies to expand the business into other states. Instead, my father pulled me aside to tell me I would be getting married to some man I had never even heard of, saying how he would be of so much help in running the business. My father knows how much time and effort I put into learning the ins and outs of the family business.

Athena's voice snapped me back to the present. "Come on, Anastasia, you know your dad always has his reasons."

"Exactly! That's why I asked him for one." I stopped pacing and looked her squarely in the eye. "Guess what his reply was?"

She shrugged.

"He said it was 'nothing to concern myself with.'" My voice dripped with disbelief. "Can you imagine? My freedom is on the line, and that's all he could say?" I sank onto the bed, feeling defeated.

Athena opened her mouth to respond, but my phone buzzed.

I rolled my eyes at the caller ID. "Hello, Mother," I answered, my tone laced with irritation.

"Hello, Anastasia," came her soft but firm voice. Typical Mother. "You need to come home tomorrow," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"Why, Mother?" I asked, trying my luck.

The silence on the other end was brief but loaded. "Are you questioning me, young lady?"

"No, Mother," I quickly replied, dialing back my attitude to avoid a full-blown fight.

"We'll be having dinner with the Russo family to finalize the details of your wedding," she said. "It's also an opportunity for you and Nolan to get to know each other."

"Mother, I don't want to marry him. I've never met him. I don't even know what kind of person he is. For all we know, he could be a pervert!"

"I assure you, he's no pervert," she replied calmly. "And as for his looks, I've seen a picture. He's quite handsome. You won't hate him, Anastasia, I'm certain of that."

Her confidence only made me fume the more "But why is Father doing this to me?" My voice cracked with anger and sadness. "I've worked so hard-day and night-to prove I'm capable of running this company. And now he's invalidating all of it by marrying me off to someone I don't even know. As if I need help from a man!"

There was a pause before my mother spoke again, her voice gentler. "Darling, your father isn't questioning your abilities. There's more to this decision than you realize. In time, your father and I will explain everything. For now, please come home for dinner tomorrow."

"Fine," I relented. "But I'm only coming to honor you and Dad-not because I've accepted this decision."

"I understand," she said with a sigh. "Dinner is at 9 p.m. Don't be late."

"I won't. Goodnight, Mother."

"Goodnight, my little fighter. And say hi to Athena for me. Love you."

"Love you too, Mother." I hung up, tossing the phone across the bed before collapsing onto it.

Athena smirked. "You know, this arranged marriage might be just what you need. You're so busy being a boss lady, you never have time for the guys I set you up with."

I threw a pillow at her. "Stop talking nonsense. An arranged marriage is never a good idea."

"You know I could pull some strings and get you the gig in no time," I offered.

"As nice as that would be, I really want to do this by myself and in the right way" She refused the offer like she always does. Despite Athena being from a well-to-do family, she works her ass off like it's no man's business. That's part of the reason why I liked her so much.

"Okay, whatever you say. But if you ever change your mind you know where to find me" I said teasingly.

"Yes yes, I do know where to find you my badass best friend." She said jumping to engulf me in a hug on the bed.

"Ugh, get off me young lady," I said, trying to wiggle my way out of her embrace. "You know you love it but whatever you say. Now, let's head out to the club to get you out of this foul mood" She said as she skipped into my walk-in closet.

I didn't think going to the club would fix my mood, but it won't hurt to have some fun with men tonight. With a heavy sigh, I carried the bottle of wine on the nightstand as I took a huge chug and headed into the closet to see what magic Athena was making with my clothes.

I walked into my massive walk-in closet to find Athena surrounded by a mess of fabrics, tossing clothes over her shoulder like a woman on a mission.

"You need to trust me tonight," she said without looking up. Her eyes were focused on a short black skirt she'd just pulled off a hanger. "You're going for bold, sexy, and a little dangerous.

I leaned against the doorframe, still clutching the wine bottle. "Dangerous? In this mood? That tracks."

Athena tossed the skirt my way, followed by a deep emerald-green silk shirt that felt like liquid in my hands. "This," she said, pointing at the shirt, "is going to cling in all the right places and leave just enough to the imagination. Pair it with those strappy black heels you love, and you'll own the room."

"You're really selling this," I said, holding up the shirt to admire its soft sheen.

"Trust me," she said with a wink.

Then she turned back to her side of the closet and started rummaging through her clothes. It didn't take her long to pick out a pair of high-waisted black pants that hugged her hips and a white linen shirt tied casually at the waist, leaving just enough of her toned stomach exposed. She added a black leather harness that draped over her chest, an accessory that screamed confidence and her unapologetic bisexuality.

I raised an eyebrow as she spun around to face me. "That's your look?"

"This," she said, gesturing to herself with a flourish, "is how you make a statement."

With a slight laugh and a shake of my head, I went to change. The silk shirt slid over my skin like a second layer, and the skirt showed off my legs just enough to keep things interesting. A spritz of my favorite perfume completed the transformation.

By the time we were done, the two of us looked like we'd just stepped out of a fashion editorial.

Athena gave me an approving nod as she grabbed her clutch. "You're going to break hearts tonight."

"I always do, sweetheart," I said, grabbing my bag and keys.

The cool night air hit us as we stepped out of the house, the faint scent of jasmine wafting through the breeze. Athena's black sports car gleamed under the moonlight. She tossed her bag into the passenger seat and slid behind the wheel, her energy electric as always.

The engine roared to life as Athena adjusted the mirror and turned to me with a wicked grin. "Hera's not ready for us tonight."