Estella's POV:

I freeze overlooking the name...  I thought I still had a few days. Over to my right I see Ms. Anthony stiffen as well which surprises me, sighing, I reject the call and put it on silent for time being.

"You're not going to take the call?" Mr. Anthony says, and I look at him still wondering why does he seem familiar but I just shrug off the feeling.

"Uhh... I don't think, it'll be good to take the call... It may just blow up in my face than I wish or hope. So I'll deal with it later. " I just plainly reply.

He leans forward putting hands together on the desk, above my file, which in the entire I have been here he has not touched or even opened, "The job opening I have for is as my PA. Of course, it will include designing as well. Your decisions will affect my final say on any project." I am about to speak up when he simply points his hand in a motion to not even bother, "Otherwise, I don't have any openings listed, also, don't even bother saying you will apply elsewhere because no one will accept if they don't wish to make me their enemy. And believe me, no one wishes to anger us, angel. " He's smirking at the end and now, I think, I just made the worst mistake that was thinkable...

I escaped one golden prison only to end up in another, which if you ask me sucks to no end... I glare at Zachariah. Yup, long-forgotten being formalities. He has the nerve to smirk, "Fine! I will just go back to my home country and apply there! I don't need to work for a lousy company like yours with."

The smirk immediately disappears and the look he is supporting right now is scary to the point a cold shiver runs down my spine... "I wouldn't do that if I were you. Do not underestimate what and with whom I have connections. Don't blame me for being ruthless to your beloved Adrian."

"You're bluffing..." But even I know my voice doesn't support my statement, "Why me? You already have an assistant, why in the hell do you want to hire me as your PA? when clearly my qualifications are not suited."

I want to pull my hair at the stunt I just pulled and the situation I am now stuck in. He just sits back looking at me without a care in the world, I look at his sister to see if someway I can convince her before I can get one word out, Zachariah cuts me off, "Don't bother, my sister will not be able to do anything, also, this company belongs to me. So my decision can not be rivaled."

I glare at him back once more, "Fine! I will just force you to fire me one way or the other." I say satisfied with my response.

"Again, I don't think you would be able to do, as you tend to be very sweet as well as responsible." He says with a satisfied smirk on his face, which I am starting to really hate...

"I am starting to truly despise you!" I say standing up.

He loses the smile just a bit, "I am looking forward to seeing you tomorrow at 8.30 a.m. Your contract will be prepared by then."

Without answering him, I take my belongings and leave, I just really want to leave them and never look back but I doubt I will have such a luxury.

Heading back to the hotel that for the time being I am staying at which happens to be owned by the same person I now officially hate. It's hilarious, isn't it?

Next day

Even though I want to act like a b*tch I still don't have it in me... This brings me to my current predicament... I don't have 1st clue on what to wear for a PA job...

Finally, after almost an hour I decide to go with a combination of classics.

The only thing that scares me is that by the end of the day my feet are going to be killing me.

Looking at the time I sigh taking a big glass of milk, don't judge me! I am a growing girl... Taking my keys I head out to the main and provide my keys to the valet and go to retrieve my car, at that moment, I see a familiar face, which I know for damn sure is going to get me in trouble... Yup, you guessed it! My brother...

I quickly walk back inside the hotel and hide out in the corridor... Damn it... What the heck is he doing here in California? He was supposed to be in Turkey for an inauguration of the new hospital he was opening.

After a little while when I am sure he is no longer there I hurry outside, only to collide with someone and end up on the ground really bad... Shit! I think I sprained my ankle. I shouldn't have worn heels. They are nothing but rotten luck for me.

"Sorry..." The guy looks at me as though, he's seen a ghost. He still offers me his hand and grabbing I stand up, but hiss at the pain.

"Estella?!" He says as though, I am the ghost of Christmas past. That's saying something.

"That would be me. But how do you know my name? Your reaction literally is the same as Anna's... That's something alright." He looks at me bewildered.

"Y-You don't remember Anna or Cecilia? At all?" The stranger asks me almost horrified.

"Look buddy, I don't remember her at all. I had an accident almost 4 years ago, even everything is fuzzy. So even if you say she's my sister, I would still say, I'm sorry. But that's it. When I don't remember anything, I can't pretend, I do. So thanks to you, I am now late."

I speed walk away from the creepy guy and even though my ankles hurt like hell, I don't care, I need to do what I need to do. Reaching the office in record time, I in relieved that I still have 15 minutes to spare. I arrive on the floor and see the same assistant as yesterday. I have a bad feeling that she is going to hate me.

She eyes me critically and then snorts, which is something I should be doing considering that the clothes she's wearing, it doesn't matter even if she's wearing them, she looks like a complete sl*t. Sorry for the language but it makes me ashamed as a female...

"Do you have an appointment? She drawls clearly showing that I don't belong.

Before I get one word out, I hear the devil's voice behind me, "Ah, Estella, right on time. That's good to know. Come with me." He doesn't stop and just walks ahead and I really wanna show him, that I am not some dog he can boss around then again, I don't have much of a choice here.

To my surprise, he keeps the door open for me to step in and then closes it, behind him. I remain standing and await what he wants to say. He takes a seat, and then motions for me to take a seat which I do. I take note that there is an extra desk right beside his, a little smaller in size. That's odd, as far as my memory takes me it wasn't there before. Maybe, his sister is going to work with him now.

"I take it, you have noticed the change in the office. Before, we start, I want you to sign the contract so that you are officially a part of us." He says it calmly.

I sigh, and take the contract from him, what gets me is the expiration of the contract is 5 years. I glare at him and he simply shrugs, "What the hell? 5 years? Are you kidding me? Who in their right minds constructed the contract?"

He chuckles at my reaction, "I take it you have not read the entire contract then?"

"There is no freaking way, I am signing this!" I say and get up from my spot.

As I go to the entrance, only to find it locked, I glare at him and he simply shows me the remote that is in his hand. Seems like whenever he is in sight of vision I seem to glare at him.

"You'll have to sign it, otherwise, whatever Adrian owns, including all the investors at the moment he's meeting keeping in mind that he is in fact in the U.S. will not work with him. Believe me, I am a man of my words." He says it with no room for discussion.

I look at him then finally succumb to the floor, with tears. I gather my knees and start sobbing. I am not one to let out my weak side. But this is ridiculous. I want to shout at him but don't have it in me, knowing I am putting my family at risk. I don't even notice, he comes to my side and gathers me in his arms. I don't know why I don't say a word. He puts me on the couch where yesterday his sister was seated and wipes away my tears with his thumbs.

"I don't understand... W-Why are you doing this? What did I or my family do to you? You're basically keeping me, prisoner!" In the end, my voice raises a little unable to hold back.

He shakes his head, "I have my reasons... Believe me when I say that they aren't your real parents and I have all the necessary documentation to prove it. I know you won't believe me. I know what they did was for your welfare, no doubt in that. But..." He doesn't continue and for the first time I look into his eyes to see emotions, I didn't know men even show at all.

"That doesn't explain your need to imprison me," I say simply.

"No, it doesn't. I want you to remember the relationship that you had with my sister. She lost her smile after you left. I blame myself every day for that. I know, I am forcing you. But you'll understand, hopefully finding it in you to forgive for my selfish actions." He says simply, once again devoid of all emotions.

He gets up and goes back to his desk. He brings over the contract, "If you want to step out of this office, you'll need to sign it." He hands it over to me and goes back to his desk as if nothing even happened.

I look at him blankly, looks like they don't call him heartless without a reason. Wiping away my tears angrily, and I sign the stupid contract without a second glance. I throw the contract on his desk. It barely misses his hand. He looks at me raising an eyebrow but doesn't say anything, and checks the contract to make sure that I signed all the pages.

He then smiles at me. Getting up he goes to his cabinet that has a special lock and places it in it, "You can start looking at the files. They're all in your drawer. If you any questions you can ask me. Also, if you need to use the restroom it's on your right."

I look at him and say, "And where may I ask is my desk?"

He looks at me as if I'm a child, "Right beside mine."

I look at him shocked, "What the—" He cuts me off, "It is in the contract, If you wish I can send you an email of the copy."

"And why can't I use the restroom on this floor? Does your secretary also uses this restroom?" My nose scrunches up at just the thought. He shakes his head at that.

My body relaxes a little at the information. Without sparing him a glance, I go to the restroom and look at my face and it has smudges marks due to the crying fest I had just now. Sighing, wash my face, and then leave as it is just applying a little bit of moisturizer and lip gloss. Stepping out I go to my desk.

This is all happening so strangely, it makes me highly uncomfortable but I don't have a say in any of this. On my desk, my employee card along with another card I am unfamiliar with is placed. I look at it, then turn my stance towards him.

Raising my card he nods, "This is a special card, which only a few have. It will give you access to the private elevator and my office."

I nod and take it. After some time there is a knock on the door and opens the door and his secretary steps in. Her steps falter a bit at the sight of me. I don't pay any heed until he calls me, "Estella, do you want to have something to drink?"

"No, thank you. If I want something, I'll go myself." I simply reply getting back to my work.

I don't know how much passes, until he calls me again, "Today, my father is coming over. Do you want to have lunch with me?"

"Thanks for the offer. But I'm not hungry. I'd rather get acquainted with my work." I say simply not even bothering to look at him.

"It wasn't an offer. You don't have a choice, I was only giving you the illusion you had a choice." He says, leaving no room once again for argument.

I don't even bother looking at him, after a couple of moments, he comes to my desk and puts his hand on my laptop, and making sure to save the work, he closes it. Then looks at me with steely eyes, "I don't want to repeat myself, Little Star." I nod my head, almost robotically and am out of my seat.

Making sure, I have everything, I let him lead. On our way out I see his secretary throwing daggers my if she could she would throw a real one too.

After stepping into the elevator he looks at me as though he wants to say something but holds himself back. As we leave he waits for me to get in his car, but I need my space, so simply let him know I will follow but not ride in the same car. He took away my independence. I won't let him rule over my decisions outside the office. He grunts but doesn't argue.

Reaching the elegant restaurant I want to appreciate but refrain from doing it as I remember immediately, whose design it is. It is one of his earliest works that truly impressed the world.

"I take it you like the structure?" He asks, and I see for the first time in an hour's real emotion in his eyes. He wants to know my thoughts on it.