When I was a little girl, I was never the one that wished to be a princess. I never watched Cinderella thinking that some day that could be me. No, that just didn't happen. I was more the girl who sat on her daddy's lap and watched the Jets play football, and scream along when she thought something good happened. I played baseball in the street with the neighborhood kids, scraping my knees up with the rest of the boys. I came home daily with new bruises and scrapes, so much so that my mother stopped asking where they came from and just pointed me in the direction of the peroxide.

That's why looking at myself in the mirror was so foreign to me. I really looked like a princess. Tonight was the night for the company's benefit, and like Cameron asked, I went and bought a new gown for the occasion. It was emerald green, with rhinestones along the breasts and down the sides. It was strapless, but with my hair cascading down my shoulders with soft waves, you really couldn't tell. The green in the dress made my already bright green eyes stand out even more. And with the smoky black eye that Talia did for me, I looked exquisite.

Talia went shopping with me last minute and helped me pick it out, I had totally forgotten I had nothing to wear for this thing. "You look amazing Ray!" Talia exclaimed looking over my shoulder to see my reflection.

When we were younger Talia and I often got mistaken for sisters. We both had the same shade of brown hair and the same small line of freckles that went across our noses. Although her eyes were brown where my were green. I've known Talia since I was seven, and we got into a fight about a tree in our old neighborhood. She claimed she was there first, when in reality we both had been sitting in opposite branches for hours without noticing the other. And for some reason the two of us just stuck to each other like glue after that.

She lived not too far away in Greenwich Village working in an art gallery. Talia had always been more artsy that I was growing up. She would constantly be painting pictures of random things in Brooklyn, and eventually went to college for art at NYU. She was so talented and I was so proud of her accomplishments. Being best friends for over twenty years has made us as close as real sisters, and I was so thankful to have her in my life.

"Thanks. You don't think he will be there do you?" I asked Talia, turning around to grab my bag. Talia's face immediately fell, knowing exactly what I was referring too.

"I don't know, Doesn't he usually attend things like this?" She asked shrugging her shoulders. I have never been to something like this for the company, there was no need too. But as the years went on and I received more and more responsibility, I knew things of this nature would be required of me. It's been five years, I couldn't just expect to not socialize with people beyond my little quadrant of the company.

"I honestly don't know"

"Call me if you need anything, I wont hesitate to crash a party" Talia said, trying to give me an uplifting smile. It just came off as sad though. Talia knew the amount of pain this certain man caused me, and it was not going to be pleasant for me if I run into him tonight. "I know you wont" I said leaning in and giving Talia a tight hug.

She hugged me back even tighter and just held me knowing I would need a boost of confidence for tonight. "I'll be sleeping here tonight, so I wont be too far" Talia said as we pulled away and I grabbed my tiny clutch and house keys.

Talia followed me out quickly, and we said our goodbyes before I headed down to the limo. I scheduled the limo to pick me up first, giving Cameron plenty of time to get ready. Apparently Jessica Schwartz was already at his pent house. I tried not to let jealous get the best of me, but I had a hard time not pushing it to the back of my mind. Jessica wasn't the most appealing woman to be around. She was selfish and narcissistic, and always had something smart to say about the way others looked. She came from old money, and liked to flaunt it in other's faces. Of course she was a perfect angel when she was just around Cameron though.

The limo ride was short, probably ten minutes or so. And when we arrived at Cameron's I hopped out and rode the elevator to the top floor of his building to see if he needed help with anything. I had a key to his apartment that he gave me a few years ago for emergencies, so I let myself in without feeling the need to knock.

When I walked through his large foyer I heard the annoying sound of Jessica giggling about something in the sitting room. I peeked inside and saw she was of course on her cell phone, probably chatting on about something stupid with her friends. I quickly walked past her into the kitchen not wanting to speak to her without Cameron around.

I loved Cameron's apartment, it was modern and roomy and had probably the best view of New York I had ever seen. His large stainless steel kitchen was probably my favorite part of the whole place, it had a large counter you could sit at and look outside for hours.

I hear Cameron's voice in his office, and quickly walked down the hall to find him struggling with his bow tie in front of the mirror. Cameron could tie a tie in record time, but bow ties and him never got along. I chuckled lightly and when Cameron turned to see me the bow tie fell from his hands onto the floor. "Avery, you look magnificent" Cameron said with a small smile as he looked from my soft hair down to my even softer dress.

"Thank you for the dress, I love it" I said twirling the ends of the dress and admiring the dress once more for myself.

"Don't thank me, You deserve it" Cameron said before grabbing his bow tie off the ground and attempting to tie it once more. He struggled for several minutes before his eyes glanced over to my amused ones, and he pouted his lip out. I swear my heart stopped when he gave me that look. It was probably the cutest thing I had ever seen from the sexiest man alive.

"Would you mind? I'm utterly hopeless with these" Cameron said holding his bow tie out for me. I sighed before reaching out and gently grabbing it from his fingertips.

"I know you are, I have seen you how many times struggling in your office" I said chuckling remembering the many times I worked late and helped Cameron get ready for events like these. Often times they would be in the middle of the week and he would have to get ready at the office. He would always have disheveled hair from the long day at the office, and I always had to calm myself down before stepping into his office to tie these things for him.

I tied the bow tie around his neck within seconds, and adjusted it to where it looked perfect with his already handsome night black tuxedo. He looked so devilishly handsome, I really just wanted to grab that tie and pull him closer to my already heated body. But instead I opted to smooth down the lapels on his jacket and take a step back.

"What would I do without you Avery?" Cameron asked, his voice suddenly serious. Different from the joking pout that came from him only moments ago. I shrugged my shoulders not knowing how to respond. A part of me was happy he depended on me for so many things, It means he needed me, it made me feel wanted. It was something I was afraid to let go of, especially when it was time for me to move up in the company.

"You would lose your mind" I said softly, giving him a tiny smile. Cameron smiled back and opened his mouth to respond, but the appearance of Jessica next to us made him close his mouth.

"Are we going anytime soon." Her annoying voice said, full of boredom. "Oh. You're here" She added, looking over at me with disdain.

"Of course she's here, She works for me" Cameron said gently pushing both of our shoulders in the direction of his front door, probably hoping to avoid confrontation between the two of us. The elevator ride was awkward, with Jessica and her hands all over Cameron, and him trying to be nice to her while stealing glances at me. I just kept my face towards the doors, waiting for the moment they opened and i could get off. I really didn't want to watch Jessica "Get off" on the elevator.

The ride to the event was even more awkward. She was practically on his lap the whole time, but I was slightly happy every time she went to grab his bow tie, he swatted her hands away. Her dress was so damn short I could practically see everything God gave her when she moved around in the limo. When we did pull up outside of the Stanton Hotel, I was grateful to get out of there. Someone opened the limo door, and Cameron climbed out first before helping Jessica out next. Jessica went to slam the door shut before I could get out, but Cameron gently pushed her in the direction of the hotel.

"I'm sorry about her" Cameron said as he offered me his hand, which I gladly took and climbed out of the limo. The door was closed behind us, and it soon drove off before another one took it's place and the man waited to open their doors next.

"Don't worry about it" I said shrugging with a small smile. Cameron nodded and gave me a couple of directions about what I needed to do tonight, before wandering off inside the hotel. I waited behind a few minutes enjoying the night time air and the slight breeze I needed to cool my cheeks that were hot, they always were when I was around my boss.

But when the people in the next limo stepped out, I wished I walked inside when I had the chance. I would rather get locked in an elevator with Jessica for a month than look at this man.

Out walked my mother, with her too tight black dress and her botoxed face pulled back with hair in a flawless tight bun. And next to her stood the man I loathed, the man i wished I could just run over with a car. The man who took my virginity, the man who assaulted me for years, the man who stole my innocence and raped me.... my stepfather, Maxwell Preston.