"Get out of this house and don't you EVER COME BACK!"

"Father, please, I really didn't do anything! I swear, those things that you found in my room aren't mine…"

"Then how did it get there, you liar! Of course you won't admit this because if you do you'll go to jail, sister! Aggghhh… my stomach is so painful! I'm going to throw up again…"

"My baby, what has that monster done to you?! You bitch! I want you out of this house right now!"

A punch hit her on her stomach, then as she was going out the door, she felt a kick landing on her back. Good thing her backpack was full of stuffed clothes, so she didn't feel too much of the impact.

Alicia's ears were still ringing with all the yelling while her body was still throbbing from the strong strikes of her foster father. She was also hearing her sister who kept screaming in pain from what she called "poisoning", while her mother was also still screeching and crying in the background.

But because her bags were really heavy with her clothes and personal stuff, she needed to just go half—walking, half—running and not say anything anymore.

It won't make a difference, anyway. It's been like this for years.

She tried to remember then who she can go to for help and she found her brain blank. Not just because her father took her mobile phone because he said that he paid for it, but because she doesn't have any close friends who's willing to help her. Except perhaps Blake…

And he had practically disappeared from her life when he moved with his family to the countryside.

"My bags are too big for me to carry around. I need to go to the only place I know where I can stay and think for a while," Alicia whispered to herself while slowly walking up the road. "Besides, I really need to talk to Cami."

As she walked up the large double doors of the white building, she couldn't help but remember her graduation, which was just about two weeks ago. Well, it wasn't very memorable anyway since there was no one from her family to go up the stage with her when she received her Magna Cum Laude honors for Business Management.

"Sorry, Alicia. Your sister Mia's graduation is the next day, and that's such a grand event. We can't be going there looking all pale and dark—eyed because we attended your graduation and didn't get enough sleep," her foster mom said, as she placed on large amounts of anti—aging cream on her face since it was almost bedtime then.

So she had no one to even take her picture when she received her diploma and many other awards. If not for her friend Cami, she wouldn't have gotten pictures of that memorable event.

Alicia could see the small gap between the two massive doors, and she sighed in relief. Now she's sure that her friend was there and awake, probably even cleaning inside the building.

She squeezed herself and her large backpack and carry—all through the doorway's space, a little afraid to push it wide open. At the end of the large hall to the right, she saw a young woman in her late twenties, wearing blue cleaning overalls and a large white kerchief holding up her dark brown hair.

"Cami…" Alicia said, a sob suddenly escaping from her.

The cleaning girl heard the echoes of her sweet friend's voice and looked in her direction. The poor red—haired graduate's dark eyes were now spilling out tears like a waterfall, and her slim but curvy body was about to collapse under the weight of her bags and her grief.

"Oh my gosh girl, what have they done to you now?" replied the college's in—house cleaner as she rushed to her now—weeping friend with arms wide open. "Come on, let's get to my room and sit down somewhere. I'll make us some coffee and you can tell me all about it."

+++

"Sir, good morning, I…"

"Is that the proper dress code for a receptionist, Raquel? This is an office, not a club. Change your clothes immediately or prepare to receive a memo and salary deduction."

"Y—yes, sir. Sorry, Sir…"

"Good day, Sir, the meeting for this morning…"

"You didn't give me the demographics for children in your emailed report, Antoine. I need those immediately."

"Sir, children ages one to fifteen don't usually buy international stocks..."

"Well, I did that when I was five years old. So GIVE ME that damn info!"

"Y—yes, Sir. Right a—away, Sir…"

"And I want it on my desk before the day ends! WHERE THE HELL IS MY DAMN COFFEE?!"

"Sir, here it is. I'm sorry… I was in the middle of a call…"

"Tess, when I say have my coffee ready the minute I get here, it means I'm counting each second you're delayed. So I don't care if it's the frigging President who called. Get my coffee ready when I arrive and NO BLOODY EXCUSES!"

"Y—yes, Sir."

With a loud slam, Orion Daemon Hauss entered his office and tossed his briefcase on the nearest lounge chair in the room. Today was not a good day for him since this meeting was meant to fix one of his sister's grave mistakes when she left him the position of CEO in their family business.

It was a mistake he kept telling her about again and again even before with his eldest sister and his parents. But did anyone listen to him then? No!

And now that it's his turn to run the company, he had to be the one to fix everything that they have fumbled, failed and f***ed up.

"This is what I get being a Business Management graduate in a family with various other interests. They expect me to be the one fixes all their shit in this company."

Just at that moment, the handsome, dark—haired, hazel eyed, muscled businessman heard a knock on his door. He sat on his plush, leather, high—backed executive chair and pushed a small panel on his large mahogany office desk. The spot he pressed was part of his computer's digital monitor, which was integrated to its black glass tabletop, and it opened his door automatically.

"Hey boss, ready to bring you to the board meeting. Tess is already on her way there, too." said the broad—shouldered man who entered the room.

Looking at these two good—looking hunks in their business suits, you would think they were models and not the owner of an international corporation and his personal bodyguard.

"Thanks, Israel. And I really need to get a Personal Assistant soon," answered Orion as he stood up from his chair. "I need someone with the proper business training to assist me with my current effort to save and expand this company. And I can't find anyone that fits the bill among HR's recommendations."

"Well, maybe HR is the problem then, Sir."

Orion's right eyebrow rose. "Suddenly, I'm curious… I think we should talk about that opinion of yours after this meeting, Israel."

"Alright, Sir. And I hope my observations help you find the right assistant soon."

+++