IN

ife

sed to be Kiera Trinity Mallory, but the registrar might have cross-

of having a sibling, but I didn’t get a chance to have either a brother or

got bullied when I was a kid because of my hair. No matter how mom tried fixing it with a hundred hair clips, it

s have green eyes too. Dad loves me so much he calls them emerald. My lips? Just or

ck in the chest size, but I don’t have to use the push-up

at? Numbers. Who loves numbers, anyway? I hate it because i

ent major in Finance. Well, I have to shift my love of Art to Finance

good eyebrows that my friends envy m

sored by Hughes Industries. Though my parents work with them unti

broke my heart, and I cried for months. Not only because he hates me

e. Well, that was a year ago. I met Oli, and we clicke

perfect. He was caring, loving, and thoughtful until he proposed. Did I say yes? Of cours

ering from leukemia. No matter how I cried my eyes out every day

a date for our wedding. See? Fate is just playing

heard a month ago that Mr. Peter Williams is retiring. I’ve been working with him as his assistance since I

es gorgeous woman wearing a light pink Dior dress, blue Louboutin stilettos

Did I mention who Lizzy is? The heiress of Hughes. Well, she’s the boss’s daughter.

he asks, sitting

always on full alert like on

hour ago. She said

h her twin again. I heard from uncle

aph likes him, though.” I sip the caramel Frappucci

s a thing with bad boys, and he isn’t one of those,” Lizzy re

t?”

urrounding is suddenly getting smaller. I feel claustrophobic, and I

says sincerely, reac

her as I toy with my engagement ring. I never take t

three year

go, Lizzy,” I

th him eight hours a

?” I

it’s been years since the last time

e’re not kids this time,

ck his social media account?” s

he left. Why?” I never checked anything has to do with him after that. I

ean,” she says before

dry clean, send this, do this, arrange dinner with, fax this, do my presentation, oh, did my whore call? G

while holding her flat stomach

nged his accent in

, you know? I hope he’ll break up with that bitch Dana

ike a thousand times every

he lette

he will torture me at work,” I say guiltily. I’ve cried to sleep when

to mix the misunderstanding you had

d to see me. Does he know that

akes h

*

Oli for our 1st anniversary. I know it sounds lame because I went in the morning and the party was n

er Bash is going to throw against me as soon as he figures out that I’ll be working with him for eight h

ping my sweaty palms on my skirt. I’m

wrong w

ew boss who is an arrogan

from

s in the e

r

hen the door swings open. When I think I am ready to face him

Just pl

I ca

should have followed what Lizzy has told me. To check out his social media or likely,

n the molten lava and lik

re’s a surprising l

to know that I’m hi

if I’m being honest, I really miss it. I miss that coming from his mouth. I

name, it feels like I just swallow

tiful bro

ior fits your liking, but we

rom babbling like an idiot,

zes meet again. I have to break it because Bash is hypnotizi

dry in

y family threw out for me two d

ing me to be

l his appointment and my notes. I’m not supposed to do that, but I can’t just fidget in front of hi

g, “So, as you know, I’m your new assistant; temporarily, and my office is just adjacent to yours.” I p

ule on my iPad—it’

s.” I look at his schedule and read it to h

ve the meeting for

me. I feel everything around me disappe

d all the paper works that left

sted in that ei

some magic to turn into an ant or at least

looking at me intensely. I can’t help but

ed to me, Mr. Hughes. If you don’t want me as your assistant, by all means

tutter like I always

act like I’m not affected; it hurts

Mr. Hughes. You’r

my boss, so it’s only proper to address y

do as I say.” He s

He’s

at the empty chair in front of me. I pla

You went to your grandparents in Boston.” He starts talking, and I can

friendship, Trinity, but you didn’t even answer

at was four years ago.

our friendship for years with just one mistak

don’t want to be your friend, Bash, Can’t you understand that? Your friends, classmates, and girlfriends

ove, but he keeps pushing me

times did I choose you against my girlfriends? How many times did I defend you against thos

I’m sure you made friends with Brit

an immature

!” Oops! I shouldn

ss.” Crap! He sounds angrier. And just his voice almost makes me jump. He did really ch

Hughes,” I say

asks with a soft voice this time. My

po

is unbe

eb Hughes will introduce you as the new CFO.” I didn’t realize

or before he throws it to the empty chair that serves our gap. I watch his jaw clench and breathe so deep