The coat barely fits, Ariel looked like she was thrown inside Axel's oversized trashed suit Marie had dry-cleaned for her. When she looked at the building, she was already feeling out of place. She was standing before the magnificent sky scrapper, which was the smallest branch of Axel's chain of companies. This one was his leather company, he rarely came around.

But it looked so huge.

The skyscraper loomed over the city, its mirrored surface catching the sun and tossing it back in sharp, blinding flashes. It was elegant and intimidating.

Inside, the air was hushed and cool. The lobby stretched wide and high, its marble floor so polished it mirrored the chandelier’s golden light. Water whispered from an indoor fountain shaped like abstract wings, and tall glass panels framed the world outside. Every corner was touched with luxurious gold-veined stone, handcrafted art and subtle fragrances piped in appeal to people's senses.

Elevators slid open without a sound, whisking staffs and visitors upward to offices that felt more like penthouses than workspaces. The executive suites were dressed in tailored, simple mahogany desks, and panoramic views that made even the chaos of the city seem distant, beneath them. Every inch of the building screamed wealth. The air around the building even felt different. Ariel took a deep breath as she walked down the hallway holding a paper. Axel had scribbled her workspace and handed it to Marie who in turn handed it to her.

Ariel had been thrilled when Marie told her Axel had decided to give her a job.

But now she was here, she was gradually beginning to realize it was not what she signed up for.

First off, she felt awkward in her suit. Just when she felt her day won't get any worse, she was directed to her workspace in the basement. She was too stressed to argue, the pay was fair for a girl with no solid qualifications. If she could save up a thousand dollars, and request for some part of her salary upfront, she could save Khan. It'd be much easier to raise money from work than her chicken delivery job. Besides, she was prone to getting discovered. Although Axel had a lot of money and all it took to shield her from Bianca and Damien, Ariel didn't think he'd be happy to help. She drags her feet to HR’s office to get her appointment letter stamped. It had Axel's signature on it. Other female employees snickered when she walked past the corridor. Although she could pass for the prettiest female staff in the company, her coat was ridiculously big.

Nevertheless, she was a stunner. She had soft delicate facial features and the loveliest pair of eyes. She was gorgeous, they feared Victoria from marketing had a rival. Victoria was a haughty girl that prides in parading herself as the prettiest. Her life long dream was for the boss to look at her someday. She works like a mule day and night to get a promotion and work with the head company. But Axel had no time for women, he was occupied. The only people that noticed her were her superiors at work. Her effort only pushed her to a top position in the marketing team.

When Ariel got her desk allocation, she could not believe her eyes. She had been assigned to the basement on Axel's orders. Her tiny workspace in the basement was depressing. A black computer and keyboard was resting on the old work table. The walls were painted with hues of yellow and olive. Plopping on the office chair behind her desk, Ariel sulked for a bit. Repressing her sad thoughts, she decided to shake off the awfulness of the morning and give her new job her best shot. Employees trooped in and out of the basement with piles of files she was supposed to sort and classify. She works until her hands aches.

By evening, she was exhausted. She looked at the pile of paperwork still waiting for their turn on her desk. Ariel rubs her eyes and yawns, she was feeling sleepy. But she could not risk it. It was her first day at work, she had to make a good impression.

She stands up and walks to the floor above the basement to get some coffee.

Ariel took a plastic cup and was about to fetch some coffee when an unusually tall lady pushed her aside and fetched coffee.

“Hello, excuse me, that was rude.” She called the lady out with no hesitation.

“And who are you to talk to me?.” The lady turns to Ariel haughtily as she sips her coffee.

“Miss Victoria, you must have met the new employee.” An intern interrupted. Ariel could catch the sarcasm in her voice.

Victoria sizes her up and laughs in jealousy.

“Is that your dad's coat?.” Ivory, the people pleasing intern snickers.

“No, it's my husband's.” Their laughter faded.

“Now if you'll excuse me.” Ariel excused herself and tried to leave with her double cream coffee.

“Still doesn't change the fact this place is not for tacky girls like you.”

“I went to an ivy league school and I topped my class.

I had a glimpse of your CV and it says you went to “Pepa highschool. I can't help but feel cheated. Why would our company ever hire someone like you? It almost looks like you whored your way in.” She asked her in contempt. “Everyone can't get in the same way you did.” Ariel replied and walked off, leaving the raging Victoria tongue tied.

She walked back to her little corner in the office and sat behind her desk. Regardless of it's size, the coat’s scent was intoxicating. Axel smelt damn good. She knew he would not be too happy if he perceives his scent on her. But that was not going to be happening. She was banished to the West side of the mansion, very close to the ranch. It was way more than the ten feet distance Axel asked her to keep. It was also hard to get him out of her head. He did not like her, but she could feel him beneath her skin. It was a stupid obsession that was going to fade, she was just not used to meeting Axel's kind everyday. She had never met a man with an aura as powerful as his. She knew she was shameless, for having a crush on someone who did not like her. But she had thrown her pride out of the window. He could lie about being a god, or he could even be a demon. She did not mind. She knew she wanted him, he was all she could think about. She fantasizes about the day he was going to be all hers. But his next move makes her doubt if that day was ever going to come.