EMMA

"I..." I growled in a low voice, "Quit!" Giving my final glare to my so-called boss, I spun around in my heels and towards the door.

If he thought he could scare me with his clever games, with some tricks up his sleeves, and his little research on me, he didn't know me yet. It was true, I was intimidated by him but only for a few minutes. That was it! Who wouldn't? When the person you hated the most turns out to be your boss on your first day and at a time when you had been searching for a job for months, no one in his right mind wouldn't lose his mind. But if he took that little bewildered moment of mine as my weakness, he was wrong!

No way in hell was I giving anyone the right to control my life or my decisions. Especially not some arrogant ass of a man.

I reached towards the door knob but before I could grab it, a strong hand wrapped around my arm, pulling me back - a bit too forcedly. I gasped as my feet stumbled in my heels. Fuck! That's why I hated heels! They make you lose your balance and make you fall. But I wore them anyway because well, today was one good shitty day and I wanted to look best for this day.

My eyes widened and my mind stopped its sarcastic remarks as a warm hand wrapped around my waist. My heart jumped out from my chest and into my stomach. Was that even possible? I felt something strong and hard beneath my hands as my mind started to register back to working one moment at a time. I was holding his arms which were apparently too big and sturdy that my hands happened to clutch just the fabric of his jacket. I looked small in front of his broad shoulders, huge chest, and long arms. I felt small. Despite my five feet six inches and my two inches heel, he still had the advantage of height. I hated it.

Asshole!

When my eyes met his, I sucked in a breath. His once stark eyes held something new within them. Something different from his taunting glint, his domineering look. They held something more. It felt like the steel blue eyes of his melted into some shade of blue sky and the longer I stared at them, the more I felt them penetrating my soul. I hated it.

Jerk!

My eyes traveled from his eyes to his masculine face. Perfect straight nose, as it had never been broken before - not yet. Firm jaw, like they were custom sculpted for him - waiting to be cracked. Thin lips, like they were made to be kissed - asking to be bruised. And that light stubble on his face, like he forgot to shave today - giving his face a ruggedly handsome look. I hated it.

Fuck!

I hated him and yet, my heart was steps away from leaping out of my chest. When I said hate and love were awfully similar, I meant this. Because right now, it was definitely hatred. Hundred and one percent hatred.

My mind turned back to its full operations and my body jerked up as his face inched closer. What the hell! I let go of his arms but his hand still rested on my waist while the other held my arm. I needed to get away from him. Away from his warmth that was burning me up like a summer sun. Away from his scent that was choking me like a summer heat. Away from his suffocating gaze.

I pushed him away and to my surprise, he let me go. He stepped back taking his heat with him and cold air enveloped me in a hug.

Finally!

He cleared his throat. "I am sure Mr. Daniel had briefed you on your tasks," he said but I didn't look at him. A part of me wanted to turn around and leave while another part of me - the foolish one - stopped me. "I don't tolerate mistakes. I don't like people slacking off. And I do not hear excuses. One wrong step, and I will make sure you never set a step into this building again."

My mind instantly clicked. If I couldn't quit then maybe...

"And I will make sure you don't get another job in the entire state of America." He stated and this time, I looked at him. His smirk was back to its usual place. He knew what I was thinking and he made sure that whatever I was starting to plan, I fail.

Emma! It couldn't be that bad. It's just a year, twelve months, 365 days. That's it. You can do this.

The foolish part of my mind tried to convince me. Maybe it was right. I was never the one to run away. Maybe I should stay and do whatever I can to ruin the rest of his next twelve months.

When I took a little longer to respond, he stepped closer and whispered, "Wise choice, kitten!" He walked past me and out of my office.

What the hell! Kitten?

Was I his pet or -

Wait a minute! I walked to the table and grabbed the grey pen in my hand. Cat-shaped grey pen. It was from him. Fuck!

Who the hell did he think he was? He was nothing more than a silver-spooned jerk who happened to be lucky enough to be born into a wealthy family. Who gave him the right to call me as he liked?

I hated him. I hated this all but the thing I hated the most was, I couldn't think of a single way to free myself from him. I felt helpless, once again.

I picked the notebook up and tore the page stained with his handwriting. Crumpling it into a paper ball, I threw it along with the pen into the trash can.

--------------------

Considering how the day started, it was not that bad to my utter surprise. After my jerk of a boss waltzed his way out of my new territory, his blond secretary flooded me with files and more files. Turn out, this company does have a manual and a strict one. Every task was written in time. Office time, nine to five. Briefing time, ten to eleven. Presentations, eleven to twelve. Lunch, one to two. And so on. The schedule changed over days but the allocated time remained fixed. Was my new boss a time freak?

I looked through the company's policy, and some important line extensions - like the one that calls security, and went through my new boss's future meetings. This man seemed to have more meetings and events to attend than a country's President. Just how successful was he? And in just a year?

'He is a good person. Much like his father but more competent.' Mr. Daniel's earlier words came to my mind. Competent, I agreed but good? Not in a thousand years. He was a devil in black! With a black soul who preyed on people like me.

"What did you get yourself into, Emma!" I muttered to myself and let out an exhausted sigh.

I stood up and stretched myself. My body was used to running around the cafe, taking orders, serving them, and now, after sitting for almost three hours straight, it felt cramped. My eyes roamed around the small place, settling on the black door beside the couch. I hadn't checked that yet. Maybe it led to a small bathroom or closet? I walked to it and turned the knob around. I opened it anticipating some congested storage room but as my eyes roamed around the space, it was nowhere close to small, it was huge and expensive. Huge windows peeking within the white blinds reached the grey-marbled floor, bookshelf covering half of the front white wall behind the black leather couches. Some million dollars painting hung on the wall to the side. Lights hanging low in the center just a few steps away from the huge table and... him.

My eyes settled on the jerk sitting on his rich leather seat and his eyes locked mine in a stare. "Missed me already?" His lips pull up in a smirk.

Fuck!

"Only in your dreams!" I grunted under my breath and shut the door close. If he did say something, I didn't hear it. Had I known to what hell this door led to, I would have made sure to seal it off for good.

The clock in front showed it was already one and according to the manual, lunchtime. Finally, some minutes of free space.

Taking my purse, I went to the cafeteria which according to my search was on the tenth floor. As the elevator went down, more and more people started to flood in and I stepped to a corner at the back. I stepped out when it reached the tenth floor and just like I anticipated, the cafeteria was no less than the rest of the building. I went to the counter and raked through the long list of menus posted above. I gave my order and sat at the empty seat just two tables away. With each passing time, the place started to flood in with more and more employees. Some silently eating, some were scrolling through their phones amidst their bites and some laughing at some exciting topic, I believe. I was waiting for my order when someone came up and stood in front. "Excuse me! Is that seat vacant?" I looked up to see a young woman who seemed she was in her late twenties or maybe early thirties. Her ginger-colored hair was tied up into a messy bun, green eyes that matched her green shirt, and freckles spread across her nose and her cheeks.

"Yes," I replied.

"Thank you," she smiled and sat right in front of me.

For me, meeting new people was always awkward because I wasn't much of a conversation starter, well in normal cases. We stayed silent and when my order number flashed through the screen in front, I stood up to take it. I returned to my seat, still not speaking a word. I unwrapped my sandwich and took a bite of it. I tried to ignore her as her fingers continued to tap on the table and her eyes roamed around the room. Was she waiting for someone?

"A new employee?" After a minute, she broke the silence and I nodded. "Yes, It's my first day."

"Which department?"

"CEO's office. I'm the new assistant." I wiped my mouth with the tissue paper as I spoke.

"Oh! So you are the one they hired?" She looked at me as if confused for a second. What was wrong with me getting hired? "Why you asked?" I inquired and she smiled.

"Nothing. It's just that seeing how the new position was created in such a short time, I thought it would be quite difficult to hire immediately," she paused, "but seeing you, I believe they made the right choice. Best of luck."

As she stood up to get her order, my mind couldn't help but wonder. New position? Short time? And then the right choice? What did she mean by all of that? Was I really lucky enough to get a job or was this a part of his game? Was it really a coincidence that he turned out to be my boss or was it a part of his plan?

No! This couldn't be. Why would he go to such extremes to hire me? No! It was definitely a part of my luck which - like always - turned out to be a cursed one.

"So, how long have you been working here?" I questioned as soon as she returned with her tray.

"Almost a year." She munched on her seasoned salad and take a sip of the juice. I don't know how people manage to survive eating that. I could never switch to such a diet.

"So, what is Mr. Wilton like?" I started my little interrogation.

"As in?"

"I mean his behavior with the employees." I wanted to know on what side of the cliff do I stand and whether I had a chance to crawl out of it or not.

"Well," she paused and took another sip of her juice. "He is what we call a ruthless businessman. Believe me, since my time here, I have seen more people get fired than in my entire life. He just fires them like this." She snapped her finger while looking at me. "But the devil got the charms too. Do you know, according to the magazine Gossip Days, he was nominated as the most eligible bachelor and it was said that" she stopped and drew closer. Her voice dropped down some decibels as she whispered, "It is not only just business he's good at, turns out he is equally good in bed. No doubt every woman swoons over him, or that's what the articles say," she chuckled and I scrunched my nose up. "And who wouldn't? I mean, come on! He is your whole course meal," she winked and a chill ran down my backbone.

Too much information!

And not the one that I wanted!

"By every woman, you mean you too?" This question took her by surprise as she stared at me. She didn't say anything and I instantly felt conscious. I shouldn't have asked that.

"I... I am s—"

At once, she started laughing and it was my turn to be confused now. Did I say something funny?

"I am sorry," she said between laughs, "but that was a good one."

I stared at her, still not knowing what the hell was happening. She took a spoonful of his salad and then shrugged her shoulders. "I mean, yes he is an eye candy, but he is also an arrogant ass." Okay! I agreed with her on that, not the first part but the last. He was an arrogant, egotistical asshole!

"Also," she continued, "right now, my eyes are on someone else." She smiled as a tint of red colored her cheeks.

"You know his secretary Taylor Seville?" she whispered and I nodded while taking a bite of my sandwich. "I met her in the morning."

"I heard that Mr. Wilton and she spent the last weekend together in the hotel," she whispered and I cringed at the mere thought. Again, too much information! Where the hell did she even hear those things? But I must admit, they would make a good couple. With that jerk's looks and Taylor's beauty, they would look pretty good together. Moreover, both lacked in the manners department so they were made for each other. Perfect!

"Hey! Back to earth!" She snapped her fingers in front of my face.

"Ah, Sorry." I shook my head. "What's your name?" I asked before we could switch back to the topic of him and his mastery in bed. I wanted this time to be away from that jerk and his torturing thoughts but all we talked about was him.

"My name's Violet Reed. And I know, I know you would say Scarlett's name suited me more but my parents loved the colored violet and hence my name." She ranted on and a smile broke on my lips. She reminded me of Alice. With her continuous chattering, her excited voice, and the touch of humor in her conversations, her personality was a lot similar to Alice's. Only I hoped, she didn't suffer from shopping addiction.

"What's yours?"

"Emma James," I replied. "Nice to meet you."

She grinned. "You too."

"God, Violet! I have been looking all over for you," a man's voice came, and I turned my head to see a guy who seemed just around the age of Violet or maybe a bit older. His black hair was combed backward and his brown eyes shifted from Violet to me.

"I didn't know you had company," he said, still looking at me. The stubble on his face gave him a mature and handsome look but not as handsome as...

Shit! What did I just think of!

"Hey, Kev! Meet Emma. She's new here." Violet chirped and I turned my attention to my unfinished sandwich. I was not interested in knowing him or any other guy as a matter of fact.

"Emma! He is Kevin Han. Yes! Half Asian. We both work in the Marketing department." But the way Violet introduced him to me, I looked at him because not noticing him would be rude now.

"Nice to meet you, my lady." He bowed in front of me and my eyes widened.

"Look! Chivalry is not dead after all!" Violet chuckled and my lips curled up in a small smile.

"You know me, ginger." Kevin winked at Violet as he slide on the seat beside her and I didn't miss the slight blush that crept up on Violet's cheeks. I think I knew whom she had her eyes on.

As time passed I started to loosen up around them, stepping into the comfortable zone one step at a time. Violet, as I thought, was a lot like Alice, and thank god, she wasn't much of a fan of shopping. As for Kevin, he wasn't that bad after all. He cracked a few jokes and teased Violet with some remarks but none of them were nasty or rude. Still, he was not someone to come on my list of friends. I don't trust his specie enough to give him a spot in my life, even as a friend.

But seeing them like this did remind me of those times. The times when I once was like Alice, like Violet. Like a girl who was about to fall in love. Like a girl who once believed in love, who once followed her heart.

Stop!

Emma! You are better than that now. You buried it for good.

Yes, my mind was right. Everything was fine now. It was better this way.

No more men, no more lies, no more heartbreaks, and no more games.

------------------------------------------------------

So how was that?

Send me your comments.

Don't forget to vote...

Love ya all!