Blare had guessed from his surprise look that she was right. Moreover, he's really planning to humiliate her.

Her smile faltered and she didn't hide the annoyance in her tone, "How disappointing. I'll leave Mr. LeCoultre. I apologize if I can't give you a good show"

Blare force a smile that lasted for a second. Then she stood up and turned to leave.

"Lilith Winterburn." Ace called her name with authority which made Blare shivered involuntarily.

Admitting defeat, Blare turned to face the big boss. Of course, a frown is still plastered on her face.

Ace looked at her indifferently. Making it seem like the surprised expression before was an act. However, he smirked, clearly enjoying Blare's frown.

Blare stiffened but forced herself to remain calm. Offending this big boss would get her in big trouble.

"Now that's a more suitable expression that a mere subordinate should have." Ace said with a mocking tone.

Blare's lips twitch in irritation. She suppressed her annoyance and calmly met Ace's gaze.

'Tyrant! Dictator! Motherf****!!' Blare kept cursing Ace inside her head in order to stop herself from scratching his handsome and offensive mocking face. 

"..." 

Silence engulfs the room. Blare can't take it anymore and ask, "What is it? Sir?"

She addressed him with clear dislike. 

"You're hired" Ace simply said and waved dismissively. 

"What--" 

Before she could understand what's happening, a male employee walked inside and eyed in her. 

"Ms. Winterburn, this way please" the male employee gestured Blare. 

Blare stood frozen, then landed her attention to the indifferent Ace. 

"What? You don't want the job?" Ace raised one of his brows. 

"No.. I mean yes! I want the job! Thank you sir tyra-- uh, LeCoultre!" Blare pressed her lips and bowed 90° to Ace. Then hurriedly walked over the male employee. 

Blare mindlessly followed the secretary and bit her lip more when she thought how he almost called the big boss a tyrant. 

Nevertheless, she got accepted. She'll thicken her skin if it means earning money for herself in this world. It was the same for Lilith, although she was blessed with easy money, the woman wanted to actually earn it herself. 

Too bad that she's too focused on the man who simply throws her away.

______________

"Aiken... Aiken!"

Aiken woke up in his dazed state and stare at the woman who called him.

"Are you okay? You've been... out of it lately." Clara asked, worry apparent on her face.

"I'm fine. Sorry Clara, I have a pile of work in the company. I won't be able to accompany you tomorrow." Aiken continued eating.

Clara only nodded but was still worried about Aiken's tired state.

Evening came and Aiken was puffing his third cigarette in his living room. He was thinking about Lilith who hasn't shown up for five months.

'This is what I wanted... but why does it hurt?' Aiken had been thinking about Lilith ever since she stopped coming to him. 

"I'm a fucking hypocrite" Aiken throw the cigarette in his hand. He ruffled his hair in annoyance.

He was angry at himself.

"I'll see her.. just this once. Then I'll get over it." Aiken was deeply frustrated. But deep inside that frustration was sadness.

But when Aiken came the next day at the Seaside Subdivision where Lilith was staying. The woman was no longer staying there. He asked the staffs and even the owner of the subdivision where Lilith was currently saying.

They can only shake their heads in response. Blare did not inform them of her whereabouts.

Aiken, for the first time, felt fear in his life. He was always controlling his feelings for Lilith because his family never accepted the woman. Aiken would always abide by the wishes of his parents, even if it costs his happiness.

For the first time, he does not want to lose that happiness.

From then on, Aiken searched for Lilith's whereabouts. It took him a week before he could finally found her.

Aiken drove towards Lilith's new apartment. While he was driving, his eyes caught the long blonde hair of a woman. Aiken stopped his car immediately.

______________

Blare was walking back to her apartment when she saw a |×|Bugatti La Voiture Noire car that immediately stopped in its tracks.

She just came from her daily walk around town. Wearing an oversized blue pastel jacket, cotton shorts and slippers. She slowly walked with a candy in her mouth and admired the scenery along the way.

But her sight-seeing was cut off when the said car suddenly stopped. Since she is the only one who was walking on the tiny street, she got suspicious of why the car stopped.

When the door of the car opened, Blare took a step back and prepared herself to run. But she froze when she saw that it was Aiken who got out of the car.

"Lilith" Aiken's face was full of worry. He was pale and panting softly. Like he just ran a mile.

Blare raised her eyebrows. She was confused.

'Why the hell is he appearing?' Blare thought that what Aiken did to Lilith in the past was because he hated her a long time ago. Unless that hate did not bloom because she changed the course of the story.

Either way, Blare thought that this was weird. She quickly regained her stance, "Do you need something, Mr. Charleston?" she asked.

Aiken was nevertheless, shocked. The Lilith that chased him months ago was no longer there. The Lilith that would sweetly call his first name.. was no longer saying it. Her comfortable clothes and sassy attitude is a side of hers he'd never seen before.

When Aiken got his breathing even, he took a step in Blare's direction. Which made Blare back off in response.

Blare's eyebrows started furrowing, confusion and annoyance are seen in her face. "What are you doing?" she asked, annoyed.

Aiken has never received this much hostility to anyone, especially not on Lilith.

"I just wanted to talk to you--"

"Then say it and stay where you are. I can hear you, I'm not deaf" Blare glared at the man. She would always refuse to be close to a man that already inflicted the character (body she's residing in) pain. Even if Lilith does not feel anything, who knows if something spurred again?

Aiken was confused about why Blare was angry. 'Was it because I kept rejecting her?' he thought.

"Why?" is the only word that escaped his mouth.

"(sneer) Who knows if you'll slap me again." Blare mockingly looked at him and her tone held disdain.

Then Aiken was struck with guilt. "I... I only did that so you can stop harassing Clara and I" was his only excuse while he looked away.

"I did. Thanks for that, I woke up from my deep idiotic state. So I don't want you near me, ever" Blare emphasize the last word with slight anger in her tone.

"Speak Mr. Charleston, I'm busy with my life and I would really appreciate it if people from my past never show up again" Blare added as she crossed her arms, looking at the deprived man.

"Lilith.." Aiken had love Lilith Winterburn the first time he saw her and up until now.

The man strode towards Blare despite her words from earlier.

Blare did not expect that the man would not listen to her. Before she could run away, Aiken already held her right hand and waist. Then Aiken leaned and claimed her lips.

Blare was shocked to the core, her soul trembled at the feeling. It was her first kiss!

Although Lilith's lips are experienced. Blare was not. Her single life did not experience being kissed.

Blare struggled when he felt that Aiken was deepening the kiss. She can't breathe properly so she accidentally opened her mouth. Blare regretted that action. Because when her mouth opened, Aiken's tongue ravishes hers. The candy in her mouth was taken by the man's tongue. But Aiken continued kissing her.

Blare let out a moan when Aiken tightly pressed her body on his. She felt weak to the sensation. For her, it was bittersweet. Her eyes closed as it started tearing up.

Feeling like she would faint, Aiken slowly stopped. Their tongues formed a string of saliva after Aiken pulled out his mouth. He saw Blare's teary up expression and her red face. Her eyes seemed dazed.

Aiken wanted to take her. He wanted to claim Lilith before she could escape. When Aiken thought that the woman was finally hers again, he was slapped by her.

Blare quickly regained consciousness. No, Lilith did not wake up, Blare was in full control of the body and she experienced that deep kiss herself. She was so angry with the man that made her feel vulnerable. So he quickly slapped him as hard as she can.

"Bastard!!" Blare screamed at the man and run towards her apartment.