Chapter 1: Welcome To Hell.

"Is everything ready?" the man dressed in a business suit had a pale face when he asked the workers.

It was the time for the arrival of the boss and everything must be well prepared before he reaches.

Jonathan's Corporations was going on severe loss for the last six months and the owner was fed up due to the unprofessional behaviour of his workers. 

A new businessman came across to pay for his perishing company and now it's known as NBM Corporations. 

A man asked the workers to make a queue to explain a few things to everyone there before the boss arrives.

"My name is Crawford and I am the right-hand man of our boss...there are a few things I may mention to all of you so that you won't make any mistakes."

"You see, our boss doesn't like the people who make mistakes...you will not call him sir or boss but My Lord...is that clear?" 

All the old workers were being fired and the new people were hired there...as fast as they were, it would be adequate to call them the robots.

The foreign client's who were already present there to greet the rich CEO, the curiosity to know the man was beyond comprehension.

He, of course, was late. 

"Where is your boss?" asked one of the foreign clients in disbelief.

Then, quickly the room grew silent. It was like the oxygen had been sucked out of the room. 

Then, shoes hoofing on the marble floor, growing louder, each stride resonating purpose. 

A man entered, tall and handsome in a charcoal grey suit. Chest out, shoulders back, hands in pocket. Such elegance and confidence that he commanded the attention of everyone there.

The gentlemen stood up slowly, only to fear of him. He didn't even have to ask for such appreciation.

His hazel eyes moved to focus on every person in the room, then he spoke in a calm yet spectacular voice, "Here I am…"

Nathan Blackmark, rumours are he is never on time and no one in this world is more arrogant than he is.

 As confident as he was, his eyelashes fluttered as he walked ahead.

Sitting on the head seat of the long table in the board room, Nathan gestures to the rest of them to sit.

Even the foreigners had a hint of nervousness on their forehead.

After an hour when all things were settled between the two parties, the handsome CEO stood up to walk out of the board room. 

"I suppose, everything in this room is according to your liking, my Lord…" a man with slightly grey hair and neatly pressed tux in black colour bowed before speaking.

Swaying his chair a little, Nathan licked his lips before uttering, "Yes, this will do, Crawford." 

After a pause, he continued, "But I want an assistant for myself."

"That can be arranged for you as well…" 

Crawford walked out and came back with a girl dressed in professional attire. 

"My Lord, this is Lucy. She is your assistant manager. She will help you find an assistant for you…" Crawford mentioned carefully.

"My Lord, tell me how can I help you?" the female bowed to the man sitting on the chair.

He was treated like a whole other person...as if he was some sort of a Prince or a King. 

Meanwhile, in a poor area of California, there was a small street, mostly empty with abandoned buildings with tarnished paints, the rustled leaves and the rubbish was blowing on the small dirt roads with the pressure of the wind. 

In a tiny apartment with two rooms on the fourth floor, there were the flames of the stove when the water from the non-stick pot was outflowing and the loud raspy voice of the old lady echoed around.

"Geni! Get the stove!"

A girl rushing out of the little washroom and to the kitchen.

She immediately turned off the stove and panted heavily.

Wiping the sweat off her forehead, she didn't realise how the foam of the bubbles was on her face.

She poured the water into the cup and stirred the instant coffee mix with a spoon, taking it to the old lady.

On a small single bed there laid an old woman, her hair white and skin wrinkled, she smiled weakly at her.

"Come on, grandma. Have some coffee…" the girl put the cup on the nightstand and sit beside the old lady.

"Geni. For the last time...when will you understand this? Do you like foam so much?" 

Unaware Geni, knitted her eyebrows and asked, "What do you mean, grandma?"

The old woman grabbed the small mirror from the nightstand and turned to show it to the girl.

"Now we know the secret of your beauty…" the woman chuckled lightly.

Scoffing gently she wiped the foam off her left cheek and turned to look at the old woman.

"You know how much I love to do the chores…" she shrugged her shoulders with a wry smile on her face.

"Genevieve, I told you to get out of the house...go out and explore. Find some work. Don't waste your younger days in this apartment…" the old woman held her hand to caress it gently.

"You know how much you've suffered because of your uncle and aunt. Now, it's time to live for yourself…" 

"But grandma...I can't leave you alone…" Genevieve objected.

Sighing deeply the old woman uttered, "I am not your real grandma and yet you've done so much for me. My child, listen to me...I want to see you succeeding before I die." 

"Don't say this, grandma. The moment you gave me shelter in your home…" the old woman cuts her off speaking, "It's nothing. I've known your parents forever. I know how much of a brilliant girl you are. Find a job for yourself."

Being insisted by the old woman, Genevieve searched for the job vacancies in the newspaper.

Spending nearly two hours in different newspapers, she marked all the possible job ads for herself.

 It was midday when she changed into a presentable attire and stepped out of the building.

At the end of the street were sitting a group of boys, they were smoking and chattering.

Genevieve clutched the handbag close to her chest and passed by the boys when she heard them gossiping about her, some were laughing, she ignored it completely.

Passing by a two-story bungalow, she began to admire it.

Flashbacks appeared on her mind, she was recalling the time she spent in this house. It was her parent's house...where she grew up and from where she was being thrown out.

Realising she had a tear rolling down her cheek, she immediately wiped it, walking across the street.

Genevieve reached the busiest street of California and stopped by a pizza shop.

"Hey, girl...Genevieve. How are you doing?" a girl wearing an apron and a chef hat standing behind the counter asked smilingly.

"Abbey, can you help me finding some jobs?" Genevieve was given a slice of pizza with a drink and she was sitting with her friend, Abbey who works in a local pizza shop down the road.

"I've heard some girls talking about NBM Corporations and they are looking for an assistant."

"I am too inexperienced for an assistant in a big company…" the girl clicked her tongue boringly.

"You just need to be polite and know how to sort the files. Give coffee to the boss...what else. Do it, girl. You won't get any good opportunity again…"

"When is the interview?" after a lot of thinking she asked and Abbey answered, "Tomorrow... 11 am sharp."

Genevieve reached home to give this news to the old woman and found some presentable dresses to wear.

She was going for an interview in a big company so she selected the best dress to wear.

The next morning, she woke up early and give breakfast to the old woman and had some coffee, then changed into professional attire. 

Genevieve tied her long blonde hair in a ponytail and wore the black pumps her father gifted her on her sixteenth birthday. 

Walking to the NBM Corporations, she finally reached outside the building after asking the people for directions.

The people walking on the roads were generous enough to guide her in the correct directions.

She stepped into the office and informed the receptionist that she came for an interview.

The receptionist itself was confused, she wasn't exporting a girl so poor would be coming for an interview.

All the girls who have been coming for the interview were dressed in short dresses and high heels, their faces covered in heavy makeup and hair either blow-dried, curled or straightened. 

When Genevieve stepped out of the elevator on the twenty-third floor, she was astonished to see the crowd of girls outside the cabin of the boss.

There was a female lady standing, explaining everything to the girls.

"Whatever happens, do not call him sir or boss...just My Lord. And do not look him in the eyes. If you want to work here...you have to be professional. Understand?" 

After an hour of interview, Nathan dismissed the girl and called Lucy.

"Lucy, are the girls here for prostitution?" asked the aggressive boss.

"No, my Lord." she slightly shook her head.

"Then, Lucy. Tell me, why the hell are they dressed as sluts? I want an assistant for myself. I am not holding any show here. Please call the girl dressed in the professional attire and if there is no such girl as this, then send everyone away."

Lucy bowed before leaving the cabin, then rushed out to stare at each of the girls. 

She selected Genevieve as she was the only one dressed professionally...cheaply professional.

"You. Miss!" Lucy waved her hand and Genevieve immediately stood up to ask, "Me?"

"Yes. You...come with me…" Lucy gave a certain nod while all the other girls were looking at the poor girl with so much awe, judging by her outfit they thought she was some kind of a prick.

When taking her in, Lucy mumbled, "Keep your eyes down and listen to whatever he says. When he demands an answer, you give him one. Okay?" 

Stepping inside the cabin, she was nervous. She is been sitting here for two hours and by now she has known everything about the boss. 

He was not easy to please and his sarcasm roams around his room. 

One thing she was so confident of...that she will not get this job.

"Good morning, my Lord…" she cleared the throat before speaking.

It was that moment when he lifted his head only to take one quick look at her then buried his eyes again to the portfolio.

"Ms Genevieve Harper...you are hired," he informed, flipping the pages of the file.

Genevieve was in a trance, she was still processing.

When a minute passed, he raised his head to look at her and asked, "Is there something you want to say, Ms Harper?"

Not knowing what to say...she nervously shook her head, rubbing her palms together.

He noticed how uneasy she was, he sunk back to his chair and let out a wry smirk.

"Or you can't get enough of me? Is this the reason you are not leaving, Ms Harper…"

"What? No!' she blurted out and he raised both of his eyebrows in astonishment, it was such a blunt answer.

" Then what is the matter, Ms Harper?" he asked folding his hands together, paying attention to her.

"I mean...am I hired? You haven't asked me the questions yet…" she spoke in a low voice.

"Yes, you are hired. Welcome to hell, Ms Harper…" he let out a side lipped smile and she could only blink her eyes at it.