Chapter 1 - Prevail

Happiness is flooding my body, they are all singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to me, I feel my face blushing as Tommy, the handsome Tommy, is smiling in my direction. 

I am over the moon, to say the least, my heart is threatening to break free from my chest. Elisa definitively notices, as she is glaring at me with all her might. Well, we all knew what she feels about Tommy, she is pretty obvious. I don’t feel sorry though, or should I?

The birthday song ends, and it’s time to blow the candles. 

“Make a wish.” My mom encourages, smiling. 

Then something goes wrong.

In the blink of an eye, the fire spreads like it was poured over gasoline. 

Everything turns gloomy in a flash.

All I can hear is screaming, and more screaming, all I can see is fire and scared kids running like crazy from one corner to the other, until they are engulfed in flames. All I can do is stand there, pinned to the ground in shock, my younger brother gripping my clothes.

And I see my mom, her face distained with blood and dust. She grabs us in her arms and rushes to the window. I feel warm fluid flooding out her belly. The color is crimson. She pushes us out of the window, and I hear her voice, before the sudden burst of fire devours her shape. 

“Never say anything about your parents to anybody, hide your last names! Promise me that you will do it!” 

My whole world crumbles in front of me, and everything falls to complete darkness.

*   *   *

*   *   *

I wake up with a start, my heart racing, my eyes hurting too much to peel them open.

If only it was just a nightmare, yet those were painful memories haunting me, flashbacks of the most dreadful moment of my existence, of the night when the life I took for granted turned to ashes in an instant.

I have kept my promise to my mom. For 15 years, I have called myself Kylie Mathieson. 

I was 10 years old then. That fire that killed my mother, my father, my Tommy. All my friends perished and the house turned to ashes. It was just me and my brother, we were the only survivors.

They declared all of us dead in the newspapers the next day. My brother and I wandered the streets until the social services took us in.

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

So loud, like drilling through my ear directly into my brain. I try a second time to open my eyes, blink the headache away for it feels like the place is collapsing on top of me.

Just how much did I sleep? My hands searching the mattress, where is that phone?

Found it.

7 a.m.

5 hours.

“Peter, get the door!” I yell at my younger brother, this is the least he can do. I am exhausted, I cannot move an inch. I work three part-time jobs, I deserve some rest. My alarm was set for 7.30, half an hour is gold for me.

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

Again, the same gruesome feeling, making the throbbing in my head increase. I get up muttering a string of curses.

Where is he? I explore the cramped room with my eyes.

His bed is made. Well not bed, mattress. We don’t afford beds, I pity myself and who would blame me, it’s been years since I have slept in a proper bed.

It seems like Peter didn’t come home last night.

I swear to God, this boy is not making it easier for me and I already have more than enough on my plate.

Once more, the knocking，accompanied by a screaming, “Kylie Mathieson！I know you in there!”. 

It’s senior Norbury. A shabby despicable man whom I caught creeping on me like a perv more than once and happened to be my landlord. 

Oh dear God, it's the 15th of the month again! The rent collecting day.

 “I’m coming! Do not break the door!”

I trip over a chair as I head to the door, my eyes half opened. “Fvking shit, Peter! You always leave stuff all over the room!” I mutter, this will leave a bruise.

“They never have money for rent in time. I always have to come to their door and beg for my own cash!”

“But she always pays, no? Give her a break, she works multiple jobs.”

“What about the boy? He’s a total bum.”

The whispers I hear outside the room, the wicked owner of this place and my neighbor, a kind nice lady.

My jaw clenches, I swallow my pride, I’ve learned to do that over the years. After the death of our parents, social services put us in a foster house. Our foster parents made our lives a living hell and the moment I turned 18, they threw us in the streets. 

One might see it as a bad thing, when in fact it had been rather an improvement. It’s better to work hard and get remunerated, even if the payment is not much, than work like a slave and receive no money at all, no respect and sometimes not even food. 

I have been beaten and humiliated in the hands of my foster ‘parents’. For years I’ve cooked every single meal, cleaned every corner of that house, rubbed the toilets and washed the clothes. I even went to freaking school. Yet my foster ‘mother’ always found something that displeased her, every single time proving her point meant a bruise or a scar on my body. 

Even after escaping that house, it took years for most of them to heal, some had stayed with me, making sure I will never forget what I’ve been through. 

I shake those dire memories out of my head for now, I put on my best innocent face, fake a smile and I open the door.

“Yes, senior Norbury! What can I do for you?” 

Playing dumb, even though I know it won’t work.

“You can start by giving me my money!” He demands extending a hand at me, if looks could kill, I’ll be long gone.

Okay, it didn’t work. I keep the smile on my face. 

“I know it’s the 15^th, but I’ll get my paycheck tomorrow, so if you would-”

“You never have the money in time! I should collect penalties too!” He interrupts me, I’ve used the same excuse too many times before.

Next time I should think of something else, though I hope there will be no next time.

I sigh. “Sure, you could, but first repair our plumbing and check why the last time I’ve showered with warm water was about 6 months ago! And about that roof that is leaking every time it rains, what are you going to do about it? On top of that, I could swear last night I heard some mice.”

Yes, this place is a dump.

Yes, I can’t afford this dump, although I work my ass every day.

I admit I just made up the mice story, though if someone were to come have a look around the place they would think that it’s perfectly plausible to host mice as well. 

His glare full of repulsion, he opens his mouth to say something, then stops. “I’ll come back tomorrow, you better have my money!” Then his attitude takes a 180 degree turn. “Ah, and if you don’t have the rent-” He stops and gives me a libidinous once-over, causing my stomach muscles to clench, the bile threatening to rise. “You can come over to my apartment a few times to settle the debt.” Some cuss follows, and then he leaves.

The bastard, the need to puke is growing stronger, I can hardly contain it. His grandchildren must be older than me, I’d rather jump over the roof than let a degenerate old man lay a finger on me. If Peter were to find out, he would kill him. I know that guilt is eating my brother alive, yet he was too young to protect me from our foster ‘parents’ wrath. 

And I will have the money, there are no questions about it. I just got a new job, today is the first day.

Though this is not how I imagined I’ll start the day, but fine, I can still make the best out of it.

 ----------------------------------------

Almost late for my first day at work as the new secretary for the Marketing Manager. I’ve worked several jobs since I was 18, none at a big company like KADE CORP. I’ve heard that the CEO, Oliver Kade, is a merciless ruthless man. Hopefully, I’ll never bounce into him, he has the reputation of making life miserable for whomever crosses paths with him.

Well, in my position, I believe it’s safe to say that there is literally no chance to meet him at all. I’m only a mere employee working on the third floor. How would an emperor on the top storey have anything to do with me?

“Go to the top floor and get this signed.” Jane, the first secretary demands, while handing me a piece of paper.

“Sure, where should I go?” My eyes lit up in contentment.

“To Mr. Kade’s office, leave it to his assistant!” She clarifies with a weird look on her face, one that I cannot quite place. 

“Nooooo, don’t send him fresh meat!” Rose, the second secretary pleads, her words come out distressed.

I forgot to mention, I’m the third secretary.

“She won’t meet him directly.” Jane voices, raising an eyebrow inquisitively. ”Do you want me to send you?”

Rose grows quiet, her glance screaming ‘better her, than me’, but still with a tint of empathy, making me feel uneasy.                                                         

Anyway, it’s my first task, and I’m determined to do it well. I ask for directions, take the document and head to his office. 

Ten floors up, left, right and then left again. I take the last turn, Jesus, what’s this?

A long line of dazzling women, their attire matched only by the full professional make-up that complement their face features, is there some kind of event?

Audition or something?

“Excuse me, I was told that I’ll find the CEO’s office here. I must be wrong. Can you tell me what are you all waiting for?” I ask the woman in front of me, my voice comes out shy.

“Mno, dear, you’re not wrong!” She voices while measuring me from head to toe, shaking her head in disapproval. “You need to fix your make-up and change your clothes, if you want to stand a chance!” 

Her high pitch tone is driving all the others to turn their attention to me, staring at me as if I’m the most disgusting thing they have ever seen. It’s not like I’m not used to it.

“I have an extra outfit and make up in my car, come, gals got to help each other!” She adds before starting dragging me to the elevator.

“No no no! There’s no need!” I stop her.

“Yes, sugar, there is! I come here every day and I’ve never been picked. I know what he’s looking for!”

Contradiction to my ears, if she knew what he was seeking, she would have been picked by now for whatever job she strives to secure, yet judging by the long line, that job must be very high level.

Her gaze freezes, her lips part in surprise.

“What happened? Are you ok?” The look in her eyes worries me.

“I’ll be darned! He’s set his eyes on you!”

“W-who did?” 

She lifts her finger, trembling, she’s pointing to a man that’s coming our direction.

World slows down, as if he’s walking in slow motion, a soundtrack it’s all that’s missing. A sturdily built man, perfectly tanned, his hair raven dark, grey deep eyes and full lips that are freaking inviting. My heart is pounding erratically against my chest, I’ve never before seen someone so bewitching. In fact, it’s the first time I’m feeling this attracted to anyone.

“I’ll start with you.” He grabs my wrist and creeps me to his office, the crowd of women shouts in disappointment.