Flustered, Alex Jo narrowed his eyes at Nicole who was kneeling in front of her step-mother. Was she really planning to surrender? What's wrong with her?!

A smile escaped Garcia Han's lips. Did her step-daughter finally come to her sense? Maybe she had finally realized that it's best for her to live the way she wanted! But still, she's a suspicious woman. She was not totally convinced.

"Why do you suddenly change your mind?" She asked, retreating to the couch.

Nicole already guessed all the possible questions of Garcia Han and she also expected this question.

"I'm tired of trying to protect others with my little strength and power. It's so tiring. As I said, I will become whatever you want and give you full obedience. I won't fight back anymore as it's useless. But I want you to grant me two things." Nicole said.

Garcia Han was seemingly impassive but she actually listened to her step-daughter with open ears. "What do you want?" She asked. She would grant anything if Nicole really meant what she said. That's what Garcia Han thought.

"As long as I obey you, please promise me that you won't let other people suffer anymore," Nicole stated her first condition and much to her surprise, the devil promptly agreed.

"I can do that as long as you don't go back on your words." Garcia Han was also tired of dealing with her rebelled step-daughter when she had many political matters to tend to, especially now. She must fully concentrate on the internal election. It's her first step to become the President!

"Then the second one?" The step-mother asked.

"Give me the real authority to handle all the company matters," Nicole stated. She didn't have much hope in this one but she was determined to get the real authority now or later.

"What do you mean by that?" Garcia Han tilted her head to her. In fact, it's not what she expected. She thought she would ask something like annulling the engagement. Wait! Did Leon Jung won over her?!

"You can still watch over the company affairs like you always did. I won't ask to kick out your men. You can give me advice and tell me what you don't want but give me the real authority to make all decisions. I already promised to give you full obedience, so I hope you can grant me this one." Nicole said, looking up at her step-mother.

Garcia Han remained quiet for a while, concentrating on her thoughts. She knew that it's a big decision. So far, Nicole could do many things with her sole decision but it was not enough. She was still far from having absolute authority.

Weighing the pros and cons, she finally spoke up after more than a minute. "Fine. I will grant you that." It would be a great way to test her too. That's what she thought.

Nicole was stupefied. Did the devil really give her the authority? That easy?! She remained still, wondering why. It's a great way to test if she meant what she said; she knew that. But this was a big decision!

"Why didn't you say anything? I thought you will be happy that I grant you both the two things you asked." Garcia Han mused.

Nicole was about to say something but Garcia Han suddenly rose from her seat and narrowed her eyes at her. "Get up. You will get dirty. You still need to go to work." She briefly glanced at the clock and turned her head back to her. Nicole was already standing at that time.

"I have a meeting soon. We will continue talking about this next time." She turned around and just before she walked inside her room, she halted and turned to Alex. "Escort her out. We will leave in five minutes." She ordered and entered her room right away.

Bewildered, Nicole stood still. Why was the devil always so complicated? She could never know what she thinks! Narrowing her eyes, she saw all the photos lying on the floor.

Aston Kang. What would she do with him? Just those simple meetings and his name already reached Garcia's ears. She was not afraid for herself but him.

Bending her knees, she picked up the photos on the floor and quietly gazed at one certain photo. It was a photo of him leading her down from the cemetery. The memory pained her. Picking up every single photo, she put it on the table. "Throw these out." She said to Alex.

Then she stood up and walked towards the door. Alex followed him out like the devil's order but he won't stop talking much to Nicole's frustration.

"What are you doing? Do you really mean that?" Alex asked Nicole who was walking just in front of him but he didn't receive a response.

"You need to be careful, Nicole. Don't underestimate her. She's not someone whom -"

Nicole ran out of patience! She suddenly turned around and shoved him to the wall in the right. Her right hand was on his collar but she pushed it up until it was on his throat. Then she tightened her grip, shutting his mouth completely.

"I'm tired of hearing your nonsense. Mark my words, Alex Jo. No matter what I do, it's none of your business. So, just shut up." Nicole hissed.

Due to the hand that choked him, Alex was struggling for air and his face was all red! He could break free easily but he didn't. He couldn't bring himself to do so!

"If you ever cross the line again, I will tell my step-mother that you are the guy from college. If you don't want to die in her hands, just follow her like you always did. Whenever you talk like you care about me, it disgusts me so much!" She spatted and withdrew her hand.

Alex started coughing non-stop and tried to adjust his breathing but there was not even an ounce of sympathy in her beautiful eyes!

Nicole simply smiled and adjusted Alex tie which she turned into a mess. "Let's not interfere in each other's life. We are not lovers anymore. I'm the step-daughter of your boss, so let's just live that way." She turned around and walked out of the gate.

Alex Jo stared at her disappearing form as if she was a ghost! What was that? It's been five years since he knew her but it's the first time he ever witnessed her behaving that way! The Nicole Yang he knew never used violence no matter how much Garcia Han pressured her!

The way she behaved before Garcia Han and now; she was like a completely different person!

Nicole gets inside her car and drove to her company. When she reached there, it was already 10 a.m. She didn't have any meetings until the afternoon and she used the time to think of her next move.

She will make Garcia Han put trust in her completely. She will do anything to achieve that. Only then, everything will be easy for her. It's hard to do anything with the devil watching her every move with doubt.

* * *

After having a meeting, Garcia Han entered her office and retreated to her chair. Turning the chair around, she stared at the outdoors through the glass walls.

"Do you think Nicole is serious?" Her question was directed to Alex who was standing in front of the desk.

"Do you wish for her to be serious that much?" Alex asked back.

Garcia Han slightly smiled. "What do you mean?" She tilted her head to Alex.

"You keep on losing focus during your meeting. As far as I know, she is always the reason whenever you are this distracted." Alex Jo replied.

"You know me quite well. At this rate, you will scare me." Garcia Han said, feeling quite amused.

"It's my duty." Alex Jo replied as he lowered his head.

Garcia Han turned back her attention to the outdoors. "You're right. I want her to be serious, so badly." She paused and added, "Even if she asked for more favour, I will still permit her as long as she keeps her word."

Alex Jo could never understand her actions and decisions. Even today, it was the same. He never witnessed his boss give in to such kind of big request that easily! She never tolerated mistakes and never gave a second chance to anyone but her step-daughter.

Even when Nicole defied her, she let it go. When she desperately begged for someone or something, she agreed. She keeps on giving her chances yet she was still cruel to her and wanted her to suffer. Alex couldn't understand any of these.

He recalled Nicole's actions earlier and he still finds it hard to believe. If he was to actually say his thoughts, he will say that he didn't believe her. She was not serious. She can't be.

That fiery temper she showed him and her confidence when talking with her step-mother even when kneeling; those couldn't be the traits of someone who give in.

Alex was puzzled. The Minister was always an intelligent woman. Did she really believe her step-daughter? Didn't she saw through her like she always did??