Chapter Three

Daniela's POV

My mind was totally blank in the moment we stared at each other. Other than the shock that had clearly paralysed me, there was nothing else in my head. Not even a way to get out of this. After a while, I gained control of my body once again, only to begin shaking like a leaf, and I knew immediately, it was the onset of a panic attack.

I had imagined this day so many times, and I had different scenarios each time. In one of them, I would walk up to him, spit in his face and show him that I had indeed moved on from the nightmare he turned my life into- a big lie, but that’s not the focus right now. In another, I’d just hold his gaze and walk right past him with my head held up high. There were more of me just being the main character of the moment, but funny enough, today was none of those.

Tears threatened to form in my eyes as it dawned on me that I hadn’t moved on from anything. From his assault, from my mother’s death, from my childhood. There was nothing better about the person I had become. I was still a loser, a coward who couldn’t tell lies from the truth, a coward who couldn’t face her own truths, a coward who was still running away, even now.

Alexander finally broke eye contact as his eyes dropped to my forearm, where my thumb was absentmindedly caressing the scar, and scoffed, shaking his head. His voice, extremely low as he spoke to me for the first time in eleven years. “You’ve got to be shitting me.”

I shook my head, hardly able to breath. Call me whatever you want, but I wasn’t staying to find out what this man would want to say to me next.

“I’ve got to go,” I said to no one in particular and shot up from my seat, rushing past Alexander and out the door he had left open behind him.

My heart was on the verge of jutting right out of my mouth as I half-walked, half-ran through the hallways. I wasn’t sure where I was going with my mind all over the place, but I just needed to find an elevator and then get the hell out of this building. Then, I’ll stay home for the rest of the day and just forget this entire morning ever happened.

What were the odds? That out of all the places I’d go for a job, I’d run straight into the den of the monster of my dark nights. What had I done in my entire pathetic life to deserve this?

I found an elevator a minute later and thanked God silently, but before I could push the button on the wall, a large hand folded around my wrist. I felt my heart stop and sink, and I turned around to see a huge man in a suit with a wire around his ear. He was one of the security personnel I had seen scattered within the building.

“You have to come with me, ma’am,” he told me monotonously.

I put the pieces together instantly. Alexander had already made sure I wouldn’t be able to leave the place.

“Let me go. Please,” I pleaded, struggling from his hold. This was wrong. They couldn’t force me to stay. It had to be illegal or something. “Please."

"I'm sorry ma'am. Boss's orders," he apologised and then practically dragged me away from the elevator.

“You can’t do this,” I went on, quickening my pace so I didn’t fall, all the while trying to pry my hand away from his hold. “This is technically kidnapping!”

“Then you can get a lawyer. Just let me do my job first,” he threw at me in a bored tone and continued on a route that was different from the one I took to the conference room.

“Where are you taking me?” I demanded, but didn’t get an answer this time.

I sighed in defeat, knowing I couldn’t escape this one. What was he even going to do to me now? He couldn’t possibly kill me, could he?

A long ten seconds later, we stopped in front of some large double doors that clearly led to Alexander’s office. The sound of my heart beat kept ringing in my ears as the guard loosened his hold on me.

“Please enter.”

I gave him a pleading look, shaking my head slowly. There was no way I could face him. Yes, he did me wrong. There was no need for me to cower, but the truth was plain, one of the truths that I could easily accept. I was afraid of him.

The guards expressionless face didn’t falter the slightest. He simply opened the door and pushed me into the office, not stopping until I was right in front of the large desk of his office. My eyes moved up from the table, finding him having his back turned on us, staring out the floor to ceiling windows that made up half of the walls of his office.

He took his time stepping away from the window, and finally turning around, his gaze landing on me. I couldn’t read anything from his face, and that unnerved me more because I knew he could see the nervousness that hung heavily on me.

“Leave us,” he said plainly.

The guard nodded, released me and walked out, leaving me alone in this enclosed space, with my enemy.

"Take a seat." His voice was clipped, and calm. No telling of his intentions with me.

I swallowed, squaring my shoulders. “What do you want with me?”

He didn’t answer. Only, he kept his gaze on me, his eyes narrowing slightly. Time had favoured him well, obviously, with him being the CEO of this establishment. But I meant it with regards to his entire appearance. He was striking. From his dark hair that fell over his equally dark eyes with the smallest movement, to his gorgeously toned body his expensive, well-tailored suit showed off. He was handsome, and rich and powerful. It was okay that I was afraid. It was evident he had the upper hand, and I there wasn’t anything I could do about that.

I swallowed again. “Assuming I’m not getting this job.”

“You’re not.” Again, his voice was impassive, but it resonated heavily through my whole body. I clenched my fists. It wouldn’t do well for me to make my fear so obvious. I needed to focus on the anger I had harboured for him all these years. “And I’m glad you’re smart enough to figure that out on your own. Sit. And don’t make me say this again.”

My lips quivered and I tightened my fists to keep my hands from shaking even more. I made no move to obey as I stared right back at him, my eyes going over every inch of his face. And that was when I got the first emotion out of him. Surprise flashed in his eyes as the corner of his lip curved upward. He chuckled. I pursed my lips.

Alexander moved from the window, walking around his table until he was standing right beside me. “If you’re going to be stubborn, then at least have the capacity to look me in the eye for more than just a second,” he started, his tone a mocking one. Then I felt his hand on my face. I stilled as he moved my chin up and sideways, so that all I could see was his face. “Daniela Stevens.”