Prologue

Back then, I thought the world was big. It’s so big that I can't reach the stars and the sky; they can all be reached just by my eyes. It seems that everything I think is impossible; everything is so far beyond the reach of the mind and not of one's own ability.

I watched the tall skyscrapers rush to reach the sky. The city is well lit, but my heart is still stuck in this black hole.

”Ms. Hampton.”

I stopped thinking when my driver called me. I looked at him and he stared at me from the rear mirror. Has he been calling me? I seem to have lost myself for a while.

"Yes?"

"Mr. Anderson called. He’s asking for you, he’s waiting for you for dinner. ”

I gritted my teeth as I heard that name. It’s been months now, but I’m still full of anger and disgust. I let out a deep breath. If he wasn't one of his men, I would have uttered an insulting word about him now.

"Tell him, I'm on my way home," I simply said.

"Shall I also tell him where you went today?" the driver asked.

My brows furrowed. My heart thumped in chaos, but I made sure he wouldn't notice that. I saw him glance at me again.

”Of course. No need to ask for my permission, Sibal. He’s your boss,” I uttered in a monotone voice.

He just nodded lightly. Of course, I'm not a fool to just give him the smooth railway. He knew anything about me, including my day-to-day whereabouts. So I’m sure he definitely knows about my meeting with Angelo today.

That's why as soon as the elevator opened, I immediately saw his angry face. I remained stoned face as my heels clacked along the hallway of his pad. Fire almost came out of his nose as he stopped in front of me.

“Where have you been?” he asked with restraint.

I smirked, “Didn’t Sibal tell you? It's impossible for you to not know. ”

”I’m waiting for you here for this goddamn dinner, which I told you this fucking morning! Only for me to find out that you’re out with that mother fucker!? ”

I saw his fist clenched to his sides. Veins popped out in his arms as he did that. He’s mad, and I’m making fun of it.

"Didn't I tell you not to meet that man!?" He burst out.

My lips protruded as I looked at him with amusement in my eyes.

"I'm sorry, mister. You're not the boss of me," I said this sarcastically.

I stepped so that I could leave him, but before I could even do that, he grabbed my wrist to stop me. I gasped. I gripped my handbag tightly and remained calm, even though he was about to burst into rage.

“I own you, Emma. You are fucking mine. Only mine,” he said emphatically.

His warm breath smells like whiskey; it hits my face getting colder now. I shifted my position and brought my palm into his rough jaw, feeling the spikes in his stubble.

"You own my body, not me Elijah." I whispered and kissed the side of his lips.

I lost hold of him because he seemed to be weakening, but he recovered quickly.

"Ahh!" I screamed when I felt the hard and cold concrete on my back.

He pinned me in there and pressed his body into mine.

”What about what happened to us last night? This morning? I thought we were okay, huh!? ”

I groaned when his grip tightened.

“Oh! Don’t be such a pussy, Elijah! We just fucked! Why are you making this a big deal huh!? ”

"Just fuck !?" He turned to me intensely.

"Bullshit!" He shouted and let go of me.

He lost his grip on me and I breathed fast as I stared at his shoulder that was rapidly rising and falling. He brushed his hair with his fingers and proceeded to palm his face, dumbfounded.

”After all what I’ve said to you last night !? I call bullshit on that, Emma! ”

I smirked and did not bother to fix my skirt. Soon that smirk became a chuckle and a faint laugh. He stared at me like I’m some sort of a puzzle he couldn’t understand.

"You are such a fool, Elijah." I chuckled.

His brows furrowed. I stepped forward so I could be near him again.

"On the sixteenth day of September, the day that I made my plan… I told you I'll make you pay for this." I uttered with no mercy.

His eyes blinked as he’s trying to understand me.

“I'm not sold on you, mister. But you called for a war in exchange for those millions. ” I again explained.

"What?" he asked, confused.

I reached for the papers inside my bag and threw it on his face. The papers flew everywhere, and all he could do was watch those papers fall onto the cold floor of his pad.

”You think you brought me? Then I guess you’re paying now. ”

I smirked.

The elevator tinged and men in uniforms got in to get him. He looked at me, confused with pain in his eyes.

This game is over now. Fooling the CEO is a success plan.