It's been a couple of weeks since I started working as his assistant, and my life is already hell.

Running behind him the entire day, my tolerance reached to it's fullest potential, as I have to bear with his snappy behavior all day.

I completely blame Lilly for putting me into this situation, as she was the one who was persistent in convincing me to work for the Longwood's.

Letting out a soft breath, I dismissed all the thoughts away, as it was time for Mr. Longwood to arrive.

I made my way towards the pantry to make his coffee.

I would have never thought in a million years that a day will come when I will be making his coffee. I let out a chuckle shaking my head.

Life is such a bitch, isn't it?

Taking his schedule along with his coffee, I knock at his door.

"Come in Miss. Ashton," He answers in a cranky tone, as he knew it was me who's asking permission.

I got my cue that he's vexed and never to mess with him today, it's difficult to handle him some times.

"Good Morning, Mr.Longwood." I greet him, and placed his coffee, but doesn't bother to reply.

Hell, he wasn't even looking at me.

"Do you want me to read out your schedule?" He nods in reply while moving his fingers gracefully on the keyboard.

"You have a meeting with Mr. Nguyễn at 10.00 am, then with Mr. Blaze Gonzalez, a lunch meeting with Mrs. Longwood."

Your stepmother, I wanted to say but decided otherwise.

I informed him about a few more meetings that he has to attend and he dismissed me,

I started assembling all the documents, and presentations required for the meeting, after which I arranged the conference room with refreshments and printouts.

We were done with our first meeting for the day, and both of us made our way towards his car.

I realized it's the same Bugatti Veyron he lied about it belonging to his friend.

"How charitable of his friend that he's lending his car today as well," I muttered under my breath, rolling my eyes.

From my peripheral view, I could see him lifting his head up from his laptop screen giving me a deadly glare, I instantly avert my gaze outside, deluding he's wasn't seated next to me.

I tried my best to stop the smirk that was cropping up on lips, to stop rejoicing earning a response from him. But sadly, I couldn't.

Soon we reached our destination, his bodyguard dressed in pure black opens the door for him, and we walked towards the giant skyscraper made of glass, Mr. Gonzalez's assistant was present to escort us inside.

A look of yearning passed through everyone's face staring at him, making me feel special as work with him all day. I deliberately scooted closer to him, adding ember to their flame.

I glanced at him only to find him smirking, at my childish behavior, I cringe in embarrassment with a sly smile.

We entered the conference room and Mr. Gonzalez, as in my dear friend Blaze, and Emily's sweetheart stood up and made his way towards us.

They greeted each other in a friendly manner which was surprising.

Blaze swallowed me into his giant body in a bone-crushing hug, "So you finally decided to meet me, Bri?" He asked, bluffing to be irked.

"Hello to you too, Mr. Blazy." I made fun of him, he attacked me with his deadly glare that could make anyone squirm out of fear, but it only made me laugh.

Blaze and I became quite close to each other during my post-break-up depression, he stood by me alongside Emily, and Lilly to help me overcome my tough time.

Our wonderful reunion was disturbed by none other than Mr. Longwood, who was shooting daggers at me.

Shit!

"If you're are done, we shall commence our meeting." He hissed gritting his teeth and passed me a look silently conveying something like, I'll deal with you later.

I look at Blaze, who just shrugged and ushered me forward, I awkwardly took a seat beside him, the meeting commenced soon after.

Sitting beside him was not easy, I hesitated to even breathe loudly. So I kept my gaze fixed on my notepad with my ears wide open, and noted the minutes of the meeting.

Both companies decided to enter into a fifty-year partnership for the upcoming project, the meeting was a huge success.

It was time for us to bid goodbye, they both shook their hand after which Blaze turned towards me, "Brielle, why don't you join me for lunch?"

"Sure," I reply happily, but the person beside me had other plans.

"We have a lunch meeting to attend, remember Miss. Ashton?" His tone was void of any emotion.

A frown made its way on my face, because he was the one who asked me not to attend, as it was a personal meeting with Mrs. Longwood, and now he's saying the exact opposite of it.

"But, si-" I stopped mid-sentence as eyes we're daring me to go against him, I sighed whilst nodding my head in submission.

"I'm sorry Blaze," I apologized to him.

"I ain't gonna run away, there's always a next." He answered back winking, and giving me a good-bye hug.

We were moving towards our next meeting, at least that's what I thought.

I frown when the car stopped right in front of our office building.

"You can leave, I have a meeting to attend." He states calmly while unbuttoning his coat.

What the fuck.

He made me cancel my plan for this freaking meeting and now he's leaving without me.

"What about me?" I ask him.

"What about you?" He questions me back, his tone was devoid of any emotion.

"You made me cancel my plan for this meeting and now you are just asking me to leave. How fair is this Mr. Longwood?" I accused him.

"Out, Miss. Ashton, you're wasting my time." He answered back in annoyance

I hastily got down and glared at the retreating car.

What is this man's problem?

I was drafting the final report when the intercom busses, "My office."

When I stepped in, I was greeted by a furious looking man, leaning against his mahogany desk with arms crossed."What was that Miss. Ashton?" His voice boomed.

"Huh?"

"Your behavior this morning was highly inappropriate and unprofessional, where are your work ethics?" His seethed.

"But he's my friend," I try to convince him, he takes slow and deliberate steps and halted just a few inches away towering me.

"I don't want my assistant going around and hugging all of my business associates, and acknowledging them by their first name. The next time I see you pulling out such stunt, you won't like the consequence, trust me on this Miss. Ashton." He whispered bringing his face close towards mine.

"Yes?" His tone was filled with superiority with his eyebrows raised.

I nod my head.

"Words, Miss. Ashton."

"Yes, sir." I reply like a school kid answerable to her teacher.

What is with this man acting all intimidating?

"Now bring me a cup of coffee." He ordered, moving back.

After making his coffee, I search through the cabinets for sugar cubes, but couldn't find them.

I smirked, as I glanced at my wristwatch, it's exactly three minutes to five, and I can walk out immediately after giving him his sugarless bitter coffee for a bitter person like him.

"Your coffee, sir." I say sweetly and walk out quickly after placing it on the table.

Enjoy your bitter coffee, Mr. Longwood. I thought.

Hailing a taxi I reach our NGO to Kiara and the kids a visit, it's been two days since I saw them.

"Mumma!" Kiara runs towards me, I pick and whirl her around.

"Hello, baby girl." I smooch her on her cheeks and placed her down and kissed other kids, she was playing with. I scowl when my eyes fall on Kiara, she's standing with her arms crossed across her chest, with a pout.

"What is it, Kiara?" I crouched in front of her opening my arms for her, but she rejected me.

For a two-year-old, she has some attitude. I chuckled watching her.

"Well, she's jealous. She doesn't wanna share her mom's love." Came Gia's voice, and she handed me a white envelope, I took it from her and placed it on a nearby table.

"Oh, God." I placed Kiara, took her hands to kiss them, that's s when I noticed she was wearing the same bracelet that Liam gifted her on her first birthday, my eyes welled up with my unshed tears, I try to blink back the tears but couldn't.

I was brought back when tiny fingers wiped my tears, "No cry." A sad smile made its way on my face. I place her on my lap and explained to her the meaning of sharing and loving each other.

Walking out, I opened the envelope and the message inside left me breathless.

Enjoy the last few peaceful days of your life, darling.