Her Deal With The Billionaire

"Fire! Fire! Fire!"

Smokes. Fire. Stampede. Cries were everywhere as the storeroom was engulfed in fire and screams of the children in the orphanage.

Firo who was taking a nap, woke up with a start, his eyes resting on the bed close to his. It was empty. Where was Anastasia? Without thinking twice, he ran towards the noise.

"Someone is trapped in the fire!"

When he got there, he began searching for Anastasia but couldn't find her. He got hold of one of the children.

"Where is Anastasia?" He asked, eagerly.

"She... she is trapped in the fire!"

Firo felt as if his heart was ripped apart. He looked around and saw a blanket. He soaked it into a bucket of water that they were using to stop the fire and he ran inside.

He was going to save her. He had promised to always protect her no matter what.

"Firo!" The matron shouted.

But it was too late as Firo had already run into the fire engulfed storeroom. She almost died of a heart attack. She would be a goner if anything happens to this young heir!

The matron quickly took out her phone and dialed a number.

Meanwhile, Firo was looking for Anastasia in the smoky room," Anastasia! Where are you? Anastasia!"

Little Anastasia who was coiled up in fright at the fire razing all over the place, felt elated hearing Firo's voice.

"Brother Firo! Cough... cough...," she tried to call out but the smoke got into her nostril and she started coughing.

Firo who heard his name and the coughing turned to see Anastasia. But just above her, there was a slab of ceiling that was about to fall.

"Anastasia!" Firo screamed, his eyes fixed on the little girl who was oblivious to the danger.

He ran towards her just as the slab fell. It fell on his back and the two of them fell to the ground. Although Anastasia was safe, her thumb was caught up in a fire coming out from the slab.

She winced in pain but her eyes were fixed on Firo who was lying on the ground, "Arrr! Brother Firo! Wake up! Please wake up"

Firo who was burning from the heat of the fire managed to stand up and wrapped the blanket around her body. He started guiding her through the places there was less fire.

As soon as they got to the entrance, Firo lost consciousness due to the excessive pain. He was immediately rushed to the hospital alongside Anastasia who got a burnt thumb.

*****

Months later, Firo was discharged from the hospital. The next day was Anastasia's birthday. They were sitting in their room when Anastasia walked up to him.

"Brother Firo, do you remember your promise? Tomorrow is my birthday," She asked, her eyes shining brightly.

" I will surely get you your favorite candy floss first thing in the morning, "Firo promised.

" Promise?" Anastasia asked again.

" I promise you, Anastasia, that I will get you the candy floss and I will also marry you, remember?" Firo reminded her.

" Yes, Brother Firo. Anastasia would only marry Brother Firo," Anastasia said.

" Now, go to sleep and when you wake up in the morning, you will see hundreds of candy floss just for you," Firo promised.

" Don't leave me, Brother," Anastasia said, blinking her eyes.

" I will never leave you, Anastasia. I will always be with you," he said, patting her curly golden hair.

Feeling happy, Anastasia dozed off to sleep.

Unknown to Firo, his grandparents decided to bring him back to the house since everything had been settled. Besides, the orphanage was not safe for him.

That night he was taken away by their butler while he was asleep.

When he woke up the next day, he wasn't allowed to go anywhere. No matter how hard he tried, his grandparents didn't let him out of the house.

He was angry with himself for breaking his promise. He promised to visit her as soon as he could. But unfortunately, it never happened as Anastasia was nowhere to be found.

******

The next morning Anastasia waited for Firo all through the day but didn't see him. She was feeling sad and refused to eat or speak to anyone. She was eagerly waiting for her Brother Firo.

That same day, an old man and woman came to take her away from the orphanage. She was their biological granddaughter that went missing when she was two years old. They had been searching everywhere for her, including all orphanages with a picture of when she was two years old.

After the matron confirmed their story and seeing that the old couple was quite genuine, she released Anastasia to them after filling in some formalities as they came with the police. Although she didn't know their identity, she knew they would be influential.

But little Anastasia refused to leave as she cried and stomped her foot."I am waiting for my Brother Firo! I am not going anywhere!"

Although she was adamant, the people took her away from the orphanage.

"Brother Firo!" She continued wailing nonstop. The old woman tried to pacify her but she started throwing tantrums in the car.

"Anastasia, we are your grandparents. We won't hurt you. When we get home, we will take you to meet your Brother Firo," the old woman tried to pacify her.

" You are lying! Let me out of the car! I want to meet my Brother Firo!" She screamed.

The two old people tried pacifying her but it was all in vain. Distracted by her tantrums, the old man driving the car didn't notice a truck coming toward them and he rammed into the truck.

The car swerved around as it hit the electric pole by the side of the road. Blood was everywhere as the three people in the car were covered in blood and bruises.

Fortunately, the police car that was following behind was able to rush them to the hospital before making a call. The hospital was suddenly thrown into a frenzy when it was known that the three accident victims were the Beverly family, a wealthy family in the State.

However, the two old people, Grandma and Grandpa Beverly died after some hours. Little Anastasia went into a coma for six months and the family was torn with grief.

After the end of six months, Anastasia finally opened her eyes but she had lost all of her memories.

Fifteen Years Later

A man as cold as a glacier, with eyes that seem to spit out fire. His perfectly curved brows were etched in a thin line. His lips tightened in an aggravated pout.

He sat on the extravagant modern looking chair. The opulence that the house carried was that of an influential family. Of course, they were the most influential family in the country.

The Winston Churchill family which had been traced down to several centuries of linked royal blood. Due to a bloody internal power struggle, the family's blood lines were cut off prematurely leaving only the old matriarch and patriarch of the Winston including the only heir to the vast empire.

Vincenzo Winston.

Being the only surviving son of the Winston family, the old matriach was deeply aggravated by his refusal to carry on the bloodline. Vincenzo had refused to get married to anyone but his long lost childhood lover.

It's been fifteen years yet he had been unable to locate her but he wasn't giving up and he definitely wouldn't break his promise again to her. He had already broken it once.

"You brat! Do you want me to die before you give me an heir?" An old voice cut through Viincenzo's thought.

"Grandma, I have told you I can't marry anyone else!" Vincenzo said, his eyes looking straight at his old but agile grandmother." And you still look healthy"

"You insolent child! I have had enough of your whining for the past years about a girl that cannot be found!" Grandma Winston said, her eyes brimming with anger.

"Grandma..."

"Don't you dare Grandma me today! I have had enough of your antics!" Grandma Winston flared.

Vincenzo who was still sitting down, looking all frosty was becoming frustrated. He wondered why his grandma was always threatening him.

"Grandma, listen..."

"No, you listen to me. You are either giving me an heir or I will do it my way!" Grandma Winston said, glaring at her grandson.

Vincenzo looked at his grandmother and discover she was looking very serious." Grandma, you can't threaten me with starvation!"

"Threat? I give you three days to bring home a girl you want to get married to or else I will do it my way!" Grandma Winston said, scoffing.

" Grandma! Do you expect me to bring home any random girl?" Vincenzo asked, getting frustrated.

" That's also an option as long as you give me an heir or heiress!" Grandma Winston said, adamantly.

Vincenzo looked at his grandmother's stubborn face, a frustrated look on his face. Vincenzo knew that his grandparents had already made up their minds.

" Fine! Do whatever you want but I am not marrying anyone except for her!" Vincenzo said, walking out of the room in anger.

Why were these old people getting him frustrated?

He looked at his watch and discover today was the birthday of that girl. He always pays a visit to the orphanage on that day. This year, he decided to skip it.

When he got to the parking lot, he walked towards his car. When he got to his driver, he glared at him." Get out!"

The driver didn't need to be told twice. He immediately stepped out of the car, handing his boss the keys.

Vincenzo, who was still brooding over his grandmother's words, needed some fresh air and taking a drive was what he was going to do.

He drove for another thirty minutes but his phone rang as his assistant needed him for an urgent meeting at one of their mall.

When he got to the mall, he was walking quickly so he could meet up with his appointment when he suddenly bumped into a girl.

In order to avoid her falling down, he drew her close to himself. The next moment their lips touched!

Did he just kiss a stranger? And why did she taste so sweet? He looked up to see the girl's striking sea blue eyes and golden hair that made her look alluring.

With eyes spitting anger and fury, the girl whose golden hair flowed all over her face, glared at Vincenzo who just kissed her, accidentally. Although she knew it wasn't his fault, the girl was still furious that he kissed her!

"You! How dare you kiss me! You took my first kiss!" She vented at him, her blue crystal-like eyes glittering with anger.

"You should have given it to your boyfriend before bumping into a stranger. Next time watch where you are going" Vincenzo replied, raising his head to look at the fuming beauty in front of him.

Vincenzo's eyes seem to look all over her face and body. Why did she look familiar?

"Shouldn't you be apologizing, instead of acting like an asshole? Pervert!" the girl scolded, her face filled with anger.

Did she just call him a pervert? Such a disrespectful girl! He would have loved to teach her a lesson if only he wasn't in a hurry.

"Pervert? With this body of yours? I wouldn't even get it up if we were naked in an enclosed room!" Vincenzo retorted, raising his head to scoff at her..

They both stared at each other for a while and without another word, he walked out on her.

"He is so arrogant Jeez," the girl shouted loudly to his hearing.

Her anger rose again and she ran to the man, holding his hand. Vincenzo admired the guts in the girl and he signaled to his body guards to step down.

"You had better hope I don't see you again, pervert!" She whispered in his ears. Then she turned around, leaving Vincenzo who was staring at him.

Vincenzo turned back to look at her while she was walking out of the mall, and he was sure her face looked familiar.

"Mr. Vincenzo, welcome to our mall. We have been expecting you," A young lady in a suit said.

Vincenzo, who was still thinking about the girl earlier, turned to look at her without smiling as he followed her to the VIP area.

With eyes spitting anger and fury, Anastasia Beverly glared at the young man who just kissed her, accidentally. Although she knew it wasn't his fault, he still kissed her!

"You! How dare you kiss me! You took my first kiss!" She vented at him, her blue crystal-like eyes glittering with anger.

"You should have given it to your boyfriend before bumping into a stranger. Next time watch where you are going" the man replied, raising his head to look at the fuming Anastasia.

His eyes seem to look all over her face and body. Was he a pervert?

"Shouldn't you be apologizing, instead of acting like an asshole? Pervert" Anastasia scolded, wanting to tear that look from the man's face.

The man turned to look at her and they both stared at each other for a while and without another word, he walked out on her.

"He is so arrogant Jeez," Anastasia said to herself angrily.

She bites hard on her lips to hold her anger back. She wished she could hit the young man, however, the only reason why she controlled herself was because she was in a mall and she would not like to embarrass herself.

Anastasia was a beautiful, golden-haired nineteen-year-old girl. She was a stubborn girl that loves doing what she wants. She refused to work in her parents' company because she thought it was her own and everyone would give her too much respect.

She hated when people tried to ride on her just like the young man just did. Her anger rose again and she ran to the man, holding his hand.

"You had better hope I don't see you again, pervert!" She whispered in his ears. Then she turned around, leaving the young man staring at him.

Anastasia was about to drive away from the mall when she saw four men in suits walking closer to her, she put her hand on her forehead tiredly.

"Not now please." She said to herself and they got to where she was standing.

"Good day madam, your dad sent us to..." She raised her hand to stop them from speaking further.

"Don't worry I know what you are about to say, '' she handed her car key to one of them and followed them in their car.

While they were driving, she kept wondering why her dad suddenly wanted to see her. He had been calling and she kept giving him excuses and reasons why she cannot visit now.

"I guess he got tired of my excuses," Anastasia said to herself and looked at the man sitting beside her.

They finally got to her house and she walked inside.

"Dad, I told you I'm busy with work," Anastasia said to her dad in a loud voice.

She moved closer to her parents so she could kiss them but noticed her dad looked very sad and worried about something. She looked at her mom too and it was the same with her mom.

She sat down on the chair and was wondering what was going on.

"Mom, dad, what is it?" Anastasia asked her parents.

Her mom turned to look at her, face filled with sadness and tears that were threatening to fall. Then all of a sudden her dad's phone rang, and he picked up the call immediately.

Anastasia noticed he kept apologizing on the phone, this got her worried, what was going on?

"Mom, please tell me, what's going on?" Anastasia asked her mom and her dad dropped the phone. The look on his face says that there was something wrong.

"Please can someone talk to me, I'm going crazy," Anastasia said, anxiously.

Her dad turned to look at her. Her mother was about to talk but her father knew it would not be easy for her to say it.

"Don't worry I will tell her," Anastasia's dad said to her mom.

Anastasia was slowly going crazy trying to think of what might be the cause of their moody face.

"Sweetie, as much as I don't want to trouble you, I just have to let you know. We are going bankrupt," Her dad said, closing his eyes as he clasped his hands tightly.

Anastasia closed her mouth with her hand. She never expected such a thing to happen this time. Her parents' company was doing very well. How are they going bankrupt all of a sudden?

"How is that even possible, the last time you told me to help with the company finance it was more than enough to last us for the next ten years," Anastasia said to her dad, still shocked about the news of their bankruptcy.

"Yes it was supposed to be enough, but we lost the contract we invested almost all the money on, and now we don't even have enough to pay our staff. The board is saying if we can't settle this I'll have to step down as the CEO," Her dad explained. He had opened his eyes and was staring at his daughter.

Anastasia was particularly shocked about this because her dad told her the story of how he worked his ass off to build that company. She will never let anyone take it away from him.

"No, no one will take that company from you dad," Anastasia said to her dad.

"We called you here to tell you about it so that you can understand if you don't get anything this month as your monthly allowance." Her mom added, Anastasia stood up and sat in the middle of her mom and dad.

She held both of their hands and they looked at her. "I still have some money in my account, why don't we..."

"No, that will not be necessary dear," Her dad interrupted her immediately.

She turned to look at her dad. She knew he would never accept her idea but she still wanted to try.

"We will get through this," She said to both of them and rested her head on her dad's shoulder.

Her dad was only trying to be okay. He was not because the calls were getting too much, he wanted a solution immediately.

"Dinner is served." The maid came to interrupt them.

She used her hand to tell the maid to leave, she looked at her mom and her dad then she stood up. She knew if she was not in the house her dad and mom would not eat anything. So she was happy she was around and did not go anywhere.

"Let's go eat something then we will talk about how to settle the bankruptcy." Anastasia encouraged them.

Her dad smiled, he was happy they had a daughter like Anastasia that can help them hone their spirit when they are down.

"We will get through this, dad," Anastasia said, leading them to the dining room.

But as soon as they sat down, one of their maids rushed in, panting and panicking. Without being told anything, Anastasia's father held his chest tightly as he slumped to the ground.

"Daddy!," Anastasia screamed, rushing to her father.

She prayed fervently not to lose him.

******

"Daddy! You are not allowed to die on me!" Anastasia screamed as she performed first aid on him.

Her mother stood petrified as her daughter tried to revive her husband who just had an attack. It wasn't that she doesn't want to help or the fact that she can't scream. The issue was she was too afraid to feel anything.

"No. You can't leave me, James," was all she could whisper to herself.

Soon, there was a long drawing of breath as her father slowly opened his eyes. Anastasia, who hadn't noticed her father had opened his eyes, kept bawling her eyes out until his hand touched her golden silky hair.

"Anny, I am-fine. I just had-an attack. I will-be fine," Her father said, trying to wipe her tears away.

"Daddy, don't you dare leave me and mom! I won't forgive you!," Anastasia said, embracing her father with her tears flowing freely.

"I won't, sweetie. I am sorry for frightening you and your mother. Celine, come here," James beckoned to his wife.

Anastasia's Mother, Celine who had frozen since her husband collapsed, breathed a sigh of relief. She still looked petrified and her hands were still shaking. At her husband's command, Celine walked towards him, her eyes never leaving him.

"You... you want to leave me alone because we... we are about to go bankrupt?" She stuttered, her voice shaking and laden with sorrow. She was staring at him accusingly.

"I am sorry, Celine," James said, trying to sit up.

Just that word and Celine burst into uncontrollable tears. Anastasia held her crying mother tightly as she whispered words of comfort to her. That was her mother. She was the type that rarely reacts even in times of difficulty but when she does, it's difficult to comfort her.

Except her father.

Anastasia watched as her father consoled her mother while she accused him.

"You promised to always protect me when I marry you! If you die, who is going to protect me?" Celine accused her husband amidst sobs.

Anastasia's mind suddenly felt foggy as a Deja Vu flashed through her mind. Why does it feel like someone had also told her this before?

Was it an illusion or real? But she has no recollection of anything. She quickly snapped out of it and continued consoling her mother who had been crying a river.