Room for You
Chapter 1

“Anastasia, help! I've been molested at the club!” The desperate andhelpless sound of her best friend's voice was the only thing onAnastasia Tillman's mind as she rushed over to the clubhouse. Room808. Anastasia looked up at the number plaque on the door of theprivate room. It was the same room number that her best friend, HayleySeymour, had texted her. Without another thought, she barged throughthe door to save her friend. When the door swung open under herhand, she was greeted by the darkness within. Suddenly, a strong handclasped around her wrist and dragged her into the dark room, followedby a loud thud as the door slammed shut. “Hey—who are you, andwhat do you want?!” Anastasia shrieked, her eyes darting around wildlyas she tried to make out her surroundings. “Settle down, and I'll treatyou well.” A man’s deep and husky voice spoke close to her ear. Thenext second, Anastasia was unceremoniously tossed onto the couch,and before she could scramble to her feet, a lean and strong bodypinned her down. She let out a muffled cry when a pair of lips thattasted like peppermint captured hers. The man on top of her feltburning hot to the touch. A sense of hopelessness brought tears to hereyes as she tried to struggle against the man, but in the end, she coulddo nothing but endure the man’s ferocity. An hour later, Anastasiastaggered out of the room, looking disheveled. She had only just beenthrough a nightmare, but that didn’t distract her from worrying abouther best friend's safety. She was just about to call Hayley’s numberwhen she saw a group of men and women walking out the side door.Under the lights, she instantly recognized the two of the women in thegroup. One happened to be Hayley, her best friend who had cried forhelp on the phone earlier, and the other was Anastasia’s stepsister,Erica Tillman. The two girls walked side by side with their arms linked,as if they were the closest of friends. Shock and rage coloredAnastasia's features when she saw them. “Stop right there, Hayley!” shecalled out loudly over the distance as her fists clenched tightly at hersides. Upon hearing this, Hayley and Erica swiveled around to face her.Anastasia glowered at them, ashen-faced as she demanded of Hayley,“Why would you lie to me?!” Hayley smirked. “It's not my fault thatyou're always so gullible, Anastasia.” “Did you have a good time withthat gigolo back there?” Erica asked in a sing-song voice, smilingwickedly. It was only then that Anastasia realized that both of them hadset her up. The chastity she had held dear for the past nineteen yearswas now sacrificed for their despicable glee. Presently, Hayley's eyeswere frosty as she seethed, “Did you actually think I was your friend,Anastasia? I've been living in your shadow ever since we met! I hateyou, and I want nothing more than to ruin that face of yours!” Erica, onthe other hand, swiftly interjected by mocking, “I have the proof I needto show Dad that you've been pimping yourself for money at the club.It won't be long until you're thrown out of the house!” “You two—"Anastasia was so furious that she swayed. Her body was in tatters afterthe ordeal she had been through, and the collective weight of herfriend's betrayal and her sister's cruelty nearly knocked her down. “Let'sgo, Hayley! We don't want to be seen with trash, do we?” With her armlooped through Hayley's, Erica led her toward the sports car she hadparked by the curb. Three days later, at the Tillman Residence, a lowmale voice yelled out in rage, “You became an escort for money justbecause I wouldn't let you go abroad for your studies? How can I,Francis Tillman, be capable of having such a shameless daughter likeyou?” “Dad, I didn't—" "You didn't? But you did, Anastasia! How couldyou go to such shameless lengths? Did we starve you, or did we depriveyou of anything? I can't believe you would pimp yourself to randomstrangers in a filthy clubhouse! For your sake, I hope you haven'tbrought any disease back to this house. Who knows what my daughterand I could have caught from you,” the woman who was dressed injewels and fine clothes sneered from where she sat on the couch. “Dad,I really didn't do it. I—" Anastasia tried to explain herself. However,Francis did not want to hear another word from her. He glowered at hermaliciously as he snapped, “Still lying to me, I see. Get out of this homeright now! I will not stand to have you under my roof. No daughter ofmine could be so shameless. From now on, you are not my child!"Meanwhile, on the staircase landing, Erica watched this scene play outas she leaned against the banister with her chin propped on her hand.Everything was going exactly the way she had planned. In a matter ofminutes, Anastasia was going to be cast out of the house and wanderaround like some pathetic stray mutt. Downstairs in the living room,Anastasia fell silent when she saw the thunderous and disappointedlook on her father's face. She wordlessly rose from her seat and walkedup the stairs to pack up her things. She had only just rounded thelanding when Erica barricaded her. With her arms crossed haughtily infront of her chest, the younger girl sneered, “Get out of here! Don'tlinger around like an eyesore. This house will never have a place for youever again!” Anastasia clenched her fists as she glowered at Erica'spleased expression. Seeing the hatred and anger in Anastasia’s eyes,Erica leaned forward. “What, do you want to slap me or something?”She turned her cheek toward the fuming girl and said smugly, “Go rightahead, then!” Without holding back, Anastasia brought her hand downacross Erica's face, resulting in a hard slap. “Ah!” Erica let out a shrill cry.“You just hit me! Mom, Dad—Anastasia just hit me!” She howled as shebolted down the stairs. Naomi Lowell quickly pulled her daughter intoher arms and cried up the stairwell, “How dare you strike my daughter,Anastasia! What the hell are you playing at?!" Francis glanced at the redimprints on Erica's cheek, and he had never been more disappointed inhis life. When did my oldest daughter become so infuriatinglyrebellious? "Dad, it hurts...” Erica sobbed as she burrowed into herfather's arms, taking in exaggerated deep breaths like she was in greatpain. “Get out of here, Anastasia!” Francis roared up the stairs. Havingpacked up her things, Anastasia grabbed her passport and went downthe stairs. Her heart grew stone-cold when she saw how her own fatherwas holding Erica in his arms like she was something precious.Anastasia knew then that she indeed had no place in his heart. Francishad only heard Erica's side of the story instead of asking Anastasiaabout the horrific incident she had endured last night. Ever since hermother had passed, she had spent her years in this home living like anoutsider, for her father had brought home his mistress and hisillegitimate daughter to form a new family. Anastasia’s poor motherhad never known about her husband's extra-marital affairs, not even inher death. / will never come back to this place ever again. Inside thehouse, Erica watched as Anastasia dragged her suitcase out the frontdoor, and a wicked smile curled on her lips. / finally got rid of thatuseless eyesore! ... Five years later, a knock came on the front door of anapartment in Dansbury. The woman living in the apartment had beenporing over her designs when she heard the knock. A little bewildered,she walked up to the door and pulled it open unhappily. When she sawthe two Asian men in suits, she asked in Chinese, “Who are you lookingfor?” “Are you Miss Anastasia Tillman?” one of the two men asked inEnglish. “I am. And you are?” Anastasia pressed. “We were asked to lookfor you. Your mother, Amelia Chapman, saved our young master's lifeback in the day. The old madam whom we serve wishes to see you.”She frowned at this. “Who's the old madam you serve?” “Old MadamPresgrave,” the first man answered respectfully. Upon hearing this,Anastasia understood what had brought these men here. Old MadamPresgrave was the woman behind the Presgrave Group, the foremostconglomerate in the country. Years ago, Anastasia’s mother hadsacrificed her life to save Old Madam Presgrave's oldest grandson. Itgave Anastasia great pride to have been born to a police officer ascapable and righteous as Amelia. “I'm sorry, but I don't intend to seeher,” Anastasia said decidedly. She had a feeling that the Presgraveswanted to repay Amelia's great deed, but she had no plans of acceptingtheir gesture whatsoever. Just then, a childish and curious voicesounded from somewhere inside the apartment, asking, “Mommy, whois it?” “No one,” Anastasia replied hastily. Then, she turned to addressthe men at the door, “Sorry, but I'm really not in a mood for guests atthe moment.” With that, she closed the door. Meanwhile, back in thecountry, a man was seated on the couch inside the villa tucked halfwayup the hill. “Have you tracked her down?” “Yes, Young Master Elliot. Thegirl from the clubhouse five years ago just sold off your watch at thesecond-hand market.” “Find her,” said the man on the couch, his voicedeep and authoritative. “Yes, sir!”