"Ready to go?" Kennedy's voice shrilled through the air.

"Yeah, just a minute," I reply, not looking up from my laptop screen while pushing my spectacle further into the bridge of my nose.

"Oh! come on, everyone's already left, we're the only one here." She whines, I gave her a look while burying myself into the comfortable chair.

"Then who's stopping you, you can leave. I'm not interested anyway."

The Longwood's have completed sixty-five of their being, henceforth there's a brunch that's been arranged for the employees as a token of appreciation, and a private one for the exclusive business associates.

"Are you for real? enough of your lame excuses." Saying this she drags me with her and I let to, as I don't really have an option, it's mandatory for everyone to attend.

Well, at least that's what they say.

We enter the chaotic hall buzzing with people making me feel claustrophobic.

We walk further into the hall to take our seats when an arm snaked around my neck making me jerk back due to the sudden action.

"Hey, buddy!" It was Austin.

I push his hands away. "Don't buddy me," I reply as I made myself comfortable, but unfortunately, there was a vacant seat beside me which is now occupied by him.

His side was completely pressed against mine, I was sandwiched in between him and Kennedy who's busy fixing her hair not giving a damn about others.

Soon the host starts addressing us by giving a brief description of the company's history and it's progressing so far, it was so damn boring.

Everything is available on the internet, so if I want to know I'll obviously check it out.

But no!

His voice was lulling me to sleep. I let out a soft breath, this is going to be a long day.

'Alas!'

He invites the man of the day. I'll probably be diagnosed with diabetes listening to the sugar-coated introduction.

The entire place went dead silent, as I could hear heavy footsteps approaching us.

For some unknown reason, my heart starts beating faster. But what came to my view was the last thing I expected.

'Ocean?!'

I blink my eyes multiple times to ensure I wasn't hallucinating.

'Damn!, he is Ian Longwood.' The thing inside my skull finally wakes up from its sleep, as it decides to piece everything together.

My mouth was shot open so wide that one could probably hide a watermelon inside it, with my eyes bulging off my socket.

I can't believe that I bitched about him to him, using all those colorful words and names, I'm in deep shit now.

But he tricked me!

I was having an internal argument with myself. What if he plans to avenge me or even worse fires me. This job is my only hope, and I'll be doomed if that happens.

Liam already stripped me off my last job, after that brutal night. I can't afford to lose this one too.

I look up with beads of sweat trickling down from face, he was standing behind the podium adjusting his coat.

Everything about him screamed of power and authority, no were near the man who I met weeks ago.

Just like two sides of the same coin.

His voice and poise were so captivating and compelled everyone to give him their attention.

The look of adornment was shining through everyone's' eyes. I would probably say that I was impressed with the way he spoke but I knew better.

I try to duck my head when he scans around so that he couldn't see me, but too late.

The smirk that played on his lips as our eyes met was enough to tell me that I was caught.

His gaze lingered towards our direction for more than it should have as he continued with his speech.

"Why do I feel like he eyeing me as though I'm a piece of meat?" Austin whispered.

"Maybe he is bisexual," I whisper back, trying my best not to make myself visible

Damn! I'm hiding like a thief who's in the wanted list.

"Okay, I'm ready to announce to the world about my true self, anything for him." I could help myself from giggling.

"He wasn't eyeing you dumbo! It felt more like glaring." Kenn replied.

"What! I thought-" He stops himself as we no, hundreds of people gaze at his retreating figure in awe.

I let out a small breath as I run my hand on my chest in a soothing manner.

'Rule number one: Maintain at least a thousand feet distance away from him.'

I had to give a very lame excuse of having a headache, but my stomach protests against me as it starts growling.

I was walking towards the exit when out of blue someone twirls me around effortlessly making me squeal. I open my mouth to yell at the culprit but refrained from doing so, as the face of the person came to my view.

"Bianca?"

"You remember me?" She asked with a surprised look on her face.

Of course, I remember you brat! After all, it's because of you I messed with him.

'Who was the one eavesdropping, huh?' My mind mocked me.

I gave her a faint smile it was almost a fake one and nod my head.

"Good, by the way, what are you doing here?"

"Hmm? I work here," I reply in a state of dilemma.

"That's cool, come let's go in." She replied and drags me with her.

"No! I'm not coming," I say in a tone harsher than I intended to in a panicked state, and jerk my hand out of her hold forcefully.

"Why?" she whispers in a voice barely audible, as her face fell making me feel guilty.

"Please understand dear." I try to woo her, but she's damn adamant I must say, just like a spoilt brat.

'Here goes my plan down the hill.'

Entering the private section alongside her, I took time to notice my surrounding. I never knew this place existed in our office before. It was jam-packed with an elite group of people.

Then my eyes caught sight of him, my Liam.

All the pent-up pain and memories of him came crashing down making the ground underneath me wobble. 

My heart lurched with unfathomable pain, death is better than seeing this.

He was seated with her glued to his side, a perfect ladylike, unlike me. I tried to fight the tears that were threatening to come out.

I couldn't even realize where she was dragging were me, until I was right in front of the boss man.

But my eyes were still glued to Liam. It's like everyone's else vanished, it's only us.

A smirk graced his face when he sees me, as he intertwined his fingers with her and pecked the back of her hand.

And here I was yearning for him, it was supposed to be us, those fingers, arms eyes, nose, lips were mine. Yet here I am, standing and witnessing my love's love for another.

He's taking pleasure in my pain, and yet I could bare this soul-wrenching ache if it could bring a smile on his face.

"Brother, do you remember her?" She asks him pulling me closer by my waist.

Now he has my full attention, as tore my gaze away from Liam, only to find him already looking at me whilst nodding his head slightly.

How will he not, after all, he tricked an innocent woman like me

"Of course you will," She says rolling her eyes.

"Can she join us?" She questions him, I didn't really want to join them, I couldn't bare being in the same room with these two men.

'Double trouble!'

"All of my other employees are on the other side of the wall, now is she different from any of them?" He asks her in a taunting
way.

He didn't think twice before embarrassing me in front everyone.

Never in my life, I've felt so insignificant and small in front of anyone.

"Leave." His voice was so calm like he did nothing wrong.

"Ian!" Her sister snapped at him while standing up.

"Sit.Down." He ordered her and she obliged.

I look around to find everyone's eyes on me, subconsciously my eyes raked towards Liam to find comfort, but she tightened her hold on his forearm and he didn't utter a word.

'You'll definitely rot in hell Bitch.'

Swallowing the bile that was rising, I open my mouth to counter him, "With all due respect Mr. Longwood, I wasn't the one who self-invited myself, it was your sister," I say maintaining eye contact with.

I know that my eyes would have been bloodshot like every other time when I get emotional.

"And I would really appreciate if you could learn the meaning of the word respect, and try not to treat people like their the dirt on your shoes. I may be your employee, but I wouldn't tolerate anyone disrespecting me."

Saying this I walk away without looking back, wiping away the tears of humiliation and betrayal.