Billionaire's Regret
Chapter 13:

Annie tries her best to open her eyes. However, no matter how much she tries, she can't see the light. She tried rolling from the bed but she felt trapped. Her heart beat fast and furious in her chest, sometimes feeling it would burst from her mouth.

"Annie..." she heard her name being called. She tried looking around. Suddenly she realized she stood motionless in the hall. It took time before she heard her name being called from somewhere else...she believes it was her home. 'Where are you?' she called but received no answer. It slowly dawns on her everything was in her mind, no word slipping from her tightly clenched lips. She tried moving forward, again, she felt like she was stuck. The voices finally penetrating her mind...those of her of her parents.

"Mom..." "Daddy..."

It was quickly clear neither of them heard her calling. The tone of their argumentative voices just keeps rising in volume. It felt like time stood still before she finally managed to move forward at last.

As she walked down the stairs; the house was darkened but it was the light from beneath the door that pulled her closer. She now stood motionless in front of the closed den-door.

"You are not serious; Thom." She heard her Mom said in a shock voice.

"Don't try to stop me Hanna. I am the head of this family."

"Thom; listen to reason. Annie is our daughter."

"I know that woman. As her guardian; I have the legal right to arrange this marriage. You will stay out of my way."

Annie frowned not truly comprehending the seriousness of the conversation. She reached to open the door. She tried looking but can't seem to look beyond the fog in front of her eyes. Instead she focused on her mother's voice.

"You will not sell my only child to settle your debts, Thom. Over my dead body will this happened." She screamed but her tone barely carried beyond the den-walls. "I told you many times that your reckless gambling will be the downfall of this family. You just never listen."

"Shut up Hanna."

Annie heard the aggression in his voice.

"I won't. This is my child's future."

"Hanna...you don't understand; it's either now willingly or in the near future. Annie unfortunately belongs to that man. He is rich; his is powerful; he is especially dangerous." Thom said sounding strangely worried.

"That bastard is a sick man; Thom."

"What am I supposed to do; Hanna?"

Annie hears the desperation and fear with constant following in his voice. It has a kind of haunting quality not easily forgotten.

"I know what to do," Hanna said.

Annie searched for her Mom's face but when her eyes opened, she looked at Aaron...

"Annie; can you hear me?"

Aaron sits down beside her. He reaches for her hand. He was instantly shocked when he realized how cold she feels.

"Are you hurt?"

Annie looked confused at him. Her thoughts feel fuzzy. She was trying her best to remember the man whom looks so worriedly down at her. Her thoughts keep circling back to her mom and dad.

"Where...where is..." she tried looking passed him. His clear intent yet very worried eyes made her look back at him. "Who are you?" she asked softly, almost like she was afraid of making too much noise. "It's me Aaron; where are you hurt?" he asks softly too; clearly in-tune with her whispering.

"Why...would I be hurt?" she asks puzzled looking confused at him. Again; she looked into his searching eyes. "Cold..." she whispered.

Aaron instantly removed his coat. He very carefully wraps her frame into it. His hands stilled a moment. He looked searchingly into her face. "Annie..." he called softly.

"Sleepy..." she whispered.

"No, Annie; don't go to sleep."

"Why..." she clearly sound puzzled.

"Stay awake...please..."

"Sleepy..."

Aaron tried carefully shaking her body. Again; his hands stilled with a now certain knowledge that chilled his body in remembrance. "No," he very carefully starts feeling the frame of her body. "Not again," the fear chillingly around him. "Annie..." Hanna Black touches her heart.

"What is wrong?" Doctor Grace Stevens who had arrived to check on her patient looked worriedly at the older woman. She quickly felt for a pulse replaceing one very irregular. The older woman has survived a serious flu attack and a serious stroke.

"Calm down Hanna. Your heart beat is too fast." She tried calming the woman.

"Something is wrong..." Hanna said insistently looking directly at the young doctor.

"Is it your heart, Hanna?"

Grace called two nurses closer. The older woman grabbed her arm, as she tried to calm her heart beat. She just instinctively knows to stay calm for her daughter's sake. "Hanna..."

"Annie..." she holds Grace's arm tightly.

"What about Annie?"

"She is in trouble. I can sense the coldness." Hanna touches her chest. "I can sense it in my heart."

Hanna suddenly stood the earlier loveliness of the gardens now gone. All she saw in front of her is the insistent image of her child in trouble.

Aaron quickly stood away from the bed; looking around in the cabin. He quickly starts building a fire with the meager amount of wood. He just hopes it will last until Matthew returns.

"Annie..." he touches her skin. It was cold underneath his hand, and she breathes too slow for his liking. He quickly climbed on the bed once he removed his shirt. He removed her upper clothes; his heart breaks when he noticed how skinny she was. With her nestled against his bare chest he wraps his warm coat tightly around her. He keeps of brushing her skin to keep the warmth circling.

"Why are you looking like this Annie?" he questions the unresponsive girl. "My mom was just as clever as you it seemed. Did you do this to protect your mother? Why didn't this Leo not noticed either?"

The single tear streak down his face like always in remembrance.

Aaron feeling desperate starts touching her firm breasts playing with her nipples as his lips tracing her collarbone playing with her earlobe. With his other hand he draws circles around her stomach. He simply touches her all over. It took a long-taught moment before he felt her body start warming underneath his touch.

"Come back to me Annie." He whispered as he kept playing with her nipples.

"Hmm..." she tried shifting her body.

"Are you uncomfortable?" he asked softly.

Aaron helps her until she was sitting with her back against his chest. He briefly smiled in relief when he now realized he could play with both her breasts. They feel wonderful in his hands. "Annie.... Annie..." he whispered in her ear.

"Hmm..."

Aaron was slowly replacing the cold from her body with slow building heart. His now insolent hands travel all over her upper frame, but sometimes cheekily slipped towards the warm center of her womanhood.

"Bastard..." Annie said recognizing the situation she was in. When she moves the coat slipped from her frame revealing her near nakedness. Another surge of heat burst throughout her whole body banishing the coldness.