Growing beautifully

Eight years later.

Selena smiled as she walked into the company greeting some of the company workers that she was acquainted with. She had changed considerably in eight years. She had lost weight, maintained flawless skin, with gorgeous red hair. Her eyeballs were an intense shade of blue, with arched eyebrows and thick lashes that made her eyes stand out like sapphires. Her lips were luscious so she used a deep shade of red lipstick to highlight them.

She was different now than she had been at fifteen. Back then she was clueless, with no accomplishments, begging at Andrei's feet to pardon her father_the enemy's feet. She changed everything about herself, and she pulled it off so much that she had been working for Andrei as his assistant for three years, yet he didn't remember or recognize who she was.

The transformation was due to the help of her cousin who also worked for the Markos empire. He made sure she got the best education and also enrolled her in an exercise program with a new diet that had her transforming into a new woman she could hardly recognize.

Her motivation was revenge. She wanted Andrei Marko to feel pain, feel her misery before wishing he was dead.

Working in close quarters with Andrei Markos was something that made her blood boil, but she bore it well. There was no gain without pain. She also made sure she became the only one he could rely on to get the job done.

She had seen how brutal he could be when it came to handling business partners and those who thought they could double-cross him. His women were also treated likewise without any regard to their feeling. They kept coming back tho, no matter how he treated them.

She never could figure out what went on in their mind. He was handsome but he was a devil. He took away her happiness and she couldn't wait to get even.

She took a deep breath as she got to his office, pasted a sweet smile on her face as she saw him. She dropped the file on his desk. He doesn't bother to look up.

"I finally got the Japanese investors to schedule a meeting with you this Friday. If everything goes smoothly, the turnout for Saturday's event would be more incredible".

“my events are always incredible. It just got better now that I have an efficient assistant" he said In a low voice. It was rare for him to give compliments, but he had been doing that a lot the past few weeks that she wondered if something was up with him.

She also noticed him staring intensely at her, especially when he thought that her attention wasn't on him.

"I'll need your signature on this sir Andrei." She said sliding the document toward him. He looked at it briefly then signed. She smiled inwardly as she took them off the table.

"After the party, expect a raise in your paycheck," he said smoothly and she squealed.

" Really!!! Thank you so much sir, Andrei. I will not let you down. I promise"

" You can leave now" he ordered. Selena stepped outside of the office, pretending to be happy. She closed the door, a scowl replacing the smile.

"A raise after the party? Fine, we'll just have to see if you're still breathing by then" she starred down at the documents which held his signature. Half of the company shares were now hers. She had been getting him to sign shares over to her without him knowing and finally she had a sizable number of shares in the company.

"You should always read what you sign Andrei Markos. I guess you're not that wise after all" she smiled as she walked towards her desk. Everything was falling into place as it should.

The party.

Everything went according to plan and the event turned out successfully. Other billionaires were there flaunting their riches, trying to get business deals or a partnership offer. She had planned the whole event for months and she made sure that nothing was going to go wrong. The ladies at the party were also millionaires. Their expensive clothing and jewelry easily gave that fact away. Most had their eyes on Andrei probably praying in their mind for him to notice them.

She rolled her eyes heavenward as she watched a girl try all her best to get his attention but failed miserably.

She walked towards him. Time to put the plan into action, she told herself. He turns around, facing her like he sensed her coming to meet him.

Her heart gave a thump in her chest as his intense grey eyes met with hers.

Her steps faltered. She swore in her head. What was up with her stupid heart these past few days? She hated Andrei Markos so her heart should have been bitter towards him at every turn, not skip a beat because he caught her eyes.

She composed herself as she got to him.

"You seem bored already sir Andrei"

"Well crowds are not my thing miss Selena" he replied, watching the crowd, a grimace on his face.

"It does get suffocating amid crowds. I have something prepared for you in the conference room, can I steal you for some minutes" she requested cheerfully.

" Of course. I need a break anyway" he muttered. He followed after her as she led him to the boardroom.

They got into the building, and he closed the door behind them. She watched him for a reaction as he noticed how the room was decorated. There was a cake on the table and two glasses of wine. His eyes drew up in question as he turned to face her.

"I wanted us to celebrate the successful business deal we closed recently. You are the best boss that I have ever met during my short course of being an assistant, and I hope we can work together longer" she said picking up one of the glasses. He picked his, clicking it with hers. His face was impassive. It was like he was considering something, but thought it better to keep it to himself. He met her gaze.

"You're a very good assistant Selena" he murmured, drinking the wine smoothly. She watched him with satisfaction as she drank hers.

"Taste good," he said, then suddenly wavered falling to the floor.

Selena smiled. It worked faster than she thought possible, but she was cool with the outcome. She moved closer to him.

"Are you ok sir Andrei. You don't look so good" she mocked in a sweet voice.

He grabbed at the table groaning.

"You put something In my drink?" He asked incredulously.

She folded her arms, her eyes cold as she watched him fight the pain. Served him right, she thought. Her father also went through the same.

" Yes, I did Andrei. You thought you could kill my father and go scot-free right?. Well, karma is a bitch, isn't it?. You sent my father to jail for a crime he did not commit and he died in prison because of you. Now you know how it feels to lose everything including your life Andrei.

You should have sent me to prison with my dad like you said eight years ago, then I would have been dead already and you wouldn't be in the position you are now. I feel absolutely no remorse for what I'm doing now Andrei. Do you know why? Because you deserve to die" she screamed in anger until she noticed he wasn't groaning but laughing.

It was such a dark, sinister laugh that it sent chills up her arms. He stood up to his full height slowly, towering over her with a dark look on his face.

She was so shocked that she couldn't move. Her heart drummed widely In her ears.

"You're wrong Selena. I'm not an opponent that can be killed easily. I rule this game you think you are playing Selena " he hissed darkly, then Selena felt his strong hands grabbing her arms sharply. She jerked in surprise, the situation not fully registering, until her back connected with the wall painfully.

Her eyes were opened wide as she stared into his grey eyes that had darkened to slits with murderous intent written all over them.

She swallowed hard. This was not part of the plan.