Chapter One

Daniela's POV

The scar on my left arm.

That's the first thing I saw when I woke up.

Some bloody reminder.

All because of you, daddy.

But he was dead now. Both him and my mom. They were killed by some other gang men ten years ago. I didn't know why. Back then, everything happened so fast that mom couldn't explain anything to me.

I was able to escape and that was the last time I saw her alive. My aunt made us move when she heard about what happened to my parents. Ever since, she's been a second mother to me. A very good one.

I looked back at my scar. I didn't dream about him today. In fact, I've dreamt less and less of that stranger as the years passed. Soon I'd forget him, maybe not, because of the permanent mark on my arm.

My aunt still didn't know what happened to me all those years ago, and I didn't intend on letting her know. The more I kept it to myself, the less I thought about it.

Now, I was done with university, and my only objective at the moment was getting a job. Then I'd be able to get my own house and stop depending solely on my aunt.

When I got downstairs after taking my bath and everything, my aunt had already made breakfast.

I had been telling her to just leave breakfast to me, but she loved to cook- she owned a restaurant- so...

"Good morning aunt," I greeted and took a seat opposite her.

"Morning Daniela," she answered, forking some eggs into her mouth. "Are you going out today?"

"Yes, I still have to find a job."

"What about the ones we checked out on the internet?"

"They aren't helping."

"Oh," she simply said. "Uh, you can take my car if you want."

"Nah, I'll just take a taxi."

"But -"

"No aunt, I'm all grown up now. I have to do things by myself. You've taken care of me enough. It's my turn."

"Hey, I'm not that old. I'm just thirty-seven years old."

She wasn't lying. She was my mom's little sister.

I didn't want to end up arguing with my aunt, so I accepted to use her car.

I quickly finished my breakfast, got my purse and my aunt's car keys and then headed out.

***

It was very boring and painful going through interviews, hearing 'sorry', 'we’ll get back to you', 'sorry'.

Accepting there wasn't going to be any success for me today, I decided to go home and look up more openings for interviews.

Before driving back home, I went to the store to get some groceries for the house. I also bought tons of milk, because I loved milk so much. I would even marry it if I got the chance. Maybe it's because I'm naturally a huge cow-ard. Get it? Never mind...

After paying and getting my groceries bagged up, I got out of the store and almost bumped into this old lady selling newspapers.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry." I freaked out because she looked so old that just a little push could break all the bones in her body.

"It's okay dear, why were you so scared?"

Because it's become a default reaction.

But I don't tell her that. I only shook my head and remained silent, calming myself down. Something could have happened to her and it would be my fault...

Again.

I quickly pushed away my thoughts before my mind took me back to what happened years ago.

"Well, I have some newspapers," the old lady continued. "Would you like to buy some?"

I didn't want to buy the paper, but because I couldn't bring myself to say no to her, I bought one. I didn't really read newspapers.

I thanked the woman, got my stuff into the car and then went home.

At home, I put the groceries in the kitchen and headed back to the living room.

I glanced at the paper I had left on the sofa. Maybe I'll just take a look at it.

"I must be very bored to be doing this," I sighed as I sat down and opened the paper.

My eyes roamed through the paper and then stopped when I noticed some job offers. The first one was from Jackson Industries. They wanted a personal assistant for the owner/CEO.

Well, that wasn’t exactly what I was looking for, but it wasn’t a far cry from my options either.

Also, Jackson Industries was one of the most successful private companies in the country and working there meant really good money. I had a snowball’s chance in hell to get picked among the lot, but I had nothing to lose in trying.

Alexander Jackson was the CEO of that company and he was well known across the length and breadth of the country. He owned a clothing line which was known as Alexa and a jewellery brand, which was branded as Jackson. Both brands had been doing extremely great ever since his business took off years ago, and they were only getting better as time passed. Charlene, my best friend, had told me that he started from nothing and now he was a very successful business tycoon. She had also chipped in that he was as hot as hell.

But I never cared about billionaires, so I never followed for any information on them.

I somehow wished I did now.

I went through the requirements for the job and saw that I was good to go. It's good I got the paper today because the application deadline was only tomorrow. Was that old lady my fairy godmother or something?

I heard my aunt coming down the stairs.

"Did you find anything, darling?"

I turned around and faced her. "Just did."

***

After gulping down half a glass of milk, I went upstairs to my bedroom. I couldn't stop thinking about the interview tomorrow. I had already prepared all my stuff. I had to keep it in mind that there would be over a dozen other people who would be interviewed for the job, and that my chance of getting the job was slim but I just prayed.

I plopped on my bed, took my phone from my purse and called my boyfriend, Justin.

He was the best thing that ever happened to me.

Okay, I'd say he had been. At first, we had been both deeply and madly in love with each other- I still was- but now, Justin was a cheater.

The funny thing is, I knew he was cheating on me but I was still with him. He knew I knew it, but he doesn't stop. I was just too in love with him to let him go and he was satisfied with me as long as other girls were in the picture.

I knew I was becoming like my late mom, but there was nothing my heart could do about it. Yeah, nothing.

After a couple of rings, he answered.

"Hey Ela," he said and I smiled. I loved listening to his voice.

"Hey Justin," I replied, lying back on my bed. "How are you doing?"

"I'm well," he answered. I heard him whisper something to someone, then I heard a girl's voice.

Oh crap. I wasn't going to cry now.

"Why did you call?"

Why did I call? Oh really?

"I've missed you Justin, and I was wondering if we could hang out sometime."

"Sorry babe, I'm busy throughout the week."

"Um, what about right now?"

"I'm still in the middle of work.”

Yeah right.

"Who are you talking to, Justin?" I heard the female voice clearly this time and my heart breaks into pieces.

How could you do this to me Charlene?!

"It's Grayson," Justin lied to her. So, the jerk didn't want her to know he was talking to me.

"Hung up, I don't like interruptions."

"Just wait a little."

"Put the phone down and kiss me, Justin!"

The hell!!

"Leave me alone for a while. Give me five minutes."

"Just five, I'm counting."

After some seconds his voice was clear again.

"Hey Ela, you still there?" he asked.

I tried to speak but I knew I'd just burst into tears so I took in a deep breath instead.

"Daniela?"

"Yeah, I'm here."

"So is next week okay?"

"Yeah, it's just fine, just fine."

"So next week then."

"Okay," I nod, even though he can't see me. "Bye."

"Bye," he replied. "Okay, so you can come in now Charlene, oh shit..." So, it was really her. It was clear Justin didn't want me to know that it was her that he was with, but I already knew and it hurt so damn much.

"You still there, baby?" he asked. He still had the nerve to call me baby.

I just took the phone from my ear and ended the call. I put the phone on my nightstand to prevent myself from throwing it out the window.

Tears flow freely from my eyes, but they were still not enough to express all my sadness and anger. Why Charlene, why you?

I cried my heart out till I slept that day, but I made sure my aunt didn't hear me and start asking questions. She knows I have a boyfriend, but I never really tell her about Justin. She has no problem with it, because she thinks I didn't like expressing myself especially after what happened years ago.

***

I woke up the next morning to the ringing if my phone. I checked the time in my alarm clock. Who calls at 6 am? I took my phone from my nightstand and almost crashed it in my hands when I saw the caller.

Hypocrite Charlene.

I answered the call not because I wanted to, but because I wanted to end of all between us.

"Hey Ela, I've missed you so much," she squealed.

Gosh, she sounds so innocent, but she isn't.

"Oh really?"

"What's wrong Ela? You sound angry. "

"I do?" I asked, and I can almost feel a frown growing on her face.

"This is because of Justin, right?"

"Yeah maybe."

"Just break up with him Ela, he isn't worth your suffering."

"Yeah, so you can have him all to yourself?"

"Wait, what?"

"Stop pretending Charlene, I know the truth now."

"But-h-how?"

"That's none of your business. I want you to know that I hate you so much and that I don't want to see you ever again."

"Wait, Ela I can ex-"

I ended the call before she could speak. I already knew what she was going to say.

'Oh Ela, this isn't what you think.'

That annoying old cliché statement.

My mind took me to the interview. It's at nine o'clock, but I want to be there an hour and a half earlier so I wouldn't have to join a long line or so someone else wouldn't get chosen before me.

When I was dressed, I went downstairs. This time, I was happy my mom had already made breakfast. I wouldn't have had time to cook.

"Good morning aunt."

"Good morning, darling. Are you ready for the interview?"

"I don't know," I said and sat down opposite her. I just poured myself a glass of milk so I didn't waste time.

"I'm sure you'll be okay," she encouraged me. Then her eyes went down to my left arm.

Ugh! She's looking at the scar.

"You aren't going to tell me what happened, are you?' she asked.

"Aunt please," I begged.

"Don't worry, I won't ask again, I promise this time. Now that you're all grown up, you don't have to tell me everything if you don't want to."

I smiled. "I love you so much, aunt."

"I love you too."

"Well, I'm going now," I announced and got up from my seat.

"Good luck!" my aunt called out before I left.

When the taxi stopped at Jackson Tower, the sixty-storey building, my heart started beating faster. I didn't know what to do, but I knew I wanted that job.

I paid the driver and entered the building. Then I walked quickly to the receptionist's table.

"Good morning, ma'am. How may I help you?" the receptionist asked, giving me a kind smile.

"My name is Daniela Stevens, and I'm here for the job interview."

"Alright, wait a second," she said and turned to a man in a black suit standing in front of a door with an earpiece in his ear. "Dan, please show Ms. Stevens the waiting room."

"Follow me," he ordered. I obeyed and walked behind him until he stopped.

"Here," Dan points out, opening a door and I entered after muttering thanks to him.

My eyes widened when I entered. I had come early, but about twenty others had come earlier. My God, what if one of these women got chosen even before I even got to be interviewed?

As I walked to the back to take a seat, I found the other women eyeing me with So much anger. Of course, they'd be angry. The more people there were the lesser the chance of getting picked.

When I took my seat, I made sure my CV and other documents were intact- they were. Now I just had to wait for fate.

When it was 8:30, and there were about thirty women in the room, they started the interview. It was first come first serve, and I was like the twenty-third woman there so that meant I was going to wait quite long. The first woman took her documents and followed a different guard, leaving her belongings on her seat. It seems we were not allowed to take too many things there. Security huh?

Each lady went and came back with sadness, took their belongings and then left. It was one rejection after the other. Some were silently crying; others were cursing the company owner under their breath.

"I'm so scared," the girl after me whispered. I turned to look at her. She was very pretty with long, wavy brown hair and same coloured eyes.

"You don't have to be," I responded, even though I couldn't actually call myself fearless.

"I don't think anyone will get the job," she added.

"That's not possible," I reasoned.

"Well, you're up," she announced. I turned to see another girl like me entering with tears in her eyes.

"He's so rude," she sobbed. " I don't even care about his damn looks anymore. Who said I wanted this job?" Then she took her purse and left.

Wow. Was it that bad?

"Good luck..." the brunette stretches, silently asking for my name.

"Daniela." I answered.

"Katherine." she added.

I took my documents and followed Mark- said his name tag- to the elevator. It took some time before we got to the last floor.

When the door of the elevator opened and we stepped out, I started praying.

The job is mine. This job is mine. Amen!

"It's that door," Mark pointed and I nodded. I walked towards the door, took a deep breath and opened.

Jesus, no!!!

What I saw was like a bullet through my head. Not once, but a million times.

I should've bought a different paper, or even better, bought nothing at all.