The sharp click of her heels echoed against the marble floor, slicing through the ambient office noise. Heads turned. Ariel had shown up to work looking... different. Stunning even.

Her short, corporate black skirt hugged her curves perfectly, and the blush pink silk blouse she wore was neatly tucked in, its sheen catching the light with every graceful step. Her black body wave hair framed her delicate face like a halo.

She looked like she owned the room.

Victoria and Ivory sneered from the corner, their eyes dripping with jealousy as she strode past them, but Ariel didn't spare them a glance. Chin raised, back straight, she made her way to her basement office with quiet confidence.

A sigh of relief escaped Joan's lips when she saw her. “Whew!! She sighed. “I was worried sick, I'm so sorry I left the way I did.”

“It's fine.” Ariel replied with a smile. Joan took some time to absorb her sexy new look, glad her effect was rubbing off on Ariel. “This is more like it.” She whispered proudly. Ariel laughed.

“Why did you leave early, was anything wrong?.” She asked Joan.

Joan's smile faltered, she was silent.

Breathing nervously, she walked close to Ariel and perched on her desk.

“When the time is right, I'll tell you.” She replied.

When she had gone to use the restroom, she saw her older step brother. Luckily, he did not spot her.

Scared, she ran and found the closest place to hide. She could not afford to be seen by anyone in her family. She opened the first room she saw and quickly slammed it shut behind her. Her heart was racing. The thoughts of what her step brothers had done to her mother made her shudder.

Ever since her mom died, she had run away from home. Her brothers were capable of a lot of things. They were going to murder her if they ever found out she was back.

They had sent her abroad after her mom died.

But she had returned a few months back.

Her real father died when she was sick, leaving every single asset he owned in her name. He was a wealthy man.

Love struck, her mother had remarried an investment banker who had three boys. Their marriage was bliss, until…. things started getting weird.

Her step dad started making demands, he asked her mother to put her brothers on her late father’s will since they were also her kids now. But her mom had refused. Thinking about what he had done after her refusal made Joan’s blood boil.

“Are you alright?.” She asked the pale faced Joan. “I'm fine.” She muttered weakly. Ariel wanted to press further but she was carried away by the headline on the TV screen. It boldly read “Wanted.” The over familiar clip of the lady Gregory had morphed into, tugging on Damien's hair at the wedding was being played on the screen.

Damien was offering a million dollars for anyone who had Intel on her.

Ariel could not help but laugh. She did not exist, he was on a wild goose chase.

Damien and Bianca's stupid face popped up on the screen. They were linking arms and grinning from ear to ear.

“Are you still going on with the wedding miss Athena? Are the cheating allegations labeled by the lady true?.” A female reporter asked Bianca who was trying to shield her face from the rays of the sun in the garden.

“My fiance and I prefer to keep our relationship private.” She replied.

“I'll never cheat on my fiance, that lady is a liar. I can prove everyone wrong whenever I see her.”

“That is indeed correct Mr Damien. With money on the line, who knows? She may show up. Let's keep our fingers crossed and wait for calls to pour in.”

“Yeah, we should.” Bianca nods in agreement.

“I bet this wedding was fun. A wedding with drama? Sign me up.” She joked. She had gotten her spark back briefly. Ariel laughed.

“It sure was, everyone talked about it for weeks.” Ariel replied, still pleased with Gregory for his outstanding performance.

An older man walked in just then. He was wearing a smartly tailored beige suit.

“Miss Ariel,” he said, eyes scanning the room, “come with me.”

Ariel blinked in confusion but nodded.

“I'll be back.” She excused herself and walked out of the basement with the man.

“Get your stuff, you'll be needing them.” he added without turning around.

Ariel’s brows furrowed. Was she getting reassigned? Fired?

She had no idea, but she gathered her belongings into a box, while the man waited. Trying not to let her nerves show. Curiosity flickered in Joan's eyes, she hoped Ariel was not getting fired.

When Ariel was done, she looked at Joan and smiled warmly. Joan reached out for her hand and gave her palm a light squeeze. “Good luck.” She said with a warm smile. Ariel smiled back and turned to follow the man. Together, they left the basement. He was heading for a lift.

“Do you care to tell me where we're going sir?.” She questioned him politely.

“You'll see.” He responded flatly as they got in. The elevator chimed and came to a stop on the thirteenth floor. The man stepped out, as well as Ariel. She realized she was standing in a part of the company she had never been before.

“You've been reassigned, you're the boss's new personal assistant. The previous one got fired this morning.”

“What?.” Ariel exclaimed. She was not sure she heard correctly. Axel was going to kill her. He clearly could not stand the sight of her.

He led her to a sleek desk stationed right outside a pair of imposing glass doors of Axel’s office.

“Very well then, I guess my job is done here. Have fun working with the boss.”

“Okay, I guess.”

“I must warn you miss, he hates tardiness.”

“Sure, I'll keep that in mind. She replied as she proceeds to arrange her stuff on her new work desk. The man left.

Shortly after he was gone, Ariel saw Axel's familiar figure stroll in casually. Her breath hitched, she wondered why her heart was racing like she was seeing him for the first time.

He walked past her without even a side glance and walked straight to his office.

Ariel sank into her chair, her heart pounding. What exactly was her job description?

She barely had time to wonder.

“Come here.”

His deep, raspy voice rang out from the other side of the glass, low and commanding. Frightened, Ariel stood.