It's funny, you never really know how much patience you have within yourself, until you're forced into a situation.

Her inner patience was tested so much in that meeting with Sebastian, after walking out of his office, Mia took a quick trip to the ladies' room and cursed Sebastian with every name under the sun.

Her Mum would either faint or go red with anger, at the words Mia used, but she just had to let it out.

It was a little awkward when another woman came out of the stall and avoided making eye contact with Mia. She really ought to check if someone else with in the room, before she started spewing some bad curse words.

Evidently, it became clear to Mia that Sebastian's hatred for her was still as it was back in high-school. At least it would make it easy for her to not like him either, especially when they shared the mutual feeling.

Mia was determined that she would not, in however many months that she had to work for Sebastian, let him get to her. She had worked too hard and come so far and she was not going to let him become her setback.

For the next few weeks, Mia carried on within the accounting department, finishing off her work and passing on the rest of her to her colleagues. Harry had organised a little farewell dinner for her, which also doubled as his own little retirement party too.

He didn't plan on leaving the exact time as Mia, but then going to work without her wasn't going to be fun for him either.

Over the course of the weeks, Mia also had her training with Sophie. She would explaining her filing systems, the database, contacts and basically all things Sebastian's assistant would need to know.

Mia never really had a least favourite subject in school, but learning to be Sebastian's assistant was definitely most-hated subject now.

It was humorous to her, at how she was essentially training to become an expert on Sebastian, her least favourite person.

From working his schedule, to how he liked his coffee, Mia had understood it all. She was ready to face him and whatever he was going to bring her way. For the next six months or so, she was determined to excel at her job and wasn't going to quit, not matter how hard Sebastian tried.

Somehow, despite how many times Mia had ventured up to the 17th Floor to see Sophie, she managed to avoid crossing paths with Sebastian.

Finally, it had reached the time where Sophie had officially gone on maternity leave and now it was Mia's time to take over.

From her old desk, Mia had taken her things and placed them in a box, ready to arrange it on what would be her new desk.

When Mia walked into the building on this day felt particularly weird, even Moses greeted her with a curious expression, which she just smiled back to.

Out of habit, she nearly tapped on 15th Floor, when getting into the lift, until she reminded herself that today was the beginning of a new chapter.

She stepped onto the floor, box in hand, and few people in the open space area greeted Mia politely. It was nice to know at least the people on this floor were nice and she wouldn't have to deal with any office drama or whispers.

Mia walked into, what was going to be her new office, and smiled. This was an odd feeling, after going from desk space, she now had an actual office. Even if it were temporary, it still felt like a big step. 'An actual office!' She was internally squealing.

Despite the fact that Sophie had given her permission to move things around to how she preferred, Mia didn't want to move too much, only adding her personal belongings to the desk.

She had a picture of Chloe, Nicole and her, laughing as the picture was taken. Next to it, she placed a family picture with her parents, Aaron, Melissa - it was one of Mia's favourites', taken during Christmas.

Mia moved her box to the side and began to take things out of her bag.

"So you're really going to be my new assistant?"

She knew this voice all too well and Mia cursed herself for not remembering that with this new office, came an annoying pest of a boss.

When she looked towards the doorway, she saw Sebastian leaning against the bannister, looking incredibly smug.

It was odd for him to walk into this office and not see Sophie. He was so used to her blonde hair acting like some kind of beacon, which it was he had to double-take when he saw a brunette-figure by the desk.

He'd completely forgotten that Mia would be starting today - despite fretting over it all weekend.

As he stood by the doorway and just observed Mia, he just couldn't help but look at the happy expression on her face as she placed photo frames on her desk.

It oddly reminded him of the time he first got an office - and he couldn't wait settle in.

That thought lasted for a moment, before realised he was getting distracted by her.

"I am here aren't I?" Mia responded sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

He'd probably been standing there for thirty seconds and she was already getting pissed off. However, was she surprised? No.

Hearing her sarcasm, Sebastian's smirk faded and developed into a scowl.

"Watch the attitude, Miss Sareen," he warned her.

"Of course, Mr Carter," Mia replied, with a fake smile plastered across her face.

That smile. It bothered him.

He walked into her office, towards her desk and cocked towards the head.

"A month," he then said.

"What?" Mia just looked at him curiously.

"I give it a month," Sebastian responded.

This still didn't help her confusion. "Give what a month?"

"For you to quit," he said, giving a slight nod in her direction. "You'll be crying and begging me to accept your resignation, so I wouldn't unpack your little box just yet" he then continued.

This wasn't surprising to her at all. Mia expected him to have some kind of time limit on her being here.

She remembered his ego was the size of Jupiter. In fact, his ego was probably large enough to have its' own gravitational force. A planet could orbit it!

However, Mia was determined not to be fazed by him. He could think she would last a day, but that didn't mean anything. She was here to stay...until Sophie came back.

"Never pegged you for a dreamer," she told him, with a sweet smile of her own. "I'll leave, once Sophie comes back."

Sebastian moved forward and took the crystal paperweight from the desk in his hand, moving it around in his hold.

"Oh, you'll be long gone before then. In fact, maybe I should have an assistant on standby, for when you do run out of here," he said with amusement. "One month." He repeated, roughly placing he paperweight back on the desk, in an attempt to intimidate Mia.

However, Mia rolled her eyes at his attempt.

"Wow, and here I thought you trusted yourself enough to run me out of here in a week. Clearly you don't think much of yourself, do you?"

Sebastian's jaw clenched.

"In a week, you'll lose that smile of yours," he replied.

"I told you, I've changed. I'm not just going to take your insults, I've learnt to fight back," Mia retorted.

Sebastian let out a scoff. "Changed?" He asked rhetorically and leaned over her desk. "You're still that little actress you were back in high-school, the only difference...you've learnt to use that mouth of yours more."

Mia would be lying if she said that his words and actions didn't effect her. Every time high school was brought up, she couldn't help but tense up, but again, she couldn't let Sebastian break her...not again.

He could look her dead in her eyes, like he was, but she wouldn't flinch.

Instead, Mia smiled.

"And you're still the smug, arrogant, bastard you always were. Nice to know you haven't changed either," she said.

Once again, Sebastian's jaw clenched and his face morphed into an expression of annoyance.

Whilst Mia was doing a great job of not letting her emotions show on her face, Sebastian couldn't help his expressions.

He straightened himself up but still kept his eyes on Mia.

"You're going to regret ever walking into this office," he said, his voice eerily calm.

Mia felt as if this wasn't a threat from him, no. It was more of a promise. But Sebastian and his promise can go suck a lemon, as far as she was concerned.

"We'll see," she smiled.

Sebastian narrowed his eyes on her before nodding and walking away to leave the office.

He had just stepped out of the office, before tapping the edge and walking back in.

"Oh, before I forget Miss Sareen," he called out.

"Yes?"

"I take my morning coffee, black with one sugar," Sebastian informed her.

Mia was a little baffled by his statement. "That's great for you, but you're telling me this because...?"

"Every morning, I expect one on my desk-," he instructed, "-But seeing how this is your first day, I'll give you a pass just this once."

Now, Mia was annoyed. He said the words as if she should be grateful to him, for not making her get her, his coffee.

She scoffed. "You're joking me."

'Surely he couldn't be so delusional,' she thought.

"Nope," Sebastian replied.

He never required it from his assistant to make him a coffee, he was capable enough to make one himself. It was Sophie that had got him so used to the habit, of having a morning coffee always ready for him. She even had one ready at other times of the day, when she knew he needed it, despite not asking for it himself.

"I'm not bringing you coffee, that's not part of my job," Mia gritted out.

Yes, she did it for Harry but there was a big difference. She actually liked Harry.

"Too much for you to handle?" Sebastian asked.

He was beginning to understand how to push her buttons, which was bad news for Mia.

Mia then glared at him and his condescending tone.

"Screw you," she told him.

"If you want?" Sebastian innocently shrugged. "That not part of your job either but then again you'd happily do that, right?"

Mia felt hurt at Sebastian's words.

She had left high school behind a long time ago, yet somehow it never left her. She was called all kinds of names, so many rumours going around about her and now suddenly, they were all back in her mind.

Unfortunately, that wasn't something Sebastian was aware of.

Not willing to show the effect of his words, Mia showed no expression.

"If you want to call me a whore, Sebastian, just say it outright. Don't beat around the bush," she replied.

Her words stunned Sebastian slightly. He was expecting her to frown or even glare at him, not stay...blank.

It was just a little odd to him, as if his words had no effect on her or like she had been called 'a whore' many times, to the point where it was no longer an insult, instead just a description of her.

She may piss him off and she did do that whole thing in high-school but even then, who would call Mia a whore?

"This is a respectable office, Miss Sareen. We don't use such vulgar language here," Sebastian said, keeping a stone-face.

Mia just scoffed once more. "No, you can just insinuate it, right?"

Her words were true, which was what annoyed him. 'She really was going to make this harder than he thought.'

Before Sebastian could reply, another more cheerful voice, stopped him.

"Ah, you're in here with your new assistant," Richard spoke, walking into the room with a happy smile on his face.

Sebastian turned to the doorway and saw his Dad walking in.

"Dad? What are you doing here?"

Richard smiled at his son, patting him on the back.

"Yes, hello to you too, Sebastian." Richard smiled, before turning towards Mia. "I just wanted to greet your new assistant, on her first day."

Whilst Sebastian held off from rolling his eyes, Mia grinned.

"How are you settling in, dear?" Richard asked her.

"Oh, just fine," Mia told him, glancing at Sebastian, before looked back to Richard.

She chose to leave out the part where his son essentially said she wasn't going to last and then basically called her a whore. This whole thing was between Sebastian and her, she wasn't going to make an issue in front of his father.

Sebastian saw her look and narrowed his eyes at her.

Of course, Richard couldn't tell there was any tension within the room, instead he clapped his hands together.

"Oh, good. Glad to hear that. I'm so sure you'll do a great job," he told her.

Richard was so sure of his gut feeling about Mia, she was going to be someone special, he could just feel it.

"Thank you, Sir," she gave him a warm smile, however it turned into a frown when she noticed Richard's stern face.

"What did I say?" He asked her.

For a moment she stood there confused, before remembering what he was referring to and smile graced her face once again.

A little chuckle left her, as she shook her head.

"Thank you, Richard," she replied and the old man grinned.

"Better," he nodded.

Sebastian, on the other hand, stood there in completely puzzled.

'How did this girl have his father, wrapped around her finger already?' He thought. He was acting like she was family.

A pat on the back, pulled him out of his thoughts. "She's a good girl, Sebastian. She'll do great, you'll see," Richard said.

Sebastian smiled at his father, before looking towards Mia.

"I'm sure she will," he replied, staring at her intently.

Mia noticed the evil glint in his hazel eyes and she grinned at him sweetly.

It was officially game on from both sides.