Sweat trickled down my forehead, fear engulfing me.

Melissa smirked and stood up, running towards the chairman who was busy answering to the reporters gathered around him.

Before Melissa could draw the attention of the reporters to me I quickly turned on my heel and dashed to the corner, hiding behind a tall pillar.

The reporters that had formed a circle around chairman pushed one another violently, trying to ask more questions but the security guards came quickly and blocked the reporters, clearing a path for the chairman to walk.

Chairman strode to the elevator with two of his secretaries and Melissa beside him. Only after the elevator doors close behind them did I come out of my hiding spot, exhaling in relief.

That was a close call.

All of the other elevators were blocked by the reporters so I sprinted in the opposite direction and threw open the door to the stairs. Even looking at them made me faintish. I could not possibly climb so many floors so I took the stairs to the second floor and from there I took the elevator to the marketing department.

As I reached I ran straight to my table and collapsed onto my chair, closing my eyes, panting for breath.

"Move these things. Move move move!" VP shouted orders and my eyes jerked open. I looked around and saw all of our employees running around as if their butts were on fire.

Lexi was placing file after file on each table and Alan was pasting sticky notes on the walls while two others drew fake plans on the whiteboard.

"Make it look like we're sacrificing our blood, sweat and tears to the company" VP cried out.

I scoffed. Is she serious right no-

"Evans!" VP screamed and I glanced up. "What are you doing there? Go and hang those motivational banners on the poles"

"Uh yes ma'am" I hastily stood up and dragged the banners out of our break room. As I was about to hang them, one of the CEO's staff came barging in.

The woman gasped seeing our mess but quickly recovering she turned her gaze to our VP. "Chairman is looking for Miss Hailey Evans"

I froze, terror sealing my body. Dread twisted in my guts. I'm dead for sure now.

"Hailey?" VP frowned.

"Yes"

VP glanced at me and motioned with her hand to come over and I reluctantly obeyed.

"Evans" She cupped my face in her hands, her eyes all serious. "You're the face of our department now" Woman, are you serious now? "If the chairman ask you about our campaign all you have to do is-"

"I'm pretty sure that's not why he is calling her" Alan said from across the room.

"Shut up Alan!" VP yelled and turned back to me, her face dead serious again. "All you have to do is be confident and answer like you run the world. Got it?"

I blinked. "Uh....yeah I...got it"

VP smiled and I almost had a heart attack seeing it. She never smiles. "Good" She patted my cheek. "Now go and make us proud"

I looked at her weirdly and followed the woman to the elevator, reaching the chairman's office. His room had been empty since his last visit, which was two years ago but I didn't see him that day so this was my first time meeting him but I was pretty sure he didn't call me to share pleasantries. He must be damn pissed because I wasn't the fiancé he wanted for his son.

Reluctantly I knocked on the door and one of chairman's secretaries opened it from inside. Recognising me, he opened the door wider, allowing me entrance.

I stepped in and found myself in a large room with a grey carpeted floor and comfortable white sofas, a glass wall overlooking the city. My eyes wandered around the room and fell on the table to the right. Sitting behind the table was a man in his late fifties, wearing a dark grey suit, his eyes the colour of wood.

Across him, seated in one of the two chairs was Ian, his back turned to me. And Melissa stood leaning against the table, her eyes lusting over Ian.

"Oh there she is" Chairman said as his eyes fell on me, a smile curling up his lips.

Ian craned his neck, looking over his shoulder and his eyes widened seeing me. He snapped at his father. "What is she doing here?"

Chairman raised a brow. "What's wrong with her being here? Isn't she your fiancé?" He then glanced at me. "Come here girl, I have yet to know you"

"She's not gonna stay anywhere near any of you" Ian snarled but the chairman waved him off.

"Sit here" He said gesturing to the chair beside Ian.

I hesitantly walked over and pulled the chair back to sit on it.

"She's quite eye catching" Chairman said looking at me from head to bottom and I shuddered, feeling uncomfortable under his scrutiny. "No wonder you fell for her Ian"

"Get to the point" Ian hissed through gritted teeth.

"Oh wait till she sit down"

Chairman glanced up at me with a smile and I slowly sat down, keeping my hands on my lap, fidgeting with my fingers anxiously.

"I'm throwing a party for my birthday next week. I thought of inviting you two"

Ian scoffed in mockery. "Your eldest son died on the day after your birthday and you're throwing parties?"

Chairman shrugged. "What is done is done. He's the one who decided to take his own life. Foolish boy"

Ian's jaw clenched, his hands curling into fists as rage seared through him. Chairman raised an amused brow and that enraged him more. But he quickly composed himself back, not giving into his father's satisfaction.

"We kindly decline your invitation"

"Oh you will regret that"

Ian laughed. "Tell me one good reason why I would regret it?"

Chairman smirked. "Because Alice is coming"

That stopped Ian. He completely froze, his body tensing.

"That's right" Chairman leaned back in his chair, fixing his suit jacket. "Didn't you want to drag her back to New York? I heard she doesn't even want to see you. Take this chance to convince her, after all it's your fault she's suffering"

My eyes widened at that and I glanced at Ian but his expression had hardened, a muscle twitching in his jaw.

Chairman gave a knowing smirk and exhaled. "Alright, I guess that it's then. You can go"

"Mr. Kingston" Melissa turned to him in panic. "What about the thing you promised me? You said you would reveal the truth about this bitch to the reporters" She said pointing to me.

"Melissa, why don't we forget it?"

"What does that supposed to mean?" She demanded, her face blanched.

Chairman sighed. "My eldest son created a havoc in the country with his scandal and it damaged the company in a great deal. I don't want such a thing happening again. And look at these two" He jerked his chin towards us. "Don't they look good together? Let's them get married and be happy"

Melissa slammed her fists against the table. "NO! You can't do that to me. You can't allow your son to get married to a whore. She slept with him and seduced him"

I rolled my eyes and Melissa saw that. Her nostrils flared with anger, her jaw clenching in rage. "You bitch! How dare you roll your eyes?" Then she took a file from the chairman's table and threw it at me.

It came spinning towards me, cutting the skin near my eye with it's sharp edge. I hissed in pain and covered my eye with my hand. Ian instantly shot up to his feet and grabbed Melissa by her neck.

"How dare you?" He growled in fury. "How dare you hurt her?!" He strangled her and Melissa chocked, trying to yank his hand back.

"Ian that's enough!" Chairman stood up, his tone commanding.

Ian ground his teeth and slowly released her but his eyes swirled with rage. "If you dare hurt her again" He hissed, his voice lethal. "I will cut off your arms"

Then he grabbed my hand and stormed out of the room, dragging me across the hall. In fury, he threw open the door to his room and slammed it shut after we were inside.

He dragged me to the couch and made me sit on it. Then he walked over to his shelves and brought a first aid box with him. He knelt down before the couch and rummaged through the box, his fingers shaking with rage.

"Ian"

He didn't hear.

"Ian"

Again didn't hear.

"Ian" I placed my hands on his shoulder and he looked up. "Calm down"

Ian stared at me for a long moment and heaved a sigh. "Sorry I just-"

"It's alright" I smiled and patted his shoulder.

Ian smiled back and took a deep breath, calming himself. Then he slowly went through the box and pulled out an ointment.

"You don't have to do that. The cut isn't big"

Ian shook his head. "No, I don't want to see you hurt in any sort of way" Then he scooped some to his finger and gently applied it on my cut.

"Are you going to the party?" I asked quietly.

"I don't know but-" He swallowed. "Alice is coming and it will be my only chance to convince her. Will you-" He glanced up at me. "Will you help me to convince her? She likes you a lot"

I nodded. "I'll give a try"

Ian smiled and stroked my cheek with his thumb. "Thank you. Let's go to that horrible party then"