Entering the house, I go up to my room and fall on the bed. So many emotions and discoveries in one day - it's too much for me. I take a deep breath and look at De Niro's message. He needs me, he can't let me go just like that. This discovery scared me a little. No, I love him and need his support, but his strong reaction to my conversation with my mother. Enraged me. Why couldn't he let it go in one ear and out the other? Because of Monica? Or because he's afraid for his image? Whatever it was, I went too far and I have to apologize to him. But how? He won't accept a simple apology, I need something special, like a gift. An idea comes to me on its own. I get up and sit down at the computer. I spend a long time searching the Internet for the address of the Tiffany and Co. jewelry store. Having found it, I quickly run my eyes through their catalog, and having chosen the item I need, I place an order. I order expensive gold cufflinks with emeralds and a tie clasp. They will be delivered within a week and I have time to think about the best way to apologize to him. With these thoughts, I start surfing the Internet and reading everything about Bulgakov's work. Closer to the evening, I download "Heart of a Dog", "White Guard" and "Notes of a Young Doctor". An interesting evening is guaranteed. I quickly do my homework and crawl under the covers with my laptop. I greedily read the notes, admiring the author's style, worrying about the characters, and finish reading around two in the morning. Holy shit! This is the first time I've read almost all night. Damn, and Robert is clearly changing me. I close my laptop, turn off the light and fall asleep five minutes later... Robert's POV Bitch, little bitch! Our relationship is a secret for everyone, including her parents. She said she was with me! What a cheeky girl! No, I understand that she loves her parents. But the fact that they can find out the truth about us pisses me off even more! Calm down, Rob, calm down. You just need to come to terms with the fact that Still was not born to be herself and you will need all your patience, strength, intelligence and composure to be with her. I sigh and give Taylor a sign to go to Escala. Drink blood, take a bath. Call myself a witch for the night and go to bed - that's what I'm going to do now. I call the salon and cancel all arrangements for the day. If Ana contacts me, then I will continue the relationship with her. If not, then I will have to visit her parents and I doubt we will have a pleasant conversation with them. I enter the penthouse and see Monica with a glass of wine on the couch. Her gaze is full of hatred and coldness. - So we couldn't have a normal conversation in the salon? - I laugh. - Josh told me everything. You're a monster! I trusted you with our son, and you tried to eat him twice, - Bellucci gets up and looks at me. - Your beloved son raped my maid. There's not a single living place on the girl. I showed him what happens if you cross me, - I growl in her face. - And who made him like this? Who turned him into an obsessed fanatic cannibal? You didn't let me see him, you taught him to kill from the age of 10, initiated him into the secrets of dark magic without asking if he wanted it? And now you're ruining the life of some innocent girl with a crippled childhood, just so you can see her next to you in bed at the Sabbath! — Monica spits out every word — I'm saving her! If not me, she'll suck niggas' dicks in the alleys for fixes, — I grab her by the throat. — Just squeak to Donald about me and her — I'll hand you over to my hunters and watch them pass you around, do you understand, bitch? — Her Parents won't approve of you, De Niro. You won't give her anything but Darkness and pain, but we, the light ones, can really save her, — my ex wheezes. — Does she need light? You should ask her about it sometime, — I laugh and grab her by the hair and drag her to the elevator. — Get out of my apartment and don't you dare come without calling, bitch. She looks at me dumbfounded and leaves. I take a deep breath and press my back against the wall. God, I'm so tired of this. Her visits always drain my strength, if she had said yes back then in Italy, everything would have been fine. It was there that I met Scorsese, who brought me into the Darkness. I liked the very idea of ?freedom, unlimited power and permissiveness. Magic literally pierced my entire body when I first became Dark. The Darkness made me its Lord, its master and lord. I reveled in my greatness, but its price was too high: I became a cannibal and a monster who brings death and pain with him. However, I liked the taste of sweet flesh, and no one can turn me away from the Darkness and my throne. But what is more important, I am doomed to loneliness. The Dark King should not have weaknesses in the people dear to him, and I have Ana... And I am terribly afraid for her. "Hey, Dad," I hear and turn around. Josh is standing at the bar and looking at me "Your mother came by. My head hurts," I admit. Hutcherson chuckles and comes towards me. "There is Skype, but my mother doesn't know how to use a computer," the guy says, "that would have made things easier." "Perhaps if we had talked on Skype, I might not have told her to fuck off at the end of the conversation. Always those bright..." I conjure up two beers for us. "Oh, dad, don't tell me. She saw the bruises on my arms and interrogated me. I said I got them in a fight with a bear, but she started to torture me with her hysteria. I had to confess everything," my son takes a sip of beer. "She's beautiful?" What? Who? "Is your Anastasia beautiful?" my son asks and I smile. "Very. I'll introduce you. She'll be like a little sister to you. By the way, why did you come? - I hug him. - Well, Dani and I wanted to go to the movies to see "The Bewitched". Give me some money, about 500 dollars, - my son asks. - Do her relatives know? - I ask and he nods. God, you can't crush genes with your finger. I also made girls fall in love with me and took them to the movies, but to my own films. - Okay, Romeo, right now, - I go to the office and return to my son with a hefty wad of dollars and a box of condoms. - Dad! - Josh is shocked. - Dad, I'm not planning on becoming a grandfather yet, - I say, to which he laughs. POV Anastasia February came. I started attending fitness classes and beauty lessons with De Niro's proteges. If I somehow got the hang of the second and learned how to do makeup for all occasions, then I had problems with the first. Swank made me sweat seven times on the exercise machines and the same amount in the ring. She was terribly picky and demanded that I do everything perfectly and the first time. I showed her the middle finger. I told her to fuck off, but gritting my teeth, I did everything as she said. At first it was difficult, but then I got into it and started enjoying sports. I started running to school in the mornings and watching my diet. Evenings were spent in the company of books. I carefully read the authors that De Niro mentioned in the interview, wrote down interesting thoughts in a notebook and gave arguments for or against some idea. But I did not abandon Hyde and Jose. On weekends we would go out to clubs or to the countryside, where we would relax, drink beer and just have a good time. But deep down I felt that I missed Robert. It was some strange craving for him. I noticed that since he left I had become less irritable. The nightmares had almost left me and I had found peace of mind. And... I got bored. My life was sickeningly sweet without this dictator with the habits of a savage cannibal. But I wanted drive, extreme sports, wild sex in the game room. And I decided to take a desperate step. On February 14, I asked for leave from school and went to Trump Tower. The elevator took me to the top floor and I found myself in Robert's lair. And almost immediately I bumped into... Anne Hathaway. She was bustling about in the living room in a strict black dress, washing the floors. Miss Hathaway, winner of all sorts of world film awards, De Niro's maid? I cough into my fist, and Anne turns to me with a start. "You, Miss Still?" Anne asks cautiously, sitting down on the sofa. "Yes, I'm Anastasia. And Mr. De Niro... he..." I lose my train of thought. "He's in Berlin at the film festival. He's coming this evening. He hinted that you might come," Anne looks a bit scared. "Okay, Annie. Don't be so nervous like Esmeralda and Frollo. I'm an ordinary girl, not a star-struck doll. I'm here to make peace with Robert. Will you help me cook dinner for this tyrant?" I say cheerfully. The brunette nods and we go to the kitchen. In the refrigerator we find chicken, vegetables, cheese, in the cupboards - long pasta. I put Ann to chop vegetables, and I take care of the chicken. - Ann, tell me, why do you work for De Niro? You are a rich independent actress, - I say, lighting the gas under the frying pan. The girl becomes sad and lowers her eyes. - He helped me with my film career at the beginning. I grew up in an orphanage and the slave trade was thriving there. One day, Robert came to such an auction with Martin Scorsese and bought me. I was terribly happy when I got to him. Robert spoiled me, took care of me like a daughter. I know his ex Bellucci and I will tell you honestly, De Niro is better. She pretends to be a good and proper woman, but in reality she is cold, evil and envious. I have seen her quarrel with him thousands of times over their son. Sometimes her claims are justified, and sometimes they are not, - says Ann, grating cheese. - And his son? — I ask. — He's cute. A cheeky rake. When he catches me here, he feeds me chocolate and makes harmless vulgar remarks about me. He takes after his father in character, and they often quarrel because of his independence and impudence, — Anne smiles, — although less now, he has a girlfriend, Danielle, and Josh has calmed down. — I see, — I try to digest the new information about De Niro. Not to trust Monica, that was clear from the first minute. She is too correct and beautiful... But the fact that De Niro bought an orphan from an orphanage... — Anne, have you and Mr. De Niro... well, slept? — I ask the question of interest. Hathaway drops his cup of tea. — God bless you, Anastasia. I never slept with him. He doesn't interest me as a sexual object. Yes, he is a gorgeous man, a king to the tips of his nails, but no... I admired him as a hero of some myths and legends. I idolized him, but sex... No, never, - the maid blushes. Holy shit! To serve such a man and not sleep with him, is that possible? He is the god of sex and lust. I smile at my thoughts and continue to cook dinner. By eight everything is ready and I put on a beautiful dress that emphasizes my curves. We set the table in the living room, and I lie down on the sofa near the fireplace. The peaceful crackling of the fire, the warmth and delicious smells lull me and I fall asleep. Robert's POV The Sabbath at the Berlinale was gorgeous: lots of blood, hot German witches, delicious flesh. I smile like a March cat when I remember how Matt Damon's shock turned to interest and how he listened with rapture to my explanations about light and Darkness. Newbies need to be interested, I already understood that, and there is nothing better than a Sabbath for this. I enter my apartment and immediately smell spaghetti with chicken. It's strange, Anne never cooks for me, the girl knows that I like to do everything myself. Then who? I go to the living room and see Anastasia, who is peacefully sleeping on the couch near the table set for two. Dinner, a romantic fucking dinner... None of my women have ever cooked something like this for me, none of them were waiting for me at home after work. I feel tears coming to my throat, and look at Steele. A sweet cheeky kitten who wants to take care of someone, she is so innocent in her sleep. I stroke her hair and carefully lie down next to her... Waking her up is a crime. Suddenly, Still starts to toss and turn and cry. - No, don't touch me! It hurts! Robert... Robert, help me, - the blonde moans and I hug her tenderly. - Shh... I'm fine here, - I purr and the girl falls silent. A smile appears on her lips, for which I am ready to give everything in the world.