*TESSA*

I stared at the floor unable to look at him.

I should really learn to control my tongue if I don’t wanna lose this job.

I waited for him to speak but he didn’t..the silence was making me more uneasy.

I slowly glanced up and our eyes met.

He was staring at me but I couldn’t read his facial expression.

Then I saw Declan brought out his wallet and extracted some notes from it.

He placed the cash on the table.

“Miss Beckett,I really thought I wouldn’t see you again and I honestly didn’t want to.But now that I did…I think I need to make you understand that aside from being a CEO,I have no other side jobs so take back your 200 dollars.”

I swallowed.

I can’t believe he called me into his office to clarify that he wasn’t a prostitute.

“I understand.”I said with a harmless smile.

I exhaled,extremely relieved.

So we just have to get the past behind us.

That night didn’t happen and we can…

Before I could complete my thoughts…I saw him throw a hundred dollar bill on the table.

I stared at him,confused.

“That 100 dollar is your reward for last night.It wasn’t very good,you see.It’s only worth that much.”He let out,sardonically.

I bit my lower lip in anger.

I’m only worth 100 dollars?!

So Demeaning.

My fists clenched and I tried to control my temper.

I reminded myself how badly I needed this job.

So I force a smile out of me and picked up the 300 dollars.

“If that’s all,sir,I would like to get back to work.”With that,I left his office.

*********

As soon as I got back to my desk,Audrey came over.

“C’mon,girl…why did he ask for you?What did he say?Tell me everything.”She asked almost at the same time.

I sighed and replied;”To tell me that he isn’t a prostitute.”

“And?”She probed.

I blinked..there’s no way I can tell her that he made me the prostitute instead.

She was laugh her ass out at me.

So I shrugged.

“What?You can’t certainly mean that was all you two talked about.”

“That was all.What were you expecting?”I asked.

Audrey giggled.”I thought,you know…well,he might have fallen for you last night and you guys were on a start of a beautiful and romantic relationship.”

Instantly,I cringed.”Get that idea out of your head.I’m not interested.”

She laughed.”You’re joking,right?Do you know how many women would kill to spend a night with a man like that?All the female employees here are gushing over him.”

She brought out her cellphone and showed me Declan’s picture which had been posted by some female employees in the company.

I rolled my eyes.”Oh please.”

“Honestly…tell me…how did it feel to have sex with him?”

How did it feel?

I don’t even know because I can’t even remember it clearly.

I do know I was very tender this morning.

I can remember glimpses of him thrusting in and out of me.

Ah…I’m never getting drunk again.

To save face,I replied.”It wasn’t so impressive.If you desperately want to know how it felt…you could try to sleep with him if you want.”

“I wish I could.”She sighed and returned to her desk.

Deep down…I wish I could remember everything about last night…every little detail.

I mean…to be honest…the man is hot…so good looking..

He might really be good with his member…

Did he do it to me so good then?

It’s such a pity that there would be no opportunity for me to get to know that.

He’s my boss now.

And I won’t cross the line so there can never be a connection between us.

My phone rang out,interrupting my thoughts.

It was my mother…

I’m pretty sure she was going to urge me more into attending uncle Wilson’s party tonight.

I covered my face with my hands,trying to prepare myself for the evening for it was going to be a long night.

*TESSA*

At 7:pm,I arrived at Cromwell Hotel.

As I got down from the taxi,I took a deep breathe seeing people walking in and out of hall,elegantly.

I walked in too with my gift in hand.

The party planner did a good job…everywhere was beautifully decorated.

I smiled when I saw uncle Wilson.

“Tessa.”He called,cheerfully.

“Uncle Wilson…happy birthday.”I cooed and hugged him.

“I’m so glad you could make it.”He said.

We disengaged from each other and I handed him his gift.

“Oh…you’re so thoughtful my dear.”

I smiled and walked over to say hi to my mother,sister and Uncle Wilson’s wife,Eleanor.

Taking note that my father was yet to arrive…I took it as my cue to leave.

Seeing him and his wife makes me angry….it makes me think about the past and I always do my best to avoid them.

“Mom,I should get going…I have a few things to catch up on…”I let out,slowly standing up.

“Oh no,young lady…you barely even touched your meal.”Eleanor said as she pushed me playfully to sit back down.

“But…”

“C’mon…you literally just got here and we have an important guest coming over.”

“Who’s that?”I asked,curiously.

“He’s the son of Wilson’s friend.And I heard he’s your new boss…what was his name again?Oh…Declan.”

“What?!”I let out startling everyone on the table.

It’s Declan again!

Why is he everywhere?!

Am I the first person to have a one night stand?

Why am I being tortured by his presence?!

Ugh!

Well,we could say my uncle was well to do but not as rich as the level of Declan.

Ahh.

Why do they know someone like him?

Before I could think of the next thing to do,I saw him entering the hall with my father’s family.

Oh no.

I should leave…

I really should.

I saw a waiter leading them over to where I was sitting.

I tensed and whispered to Eleanor.

“Why can’t they sit somewhere else?”

“This is the VIP table,Bella.”She reminded.

I tried not to show how uneasy I was as they all got seated.

I glanced at Cassie Mendez,the woman who ruined my parents’s marriage.

Next to her was her daughter,Anna Mendez…

She was like a goddess….everything about her body looked so perfect…but of course,I heard she had done numerous plastic surgery.

So to me,she was fake.

She was wearing heavy make up as usual.

I wonder if anyone had ever seen what she looks like.

I glanced at Declan who looked so nonchalant.

My father didn’t acknowledge my presence either.

So I choose to focus on the food in front of me.

As I ate,they started talking.

“Oh,Anna…this is Declan Hudson.He’s a son of a close friend of mine.He just became a CEO and I’m sure he’ll have a lot of business with us in the future.You should get to know him.”My father’s voice rung the air.

He runs a small security agency.

“Nice to meet you.My name is Anna Mendez.I hope we get to know more about each other.”Anna said,sweetly.

“Likewise.”He replied,politely.

“We don’t have to be formal with each other,right?”Anna asked.

I rolled my eyes.

I could already tell that she was into him.

I glanced up to see that Declan ignored her and started eating.

“Declan,how about I get your number?You know,we might have some business to go over in the future.”

“You can contact my secretary if you have anything to discuss with me.”Declan snapped.

Despite that,she didn’t give up and continued to pester him.

It was funny to watch.

“Tessa,are you going to keep sitting there and pretend you didn’t see me?You’re so rude.”Cassie said to me.

I scoffed.

Rude?

I’m only doing my best to get through this night.

Why must she deliberately pick on me?

“So?”

“So?Young lady,you lack manner.”

I sneered.”Look who’s talking.”

“Patrick,Are you seriously sitting there and watching your daughter speak down on me?!”

My father instantly looked furious.”Tessa,apologize to her now!”

I snickered.

Apologize,my foot!

*TESSA*

“If you had manners,you wouldn’t have turned my father against us.”I snapped,standing up.

For so many years…My father hadn’t looked at me as if I was his daughter.

Instead,he stared at me as if I was a stranger.

When I was younger,my mother had been unable to pay my tuition fee and I went to meet him for help but he kicked me out.

And it hurts a lot that Anna gets to live a very good life.She isn’t even his biological daughter!

Now…I have equally shut him out.

He stopped being my father a long time ago.

“Patrick,how can she talk to me like this?!”Cassie cried.

My dad sprang up to his feet.”Start being polite to my wife!”He thundered and slapped me across the cheek.

It was unexpected and it cause me to fall to the floor.

“It hasn’t come to this,Patrick.”Uncle Wilson barked coming over to my side.

“How dare you touch my daughter?!”My mom yelled.

“She deserved it.”Anna snapped,laughing.

I was almost blinded my anger.

Losing my temper completely,I got up and picked up a some plates of dishes,throwing them at my father…no…he’s not my father…Patrick,Cassie and Anna.

Their clothes were stained and I smirked to see him shooting daggers at me.

“You little…”Patrick tried to hit me again but uncle Wilson stopped him.

“Enough!”

“You’re such an horrible daughter?What kind of daughter attacks her own father?!”Cassie yelled.

Eleanor and my mother pulled me to their side.

“You started this.Couldn’t you just get through the evening without asking for trouble?”My mother asked Cassie.

“I can’t believe I have a daughter like you.”Patrick spat.

I rolled my eyes.

I can’t believe I have a father like him either.

I was very satisfied with how dirty Patrick and his family looked right now.

But then my heart sank when I noticed Declan was still sitting there witnessing all the drama going on.

I wish he wasn’t here.

I wish he didn’t have to see how fucked up my family was.

I was starting to feel embarrassed so I whispered to my mother.

“I…I have to leave.”With that,I hurriedly left the hall.

I crossed my arms when I was immediately assaulted by the cold breeze outside.

I started to walk trying to board any taxi that drove by but I was very unlucky getting one.

My cheek was burning and tears pricked my eyes.

I blinked rapidly trying not to make them drop.

I don’t regret what I did tonight.

I refuse to be intimidated by my father’s family.

I’m glad I put them in their places but I couldn’t stop feeling sad at the same time.

I wish my family was different.

I wish my life was different.

And the tears dropped.

I sniffed when my feet started to hurt as well.

When will life ever go my way?

A car suddenly pulled up beside me.

I looked sideways to see the glass window rolled down and it revealed Declan.

I frowned at him.

“Get in.”He ordered.

Get in?

We’re not in his company and I do not have to take commands from him.

And besides, I don’t know how to face him after what had happened tonight.

“It’s not easy to get a taxi here.”He pressed on.

I ignored him and continued walking.

He in turned started driving slowly after me.

Seriously?

What is his problem?

“I think you aren’t current with the news.If you are,you would know that several cases of rape and murder had occurred lately in this street…and the worse part is that…the murderer is making it impossible to be arrested.”

Fear gripped my soul.

“Have fun walking home.”With that,he drove off.

Oh no!

I should have swallowed my pride!

I should have gotten into his car.

I looked around not bold enough to take another step.

Even if life has been hard for me…I still don’t want to die…

Life is beautiful however you see it.

Oh God.

I saw his car stopped upfront and then he drove backwards and stopped beside me again.

He didn’t have to say anything this time.

I ran around the car and quickly opened the door of the passenger’s seat.

I got in and fastened my seat belt.

I chose not to look at his face…I’m sure he has a cocky expression on.

I told him my address and he imputed it into the GPS.

The ride was pretty quiet.

I placed my hand on my cheek wondering why it still fucking hurts.

I can’t believe he slapped me because his wife urged him to.

Soon,the car stopped in front of my apartment.

“Thank you,Mr Hudson.”I unfastened my seatbelt.

“It’s nothing.I just couldn’t let my employee meet her possible death when I could have saved her.”

My teeth clenched.

Is death something to say so nonchalantly?

“You don’t have to worry.I plan on living until I’m old and grey.“I got down and slammed his door shut.

And then he sped off.

What’s the need of having an handsome face when he’s so mean?!