"Jason, p-please don't," Anastasia begged him as she sat on the floor, trembling.

"I told you I didn't want to see him around you again," he growled. Then he pulled her up violently and gave her a death glare.

She stared at the floor, quivering. She didn't have the guts to look him in the eye when he got upset.

"I-I'm sorry, Jason. It's just that my b-boss gave us a project to work on t-together and—"

"Shut up!" he yelled, "couldn't you do that in the office? Why did you have to go to a coffee shop?"

"H-he insisted on us g-going there and—"

He tightened his grip on her arm and she tried to use her second to pry it off, but his grip remained firm. "First thing tomorrow morning, I want you to submit your resignation letter."

"B-but Jason—"

"I wasn't asking you. I am telling you." He used his free hand to lift her chin and scanned her face full of slight bruises and scratches and tears raining down on it, "You don't have a choice."

With a final look, he kissed her forehead and flung her to the floor. He strutted up-stairs with a feeling of satisfaction.

­­­____________

"Sir, I am submitting my resignation letter."

 "Why so suddenly? Did anything happen?"

"No, Sir."

"Then why?"

"Sir, it's due to personal reasons." She looked down as she spoke. She didn't have the guts to look him in the eye without tearing up, so she decided to keep her head down.

"I guess I don't have the right to ask what those reasons are." He looked at her form and said, "Anna, you know that I'm not only your boss but your Uncle too. You can trust me."

"I know. There's nothing wrong, I can assure you." She lifted her head and gave a weak smile.

"If nothing is wrong, then don't quit. I'll give you some time off instead. How much time do you need? a month?"

"No. I need to resign," she breathed.

"Anna…"

"Uncle Tim, you really should trust me. I'm fine."

"No, Anna. I'll give some time to think about it," he stated firmly.

"But—"

"Come back in a week."

"Uncle Tim, Please—"

Beep.

"Mr. Jones is here to see you."

He held onto a button on the machine and said, "Okay, send him in."

"Anna, I'll talk to you later."

"You don't understand…" she began, "okay, fine. We'll talk later."

She turned her heel and headed for the door. As she placed her hand on the knob, she became restless; she didn't do what Jason wanted.

There'll be trouble.

She returned home with her heart pounding in her chest. What was she going to do when Jason returned?

She stripped down to shorts and a tank top and sat on the couch. She turned on the TV to distract herself from her thoughts, but zoned out the sounds and remained in thought.

What will she tell Jason?

She thought about lying but later opted out of it. The last time she lied to him, she regretted it. He made her pay for it in the worst way ever and she didn't want history to repeat itself.

She drifted off to sleep, laying on the couch.

……………….

She woke up on hearing a loud thud.

Her eyes shot up to Jason that looked at her, smiling. His black hoodie was stained with a white powdery substance and his eyes were blood-shot red; signs he had been doing drugs again.

"Oh, did I wake you up?"

"N-no, I was a-already awake." She gave a fake smile, "h-how was your day?"

"It was pretty good." He nodded with a smile. "I guess you've done it."

He walked to the couch and sat beside her.

She froze at their closeness and sweat trickled down her face.

He studied her form and raised a brow at her shaky figure. "You did it, right?"

"Uhmm… J-Jason… I-I—"

"You, you what?" He asked her. He knew what was going on, but he just wanted to elongate her nervousness. "Did you do it, yes or no?"

"I-I—" She wanted to let it out, but the fear that engulfed her couldn't let her say a word.

"Yes or no!" he yelled. She jumped up from the couch and stared at him.

He stood up slowly and grabbed her arm tightly, "Yes or no."

"No," she whizzed out.

Before she could register anything, she received an instant smack across her face. She fell to the floor and began crying, "J-Jason, I-I p-prom-mise you I-I wanted to do it, but—"

"But what?" he yelled.

"B-but U-uncle T-Tim—"

"Shut up! It's because you still wanna see that Chris guy right?" He walked slowly towards her. She shifted slowly away from him, but she reached a dead end when her back encountered a table.

"Get up," he commanded. She watched him as she slowly tried to raise herself from the ground. He pulled her up violently by her hair. She tried to release it from his grasps but failed.

"Jason, I'm sorry!" She yelled.

"So you're yelling now?" He cocked his brows in amusement. "didn't I tell you not to ever use that tone on me?"

Then a knock on the door was heard.

"Who is it?" Jason yelled in frustration. Anna knew better than to make a sound when anybody was around or else she would pay the price.

"Just open the door," A male voice called from outside.

Out of irritation, he pushed Anna violently and she stumbled back. A scream ran through the house as her head collided with the edge of the table.

Jason turned to her and before he realized, the door was broken open to reveal a police officer.

The police officer rushed over to Anna that was laying on the floor with blood rushing out from the injury.

"Ma'am," he called out.

Anna reached to touch her forehead and her vision instantly became blurry as she sighted the blood stained on her fingertips.

"Ma'am! Ma'am…"

Then she blacked out.