What Audacity!

What the heck! With so much content to prepare, he wants her to be through in ten minutes? She's human and not a robot for God's sake.

She knew it was never going to be possible to finish up a twenty page content in ten minutes.

The template might be there but that doesn't mean she can finish going through and be sure everything is fine within ten minutes.

She got down to work and had been in the office less than five minutes when Alex's secretary returned and told her Alex ordered her to bring the proposal to him.

"I'm not done yet. Give me some time more " Ella pleaded dividing her attention between the secretary and the work before her.

"You will have to tell Me Foster that yourself" the secretary replied cautiously. When it comes to dealing with Mr Foster's work, one has to be extremely careful if that person wants a full salary at the time of payment.

"Oh.. sure" Ella nods and kept on with the work. The secretary lingered a few seconds later and then strolled out.

Rosa is the name of the secretary. She's a sweet young woman of Twenty three years old. A single mom and a career oriented woman.

She started working with the Foster corporation three years before and she had tried as much as she could to avoid crossing paths with the boss.

Ella is a new employee. She probably hasn't known how Mr Foster deals with employees who mess around with his job.

Rosa returned to Alex's office and told him Ella was doing the last bit of checking through the content. She would soon come over with the proposal…

Rosa was not done talking when Alex angrily hit his fist on the desk "I ordered you to get me the proposal and you returned empty?" He yelled at her.

"No...not so sir...I only..." Rosa was now shivering. Her complexion has suddenly gone pale and she seemed to be defenceless before him.

"If I don't get the proposal now, you can forget about working here. Do I pay you to do otherwise according to my instructions?" He thundered and by this time, Rosa felt her temple was sweaty.

She touched her temple subconsciously and felt her palm wet. Without another word, she walked out briskly and went to Ella.

"Please let me have the proposal, I can't afford to lose my job" she sounded scared and her voice was shaking.

Ella stood up, she's not even halfway through but if Rosa's job was at stake, she would let her have it and walk behind her to Alex's office.

How can someone be so inconsiderate? He was just showcasing his inhuman attitude and meaneness. She doesn't know what awaits her when she gets back to his office.

Rosa got the half prepared proposal and hurried her steps to Alex's office. She got in and carefully placed the papers before him, standing with her head bowed, waiting for him to dismiss her.

He didn't care to glance at her direction, he went for the papers and next threw them all on her face. What nonsense!

"What is this? Where is Miss Smith?" Alex demanded and before Rosa could answer, the door opens and Ella answered "I'm right here"

Her stepping in shifted Alex gaze and fury away from Rosa and glared at Ella with utmost irritation. He has this doommenering aura that is capable of making someone forget all premeditated excuses.

"Are you crazy or something? What's the meaning of this?" He demanded. One can tell he was struggling to keep his fury in check.

"No, I'm not. I was going to prepare the proposal to the best of my ability but wasn't through with it when you asked Rosa to get it…"

"You must be out of your mind to think you are not crazy. You give me excuses and tell me you are not through with the assignment I gave to you? …

Festus just knocked briefly and came in. He met Alex in the middle of his angry words at Ella.

"...who the hell do you think you are to go otherwise to my demands? Did you not see the template and are you the one typing it?" He demanded.

"I saw the template. And though I was using a Masterpiece, I had to check through for spelling and errors…" Ella was explaining when Alex interrupted her.

"Are there no grammar checkers installed on the computer? What do you know that you think you can correct?

You are just a drop out and you think you can stay here and talk about correcting a masterpiece prepared by me? If I gave you ten minutes, I expect you to be through in five minutes.

For this act, 10% of your salary is gone. And if you continue this way, you may have to balance some charges at the time of payment" Alex Foster threatened.

"Excuse me, take it back! I am not a drop out. I may have paused in my academics, but that is not the same as using the word dropout" Ella snapped at him.

What audacity!

Rosa glanced at Ella from her split vision. What did she just say? Is she courting death? Looks like she knows nothing about Alex's temperament.

Festus brow knitted.

He's never found any woman who ever raised her voice in correction to Alex. Many might be pleased with his attitude but they all had swallowed their discomfort and let him go.

But this woman here, Ella or what's her name again stared at him and gave him a piece of her mind. She's got guts and he applauds her for that.

"The next time you talk back to me, I will give you a taste of death and no one will ever find you.

You dropped out of school because you have an irresponsible father and your mother has been confined to spend the rest of her life in that wheelchair…" Alex was taunting her.

"Please!"

Festus raised his voice. This is too much for Alex to say. He knew he had investigated her and dug out everything he needed to know about her family and upbringing.

But he shouldn't taunt her with that. She might be going through some unpleasant experiences. He should never have said those words about her parents.

That might be a sore in her heart. She might be trying to heal. But hearing those words said to her in such a humiliating manner might be slashing open a sore that is trying to heal.

"You both should please return to your various offices" Festus gently pleaded with his hands clasped together.

He was talking to the both of them but his eyes were fixed on Ella alone.

At this time, the latter's eyes had gone red and a lone tear dropped from her eyes. She wasn't looking everywhere but had her eyes focused on Alex without blinking them.

Rosa recovered from the brief shock at Festus' request and she bowed slightly before turning and walking out.

But Ella did not move. She seemed to stand like a statue and was still gazing at Alex. Her mind cannot be read from her eyes. It was plain but pains were in those tears.

Alex looked away. The thing that weakens him in a woman are the tears they easily shed. Can't they hide their pain without expressing it through their tears?

"Ella, please just leave" Festus coaxed her, walking towards her and tried crossing his hand around her shoulders but Ella moved away, totally avoiding any form of body contact.

She walked out and Festus turned sharply to glare at his friend.

"What was that for? Why did you talk about her parents in such a humiliating manner? Why did you say those words about her mother's unhealthy state?" He demanded.

He has never confronted Alex in such an annoying way. This was too much. He never expected him to reduce Ella to speck of dust.

As if he wasn't satisfied yet, he continued "Everyone has gotten some side of them that they won't tolerate being exposed publicly.

Same goes for every family. But why bring to the open what you found about her family, especially her mother? This is too much Alex" Festus reprimanded him.

Alex Foster just sat down and swivelled around in his chair. Festus was taking this too personal. What the hell is his business in this?

"When did you become an advocate for Ella Smith?" Alex asked, completely ignoring Festus' grievance against him. He doesn't know why he looked so upset over what he said to Miss Smith.

"Shake it off Alex, you have to apologise to her"Festus declared and sank into the sofa. Well, Alex can be so annoying.

"Fine. I will make it up to her. But apologise, there's no way I am going to do that" Alex declared.

Ella hurried into her office and shut her door. She placed her head on the desk and sobbed. She doesn't know how else to relieve herself other than to sob.

Many knew of the story of her father abandoning her and her mother and went after another woman, a mistress.

That action led to her mother's incapacitation. Now, that dent in her life has become a subject of ridicule to her.

All these wouldn't have happened if her father had put her mother and herself in consideration before doing anything silly.

He has given all that he had to his mistress and her daughter. And then, finally disappeared with him to an unknown city.

She remembered when she was still younger, she had lived like a princess. Surrounded by servants and maids. Had a Nana and thought she was going to enjoy such luxuries for the rest of her life.

But thinking about the past, she sobbed more. She was sniffling and her eyes had gone red and puffy.

It was like she never lived like that. Perhaps she only experienced such life in her dreams. But then, it wasn't a dream, it was real and some instances made her remember that past.

Will that past ever be repeated in her life?

In Alex's office, the latter looked unhappy and aggrieved. By this time, he was no longer seated but stood up, by the window and looked out at the bustling city of New York.

Its bustling was one major characteristic of the city. Everyone seemed to be less concerned about the other's business.

Lovers holding hands, parents with their kids. Business women and men heading towards their various destinations.

As Alex looked through the window, he sighed. He had called Festus to let him understand what he was going through at the time.

"What are you going to do now, Alex?" Festus asked. He knew the kind of friend he had. Marriage isn't part of Alex Foster's plan in the next three years.

But his grandfather summoned him to be married in the next one month and must live with her for another one year before he can become the heir apparent to the entire Foster cooperation and properties.

"I don't know what to do right now. My grandfather has never been serious about anything like he was about this issue. He meant every single word he uttered.." Alex responded with a tone of helplessness.

Grandfather was determined when he insisted that Alex must present his wife to him latest in a month's time and they must live together for a year.

He even added that his lawyer had effected it into his Will. So, it is something he must do if he really wants to inherit his father and grandfather's Will.

"You have many women at your call and beckon. Simply choose one of them and have a contract marriage with her…" Festus suggested.