POV Ana
My little confession shocked us both. But damn, it filled me and choked me. I feel that Robert is scared by my confession, but it clearly does not anger him. He gently squeezes my hand and pulls me to the elevator.
- Let's go on a tour. I'll show you my business, - Robert whispers slyly.
- I've already seen Gray House, - I say and laugh.
- It's not only he who makes me rich. I am a person of many and very different interests, it is they that bring me multi-billion dollar income, - Robert leads me out of the elevator, and we silently walk past Marta. She looks at us disapprovingly, and in response I stick my tongue out at her.
It's a cool winter day outside. The snow has almost melted and the sun is shining. I involuntarily hug my bare shoulders and suddenly Robert takes off his jacket and throws it on me.
- And you? - I look at him carefully.
- Don't be afraid, Miss Still, I'm frost-resistant, - De Niro kisses me on the nose and leads me to a familiar Mercedes.
Taylor is standing next to him and looking at us slyly. He opens the car door and we get into the luxurious salon.
- Give me a hint, what do you do besides telecoms and cinematography, - I ask.
A curious child has awakened in me, who is interested in everything Robert does.
- A lot of things, Ana. I'm telling you right away: some things may shock you, - Robert looks at me intently, - you have no right to tell anyone what you learn about me.
- I remember that. But where are we going? - I don't let up.
- To the fitness center, which belongs to me and a good friend of mine. Don't be jealous, she's married, - Robert whispers, seeing my jealous look.
Fitness center... It can't be. I want to go there already. God, I always wanted to have a slim figure and be able to withstand heavy loads. As a child, I also dreamed of learning to shoot and martial arts to protect myself. I need to talk to Robert about this. Surely, he can help me with this.
Meanwhile, the car stops near a luxurious five-story building, and we get out of the car. I expected something modest and inconspicuous, but it seems that these words do not fit the personality of Robert De Niro. He appears next to me and takes my hand. Smiling warmly at him, I walk next to him and we go inside.
The fitness center is illuminated, there are the latest models of exercise machines everywhere, on which Hollywood stars work out. My mouth opens when I see Matthew McConaughey on the treadmill, Anne Hathaway tagging the barbell.
A private and most expensive fitness club in New York, Miss Still, Robert tells me, enjoying my confusion.
It's not that easy to get in, a pretty brunette, somewhat resembling a squirrel, comes up to us. She's wearing a tank top, wet with sweat, and sports leggings. She looks simple and boyish.
But I'm lucky, Anastasia Still, I extend my hand to her and she shakes it with feeling.
Hilary Swank. Glad to see you in our center, Miss Still. Four times a week, you will come here and work out. We will develop a special program for you: exercise machines, boxing, swimming, martial arts, she says and returns the handshake.
Then she goes off somewhere and comes back with a folder with papers in it. I take the folder from her and quickly read everything that's in it. A standard contract, a subscription that is paid for six months in advance... I like it. That everything is businesslike. Everything is simple and clear.
When should I come? I ask and smile.
I think Monday at 3:00 PM. You'll have time to do your homework and rest before training, Swank looks at me encouragingly.
Let's be informal, otherwise I feel like an old hanger, I say, and she nods.
- But you have to work out hard and regularly. I'll ask Miss Swank if you go to the center, and if you break your schedule, I'll punish you, - Robert whispers.
- I know, - I grumble, - Rob, don't ruin my mood, because I'm delighted with fitness.
- Glad you like it, - De Niro smiles sincerely, - well, shall we move on?
I nod, and we go outside. Our next stop is the prestigious beauty salon "Escala". It's also a huge building, and everything in it breathes chic, sophistication and fashion. The air smells of Dior perfume, which makes my head spin.
- Christian, - I hear a pleasant melodic voice with an Italian accent.
A beautiful brunette, about 50 years old, is walking towards us. She has radiant brown eyes, large breasts and thick black hair down to her waist. She is simply gorgeous and I understand that it is she... The one who got De Niro hooked on BDSM.
Monica Bellucci... Fuck...
- Ana, are you okay? - Robert hugs me.
I feel the warmth of his hand and I feel calmer. He hugged me. He needs me.
- She's beautiful, she's better than me... - I whisper and feel De Niro's heavy sigh in my hair.
- She's just a beautiful doll who abandoned me. There's nothing in her. I chose you, - Robert whispers.
He chose me, an ugly duckling, not her. The goddess of Olympus... But why? And he said that she betrayed him, how so? Well, it's not that simple... I'll figure it out...
- Christian, - Bellucci comes closer. Her eyes shine with kindness and softness.
- Monica, - Robert is cold and extremely polite with her, - this is Anastasia Still, my girlfriend. Could you give her a few lessons in style and manners?
Bellucci examines me. Yes, I'm a tomboy, yes, I'm in a mini dress and without panties. But I'm alive, while Senorita Monica looks more like a golden statue.
"A swan hiding behind the mask of a cheeky duckling. Do you even realize how beautiful you are?" Monica asks.
"No, fuck," I answer honestly.
"Oh, my God, and he swears like Trump at meetings with... his subordinates," she says and smiles. "And as for me and Gray, I don't love him and I don't pretend to. All that connects us is BDSM and a son.
A son? Holy shit! So, I feel like a fool. I wonder how old their son is? I need to find out more about their past.
"And is your son an adult?" I ask, looking at De Niro.
He is twenty-four and he looks a lot like his mother, Robert smiles, We have a complicated relationship, but I am trying to fix it.
It seems that people with Rob cannot have a simple relationship. I smile at him and then follow Monica into the back of the salon. She sits me down by a huge mirror and begins to teach me the basics of makeup. Before that day, I had never put on makeup, it was new to me. It turns out that everything is not as complicated and scary as I thought. Bellucci is friendly and cheerfully tells me about the gossip of the film world, but I feel Robert's icy gaze on my back. What happened between them? I must find out everything and understand Robert even better.
She is nice, I say, getting into the car, De Niro is silent and looks out the window.
Rob, what's wrong with you? I take his hand and stroke his knuckles.
She broke my heart in Italy. I loved her very much, we were happy, but she left me when some unpleasant truth about me came out, having said a lot of nasty things before that. She was carrying my child and wanted to have an abortion, but one of my friends convinced her otherwise and she gave birth to a son. Of course, Bellucci didn t want me to see him and I had to steal him, - Robert says reluctantly.
- What a bitch, but you re wrong too. To steal a child from its mother, - I grumble.
- Let s not lecture me, okay? You don t know anything about this life and about me, - De Niro growls.
- Fuck, I didn t lecture you I let s move on, - I say when Taylor pulls up in front of a whole line of brand boutiques, leading fashion brands.
Robert puts his hand in his pocket and takes out a credit card.
- There are 1,000,000 dollars in here. Buy yourself some clothes, jewelry, and shoes. Shopping relieves stress, - Robert hands me a card and I squeal with delight. I've been wanting to update my wardrobe for a long time, and Carla always scolds me for dressing like a guy.
- And here's your shopping consultant, - says De Niro, pointing to a slender blonde with a gentle face. Damn, it's Amber Heard, a recent Hollywood star, but a very promising actress. I get out of the car and go to her. She looks me over and chuckles.
- Younger and younger, - Heard throws out.
- More revealing and revealing, - I answer, hinting at her dress.
- Got the joke. Not bad, - she smiles and we go to the store.
I like shopping. I buy a lot of beautiful and fashionable things, every now and then appearing in front of Amber in a stunning dress. If I didn't understand Carrie Bradshaw and her passion for shoes and dresses before, I do now.
"Will the Dark Lord like your style?" Heard asks as I pay at the checkout.
"Who?" I ask.
"Oh, never mind, I blurted it out, or something," she starts to justify herself, embarrassed.
The Dark Lord... Hmm... Robert? Why did she call him that? Is it only related to BDSM? I need to find out more about him. Of course, I already know a lot, but why did he hide so much from me? Okay, I'll find out. One way or another...