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I caught her before she could've fallen down on floor and as I noticed her distraught face, for a second I forgot everything about this world, all the right and wrong, ugly and beautiful, fake and real. I was gaining my sanity when I'd unveiled my insanity to her. It's too late for me to realise, to regret and to rebuild.

I heaved her straight into my arms and whisked her off to her room. I settled her gently into the bed so that it would not disturb her deep sleep. Her knees touching her chest as she curled like a soft ball and gathering herself into a small portion. I looked at her face that was smeared with dry tears and makeup completely screwed up and her wrists had some fresh cuts due to tightening of metallic handcuffs.

I got some ointments and bandages for her and carefully cleaned her wounds and applied salve on them. She was sleeping without a stitch on and I also knew she wouldn't manage waking and dressing up herself this time because she's lacking that strength to do it right now, I hunt for something in her wardrobe but unexpectedly got nothing. It was all empty here except some stinky and worn-out clothes trashed in the corner. But how could this happen? I sent those designers to buy her some clothes but she bought nothing. Why? I wondered ordering some clothes right now but a thought striked in my mind 'WHY WOULD I?' And why was I behaving as if I care? I never cared, infact I would never care for any fucking one. I looked at her face that was still screaming out in pain and cursing some unsaid words. I hated this, I hated this feeling, I hated everything right now. I hated how she was affecting me so badly and I could not even do anything to stop it. God! I hated her. Slamming the door behind I left the room.

It was 3:03 a.m. and I was still awake, lying like a living corpse. I was constantly staring at the ceiling and musing on thoughts that I never imagined I would dwell upon. These memories were so old and tainted that I could only remember few glimpses of them. Though, these were short still large enough to haunt me, rolling me out of my bed.

After so many twists and turns, I stood up. So as to pass my time, I did some office work on my laptop but it too got completed in few minutes. I was so pissed, stressed and exhausted all at the same time that I was seeking for something or someone to mitigate this thriving tornado in me. I wanted peace, no, I needed peace, but where could I find that in this goddamn world?

I walked out for a stroll. The temperature was cold as usual and it was dark outside but still moonlight had its own dominance. Stars were scintillating up in the sky, slowly dimming their intensity with the every slightest of second. I started off with walking and as fresh air boozed up my lungs I increased my pace to the utmost. Trees were sprinting past me, the chilly wind blowing off my skin tingled my body in queer sensation. Everything was so still and silent and I wouldn't mind sauntering out like this my whole life.

I checked my phone and it was 5:15. I should better leave now. I had a pile of meetings today, also I gotta finalise some important deals. As I examined my surroundings, I found that I've come far away from my home and I would only get late if I walk back again.

I called my driver 'Freddy McKellen'. This late mid forties man was'nt just my driver but his position in my mind was much more superior than he ever thought. He's my friend(only), my guardian and my personal spy whom I trusted more than anyone in this world. He knew my enemies and he knew my friends(who were none), he knew my worst and my best(nothing actually).

He whisked me back to my home, the place that had tainted memories of last night. As I entered inside I noticed someone and something moving into the kitchen. For a moment I thought it would be my maid but it couldn't be possible because she was on hiatus. And as I entered in the kitchen I found Noemi eating something. She suddenly turned around the moment she sensed someone standing behind her.

As she witnessed me there, for a second, just for a mini second we held each other's gaze. She was wearing my shirt!? What? How could she? And why would she? The way I was unknowingly staring at her and beholding her exposed body made her embarrassed. She promptly cleared her throat to alert me and started buttoning the upper half of the shirt, no, actually my shirt which she was wearing.

"I found this in your laundry bag. I had nothing to wear so I thought about wearing this. I'll return it once I buy some new clothes." She said everything in one go and her eyes still busy in playing with the buttons that were slipping off her fingers in nervousness.

Why did she has to be so nervous before me all the time? 'Well, it would be better if you won't question that, especially after what you did last night,' my subconsciousness replied.

She mumbled something and walked past me without looking at me once. Congrats, she hates you. I ran behind her like some cold-blooded ass.

Gathering all the courage and audacity I shouted, "You don't have to stay here now. You can go back." She turned back to confront me. I still didn't remember her face whether it was first shock or disappointed or happy. She just looked deadpanned.

"I'll send you back to your place," her innocence was gradually weakening me but somehow I managed to continue uttering the rest of my words, "because I think I've got everything I wanted from you and you're done from here. Get ready, my driver will drop you home."

I started arranging my files that were straggled all over the table so that I didn't have to face the fact that she was leaving from here.

She unexpectedly questioned, "But the deal says it's about 3 months." Jesus! What was this girl? After everything I did to her, all she worried about was a silly deal?!

"There's no deal now," I roughly replied still engaged in arranging files that did more seem like disarranging them.

"But the papers..."

"Burn them."

"But Helena---"

"I'll talk to her."

"But...?".

Slamming my fist on the table I shouted at her, "Can't you fucking fit this tiny little thing in your head that you are leaving? YOU ARE LEAVING." My fists tightened and a bile of anger gushed through my veins. "Don't you remember how madly, violently and ruthlessly I fucked you last night? Check the cuts and bruises that you have all over your body if you can't fucking remember anything. Or you little nasty bitch enjoyed it so much so that you want me to repeat it one more time? Do you want---"

"YES I WANT TO. If that's what you think of me then yes I want to repeat everything." Her eyes flared in anger while her body showed an impeccable resilience. "I want this deal to work because I need money---I need money at any fucking cost. I don't care what I have to suffer. I don't care how badly, violently, ruthlessly you treat me but I know only one thing that I am capable of tearing my whole body apart if that's what it takes to earn money."

She screamed at her extreme as she lost herself into puddle of tears. She was broke and I could sense that but what could have I said to make her understand that she's not safe with me. I'm just a wrecked piece of shit trapped in his own fears and trepidations.

I wondered asking her why she needed money so badly that she's even ready to ruin her life and happiness all for the same cause. But I restrained myself, thinking that might be a bit personal for her to talk about and now after everything happened between us I was not ready to pour anymore tribulations in her way.

"Don't worry! I don't want my money back." I consoled her in my way that was useless I guess.

"And you too don't worry 'cause I don't want your pity back." She said, wiping off tears with the back of her hands.

And then suddenly the door opened and my secretary Luna plodded inside the room. She gasped as she stood before me, breathing heavily and carrying bags, files, documents and whatnot, undoubtedly looking like a walking market.

"Sir! I'm sorry if I'm late. I woke up late this morning just because of my not-so-punctual-alarm. I'm so sorry sir. I-I just hope I've not wasted your time."

She's always this clumsy, behaving like a complete maniac even at office, but as she was quite excellent with her work so I never minded complaining about her weird side. She looked around and when she noticed Noemi standing there, her expressions grew stronger as if she's seen some ghost. Obviously, no one had seen me with any woman before precluding office events and celebrations because I never let anyone know anything about my personal life.

This time I cleared my throat as she was constantly staring at Noemi and was making her uncomfortable that I didn't like "I'll get ready in a while. Till then make yourself at waiting room"

"Um-Yes...Sir...I-I know. I just came here to collect some documents. Um...Where can I find 'em?" She said.

"Check those drawers."

"So!? What do you wanna do? Are you capable of suffering all this then?" I said. Even if I knew Luna was eavesdropping us, I didn't stop even then.

Noemi frowned at my sight as if signaling me not to talk about it right now and to her response I just shrugged my shoulders "Frankly speaking, I don't---Um---think I am." She eventually spoke in a calm and low voice, clearly she didn't want to let intruder listen up to our conversation. "But I can do any other job. I mean, anything else. I can be your maid, office employee or anything you want me to be but I just won't go back carrying this burden as your obligation on my back. I won't." She blurted out hastily.

"But you know, my company doesn't hire underqualified candidates like you." I said bluntly, not in a manner to insult her or maybe yes, perhaps I just wanted her to beg me a little more for a job.

Noemi hesitated "Um...I don't know what to say naa---"

Suddenly Luna again came into the picture holding some files in her hands. I looked at her with utmost of my annoyance and she at me with this usual spooky grin of hers. "I found it, sir." She waved those files in air.

"Oh. Congrats! I'll reward you then. Now, leave." I was already so pissed off that I couldn't bear any of her childish behavior.

She grimaced "Ok..kay."

She moved a little to leave and then again turned back "Sir! If you don't mind, can I say something?"

Brushing my temples with my palms, I managed speaking "Spit out". Seriously, she's getting on my nerves now.

"Sir Um...I don't know who she is, but I just heard you were talking about getting her some job or something. And..."

"And!?" I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms.

"And...I think she is good fit for this position, as my assistant." As she said, I looked at Noemi and that girl was gleaming, gleaming with hope and life again. Ever since she came here I didn't see a bit of happiness on her face but today, it was a holy day. And I wouldn't mind doing anything possible to keep that vicinity stick there.

"But you already have one, don't you?"

"Yes! I had but recently she dropped out. So, I don't have anyone for now."

"But I don't really think she deserves it, I mean she's not qualified, and just look at her." I swayed my hands in her direction. After saying so I felt I've extended my Noemi-hate-me-I-am-a-bad-person acting a bit more and Noemi might take it as an insult. But I ought to do this in order to make Noemi hate me because that's the only way for me to stay away from her.

"I can teach her everything, sir---" Luna said, trudging towards Noemi "but I just think I need to head of with your clothes first. I mean you cannot walk around in these shirts without pants and slay office workers with those sexy tanned legs. Haha...Can you!?" She chuckled at her own sense of humor that made Noemi shy and me agitated.

I gave a cold response "Um...Okay. I know. I'm sorry. " She muttered.

"So? When are we starting then?" She asked me in utter excitement.

"Today." All of sudden, Noemi artculated in a loud and clear voice, grabbing our attention.

"Today?" Me and Luna almost asked together.

Noemi gave me an assertive look that seemed more challenging "Yes, today. See! If I've given a position that some people think I may not deserve, you know, then why don't I work my ass off to earn that place." She shook her head, shrugging her shoulders in dominance.

"Are you challenging me Miss. Amante?" I sneered.

"Um...I guess so." She literally mocked me this time making me wonder 'Is this how she hates people, by mocking people?'

"I really don't think you remember what happened the last time when you tried defying me." I didn't want to inculcate those memories but she was the one here who agitated me, burning a flame of fury in me.

She flipped her hairs behind "It's a new day, new life Mr. Hertrich. Let's not dwell upon past memories." Rolling her eyes off me she looked at Luna.

I opened my mouth to say something in response but taken aback immediately because I was pissed, too pissed to argue right now. We were continuously exchanging our gazes. "Oh---kay. I think I should leave now as I can see things are getting above my head here." Luna said.

"No. You stay here, teach her some lessons about how-to-look-proffessional-in-2-hours" My voice was nonchalant but it still had loads of sarcasm in it "And...I'll attend today's meeting with some other employee."

"Sure, sir. I'll get her ready and bring her to the office with me." I nodded at her. And walked upstairs without even giving a look to Noemi.

I knew Noemi that she's stubborn but she's stupid at the same time. She didn't know what she might have to face where she's going. The place is trapped around with wild predators who would bait her, trap her and use her. And I myself didn't know for how long could I survive her bad ass attitude which is totally opposite of her nature.