1 Recalling the past

Moments, hours, days, months and years had seemed to pass on and on. Anastasia felt as if life was moving on its pace, where everyone had moved on leaving behind their griefs and agony. But she was still standing there.... there where he was, there where she felt like home, the safest and the warmest place on earth, it was the place where he resided, or you could say where he had been laid.

It had been three years since he left her alone in this world to fight her battles on her own. She was not just broken. She was shattered beyond imagination for she never thought of living her life without him. But she had to, for the people he left behind him. If not for him, she would have lost her sanity a long time ago.

It had been three years that she had changed. Anastasia Prescott, the youngest woman entrepreneur of New York, the leading lady of the WATSON CORPORATION who had managed to take the sinking ship to new heights and level. People said that it was her hard work, dedication, intelligence and wittiness which had created the marvel. But none of them knew that it was her love, her passion and him, her Ashton - Ashton Watson who kept her going, keeping her goals and dreams high, not for her but for the dreams that they once viewed together.

As soon as Anna reached the Watson Corporation, she was greeted by the employees who were on the verge of running a marathon for she was the Satan who would not tolerate a minute fault or misapprehension when it came to work. She directly went to her cabin to proceed with the work. She called her secretary Mia to ask for the schedule. "Mia, update me with today's schedule and yes, please make arrangements for a lunch meeting with the Managing Head of the Carter Group of Industries, today itself. Also make sure to clear my schedule for the next Friday."

She sighed... all these years had definitely taken a toll on her where she had never taken a break for herself but this time, it had been different because she could never say no to one man who was more than a father to her, Ashton's father who had been a pillar of strength and support to her and she his, the father-daughter duo.

Richard Watson certainly lost his son but gained a daughter for lifetime for whom he readily convinced himself to forget his agony and stopped mourning over the death of his son. Anna was his future daughter in law but the uneventful turns of life made her his beloved daughter. He entered her cabin and saw her communicating with her secretary, Mia. Anna stood up from her seat and immediately greeted Richard, "Dad? Hey! May I know what brought you here? Are you okay? Is something wrong? I was about to come to your cabin to meet you before going to the meeting. You okay dad? She asked worriedly.

Richard was amused at her worries for him. He felt happy and contented as there was still someone to care for him. But he felt gloomy at the same time as he knew her anxiety was the result of her past losses which she was yet to overcome. She always wore the facade of a happy girl in front of him but he was her father and how would he not understand his daughter's melancholy and her broken heart which was still not healed after so many years. And this time, he was hell bent to make her life blissful once again. After all she was just 23. She had a long life ahead her where she would need someone to hold her in her highs and lows when he would not be there for her. He really thought of his son to be the luckiest guy on the earth to get the love of such a precious gem.

"Dad, dad? " Anna shook his shoulders anxiously as he was lost in his thoughts.

"No sweetheart, I am absolutely fine. I just came to see my daughter to check on her whether she is doing good or not. I mean... "

"Dad, please stop beating around the bush. I know what you want to know. I have already asked Mia to clear my schedule for next Friday and I will personally go to the airport to receive your special guest. Don't worry, okay!"

She rolled her eyes and chuckled on his antics. Richard was ecstatic to know about it and breathe an air of relief as he had successfully managed to accomplish his first mission of redefining his daughter's future in every way.