There was no one, absolutely no one with her when she was teased that night. The hands coming down on her, trying to ravage her body, gripping her shoulders and tearing open her shirt. Splash! "Faith, are you alright?" Faith felt the water droplets on her face and looked at Jeanie, her favourite co-worker and best friend who worked in the marketing department. "I'm good. Just fell asleep." Jeanie patted on her back, "Are you sure, dear? You were probably seeing a nightmare. See, you are sweating like a pig." Faith smiled to herself. Nightmare?Well, her life itself was a series of nightmares. Her grandma's cancer, her sexual harassment case, her boyfriend cheating on her. What more could happen with her? Faith stood up and smiled. "Don't worry, Jean. I'm good." "As you say. Well, Mr. Hamilton's looking for you!" Jeanie said and left for her department. 

Faith was feeling uncomfortable; the kind that rips you off your shell, makes you crumble and then melt into a puddle. She had never felt anything so overwhelming. She had been an emotional mess from the past few days, she agreed. It wasn't about her granny's or Josh's health. It wasn't about Alexander's strong grip on her waist that had made her feel real and vulnerable. It was something else. It was fear. She could feel it, rising slowly to her head, filling up it with images she would die to forget. Images of the past. But it had nothing to do with the present. Why was she  feeling so scared anyway? Alexander's departing words had affected her. Did he wish to take over this company? Josh would be heartbroken. But honestly, Alexander was the only heir and he probably deserved to get all that belonged to his father. It was something about his way, his behaviour that scared her. He was angry, almost hateful to his

"No, I can't do this, Josh." Faith stuttered, words failing her.The old man sat back on his chair, the look of joy fading away and replaced with a paralysed state of grief. She was helpless. He possibly couldn't tell her to marry his son whom she knew for a few hours. And disliked.He had told her how Alex was alone, hating himself and the world; how he lacked soft feelings, how he functioned like a goddamn robot with no emotions, no joy, whatsoever. She empathized. She felt bad for Alex but that didn't mean she would agree to marry him.Marriage had to be out of love. At least, that's what she believed. For her, marriage was holy and sacred, it was meant to take place between people who loved, cherished and supported each other. Not strangers who met for a few hours. She sighed."Faith, I can't force you. But please think about it." He requested with the same gentle softness that he had shown her since t