Chapter 1 - Last Night

LONDON'S POV

I rolled my eyes and dropped the remote beside me, focusing on the woman who kept pacing around.

"Mother, if you need to panic about your lost daughter, at least allow me to enjoy my show," I gruffed irritably.

My Mother Mrs. Elorod stopped and faced me, hands on her waist. "I would break your sister's head if I saw her." She sat down, tapping her fingers on her lap, obviously entangled in her restlessness.

Upon hearing her response, I suggested casually, in an attempt to lighten up her mood, "There's a knife in the kitchen, just stab her instead," I said as I changed the channel since my mother's nagging and disturbance had made me lost interest in the movie.

"Your sister is missing, and you are so focused on... On..." My mother got up and snatched the remote from my hand. Immediately, she switched it off, which got on my nerves.

"Mother!" I called out as my lips tightened. The surge I was feeling inside brought me to my feet,

But since I knew mother was only worried about my sister's safety, I drew in a quick breath and restrained myself from getting angry, deep within me I was certain my sister wasn't missing, so I knew better than to argue with her,

"Paris is at work; she might be working overtime, so why do I need to worry over nothing?" I said as gently as I could, I rolled my eyes frustratedly and folded my arms.

My mother was about to reply when the door to our house opened making us turn towards the door at the sound of it, a girl who looked almost identical to me walked in with her head bowed, one look at my sister I knew something was wrong,

My mother charged toward her. "Where have you been? Why did you not return any of our calls?" She shook the girl, who looked up with swollen eyes.

My mother stepped backward as her eyes narrowed.

"Paris, what... what happened?" she touched the girl's face with shaky hands while I stood there frightened by what I had just seen,

"Mom, I'm fine. I... I had to work overtime." Paris responded in a small hoarse tone, but deep within me, I was certain she wasn't telling the truth,

"But why did you not pick up or return my calls?" My mother enquired, breathing heavily. She was so shocked by my sister's appearance that her initial anger was replaced with fear and pity,

Forcing a small smile on her face, Paris said, her voice weak and faint as she spoke, "Mom, I'm exhausted. Let's talk later." She gently pushed our mother to the side and walked away straight to her room.

Since I had known my sister was fine, I shook my head and turned on the television, jumped back onto the couch to enjoy my show, while my mother stood still for a while before proceeding to the kitchen to make dinner,

But as soon as she had left, the expression on my sister's face crossed my mind, I could tell the expression on her face was more than what she had just said, but then I also knew her boss had been treating her badly so I excused my thoughts with the fact that she had probably been embarrassed by her boss,

I knew how much she hated to be embarrassed or to be quarreled, which had been her almost everyday experience at her workplace, despite how hard I had tried to make her resign from her work, she had refused for the reasons best known to her,

As I dwelled on my thoughts, my mother's voice came, bringing me back to the present,

"London!"

"London!!" She called, and since I knew it must be related to the meal, I quickly grabbed my earphones and placed them in my ears, as I pretended not to have heard her,

My mother called me a few more times before coming out to the sitting room, while my eyes were fixated on the TV.

"London!" she called, while I turned towards her,

"Yes, Mom," I responded, staring at her like I had just heard her for the first time,

Oblivious of what I had just done, she said, "I don't feel that Paris is alright." Her voice dripped with the worry in her heart as she spoke. She bowed her head as she slipped into thought.

Even though I knew Paris wasn't alright, I knew convincing my mother otherwise was the best thing to do, since I didn't want her to worry, in an attempt to lighten her mood, I said in my usual gruff voice,

"She's fine, mother, she's probably tired from the stress at work," I had to make sure I sounded like myself not to make her suspicious of what I was doing,

Somehow, my words managed to expel her worry as she nodded her head in response and heaved a sigh,

"Okay then," She said and turned back to the kitchen,

After about five minutes, she was standing a few feet away from me, her expression fierce as she stared at me, "London!" She called,

From the expression on her face, I could tell she had been calling for a while, I jumped when I realized that my mother threatened to dash towards me.

I quickly adjusted myself and removed the earphones. "Yes, Mom, I could hear you," I said, my heart racing from being called back unexpectedly,

She rubbed her head in frustration. "Go upstairs and call your sister; it's dinner time." She said, her tone rising above the pitch as she spoke, conveying the frustration in her heart,

"But... but..."

"No buts, go and call her for dinner; your father and brother won't be back early." Her words came, snapping me off my words, while I turned and left grumbling as I did.

I got to Paris's room and barged in without knocking, I was surprised that Paris didn't lecture me as usual, which was so unlike her, more so she wasn't even on the bed,

The sound of a continuous sob filled the air. Instead, I traced the direction from whence it came and noticed that Paris was on the floor, with her head buried in her palms.

Having my initial thoughts in mind, I sat down beside her,

"What's wrong?" I inquired as I adjusted myself to hear another session of her poor treatment at work, but I was met with her continuous cry, which got me surprised,

"Paris?" I called out, but she started sobbing louder, sending me into confusion,

I shifted closer to her and placed my arms over her. "Paris, what's the matter? Talk to me please," I said as I squatted beside her but was met with silence,

"You can tell me, I won't tell anyone." I patted Paris's back as I tried to console her.

Paris leaned into my embrace, and I held her firmly, "I messed up," she finally said, her brittle voice sending shivers down my spine, as I realized it was more than I had thought.

Desperate to know what had happened and why she had said a thing like that, I inquired, "What happened? Did Mr. Katz, bully you?" Searching her face for any hint that might point to my suggestion, Paris's hands held me tighter.

"No, he... he didn't," she replied, shaking her head repeatedly to enforce her claim,

Upon hearing her response, I realized whatever it was that had happened had something to do with him, so I pressed on, "Tell me, what did he do?" My impatience rang in my tone as I spoke,

She leaned in and whispered into my ears, which made my eyes widen when I heard what had happened. A mixed emotions of both anger and hatred coursed through me, which made my fists roll into balls

I got up and was about to leave, but Paris grabbed my legs and looked at me like I was about to go bring down some mountain, I knew what she was saying and the reason she had stopped me,

I couldn't believe she still thought about keeping her job after what had happened, as I stared into her eyes, I felt pity for her, indeed she was pitiful, yet I couldn't blame her,

"Don't worry, I won't hit him; he asked you to come back, right? I want to complete your job for today." I said and walked out of the room.

*Katz Corporation*

I entered the company and strolled to Paris' desk, I was familiar with the place because I had once switched places with Paris when she fell sick, despite the anger that coursed through my veins, I managed to maintain my composure, I knew I had to be as calmly as I could to avoid any form of suspicion irrespective of our resemblance,

I sat down, turned on the computer, and thought about how to get to his office, since I had heard from my sister how he hated anyone entering his office without being called upon, including her, the only persons exempted were his assistant and girlfriend,

I was so engrossed in my thoughts when a man showed up in front of me, snapping me off my thoughts, his words suddenly brought me back to earth,

"Miss Elrod," he called, his tone unusually cold and distant,

"The boss needs you in his office," he said and turned immediately, as I watched him leave, I smiled within me, grateful that I had been given the opportunity I had been looking for, I stood up and followed him,

I got to the luxurious-looking office, and the man gave me a look I understood but refused to comply. "Mr. Katz, she is here," the man announced, glaring at me.

Mr. Katz, who was focused on his laptop, looked up. His expression dropped when he saw me, his displeasure visible on his face as he stared at me.

He waved his hand, and the man who had brought me in bowed and left, while I stood there staring at him, who had buried himself in his business, completely ignoring my presence like I was some invincible dump.

It took everything in me to refrain from pouncing on him, I wanted to lash out and tell him how despicable he was, but for the sake of Paris, I exhaled deeply and forced a smile to my face, as I stared at him who wasn't ready to acknowledge my presence.

Wanting to set my plot in motion, I cleared an invincible lump off my throat and said, "Mr. Katz, you sent for me," my voice coated in a feigned expression of softness and meek,

Mr. Katz stopped typing and got up from his seat upon hearing my words, his expression a mixed expression of anger and hatred as he took deliberate steps toward me,

"Stay within your limits," I warned my teeth partly gritted as I placed my hands behind me.

Mr. Katz smiled like a maniac, whose expression spoke more of the hurt in his eyes,

"You should be happy after what you've done," he said, his tone ringing with a note of sarcasm,

"You drugged and seduced me. How was the pleasure? When do I expect to hear you are pregnant for me? Cheap slut." He spat, his eyes glinted angrily as he stared at me,

He walked over and sat on the couch, his gaze condescending as he stared at me,

But I wasn't going to get intimidated, I looked down at him and my lips curved upwards into a smirk, my eyes filled with mockery as I stared at him,

"What does he think he is?" I thought to myself as I rolled my eyes in disgust,

"What?" Mr. Katz who was confused by my carefree attitude asked, his eyes searching my face as he stared at me, I was certain he never expected my response, I knew what he wanted and wasn't going to bend to his will.

After a few seconds of silence, I said, "Sir, why do you accuse me of such?" my voice soft with an unmistakable edge of mockery in it as I spoke, staring at him in the face, my expression oozing confidence in my heart as I spoke,

"You are in charge of my meals." He said, his teeth gritted, my response had ruled him up and I was enjoying his reactions,

"I can't be so stupid to lower my standards to someone like you," I replied as I felt my anger boil at his flimsy excuse,

"You!" Mr. Katz stood up, ready to attack me, but I kept on smiling at him, deep within me, I was seething with anger as I managed to mask it with a pasted smile,

"Is that all, Mr. Katz?" I said as I closed up the distance between us, staring into his eyes,

His voice turned dangerous as he spoke, "I have the power to fire you." He warned, which made me scoff,

"You are the boss," I said, a complacent smile playing on my face,

"How dare you?" He flared up, irritated by my audacity which made me laugh, the sound of which spoke of the hurt in my heart, I turned sharply towards him, my eyes burning with anger,

"The next time you touch me or accuse me of something like this, you won't believe what I'd do to you." I glared at him, who was dumbfounded by my response, and without waiting for his response, walked out of the office,

Too hurt to allow my sister to continue working for a man like that, my anger made me stop at the door, I turned to face him who was yet to recover from the shock he had felt, and said,

"I'm fired, I won't be needing your attitude anymore."

But before I could turn to leave, Sam rushed back into his office, his hastiness piqued my curiosity, so I stood there wanting to know why he was such in a hurry,

"Boss, we might have a problem, a big one." I heard him say,

"What!" He exclaimed, "Shut the door, you idiot." He said, but before he could get to where I was, I had already left.