“You're in hell now, and I'm the devil Flora!”

“How can someone so stupid be so oddly efficient,” Donovan wondered as recalled the strategy meeting with Stanford the previous day.

He couldn’t believe it. Maybe he misjudged her. Whatever the case was, he knew he had to find a well bred and educated secretary. How could he have such a person near his family?

Whether he approved of her or not, it didn’t matter. Stanford liked her enough to suggest signing a contract. After Korea, she would be long gone. He cackled, recalling the clauses he had hidden in the middle pages.

“Dony,” Kenny called out before entering the study. “Yes?,” Donovan answered, sorting out the pile of papers that sat on his desk.

“She’s here,” he said, referring to Catherine.

“Alright, bring her up”, Kenny nodded. Catherine walked into the massive study.

“What time is it?”, he asked without taking a single look at her. She stuttered trying to find her words.

“You’re late,” he growled.

“I’m really sorry, the train—”

“I don’t care! Sit down,” he cut her off.

She scoffed. “What was that?”, he asked.

“Nothing sir”

“You know why you’re here right?”, he arched his brow.

“Absolutely not! Do tell,” she rolled her eyes, adjusting her seat to face him.

“You’re joining my family, in fact you’re a tag along!”, he hissed.

“Could you get to the point? I’m getting bored,” she was highly irritable at this point.

“You’re going to Korea,” her eyes bulged out her head. Donovan stared blankly.

“Yes, Korea. Do you have hearing problems?”

“No, and if I did I’m sure my employers would be more than willing to take care of that,” Donovan smiled at her statement knowing fully well that her temporary employment came with absolutely no benefits.

“We’ll go over the plan and you’ll be on your way home in no time,” spending another moment with her would ultimately drive him crazy.

She picked up a piece of paper that sat on the desk. He let out an exasperated sigh, pulling his chair closer and slamming his hands on the desk. Catherine jerked, startled.

“Let me make this clear; you touch only when I say to touch. If you as much as move a pen in my office, I’ll declare you a thief! Got that?,” Catherine nodded cautiously.

Donovan loved his space. His biggest pet peeve was people moving his stuff. When he was in middle school, he gave his pen to Lily, a little crush he had. He came home and his grandfather demanded for that particular pen to do his homework.

When Donovan explained what happened with the pen, he was locked in his room without food nor water for three days.

“I’m sor—ry,” she stuttered.

He glared once more before casting his face to the screen of his laptop. “Bring your passport to me tomorrow morning and you’d need better clothes,” he sized her thoroughly causing her to squirm a little.

“Today’s outfit is better than the previous eye sores,” he gave a nod of approval. Catherine was in Ruby’s clothes again.

She sighed. “I can’t afford to dress like this everyday, I’ll go broke,” she pouted.

He gave her a condescending stare, “like you aren’t already”

“I’m not here because I want to be, I loath this!”, she snapped. He stared into space, completely ignoring her.

“Back to business Candace,” he shrugged.

Catherine had a deadly stare in her eyes. “Well, if I’m going to be here, I need to do something,” her tone was exasperated.

“Oh, no hunny. I can’t have you thwart my effort. Sit still,” he rolled his eyes.

“Why on earth did you hire a secretary that wouldn’t do any work?”, she raised her hands in frustration.

“You are a doll, my little marionette doll. I say jump, you say how high!”. Catherine was stunned. She sat quietly, staring in awe.

“Here,” he got up from his seat, taking giant strides. He got to a shelf and pulled out a piece of paper. “Sign here,” he ordered.

“What?”, she was afraid and confused. “It’s a fucking NDA, you don’t know what an NDA is Stanford?”.

“Hey, I wasn’t the one who lied here. Stanford, really?”, she arched her brow.

“You know what? That was a little too high for you!”, he huffed.

“You know what, I’m out!,” she pushed hard, causing her chair to roll away.

“Sit the fuck down! I know you’re stupid but it’s definitely not this extreme!”. Catherine was stunned. She turned back to find him leaning against the table, arms crossed.

“What—t?”, she stuttered trying to make out the perfect words to express the anger she felt.

“Are you deaf! I said, sit down!”, he ordered.

“No! No!”, she was trembling. He watched her shake incessantly. Donovan walked towards her. Holding her shoulders firmly, he placed her on the chair. She struggled and squirmed, trying to get out of his hold.

“Get off me you idiot,” Donovan’s eyes grew wild. He raised his right leg, placed it at the center of the chair in-between her legs and pushed hard causing the chair to spin out if control. It finally stopped when she had hit the wall.

He strode to the other part of the room where the chair was. Catherine was panting, trying to catch her breath.

He took the arms of the chair tightly, holding her eyes firmly . “You signed a freaking contract! It seems like you don’t know where you are or who I am. You’re in hell now, and I’m the devil Flora,” he let go of the chair when he heard familiar footsteps approaching.

Donovan pushed her chair back to the desk. Cathy had fear in her eyes, she was paralyzed.

He sat on his chair, organizing a few papers that fell on the floor. The door to the study opened, revealing Mr. Stanford, Kenny and a few other men wearing suits. Donovan was uneasy, the whole legal team was there.

“Good afternoon, I hope you’re all doing well,” Mr. Jessy spoke softly as he adjusted his glasses. He was the family lawyer. His presence in the Smith house never accompanied anything good.

Keila stood at the frame of the door look pitiful. Donovan knew it was nothing but trouble.

“So, let’s get down to business,” his tone was impatient and unpleasant.

Stanford grabbed the tablet from Kenny’s hand. “So, I found something interesting. Would you mind if I shared?”, it was obviously not a question.

I found this really interesting cry for help online, apparently I’m not the only on who’s seen this. He read from the tablet; “I can’t stay silent any longer. It’s time to unveil the truth about Mr. Donovan Smith, the man who parades around as a well-bred gentleman while hiding his barbaric actions behind a curtain of wealth”.

Catherine cringed those words, they sounded oddly familiar. Stanford continued; “While he flaunts his luxurious lifestyle wearing expensive suits and showing his superiority by paying extra amounts for everything. I’ve witnessed the real face of this man, his heart is as cold as steel”. Donovan cupped his face with his hands.

“Behind closed doors, he treats people like disposable pawns, he exploits the vulnerable, and tramples upon them. His soul is devoid of compassion“. Catherine couldn’t believe it.

“And for the best part,” Stanford emphasized; “It’s time we see beyond the shiny facade and recognize the true nature of this modern-day barbarian. Let’s stand together, raise our voices, and demand justice for Teresa Montez.

Sincerely,

A Voice like Catherine Flora’s”.

“What on earth is this rubbish!”, Stanford shouted, throwing the tablet on the floor causing it to shatter.