They say when you love someone dearly at point of time, there comes a time when that love can turn into hatred for life.

Jared's POV

"Sir, the last candidate is being escorted inside."

"I don't want anyone near my room, Dorothy. As soon as she enters, get the fuck out of backstage."

"But sir-"

I pound a look at her that interrupts whatever she was planning to convey to me. I cannot allow anyone to seek me when I am most vulnerable. It's my own dark secret that today I am meeting up with greatest sin ever.

She looks confused and terrified at the same time and her stubborn nature doesn't allow her to leave me alone until and unless she gets a proper answer.

I stroll around my table and lean my frame against it. My arms cross over my chest and I reign in a defensive cast while my blue eyes remain fixated on off white walls.

"I won't do anything inappropriate, Dorothy, now get out."

I hear a giant release of breath before the door behind me opens and shuts.

My head starts to ache and my heart beat triples in speed and amount. First time in years I am volunteering to grab the opportunity to meet her in person. Even though I might be whimsical in opting for this decision but the moment I read her name in big letters on that piece of paper, something broke open inside of me. It's hard to explain and harder to gulp into my gut.

You're being a fool, Jared. You're endangering everything.

My conscience gives me a short pep talk before the door knocks and opens slightly and my frame turns around.

I ensconce on the high leather black chair behind the table and my hands ball into tight fist and I unlock it to release the numb feelings starting to allocate in my nerves. It feels like I am being summoned to the court for final justice.

"Fuck..."

I whisper when she strides in timidly in plain t shirt and pantaloon. She has grown bigger and voluptuous.

Her hair is longer touching her waist and she looks like a sweet angel with her green eyes facing my blue cerulean orbs. There is life, heat and anxiety in her eyes in contrast with shame and repugnance that I have learnt to hide ceremoniously over the period of time.

"Hello..., Mr. Jared Donovan?"

Her velvety soft voice is like pins and needles at the centre of my heart. Blood rushes in my ears and brain. Anger and guilt washes over me.

But I control it. I cannot afford to scare her away just yet.

"Hello, Miss Micki Waters. Please have a seat."

I nod towards the set of black office chairs in front of the desk. She looks fearful already when she shouldn't be given that her name was brought to me through the recommendation process which means she is no less than a spoiled brat.

And it's my chance of a lifetime to introduce her to discipline. If for once I'd forget the past, this actually sounds interesting.

**##**##**

Micki's POV

Don't look him in the eye.

Don't look him in the eye.

Don't look him in the eye.

Why am I being so nervous? I haven't event spoken more than 4 words with the man before me and I have already started to regret my decision of coming here today and the reminder falls in my mind no sooner than later that I am doing everything for my parents. I don't want them to feel shame because of me. I can unfold the mechanisations of my principal on a later date, first of all I have to prove myself worthy of something, even if the person that is going to interview me is the hottest man I have ever encountered.

His short clipped and combed black hair, lean frame, a smidgen of black ink sneeking out of the corner of his purple collar shirt, and his perfected blue eyes make me want to melt into the ground and worship the ground he has ever walked on.

What's gotten into me? I never expected myself to act like a love struck girl. If he will hire me then he's going to be my boss and I am swooning like crazy over my potential boss. This is utterly disastrous.

"Do you want something to eat or drink, Miss Micki Waters?"

The way he speaks my full name does something to me. I know for sure that my cheeks feel hot and it isn't because of the ventilation because the room has centralized air conditioning installed.

When I properly sit down on of the chairs, and let him stare at me, waiting for a response, I speak if not a meagre squeal.

"No-...ahm No, I am alright. Do you?"

His eyes widen and my legs turn weaker under the chair.

"Do I what Miss Micki Waters?"

"To drink or eat something? "

The irisis of his eyes grow darker for second before a sanguine smile scales on his lips.

"No, I am alright, too, thanks for asking though, Miss Micki Waters."

I bite my lip, why do I feel that he is doing this on purpose? This is the fourth time he has called me by MISS MICKI WATERS.

And everytime he does that, something turns and gallops inside of me. It forbidden and unknown, so I clear my throat for better appearance.

"You can just call me Micki."

He plays with his cufflinks on the table glass and starts to unfold my document folder which he already had with him.

"What's wrong with Miss Micki Waters?"

Shit, how long has it been already? The capability to face such an intimidating man is running out of my system by the passing seconds.

"Sir, Micki sounds easy and with less hassle."

His hands remove themselves from the manila folder and he relaxes on his leather chair with one leg crossed over other and his hands steepling over his knees.

"What if I don't mind calling you by your full name?"

What? How am I supposed to reply to that question? How should I tell him that it is making me feel uncomfortable? I am often bold whenever I meet people and pranks define me, but the way Mr. Jared is looking at me as if he is having a life time moment in each second of my bearing, as if he can feel the same torture his woody cologne is bringing to me, as if his own heart is betraying him is making a never known before personality out of me. And I know it is all delusional.

"I... It's... Okay then..."

"It's okay?"

"hmm... "

"I am kidding, Micki"

A familiar tone now creams his words. It felt like I heard those words before in the same manner which is next to impossible. Maybe, I had one of those deja vu moments. My ears feel ticklish and my mouth feels clammy knowing that a senior of a reputed firm is playing jokes on a candidate. What kind of interview is this?

"Anyway, lets start briefing you about the job? Shall we?"

My head which was hung low before in embarrassment, snaps instantly at him.

"What about my interview?"

He chuckles a bit and stops leaning back against his chair, instead he leans forward and uncrosses his legs simultaneously.

His breaths feels hot around me as he exhales a long chain of it.

"This isn't an interview, Micki."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"That means you're already hired."

My mouth now hangs open shamelessly and my brain has forgotten the meaning of etiquettes.

"But..."

His eyes close for a bit and he walks in front of me after a long struggle.

"Can you stand up?"

"Sure."

He offers me his hand and I take it instantly. A wave of heat and shock ripples through my veins and as a result I tumble forward and he safely encloses me in his long arms. In a moment one of his arms circles my waist and the other hand checks my cheeks.

I feel hot everywhere!

"Careful, Miss Micki Waters, I don't want you to get hurt."

I fight to my potential not to release a tough moan out of mouth. I cannot let Mr. Jared know what his presence is doing to me because otherwise it would come out to be super awkward and inappropriate.

When he releases me giving me enough time to balance myself, my body resists in letting him go. It wants his touch back on my skin. The betrayal of my body is growing stronger by minute.

When he leaves my personal space and walks over to the side wall with limited number of frames, I follow suit.

"Can you see these certificates and acklowedgments?"

I nod like a spring is attached to my neck.

He stands beside me at first to let me oogle at them and then unknowingly, when I step forward to touch the frames and read them carefully, I feel his heavy presence behind me.

The intake of his woody breath tickles my ear and his next sentence successfuly takes the ground away from below me.

"I am experienced and awarded enough to know which beauty with brains can I hire or not. Don't question my intelligence next time, Miss Micki Waters. Time is money for me and I am hiring you with a certain foresight."

When I am about to turn and give him a mouthful of comebacks in my mind his fingers shush my lips and his body refuses me to turn about.

Jerk!

"I know you're a brat, Micki. I know your reputation and I know your skills. You cannot fool me with words so don't even try. And just a tip of advice for your betterment, no other firm hires an intern with blacklisted stars. You're lucky I am willing to do so."

When I finally turn around, my eyes see red. My hands rise above to slap him tight on his face but he catches it in mid air and challenges me with his alluring stare.

"You don't wanna do that, Micki, I am your only hope. Join me from Monday and Dorothy, my PR, will contact you soon for further details."

"You're conceited and narcissistic, who says I am going to join your firm after your rudeness?"

"So you're a coward?"

"What do you know of me to think like that?"

His eyes peruse my body in one go and one of his dark brows quirk upward on mockery, "enough."

"No, you don't!"

"Then why don't you change my perspective?"

Blood boils in every part of my body now. I won't leave him for playing with my emotion. I have to give him a dose and for that I have to join him and make him regret on hiring him. He will pay the price to mess with me.

"You'll regret hiring me, Mr. Jared."

My eyes burn with the challenge and the same hand which was gripping mine, rubbs my wrist then leaves me to let go.

When I turn and rush towards the exit, I hear his loud gasp and a careful murmur which confuses me further, "I already do."

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