4. Something is wrong with the bosses behavior!

Stella's point of view...

Staying inside the bosses room was more like dealing with my death before dying. Trust me, it was freaking impossible keep myself calm during that time when he was so close to me. My breaths have gone uneven just by looking at his devilishly handsome face. There was no way that I could stop my body from going haywire under his gaze.

How can he be so extremely controllable and dominating!

He was doing both to me but I don't get one thing, why is he showering me with his attention like this?

Have not I just joined his empire?

Am I not a fresher with zero percent experience and a nervoused appearance?

Then why on land is he behaving so good with me. Why does he want me to call him by his name and not, a boss?

There are so many questions in my head against him. No doubts that he is hot and charming, I am in fact blessed with amazing fate that he hired me for the job but there is a lot that keeps me in dark. I have had heard he is a womanizer, I hope he is not behind me for my body?

Oh lord, why do I have to go through all these things in life.

Wasn't that enough that I had gone through in the past!

I closed my eyes to get over this unusual feeling and a flashback from my old life came rushing before the projector of my eyes,

***I was in my room trying to learn the basics of fashion designing. There was my music player on opposite to my bed. I was going through the important pointers regarding the material of cloth used for different dresses when a shot of bullet was heard by me.

Being scared by the noise, I rushed down to the massive hall of my big plush house to see what the matter was— and what I saw, left my eyes into water.

"Hermione!" My lips sealed tight before I murmured her name as her naked body lied on the floor between blood.

Her eyes were yank open gazing the ceiling. I clutched my lips bending down across the wall before the stairs to hide myself from my brother who just shot my best friend in the hall. "What the fuck is this Charles?" I heard father scream on top of his voice. "She was Stella's best friend. Can't you just keep her alive, why do you have to kill her after the rape?" My eyes watered more hearing those words.

Three week ago she went missing after the college. Her parents came to look for her at my house if she was here with me but no, she was not there as she was missing and there was no idea of her location. I thought she might have gone to her boyfriend's house in Las Vegas to meet him. She loved him, and she had told me about her plans to visit him before her missing new.

I thought she was there until this.... I was so wrong!

She had not gone anywhere, my horny bastard brother had kidnapped her. And raped her. And killed her!

"I can't help it dad! After three weeks of continuous sex, I realized I need someone else. So I killed her!" My brother Charles, replied with a shrug of his shoulders.

My father, I thought he would slap him or kick him but what he did was out of my thinking process, "Then what you did is right. When things are overused, it is better to get rid of them!" he sat on the sofa next to my brother and laughed.***

A freezing wind slapped my face hence bringing me out of my reverie. I looked around me in the empty canteen. The lunch break was over and so was the thirty minutes of my one hour.

But I was still not able to get over those flashbacks. I have heard Max has relationship with the mafia world too, I hope he is not doing this all to catch me in his web.

God, please don't let him know my real identity ever. Please!

~~~

"Stella this is the speech, the CEO got it prepared for you. If you ever feel nervous or you get stuck anywhere between your talk, just look at this. Alright, best of luck. Only fifteen minutes are left to the meeting. Hope you are prepared" That was Mrs. Dorsey.

She just talked and left leaving me with more fear and worry. Gosh, what was the need to mention the remaining time left? Now it makes me more scared. What should I do to get over this emotion!

Lord, please help!

If not lord then I know who can help me feel better. Megan! I quickly removed my phone from my bag and dialled her number.

Megan understands me better than myself. I am sure she will help me out with this. I have to even tell her about the change that came in my life. My boss gave me the post which I was not expecting. I have to even tell her about his— "Hello?" my thoughts came to a halt when she picked the phone up.

"Hello Megan, this is me, Stella!" I spoke, nervousness pouring from each word I said.

I heard her sigh on the other end before she replied, "Come on girl! Stop being so naive all the time. Obviously I know you. Your number is saved on my phone, you need not tell me who you are!" she exclaimed.

"Dude listen to me, I am nervous. I need you help" I said on the phone.

"What?? Don't tell me you really want to seduce your boss" I heard her chuckle.

I only rolled my eyes not paying attention to the humour she was putting onto the convo, "Shut up, that is not the thing. Actually, my boss hired me"

"That is great! So where is the party" She was irritating me.

"Megan, will you stop that and listen to me!" I almost screamed on the call, happily there was no one around me, so I need fear.

"Okay, I am sorry. Continue" She said.

I was relieved that she was sounding serious now. "My boss hired me as the head designer and not an assistant. On top of that, I have a meeting within fifteen minutes. Wait not even fifteen minutes.. In ten minutes." I said in a go.

Megan was silent until I heard her scream happily, "oh my god! I don't believe that, Ella. You deserved it. I knew it. Your hard work will pay you now girl. But don't fret, nothing will happen. Just think about your career and future and attend the meeting. Alright. Just don't let yourself go nervous. This is the first and the last time to impress your boss, are you getting me?" She said, here words soothed me, but I was still nervous.

"Megan don't you think it sounds so fishy! I am a fresher, no experience, no strong connection with people, yet he offered me such a commendable position in the organization. Do you think is it because of my background. You know what I am talking, right! I've heard Max Stokes has connections with the mafia, can it be that he is doing this all to get something out of me" I was indeed scared saying that out as it was Max's property where I was standing.

Nevertheless, I can't stop thinking about it too. My background keeps me scared every time I start a new chapter of my professional life.

Megan was silent. She had not said a word since a minute. My eyes were glued to the big square shaped clock before me on the wall as I waited for her. Only five minutes left to the meeting.

I was going to take it as her annoyance and disconnect the phone when she spoke, "Look I understand your fear. But I am sure you know he has many competitors in the market. It could be that his rivals purposely spread news to degrade him image in the public. And don't you know how partial the media has become nowadays. Whoever invests in them, they take their side." she was correct.

" So stop thinking about the other stuff and give your best. As far as your nervousness with regard to your background and past is concerned, then he should have killed you right on the spot if he had any issues with your family. Alright, so stop overreacting and enjoy his attention. Girl you've got everything a man wants. Just enjoy. Okay, I need to go, bye. We shall talk about him in the night after we are back." she said taking away all my fears.

" Bye Megan, see you in the evening!" with that we hung the call up and I looked at Mia, Max's secretary walking towards me.

"Hey Stella, the boss wants to see you. The clients are here, let's go" she informed me.

God, please help me.