Florence's POV

"I hate you."

The words left my mouth before I could stop them. They were hot, cracked and ragged. My fists were clenched at my sides, trembling with the weight of five years of silence and pain.

"You're wicked," I breathed out, laughing bitterly. "You're so wicked but you have no idea that your worst enemy is working right under your nose."

Anthony didn't move, he didn't even speak. He just stood there, his dark eyes fixed on me like I was a stranger speaking in tongues or a foreigner rapping in an unknown language, but maybe I was. Maybe this is what happens when you tear the stitches open all at once and let salt pour into your wounds.

But I kept on talking.

"Every morning you walk past me in your expensive suits thinking you own the world. Meanwhile, I've been sitting in your office plotting to tear it down, your company, your image, your control."

His jaw tightened, but he still said nothing.

I let out a cold, broken laugh. "You don't even realize what you've done to me. What you did to my family, to my father, to Gabriel. And yet you sit so calm and composed like nothing and no one can touch you.. unfortunately I am here to change all that. I will hurt you so much."

I stumbled back, my back hitting the wall and I felt the world tilt and a wave of dizziness hit me.

"I hate you." I said before darkness fell and everywhere went still.

*****

When I opened my eyes again, I was not in the same hotel room. This one was much smaller. Quiet and dimly lit with the air smelling like roses and linen.

I sat up too fast causing my head to spin, my temple was pounding, and my body ached like a steamroller had gone through me.

Where am I? For a moment, my mind was completely blank and my mind felt fuzzy like there was static.

But then it rushed in like a flood, the champagne, the one sided shouting match, the balcony, and him. Me screaming, confessing, cracking wide open in front of the one man I was supposed to destroy. I had completely ruined my plans but completely going clean in front of him. And the fact that I kissed him. I planted my lips on the man who had ruined my life, how far had I fallen.

I sang my legs over the bed and realize that I was still wearing the dress from last night, minus the shoes which were discarded on the floor. Someone must have brought me here. Was it him?

But he had left no note, no message, just nothing but silence. The same kind I have been living in for the past five years.

I gathered myself, my belongings and head out. Got in a cab and went straight home to freshen up.

Mum was pacing around the living room when I got there. She was holding an old tie that used to belong to Dad.

"Florence, he didn't come home," she whispers, rushing to me with worry maring her eyes. "He went out, and I waited but he didn't come back. I waited all night."

I took the tie from her gently and tried to soothe her. "Hey mum. He's okay, he just... had to work late and you of all people should know how tiring his work is."

She started shaking and her eyes welled up with tears. "Did he forget about me? Is he mad at me? He didn't call me to tell me."

I pulled her in for a hug. One so tight and warm I hoped it would be her cure. "No don't think that. Dad really loves you. He probably just got busy or his phone died because he forgot to take the charger along, but he'll call later, okay?"

She nodded, slowly calming down. I helped her into her room and laid her down, brushing her hair back like I used to when I was younger. She closed her eyes eventually, going off to sleep.

While my own eyes are burning red with tears that came straight from my soul.

I showered quickly, changed into work clothes, and grabbed my bag dashing out of the house quickly. My stomach felt like it was made of stone and I need something to distract myself from the ache in my chest. I didn't even know if I still had a job, but I couldn't sit here like I had given up.

I had stepped into the elevator and went down when my phone buzzed. It was an official email.

Subject: Termination Notice

Body: Ms. Davidson, your probationary employment with St. Louis Corporation has been terminated, effective immediately. Your access to office property has been revoked.

I just stared at the screen.

My employment was terminated? Just like that?

There was no warning or explanation. Anger surged through my chest, fierce and hot like a dormant volcano ready to explode.

I didn't wait to wallow in self-pity or contemplate my next plan. I went straight to the office.

The security guard at the door gives me a confused look. "Miss, you're not authorized to go in today. Your access card was deactivated this morning."

I gave a tight smile. "I left personal belongings in the executive office. Just a few files and personal items, I'll be out in five minutes."

He hesitated for a while but he nodded eventually and stepped aside from me to walk in.

And I did, with no badge,no clearance,no rules. Just unbridled rage and anger.

I marched to the 41st floor and stepped into Anthony's office like I still belonged here. And there he was, behind the desk, as usual. Calm and composed. The face that gave away nothing.

"You terminated my appointment. You fired me." I say coldly.

He looks up. "Yes I did. "

"No meeting? No call? No conversation what's so ever?!"

"You screamed at my in public. You insulted me based on false accusations. You are clearly unstable and I do not need such people in my office."

I laughed. "So this is about your ego."

"No. It's about responsibility. I've noticed your... quirks, since the day you arrived."

"You mean my dislike for you?" I snarled. "You mean the way I couldn't pretend to admire a man who destroyed my family?"

His eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"

I stepped forward. "You don't remember Davidson & Co.?" My voice rose. "You acquired them four years ago. My family's biggest no one branch, the crown and foundation of our business, the one your company devoured."

"That company you are talking about was completely drowning in debt," he replied sharply. "We salvaged what was left and made it what it is now."

"You mean you stole it," I said. "After you sent my brother to jail. After you framed him for tax fraud and let my father die from the disgrace of it."

"I have never met your brother," he says firmly. "I don't even know his name."

"Gabriel Davidson," I snap. "He was the CFO and he was framed for a crime he didn't commit. Everything fell apart because of your company. My mother has been slipping out of reality ever since. I've been trying to keep her together while you climbed your precious ladder."

Anthony blinked, slowly. Then leaned down, opening a drawer. He pulled out a file and slid it across the desk to me.

I hesitated but then took it and looked down. It was a death certificate.

One with Gabriel's name written on it, and that wasn't all. Gabriel's date of birth was there along with a photograph clipped to the corner.

The apparent cause of death was a car crash. Certified by a local authority. Time-stamped, signed.

My hands trembled in confusion and fear. "This... this can't be real."

"He died according to what I know. It happened before we acquired that company," Anthony sa quietly. "I remember it clearly because the deal was delayed. It was part of the reason it was up for auction."

"No." I shake my head. "No, he didn't die. He was arrested, he is currently in jail in a different country. He's alive."

I unlocked my phone, open the police database link that I had saved for like three years ago.

I slammed the screen down in front of him.

The name: Gabriel Davidson.

Crime: International Financial Fraud.

Status: Detained.

Location: Undisclosed, foreign facility.

Anthony looked at the phone and then at me, and for the first time since I met him, he didn't look composed.

He looked... completely lost.

"This doesn't make sense," he murmured to himself.

My hands tightened around the edge of the desk. "No it doesn't."

Silence stretched between us, filled only by the soft hum of the AC and the sound of two people realizing neither of them knew the truth.

"We both have proof," I whispered

He nodded slowly. "So... which one is real?"

Florence's POV

"We both have proof," I whispered in disbelief. My head was spinning in circles and I couldn't help but clutch it to steady myself.

Anthony nodded slowly, but his gaze didn't waver. "So... which one is real?"

The air between us felt like glass, thin and fragile, ready to shatter with any wrong move we make. My pulse roared in my ears, and the edges of my vision buzzed, was I going insane.

"You're lying," I said, my voice shaking more from disbelief than anger. I refused to believe his words and play into his game. If he really was telling the truth then what sort of sick game was fate trying to play against me. "You're trying to confuse me. Twist my head around until I can't tell what's real anymore."

His jaw tightened. "Miss Davidson.."

"No!" I slammed my palm on the desk in frustration. "You think I'm stupid? You think I'll just believe some neatly typed death certificate because you put it in front of me? My brother is alive and well, he has been unlawfully locked up in a country that we don't know and can't access. I have spent five years living with that truth, keeping my mother and my entire heart alive with that truth. Don't stand there and tell me I imagined it all. He isn't dead."

Anthony's voice stayed maddeningly calm and indifferent . He eyes were steady and looked like this matter didn't shake him. Like it was so insignificant and it made my blood boil. "I don't have the time or the interest to hide your brother, Florence. I run a multinational corporation. I don't orchestrate personal vendettas against people I've never met before."

I let out a bitter laugh that scraped my throat raw. "Of course you do. You wanted our company, you wanted the prestige. All you had to do was destroy us to get it. And you decided to target my brother who was the heart of the company. Once you did that everything else fell into place for you."

His eyes hardened to steel. "If I wanted your company for myself, I could have taken it without pretense. But that's not what happened."

"Liar." I spat wanting to strangle him and see his indifferent expression change. Make him feel panic and fear, the same ones I felt and I still feel even after all these years.

Anthony's movements were sharp and deliberate as he rose from behind the desk, crossed the room, and went to the far wall. He pressed his thumb to a small, black square I hadn't noticed before. A quiet click echoed, and part of the wood panel slid open, revealing a narrow safe.

He keyed in a code, turned the handle, and pulled out a thick, cream-colored folder. He set it on the desk and opened it, flipping through until he stopped at a single sheet.

"This," he said, sliding it toward me, "is from my files. I kept it because I don't throw away originals when the deal involves corporate acquisition. It is usually Incase of certain situations but I am glad I did so."

I glanced down. The document was printed in clean black ink.

"What is this?" I shifted away from the file.

"You have said your truth haven't you? And so I am showing you mine. The proof of my innocence against your structured bias against me."

"It's not bias it's the truth."

"Your truth is highly flawed and you will know it when you look at the file." His voice hardened and he pushed the file closer.

I gulped and picked up the file opening it. It was a printed email.

From: Gabriel Davidson

To: acquisitions@stlouiscorp.com

Subject: Urgent – Buyout Proposal

My heart stopped with seconds.

I scanned the first few lines a thousand times, the words tilting and blurring as if my eyes refused to accept them:

I am reaching out on behalf of Davidson & Co. with an urgent request for purchase of the remaining company shares. Given the financial strain and ongoing debt crisis, I believe it is in everyone's interest to proceed quickly with the acquisition to salvage what is left. Please I will expect your positive response as I am badly in need at the moment.

There was a signature at the bottom. Gabriel's. His name, his style, the same little upward flick on the G that only he wrote.

"No," I breathed, shaking my head dropping the file back on the table like it had physically burned me. "This isn't right. This isn't true at all. My brother would never do this."

"It came directly to us," Anthony said, watching me closely. "Your brother contacted my company first. He wanted us to buy the shares before the auction."

"But you didn't. Your company came that day and won the highest bid. If he really came to you before then why didn't you take his offer immediately, why wait until you had a load of competitors." I probed, feeling his explanation weak.

"I do not understand what your understanding of business is but I do not venture into anything that comes easily " Easy means cheap and cheap means low quality. Your brother is not the first person to throw his company at me and he would not be the last. I would research and inquire and plan before I acquire a company just in case the company will bare me loss instead of profit."

I dragged my fingers over the paper as if touching it would make the truth seep into my skin. My stomach twisted. "He was trying to save the company," I whispered, my throat tightening. "Not sell it. He...he went up and down the city for weeks, meeting investors, calling in favors. I watched him. When he found out it was being auctioned, he almost lost his mind. He was furious to the point we were scared he would do something horrible to himself or someone else. He said he'd never give it to the St. Louis family, not after what your company done to Dad's deals in the past. You guys are practically our rivals so why would he come to you."

"Then explain this," Anthony said. His tone wasn't mocking or smug, it was... genuinely questioning. "Explain the multiple evidence I has that your brother came to me first."

I couldn't defend him. I couldn't understand what was going on. It was like my entire world had crumpled once again.

I stared at the letter, at the timestamp that placed it barely a month before our downfall. It didn't fit. Nothing fit anymore.

My head felt like it was splitting in two one part clinging to the version of events I had built my revenge on, the other part being yanked toward something darker, stranger, and far more complicated.

For the first time since I'd walked into this office months ago, I wasn't sure who the villain was.

Anthony leaned on the desk, his hands braced on either side of the folder. "You see the problem now, don't you?"

I met his gaze, and it was like staring into a mirror that reflected my own confusion. "I see... that everything I thought I knew is starting to crumble."

Anthony straighten up and walked closer to me. "And now that you understand what I said you need to leave."

"No!" I refused immediately, looking at him square I the eye. "I am not going anywhere until this matter is resolved. My brother is alive and yet you say his dead."

"The only reason I was able to acquire the company is because your brother was dead and has willingly given up his rights and all the shares to be auctioned. I had an upper hand due to the email. Nothing big or elaborate."

"It's like you are not understanding what is happening." I practically screamed at him. "All this information is not true, we both have two different versions of the story but the problem is still the same. You took away our company."

"I legally bought it."

"That's what you think but you didn't. I don't know who sent you all those messages but sure as hell it was not my brother." I insisted.

Anthony stared at me long and hard for twenty good seconds before letting out a frustrated sigh. "Miss Davidson, I do not have time for this, I have a meeting by 12pm, something I'm sure you already know of as you were the one handling my schedule."

"Are." I corrected.

"Excuse me?"

"I am still the one handling your schedule."

"I sent you a termination letter."

"And I refuse to acknowledge it."

"On what grounds are you doing this."

"On the grounds of unlawful termination of contract with no reason."

"Sexual and physical assault is a pretty good reason."

"Yes but then I'll expose all these complexities to the world."

"It won't affect me much."

"That's what you say now but from what I have gathered about you, you hate media drama no matter how powerful enough you are to sway it."

Anthony looked at me like I was the bane of his existence but I didn't care. I had a mission to fulfill and that was getting my brother back home.

"Stop staring at me sir, you have a meeting by 12pm and another with the Chinese ambassadors by 1:30pm. Let's get to it." I said before walking to my office door.

There was nowhere in hell that I would willing leave this place. He would have to drag me out, while I tore his eardrums with my screams. Besides I doubt he is the type of man to get his hands dirty like that.

Florence's POV

Remember when I said Anthony wouldn't do anything to me because he would want to get his hands dirty, I forgot that he had a boat load of people to do it for him.

I couldn't help but smirk to myself as I saw Anthony's hand hovered near the desk phone. Of course. The great Anthony St Louis wouldn't soil his pristine hands by personally dragging me out. No, he'd call someone else to do it for him. His very expendable minions. Men like him never did their own dirty work.

"Godswill," he said into the receiver, his tone flat, seemingly almost bored, at me. The nerve of this rich ass spoilt....

I crossed my arms. "Really?"

He didn't answer me, just continued tapping instructions on the touchscreen receiver.

"You are going to get someone to throw me out? You can't do it yourself or is that how pathetic you really are?"

He didn't bother answering, just gave me one of those unreadable glares. The kind that made employees scatter like pigeons. Too bad for him, I wasn't a damn pigeon. I'm human.

The door opened and stepped in Goodwill, Anthony's loyal bulldog. He was an intimidating guy. 6'8 with large muscles coupled with his height it made him look like a hulk. If it was anyone else they would have been quaking in their boots but not me. Godswill was like a large bulldog who was as sweet as sugar. He was generally intimidating but a very sweet soul.

"Miss Florence," Godswill began carefully, looking at Anthony's stern face and looking back at mine with a very obvious conflict in his eyes "the boss has asked you to..."

"I'm not leaving," I cut in, planting my heels firmly into the marble floor. "Tell your boss that I am not going anywhere."

Godswill stopped in his tracks and looked back at Anthony. Anthony was busy glaring at me until he caught sight of his most trusted man standing in the middle of the room looking like a kicked puppy.

"Why are you just standing there? Get her out of here." He instructed.

"But she said she doesn't want to leave." Godswill said innocently. The blank look on Godswill's face combined with Anthony's exasperated expression was so comical that I wasn't able to hold back the burst of laughter that came out of me.

Anthony just tossed me a chilling glare that shut me up instantly. He then sighed and walked towards Godswill, looking up and the figure that easily towered him.

"What do you mean by that? I said she should leave and she's refusing, who is in charge of this company."

"You sir."

"Who pays your salary."

"You sir." Godswill said happily grinning like a happy dog.

"And so who are you meant to listen to."

"Your wife sir."

Pfft!!

I couldn't help it, it was out of my control. I sealed my lips with my hands but it wasn't doing anything. My entire body shook as I racked with laughter. What in the world was this? Was this how the incredible St Louis and his intimidating bodyguard operated? Like a large dog and his owner.

Anthony just stalked towards me. He grabbed me before I could even think and hurled me out of his office.

"Hey what was that for." I grumbled out but he paid no heed to my words. He grabbed my arms and dragged me towards the elevator side.

" Don't you dare lay a hand on me." I pushed him away from me.

Anthony sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose like I was the world's biggest migraine. "You're wasting my time.amd energy, just go."

"And you're wasting your life pretending you're not the villain in this story," I shot back. "I am not leaving, how many times do I have to say it."

Something flickered in his eyes-annoyed, amusement, I couldn't tell. He stepped forward, clearly intending to escort me out. That was when instinct took over and I did the most absurd thing. I grabbed his sleeve and yanked him towards me with as much force as possible.

It happened so fast. One second we were glaring at each other so hard I was sure one of us would combust into flames, the next we stumbled backward, and the elevator behind us dinged open as if mocking me. My hand slipped on his arm, he tried to steady himself, and somehow we both tumbled inside and I landed on him.

We went motionless for a while, trying to get our sense. But then the doors slid shut with a smug little ding. Now that brought us back.

"Let go," he said sharply pushing me off him as he stood up.

"No!" I tightened my grip on his collar, standing up along with him. "If you throw me out, I'll drag you down with me!"

"Are you insane?"

"Possibly!"

We both lunged for the button panel at the same time, and in the chaos the elevator shuddered. Then it froze between floors with a groan.

I blinked at the still numbers above the door. "Oh. Perfect. Just absolutely perfect. You have trapped us."

"I trapped us? You were the one clinging to me like a fucking leach."

"Um... Mr St Louis?"

"A leach?"I shrieked back. "How dare you call me that, have you looked at yourself in the mirror."

"Miss Davidson there is...."

"I don't care how I look, at least I wake up everyday knowing that I am not insane."

"Ha says a person who works night and day without rest and treats others like objects. You aren't insane, you are just not human."

"Umm..hello."

"WHAT?!!"

"WHAT?!!" Anthony and I screamed at the same time.

There was an uncomfortable silence for some seconds, then static crackled overhead, and a voice from the intercom stammered nervously, "Uh... Mr. St Louis? Miss Davidson. Please don't panic, sir, we'll get you out in a moment."

"Don't panic?" I echoed, throwing my arms wide. "Do I look panicked to you?"

"Yes," Anthony muttered. "And feral as well."

I glared at him. "This is your fault."

"My fault?" His brow arched. "You dragged me into an elevator."

"You dragged yourself! This happened because you wanted to fire me."

"No this happened because you did a lousy job of keeping your revenge plan a secret."

We bickered like children while the intercom stayed awkwardly silent. I almost laughed at the absurdity, almost.

"Look I don't care about anything you do, just leave and don't come back. I love my life free of complications and you are a bunch of strange things that I cannot understand or even bother to try and explore."

Florence's POV.

I wanted to scream and shout and slap the back of his fucking head. But instead, something inside me cracked.

"My mum still sets a place for Gabriel at the table," I blurted, my voice trembling. "She says he'll come home one day. And if I walk away now, if I stop fighting, that hope will die. She'll die with it. Do you understand that?"

Anthony's face softened, barely, but he stayed quiet.

I swallowed hard, forcing the next words out. "And you.." I jabbed a finger at his chest. "If my brother is alive, who benefits from making you think he's dead? That's not just cruel, it's dangerous. For you. Someone wanted you to buy the company, someone counted on it. Doesn't that scare you, even a little?"

For the first time since I met him, Anthony didn't have a comeback. His eyes narrowed, thoughtful, and calculating.

"How can someone easily predict that because of his death you would acquire the company. How sure are you that you aren't involved in some weird ass conspiracy."

The elevator jolted, then hummed back to life disrupting our conversation. Seconds later the doors slid open.

Anthony stepped out like nothing had happened, straightening his suit. Not a hair out of place, while I stumbled out behind him, hair a mess.

Godswill stood at the entrance with a bunch of security guards. I just sighed in resignation. Anthony wasn't going to understand. He may be involved in this and is just trying to throw me off but somewhere in me believes he is telling the truth and knows he has the resources to find my brother but I don't know if he would agree to let me help him.

"Sir are you okay?" Godswill asked stepping closer to Anthony. "I brought extra company to escort her out."

"Because you were too scared to do it yourself?" Anthony gave him an unimpressed look.

Godswill just touched his nose in embarrassment. The guards stepped closer to me and I just prepared my mind for what I was to come.

I walked forward just for me to feel a tight grip on my arm. I looked to my side to see Anthony holding my forearm tightly.

"It was all a misunderstanding. HR made a mistake and sent her a termination letter deactivating her pass. That is what set the alarm and locked down the elevator."

I stared at him in shock but he didn't even look at me. The guards retreated and even Godswill nodded like it was the true narrative.

We landed in the office cubicle floor and all the employees were either on the corridor or peaking through their spaces. The attention made me shrink but It had no effect on Anthony. He just tightened his grip on my arms and led me through a bunch of whispering employees whose eyes were filled with fierce curiosity. Once we got to the stairway I shook his hand off, but he just brought out a bottle of sanitizer and sanitized his palms. How charming.

"What was that for? I thought you were so determined to push me away." I was puzzled by what just went on.

"I am still determined but not now. You are too unstable to leave in the outside world."

I opened my mouth to disapprove but he just shut me up. "If you still want to be my secretary then fine, we have a meeting now and I do not like being tardy."

And with that we just started walking towards the conference room leaving me to rush after him. Having an ass as a boss is one thing, but having an ass with extremely long legs and large strides is practically hell.

"Hello!! Mr St Louis can you pull the brakes

"

Sigh, this was going to be a long period.

******

The investors' meeting was a sea of suits, laptops, and stiff nods. I marched in at Anthony's side like I belonged, ignoring the curious stares. He sat at the head of the table, calm, commanding. I plopped into the chair beside him and crossed my legs.

One investor cleared his throat, eyeing me.

"She's with me," Anthony said smoothly, before anyone could ask.

I smiled sweetly. "His assistant."

His glare could've melted steel. I beamed back.

The presentation began. Numbers, graphs, market projections-boring. I leaned over and whispered, "You're losing them. Add a joke."

His jaw clenched but he just ignored me. Then they brought up my brother's company and I immediately stiffened. They were impressed with the progress but it was time to aim higher.

When one man suggested restructuring, due to his belief that the structure was poorly organized. I couldn't help but blurt, "That's ridiculous! My brother would never have-"

The room went silent instantly. All eyes landed on me before they darted to Anthony

"I mean, we did a lot of research on this company and if the previous owners hadn't made a few mistakes the company wouldn't be under us, that shows that level of skill they had to some extent." I tried to salvage the situation by acting professionally.

Slowly, he set down his pen and turned his head toward me. The look he gave could've killed a lesser woman. I gave him my most innocent smile.

To my surprise, one of the Chinese investors chuckled. He murmured something in Mandarin, glancing between us.

Anthony's composure flickered. "No," he said firmly in the same language.

Another investor smirked. "Ah, not married yet, then? She already acts like a wife."

The table erupted in polite laughter. Anthony's lips pressed into a thin line.

I frowned. "What? What did he say?"

"Nothing," Anthony snapped.

"Oh, come on. Your face twitched."

"Florence."

"Tell me!"

He ignored me and continued the presentation, though his ears had turned faintly pink.

---

After the meeting, I followed him down the hall.

"Why are you following me?" he asked, voice clipped.

"Because my office is next to yours," I said sweetly. "Unless you plan to illegally fire me again."

"I'll have your office moved."

"Excuse me?" I gasped. "Did you just call me crazy?"

"I didn't say-"

"You implied it!"

We bickered all the way down the corridor, our voices echoing. Employees peeked over cubicles, eyes wide. The terrifying Mr. St Louis, reduced to... this.

By the time we reached his office, both of us were red-faced and furious. He slammed his door. I slammed mine.

A beat of silence. Then whispers drifted through the office.

"Did anyone else see that?"

"Is he... smiling?"

"No way."

Alone in my office, I pressed my palms to my burning cheeks. My heart was pounding, my head spinning.

"I'm not leaving this place," I whispered to myself. "He'll see."