Love is much like a wild rose, beautiful and calm but willing to draw blood in its defense.

by Mark Over

A ding sound emitted before the handle of the door was forced down and the door pushed to open. A pale skinned woman in her early fifties with hair the colour of chestnut stepped into the penthouse then took off her shoes by the side of the door to slip on a pair of grey open-heel slippers. She turned away from her shoes only to stop on her tracks by what beheld in front of her eyes. Her eyes widened a bit in surprise at the mess that played out. The apartment was barely in its glory. It was a shadow of what it used to be. Few clothes were sprawled across the sofa. Empty bottles of beer as well as wraps of half eaten chips were left on the center table and the floor, not in any way, vacuumed. Dirty dishes were left in the sink and it remained a mystery to her that no fowl stink was perceived. How was that even possible?

A woman that followed behind her gasped as soon as her eyes laid on the horror she never imagined could be possible.

The middle aged woman sighed as she lightly shook her head. She wondered why she was so surprised. This wasn't her first time of stepping into the penthouse and meeting it in such a distasteful state but each time, it managed to put her in a state of surprise. She wondered when, on earth, was her son going to change.

"He never listens and does the same thing... over and over again." She stated before turning to the brunette behind her, who held two filled up grocery bags in each hand while staring at the mess.

"You best get to work, Samantha 'cause it's going to be a long day plus... I don't want my son to meet us here." She told her, before walking away.

"Yes, Mrs. Vos." Samantha, who was a little over the age of thirty with a round face and dark brown eyes managed to give a reply regardless of the shock she was in. She never imagined the rich were equally dirty. She shook all thoughts aside and had started already; she didn't want to spend the night here.

Samantha set the grocery bags she held in her arms on the counter of the kitchen before sighing once more. She decided to get to work immediately with the cleaning.

Mrs. Vos stood by the end of the staircase and stared up for a second at the room above. She slightly debated whether to go up or not. Either way, her son was going to give her an earful. She'd best finish what she started, so she took her first step up the stairs and then a few more till she was at the very floor she needed to be. A few more steps on the wooden floor and she stood in front of his room. She turned the knob to push the door open. As usual, his bed was in disarray with the blanket nearly falling off the bed. Shirts, ties, shoes were in a total disarrangement. She sighed once more while staring at it all, before taking steps further into the room careful enough not to step on his properties.

She stood in the center, taking a look around. She couldn't help but wonder how he managed to run such a big company and keep it at its peak; but at the same time, completely refused to keep his home at its best. She understood he was always busy and that's why she always troubled him into getting a woman for himself. The very best would be a wife. A woman who would keep the home neat and composed, but he always brushed her words off. He preferred spending different nights with strange women. She would pull out their hair if she caught them with him any day, but her son was always careful with that. He neither introduced any of them to her, nor brought them home.

She always had to read scandalous columns regarding him from the news headlines and when he does get a girlfriend, it's for publicity as the lady is, either, an actress, a model or equally a rich heiress. It never lasted past a week. He never introduced them to her as well. It always irritated her to the core and it worried her that he showed no sign of settling down to build his own family.

She picked up the picture frame that lay with its face down on his bedside table. It was a picture of him, her and his aunt, Sofia. He stood in the middle with both his arms sprawled above their shoulders. He had a simple smile on his face, whereas both she and his aunt's smiled their broadest, showing their teeth as well. They stood behind a row of grape plants. Staring at the picture brought a smile to Mrs. Vos face.

Those were good times. Good times they spent together at the vineyard back in Italy. She missed it, especially the less Casanova side of her son. He didn't talk much with her. He always avoided having the conversation with her that required him talking about his feelings. A part of her suspected the reason behind his set back, but she brushed it aside. It was all in the past. Enrico was over the childish crush he had.

She gently set the picture frame back on its spot but this time; she left it standing straight. After a second of staring at her handwork, she looked away and went ahead to picking up his shirts off the ground and much more.

* * *

"Kiana, you're late." The manager told her as soon as she stepped out of the female locker room after changing into her work attire of a dark brown knee-length dress. The bottom sides of her sleeves were made out of cream color as well as her waist apron. There was a logo imprinted on the top left side of her dress. Her hair was still in a style of a bun.

"I'm sorry, sir." She apologised, as she searched around with her eyes for a trolley containing her needed cleaning supplies.

"Look, Kiana, you asked for a different shift and I let you have it but I won't tolerate tardiness." The caramel skinned man warned her and she quickly nodded, trying her best to show how remorseful she was.

"Yes, sir. It won't happen again." She stated as she took hold of the trolley filled with her cleaning supplies.

"Good. Now, you start with room 204. The guest just stepped out and expects it cleaned up before his return." He ordered her, before walking away to lash out more of his orders on several other maids hanging around.

"Yes, sir." Kiana replied even though he walked away and barely heard her.

She sighed afterwards as she shut her eyes for a split second. It was another day working as a maid at Sterlings Hotel and Suites. It wasn't a full time job, but one of her part times that she could still afford to squeeze into her tight schedule. She had anticipated probably letting this very job go if she does get a position as the personal assistant to Enrico Vos; but now, thinking of all that she had recently discovered, that was a gone dream. There was no way Tyler would give her a job. She had ruined his life in the past. She had left him embarrassed in front of the whole school and never bothered to apologise. Yes, she was a horrible person. She was selfish and self-centered. She did what she thought was best and cared not even a dime about his feelings.

Who would have thought, nine years later, she would seek help from him? The tables had turned and she acknowledged it. Thinking about his present position, she admitted the fact that he had done quite well for himself. She, on the other hand, hasn't quite changed. Her life was still a tacky mess with bills upon bills to pay up. Her mum was in prison and she was at the verge of giving her all to get her out of the hell hole she was in. She still had to pay back the few loans she took out to pay for her tuition. She always imagined finding a good paying job right after college; then she would pay it all off but things hadn't gone her way. Her dreams were shattered and plans rendered useless.

Now, she was in a world where she struggled to get a three-course meal a day and try her best to stay alive. She didn't think of anything else except eat, shelter and stay alive. She had decided to be less greedy with her expectations. She lowered her standards. Perhaps, God would answer at least those three least things. Her new-found desire of working at Edoardo Vineyards was now shattered. It would be best if she searched for a new job soon.

"Kiana!" The manager called as soon as he turned and noticed she hadn't move an inch since he left her. She had been staring out into space.

Kiana regained herself in a startle, as she turned to the sound of the voice to meet the manager glaring at her with a frown on his face and daggers in his eyes.

"I-I'm going." She quickly stated before pushing the trolley forward away from the locker room and towards the lobby, out of his sight before he could say anything further.

* * *

"Mr. Vos, which candidate do I tell to show up tomorrow?" The young lady who had been calling out the candidates earlier that day asked from where she stood across Enrico's table in his office.

He looked up to her, away from the screen of his desktop. His brows slightly furrowed at her question. He took a look outside through the window and realised it had gotten dark. The sun had set. He had spent nearly the entire day blocking away this very question. He neither wanted to think of it all, nor her. He had a choice to make and wondered why it became terribly difficult for him. This same time yesterday, he was pretty sure he needed a new assistant; but after gotten so many candidates and meeting Kiana after so many years, something changed within him. He had no exact idea what it was but it set him in disarray.

"Mr. Vos." She called to get his attention as she noticed he seemed lost in thoughts. Her call definitely got through to him as he turned his eyes back to her.

"Do you have a candidate in mind?" She asked needing a definite answer as the day was already up.

He stared at her for what seemed like minutes before he put up a simple sly smile.

"I do."

* * *

"Thank you very much." Kiana appreciated with a simple smile just after collecting a few currency notes from the man who stood by his door in front of her.

He reciprocated her smile with his before taking a step backward and shutting the door with one hand while the other held on to two boxes of pizza.

Kiana sighed in satisfaction as she pocketed the money while heading down the porch and back to the scooter parked on the out front. The scooter that belonged to the pizza shop she presently worked at. She had successfully delivered her third round for the night. She was now in a khaki trouser and yellow T-shirt which had an imprinted logo on the top left side of her shirt. She wore a pair of black canvas on her feet. Her bun was gone but her hair remained in a state of bundle as she held it with a band.

She picked up the helmet she had left on the scooter and was at the verge of putting it on when her mobile phone vibrated in the pocket of her trouser. She held the helmet in one hand before reaching down into the pocket of her trouser to get her phone. Her brows slightly furrowed at the caller ID. The number on the little screen of her phone was less of recognition to her. Regardless of that, she decided to take the call.

"Hello." She answered as she brought the phone to her ear and waited patiently for a reply.

"Hello. Am I speaking with Kiana?" A soft female voice came through.

"Uh, yes." Kiana answered wondering what this was about.

"Great. My name is Lisa and I work at Edoardo Vineyards, where you were part of the interview held earlier today regarding the position of personal assistant to Mr. Enrico Vos. I'm glad to announce to you that you got the job. Congratulations." She explained all at once and waited calmly for a reply.

Kiana's eyes widened in surprise, which was followed by the furrowing of her brows. She couldn't believe what she just heard and so she took the phone away from her ear and stared at it for a split second.

"Is this a joke?" She asked nearly no one in particular in a whisper before bringing the phone back to her ear, as she heard the lady on the other side calling out to her.

"Hello? Kiana?" She called just as Kiana brought the phone close to her ear.

"I... I think you've got the wrong girl. I mean, my name is Kiana Stuart. K-i-a-n-a Stuart. There was probably another Kiana at the interview." She spelt out.

"I know and I'm staring at your file right now. You're a blonde who's of the age, twenty-five. I'm pretty sure I'm talking to the right person." Lisa intervened regardless of Kiana's attempt to discourage her.

Kiana's brows squeezed further. How could that be? Did she really get the job but...what about Tyler? Did he agree to this? Was he going to let her work for him regardless of everything that happened? Could he truly be helping her out? Was there the slightest possibility that he let bygones be bygones? She didn't know what to think. Was this a good thing or a bad thing? Was it acceptable for her to work for him?

"H-hello? Kiana?" Lisa's voice came through once more, wondering if she was still on the line.

"Y-yes." She managed to reply.

"Would you be up to start tomorrow? There are lots to do."

"Uh... Um..." Kiana hesitated as she had a hard time deciding what would it be. She wouldn't deny the fact that she badly needs this job but then, on the other hand, was the mystery of Enrico's real agenda. She didn't know if it was him sincerely giving her this job or him just trying to rub his power in her face. She let out a light sigh. Either way, she had no choice but to take it all in and, at the end, get a fat paycheck. It would definitely be worth it.

"...Yes. I'll be there tomorrow." She finally gave a reply regardless of how much her head screamed at her not to.

"Good. I'll let Mr. Vos know. Good night, Kiana." Lisa told her and thereafter cut the call after getting an equal good night from Kiana.

Kiana put the phone back into her pocket. She stood right there silently, as several thoughts ran through her head. Yes, she was probably stupid with her decision but she had to be practical here. She needed this job more than anything else, and saying a no to the offer would be utter stupidity. She shook her head as if that would stop the train of thoughts in her mind before she hopped on the scooter and was at the verge of putting on the helmet when her mobile phone rang once more.

Her brows furrowed once more at who it might be this time around. If it was the pizza shop she worked for, well they needed to cool down 'cause she was already on her way back. One look at the caller ID on the screen of her phone after she got it out of her pocket, the expression on her face changed. Her eyes became filled with something much different. Worry showed on her face as she debated on whether to pick the call or not. She had stalled talking to them long enough. Finally, she answered and brought it close to her ear.

"Kiana. Kiana. Kiana...tsk, tsk." A masculine voice called out in calmness with a hint of amusement in his voice.

Kiana gulped down.

"Have you... Perhaps... Been avoiding me?" He asked in a voice, filled with amusement followed by sarcastical worry.

She sighed.

"I'm not avoiding you, Trent." Ana finally spoke up.

"Good, 'cause I worried for your sake... When do I get my money, Kiana?"

"I need a week more and you'll have it." She stated without thinking.

"A week more? You've had years to clear your mother's debt but you never really did and now, it has piled up and of course...with interest."

"Interest?" Kiana asked, with a frown on her face.

"What are you talking about, Trent? I accepted to pay up all that my mother borrowed from you, but there was no talk of additional money." She blurted out between gritted teeth. Each time she had a talk with this very same man, her blood boils at his every demand. If only she wasn't so helpless.

"For nine years Kiana... Nine years, I waited patiently for you to come to me. To accept my proposal and become my woman but you refused. You would rather break your back working, night and day. That interest is my payment for the patience I've endured towards you." He narrated, with a hint of amusement still lingering in his voice and she could just imagine his face as he spoke. She hated having to see him. She sighed resigning to her fate.

"Okay.... I'll definitely pay back every dime but I still need more time."

"You don't have any more of that... I'm giving you three more days to handover all you owe me or better yet... Accept my proposal." He warned.

"I'm never letting myself be enslaved by you. You'll definitely have your money." She told him, as her face squeezed up in disgust by his proposal.

"Good.... Good 'cause you know what happens when someone doesn't keep their promise to me... I take everything and I ruin their life. I wouldn't want it to come to that between us. We've gone a long way together."

"Good night, Trent." She told him before cutting the call, refusing to give him anymore chance to torment her with his words.