I sat in my cabin, head buried inside a file. Nope, not just one file, on either side of my working table gracefully sat one hundred and fifty-seven files yet to be checked.
After those two jammers left, Hunter called his personal receptionist whose name I just found out was Caleb and barked some orders. Caleb, like a good obedient employee, dragged me out of Hunter's office, and I didn't even protest. I was too overwhelmed by the fact that he started a traffic jam in the middle of a busy Manhattan street just so he could stop me. Could he imagine how many employees were late at their work for getting stuck in a deliberately-created jam and losing their jobs in the process? The blood in my veins boiled like molten lava. Before I was out of the room, I threw a look over my shoulder, and our eyes met.
Was I hallucinating, or was that an amused look in those pool of sea-greens?
Caleb showed me to the a
“Are you kidding me?”“I am afraid I do not possess such time-wasting hobby.”“Sir, if it managed to leave your bloody intelligent mind then lemme remind you. I'm your assistant, not your PA.”“I tend to find both equivalents. My black coffee, no sugar.”“Bu-”“Are you disobeying my order?”That bloody infuriating jerk! I'd love to take his order and shove it up his gorgeous ass.Gorgeous? Argh! These unnerving thoughts again!“N-no... Sir! Of course not,” I spat out between grinding teeth.Scurrying to the kitchen two floors down, I gazed at the coffee machine longingly. His words echoed in my head, 'Do not use the coffee machine. Make it yourself.'Demanding brat!Putting water to boil, I searched for the coffee grounds, finall
Time seemed to decelerate as my eyes drifted around the room, taking in its condition. Files, a lot of files. On my table, on the shelf, on the floor, scattered like a tornado decided to say hello.A small piece of paper on the table caught my attention. Stalking there, I picked it up and raised it in front of my eyes. In clear bold letters, three words were written.Arrange in order.It didn't take me long to recognize who the elegant handwriting belonged to. Closing my eyes, I crumpled the paper in my fist, and a traitorous warm liquid rolled down my cheek. My hand shot up, wiping it off. 'No,' I told myself and picked the files one by one from the table.If he thought even after all the things I went through the whole day without quitting, he could stop me by wrecking my room, then he was wrong. So very wrong. I won't quit. I will never qu- A sob welled up my throat, and my hand
I blinked, a frown forming between my brows. Of all the things a filthy rich family could hide behind a closed door, I surely wasn't expecting that.Taking a step in, I let my eyes scan around the room. It was a bedroom, the most beautiful bedroom in the entire mansion. Sliver of moonlight spilled through the large window, encompassing an entire wall, and the silk blue curtains over it danced along the wind. Furniture with the same blue texture dominated half of the stupendous space, and in the middle inhabited a four-poster round bed with drapes and a canopy.It looked like a room cut out straight from a fairy tale. Everything was neat and tidy. It seemed someone came here every day and cleaned. I took a sniff off the air. It smelled of vanilla and rose, a more feminine scent. Perhaps a woman used to live here? But the question was why on earth would the Kings hide such a beautiful bedroom?I wen
The next morning I sat at the breakfast table, the head chair to my left was empty. Hunter never showed up. Later Donna informed me that he left early for Italy on a business trip. I didn't know if he actually went for business purposes, or he was avoiding me to a whole new level for finding out a concealed piece of his past.My eyes drifted over the rest of the Kings family and stopped at Julia. How could I be so blind to not notice that before? Blue eyes, blonde hair, heart shaped face. She had no resemblance to Hunter, and that confirmed my doubts.She wasn't Hunter's real mother.That woman from the picture was, and he missed her. No matter what happened that made her a forbidden topic, he still missed her. I felt a tug at my heartstrings.How would I know what happened to her? I peered at Karen. She definitely knew everything. But could I ask her? Would she tell me, or would she be angry? Deci
King's Dairy farm.I read the sign with horror and trepidation, sweat dripping down my temple. My gaze darted to Hunter who, thoughtful, studied the file I made, regarding that particular business of his. He looked calm while I wanted to crawl into a pit and hide.This morning when I reached the office Hunter ordered me to review all his business fields and list out the unprofitable ones in one hour. Oh, yes, the darn time-table shit starts again, and I feel so delighted. -note the sarcasm-I completed the task, and let me tell you it wasn't easy considering his big-ass-billionaire-highness got enough money to invest in more than a hundred business fields. I marked five as unproductive areas. This farm was one of those, and its darn owner decided to investigate himself the cause behind the loss. That's why we were here in this Godforsaken place.Putting the file down, Hunter stepped out of the
That night I went to sleep with a mixed feeling of mirth and melancholy and later had a strange dream. Hunter came into my room. Indeed, it was strange because that son of a rock would never come to check on me, now, would he?The peaceful darkness began getting lighter. My eyes fluttered open and closed again, a moan escaping my lips as the soft golden ray of the morning sun fell right on my face. Turning my face to the other side I stretched, a yawn leaving my mouth. I sat up rubbing the sleep away from my eyes.I didn't need the help of an alarm clock to wake up anymore. It became a habit the past week when I had to handle a lot of work in Hunter's absence. Though it wasn't like I could relax now that he was back, rather work harder like a soldier in the field.I let out a groan and reached the nightstand to get my phone. Sliding the screen, I read the time and put the phone back in its place. It was 6:57 am. I h
“What?” I spat a bit too loud, and looked around at the people giving me disapproving looks. Shaking my head, I glanced back at my companion who occupied a scarlet face ridden with guilt. I couldn't give a damn about what people thought at that moment. I was mad.“You two have been dating, and you haven't even told me yet?”“Em, please, calm down and listen to me.”“Yeah, girl, cool down. What's gotten into you?” Beth commented.“I'm your best friend for heaven's sake! You were supposed to tell me the second he asked you on a date.” I knew I was being a bitch, but I couldn't help it. Perhaps because I woke up in a puddle of my own blood this morning.“I know. I'm sorry! I wanted to but...” she trailed off.“But what, Ana?” I asked, sending her a
“Done!”“Done here!”“All done!”A man lifted his thumb up.“Everyone, brace yourselves!”Men started running and hiding behind cars, some behind trees and some behind piles of bricks. As for me, I had a mountain shielding me from any harm's way even better than those men.“Mr. King Jr, sir! Wouldn't you care to shield yourself?” I asked the mountain.In response, he only puffed his chest out.I took that as a no and cowered back behind him with my hands on my ears.“Sir?” Fabio called, asking for permission.Hunter gave a nod of his head.“Everyone in position?” Fabio's voice rose in order for everyone to hear.A unison of yes emitted from around the place.“Boom!” He ta
Seven years later~Warmth glided over my skin, drawing me out of sleepland. I squinted my eyes to block the sun from directly hitting my irises. Grunting, I turned over only to discover the other half of the bed to be empty. I frowned and sat up, my eyes landed on the digital clock on the bedside table.11:17 am.Huh? I overslept. Why didn't he wake m- A sudden, intense urge to vomit rose up my throat. Slapping a hand over my mouth, I ran to the bathroom and leaned over the toilet. Clearing my stomach of the remaining of last night's dinner, I straightened up, and a mild dizziness rocked the world around me. My hand pressed on the cold tiled wall beside me until the feeling passed.Walking to the basin, I splashed water over my face and looked at myself in the mirror. My hand unconsciously drove down to my flat stomach, and a smile took over my lip
A warm, buttery aroma with a splash of citrus wafted through my nose as we smeared icing and wrapped edible sheets around the four-story cake, topping it up with esculent red laces, rose petals, and finally a cute pair of tiny bride and groom. Proud we stepped back and observed the masterpiece we two expert ladies made. "It's perfect," I gushed, glancing at my mom and bursting out in laughter as traces of shortening decorated her rosy cheeks giving her a look of a curious kid. "You got some..." I pointed at her face cackling more. "You should see your face, darling," she smugged. Widening my eyes I turned back observing myself in the glass door that separated the kitchen from the shop and gasped as bits of the white coating laced my nose as well. As I looked back both our frames shook from mirth and fueling it appeared dad showered in cake mix.
"Ready, love?" the ethereal voice of my husband reached my ears, and I looked up, my expression brighter than the morning sun.Finally the day arrived when I could leave these bleak walls of white and blue and go back to my sweet heaven. It'd been three weeks, and my mind was already going bananas."Yes. Please, take me home already."The corners of his lips slightly raised in his rare smile as he extended his hands. Taking them I carefully alighted my legs as my feet touched the cold floor and propped on them. A faint ache still gnawed at the spot, but the feeling of elation dominated all."Are you sure you can walk?"Flashing my overprotective hubby with a hearty smile I got on my tippi-toes and planted a peck on his warm lips. "I can. Now let's go."Immediately he leaned down pressing his lips back on mine in a lingering kiss as a warm fe
Everything seemed to slow down as I watched the spark alighting off the tiny muzzle hole, smoke arising after it, and like a wave of energy it hit me throwing me off my feet as I flew some inches behind, my body colliding into a hard yet warm one. Two protective arms wrapped around me lowering my body to the ground."Ember..." his deep alarmed voice reached my ears, and I glanced at his pained gaze growing anxious. Did the bullet hit him? I was sure it didn't hit me for I felt no piercing pain like a tiny metal tearing through the flesh but numb. All I felt was numb down in the torso.My eyes traveled forward where the pretty redhead officer had Vienna pinned as she struggled. And then my gaze fell on my tummy, the white top painted into a new color. Red, and it was spreading. A burning sensation began to rise in the spot though I wasn't sure if it was from my imagination or from...
"Ember, darling. Now what shall we do with you? I can't simply allow my brother to have any means of happiness in his life." He glanced up brooding, a finger tapping his lip. "Oh wait, I know." He strode closer to Hunter and leaned down. "How about I give you a demo of how I dispatched our mother, huh little brother? Hmm... That'll be fun.""Wh-What do you mean?" Gulping I glanced at Hunter who looked like he was lost in his own world and wasn't coming back anytime sooner."Come on, boys. Bring her here.""Nonono. Hunter! Ah, noo! Hunter!" I screamed and thrashed against their hold but in vain as they dragged me towards the steep hill. I dug my toes in the soil in an attempt to obstruct them yet luck didn't support me, and the guards pushed me right on Christian's arms.The pure disdain that ran through my veins against him, scorched the skin
Darkness began to lighten, and once again my eyes fluttered open, sharp malign pain continued to bug my head. I scanned around, and this time I was tied in the back of a van.What the heck were those two specimens of demon doing?Startling me the doors of the van jerked open, and unintentionally I cowered back a bit as two men stood before me with Christian behind them.With a motion of his finger the men approached me and I began squirming. "Don't touch me! No! Mmngng..." A hand wrapped around my mouth and the others began untying my hands and legs. I yelped as one of them yanked me by the hair and set me on the ground outside the infernal van.I scanned the surrounding only to witness endless rows of trees until my eyes landed on the traitorous baboon, and I advanced towards him, clutching his collars in my fists. "You! How could you have d
My senses began to sharpen, and whispers tingled my ears. My eyes fluttered open only to shut back from a blinding light. A groan left my mouth as my head felt heavy like it was made of concrete. I lifted my hand up but nothing happened. I tried again yet it didn't budge from behind me. What was going on? Ignoring the shooting ache in my head and body, I frantically surveyed my circumambient, my vision blurry. From the look of it, I was bound to a chair in the same room I fainted, this time a bulb above me illuminated my surroundings better. Patches of blood stains occupied the roof and the walls, and a sharp metallic stench hit my nose causing a bile to rise. I didn't even wanna think about what happened here before. Wait... "Caleb!" "E-Ember, a-are you ok?" My head whipped to the direction, at the far dark corner.
I let out a relieved sigh, realizing my promise to Karen was finally kept, and more importantly, I was seeing my life getting back together just the way I had always dreamed. Hunter, by some miracle, changed drastically, acting all loving and caring, taking me shopping and buying loads of clothes, overlooking my protests. He even took me to a minikin ice cream date.Right now we sat outside an ice skating rink which he rented for the day just for us, and I decided to ruin his plan by inviting Liliana, Matt, Beth and Lea which he wasn't much pleased about. Therefore he sat there with a grouchy face while I enjoyed the fanciful skating session of the charming couples.Beth and Lea just skated around, hand in hand while holding Ana's hand, Matt spun her around like a pro. Then holding her from behind he lifted her and spun himself, Ana doing a perfect landing at the end with his support.
Stepping out of the building I marched to him stopping a couple feet away. Hunter straightened up, and the crowd parted as he strode towards me, my breathing hitching at my throat. His suit which I had been considering as his second skin all this time was gone and replaced with a V neck white shirt topped with a dark leather jacket and denim jeans."I'm glad you came." He lifted my hand to his lips and placed a kiss on the back."I hope I don't regret it," I said as lights flashed around us and people whispered but nothing bothered me for the heart drumming against my chest sounded louder.The corners of his rosy lips quirked up into a smile. Not a ghost of a smile nor an arrogant smirk but an actual genuine smile even though tiny which just made him a thousand times hotter than before. "I assure you won't. Come." He gently tugged me to his car and opened the door fo