An hour later, Ana was sitting in Mrs. Cope's office and looking at her angrily.
-How do you keep an eye on the children? There's a gang of cannibals operating in the city, and you... - Ana looked angrily at the headmistress.
-We keep an eye on them as best we can. Understand that they're not alone. I'm responsible for the entire boarding house. You have to influence them. For Phoebe and Teddy, there's no greater authority than you, Miss Still. They're very capable, - the headmistress spread her hands.
Ana nodded. Coming out of the office, she saw Theodore and Phoebe reading something on their tablet.
-What are you doing? The headmistress says you're capable, - Ana sat down next to the children.
-That's clear, - Phoebe smiled.
-And you're wandering around God knows where, - Anastasia growled.
- Miss Steele, you are not our mother to scold us, - Theodore noted.
Ana thought about it. She really wasn't a mother to these children. But she felt responsible for them, she was worried about them...
The elderly Jewish man in glasses looked closely at Anastasia and the children.
- So not guardianship, but rather adoption, - he said.
- Yes, - Anastasia nodded.
- You have housing. And you receive rations, - he said, typing something into his laptop.
- Reinforced, - Ana nodded.
- Does your husband object? - The representative of the guardianship authorities asked.
- I'm not married, - Ana smiled.
- Do the children have any objections? - The man asked.
- No, we are orphans, - Phoebe said.
- Just don't raise your voice at me, young lady. I've already had my voice raised. And it ended badly for me, - the man printed out two documents. - Sign, children.
Phoebe and Theo looked at Ana.
- What is this? - Theo asked.
- I'm adopting you, - Ana smiled
- Are you our mother now? - Phoebe asked incredulously
- Yes. - Anastasia nodded.
- Mom! - Phoebe and Teddy threw themselves on Anya's neck and hugged her. All three were crying with happiness.
- We will always, always obey you now, - Theodore assured the girl.
Then all three turned to the man
- Where to sign? - Anastasia and the children asked in unison.
- How are you? - The next morning, Gray looked into Anya's office.
- Fine. I adopted the children, - Ana smiled, looking at Gray over her laptop. - And you? Any leads?
-No, but we're collecting DNA from the things we found. We'll find out which Hollywood celebrities think they're above the law and bust them. And then we'll get to the Academician and I'll have that bastard hanging from a noose in front of the Hollywood sign,-Christian grinned.
-As for the last one... I don't know. Maybe he has a motive and accomplices. Yes, he's in charge of everything, but to pull off all these things in different countries... There's clearly an extensive crime network here. A whole web... If only we knew what we were up against. And by the way... I liked it with the pizza then. What are you doing tonight?-Ana stood up.
-Ana,-Gray was confused.-You don't know me at all. I... I have a difficult character and... a past.
-I'm not a sugar daddy either. But... I'm drawn to you,-The girl was unable to hide what she felt.
-There's something you should know...-Christian began haltingly.-My family...
Suddenly Kate burst into the office.
-Ana, Jack was attacked!-Kavanagh shouted.
Anastasia and Gray looked at each other in horror.
*
An hour later, Ana was in the ward, where Jack Hyde lay unconscious in a hospital bed.
-Is he alive?-Anastasia asked John Flynn
-Yes, but in a coma. Multiple wounds, internal bleeding... His condition is moderate. We are doing everything to ensure that he survives. The attack took place in a gateway not far from your site. He was clearly walking towards you. And yes, when he was found, there was a phone near his body. Perhaps he filmed something,-John suggested.-I informed Leila, his fiancée.
- I called Roach, asked for security for this room, - Christian said, entering the room.
Ana nodded. John handed her Jack's phone. Ana looked at her friend.
- Please wake up, - she whispered and left the room.
Going outside, Ana leaned against the wall, exhausted, and sobbed. Christian hugged her.
- Everything is fine, go home, I'll get to myself, - Ana assured. But Christian hugged her tighter. The girl listened to her feelings. Calm, cozy, safe... She felt so calm only in Ray's arms.
- I won't leave you alone. Not today... Let's go to my place, - the man suggested, stroking Anastasia's black hair.
Ana nodded
Ana in a white robe with wet hair was sitting by the fireplace with a glass of wine. Christian was cooking and delicious aromas were coming from the kitchen.
Gray's apartment was huge, it felt grand and chic. Like his office, his apartment was dominated by white. There were reproductions of famous paintings on the walls. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a bird's eye view of the evening city of angels.
Christian came out of the kitchen with two plates of lasagna and a bottle of cola. He and Ana settled down by the fireplace and ate in silence. Christian knew perfectly well that now was not the time to talk to Ana.
After dinner, he cleared the dishes and got ready to go to bed.
-Good night, Ana,-He looked at her with a warmth that was not typical of him.
-Chris,-The girl called out to him. He turned around.
-Thank you,-The girl smiled.
He nodded and left.