Chapter 16

Emma’s P.O.V.

Frustration

Anger

And

Sheer hatred.

That’s all I was feeling at the moment for the man who snatched everything from me.

It’s been two days and I am still jobless. I have been rejected by nearly every company in New York and I don’t know what to do anymore. Depressed, I unwillingly opted for companies other than my forte but none of them selected me, scratch that they didn’t even let me enter their premises. Still, I didn’t stop there, I went to elementary schools, restaurants, clubs, bars, and cafes, whichever would help me feed my empty stomach but just by hearing my name, they kicked me out. Today’s the last day and I am still mapping New York cause I don’t know what my future beholds.

The flash on the screen of my cellphone made me dazzled. I checked the notification.

“Can’t wait to see you again. Counting minutes feels like centuries, love. Do wait for me, my Princess. I will be the one whom you will see tomorrow first and maybe would become the last person whom you’ll see in the night-“

Fucking pig!!!

I harshly turned down my phone and forbade myself from tossing it on the ground.

I know it’s all His doing. He’s closing up all the gates so that I come back groveling to him. He’s forcing me to surrender but I won’t give up. I will keep fighting till my last breath. I ain’t someone whom he can break so easily. I am an Alpha’s daughter. I have the blood of a warrior running in my veins. If I had fought this cruel world for so long, I will keep dealing with its shits until I succeed. No fucking prick can become a barrier in my path.

The ringing of the phone startled me. I checked it only to see Stella’s name flashing on it. She has been calling me for the past hour. I don’t know how to answer her but I think it’s time I take help from someone. I have to find a way to defeat that pathetic monster.

Sliding my finger across the screen, I put the receiver near my ear.

“DAMN YOU, EMMALINE!! WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?? WHY AREN’T YOU PICKING UP MY PHONE??”

Her vociferous voice nearly made my ears bleed. Once she finished her rant, I again put the receiver back near my ear and answered her questions.

“Stella, I am in dire straits. I need your help.”

My straightforward answer earned a gasp. I can understand her reaction. That came as a shock for me as well.

“Why? What happened?” Stella spoke anxiously from the other side.

“I can’t tell you on the phone. We need to meet.”

I was taking a huge risk by involving Stella but she is the only one whom I can rely on.

“Sure, send me the address.”

Time skip

“THAT FUCKING ASSHOLE!!”

I immediately covered the mouth of the fuming girl who was sitting beside me and had been swearing for the past ten minutes. Her frequent outbursts were catching my eyes now and then which was surely so embarrassing for me.

“Stop it, Stella. I didn’t tell you everything so that you can open a war against Damien. I just wanted to share my problems with you. You know I can’t trust anyone except you. I am helpless and I need you to show me a way.”

Her eyes turned rueful after hearing my reply. She placed her hand on my left shoulder and squeezed it a little.

“I am delighted to see your faith in me, Em. I was so worried when I came to know about your sudden resignation. You even switched off your phone and didn’t reply to my emails either. You know everyone in the company was so happy to see the back of you. Some jealous bitches were even celebrating, Kylie and her fucking minions were on top. Only Claire and I were worried for you. Claire even tried to contact Boss to know the reason behind your leave but he didn’t let anyone enter his cabin. That’s when my suspicion grew. You resigned just after your interview. It was obvious that something pushed you to take this step.”

She said and lowered her head. “I am sorry Em. I was the one who was forcing you to become his secretary. If only I had known his true color. I would have never-“

I cut her midway, “Hey, it’s not your fault. To be honest, no one is at fault but him. I know I shouldn’t involve you in my mess but I am completely helpless. Damien had threatened everyone in New York not to recruit me. He is hell-bent on making me submit.”

I grated out and looked at Stella but a frown settled on my brows watching her troubled expressions.

She bit her lower lip and peeked a glance at me before speaking with hesitation, “S-Submit? If you don’t mind, would you care to e-elaborate? Don’t take me wrong Em but what does he want from you?”

My body abruptly turned stiff. She looked scared but her words were enough for me to go nuts.

I fucking knew this would happen. Anyone who hears my story would think that something is going on between us. Be it hate or love. Because no CEO would have so much leisure time to plan ways of destroying a teen’s life whom he had met just a few days before. I slapped him, apologized to him, and problem solved but no, he is adamant to defeat me. Even when I am innocent, people would make out a love-hate angle from my sob story.

“Damien wants me to forget everything and work there. He wants me to swallow my pride and work under his nose as I am financially weak and an orphan. That’s it.”

I said and looked away. I am tired of these selfish humans. Why am I categorizing them, the whole world has been only cruel to me till now.

Stella looked at me, her expression turned sorrowful, “I am so sorry Em that you have to go through all this. But don’t worry, you have my back.”

She said and flashed me a smile. I returned it gladly but my smile dropped when she took out a bundle of notes from her bag and handed it to me, “Here. Take this.”

“W-What are you doing Stella? I asked for you to help me get a job.” I politely refused her offer. There’s no way I am going to take someone’s money.

Stella grabbed my hand. She took a deep breath before speaking softly, “Listen Em. I am going to be brutally honest with you. Damien Knight is a renowned and very powerful man in New York. The weight his name holds is nothing compared to the power he holds over every soul residing in New York. He had threatened every company, be it a startup or a top-notch enterprise to recruit you. He even owns many famous and upscale restaurants, cafes, lounges, pubs, clubs, hotels even some famous universities in which your one tops the list and had got his connections everywhere. So, it is not nearly impossible but it is very clearly impossible that you won’t be able to work here even if you opt for a janitor or maid’s job.”

My eyes widened as she said that straight to my face.

“WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN BY THAT??”

I screamed and swatted her hands away before jumping to my feet.

“So, what do you expect me to do? Beg on the streets or ask your bucks to tide me over until I am finally stable again which is highly doubtful? Or rob a house, stoop to burglary, or beg my colleagues to pay my school fees?”

Stella shook her head vigorously and reached out to hold me, “You aren’t understanding Em. That’s not what I meant.”

She tried to hold my hand but I immediately jerked back and shot her a glare, “OF COURSE YOU MEANT THAT!! Damien Knight isn’t God. He doesn’t own everyone. You all can worship him and accept his slavery but I won’t.”

Her jaw ticked at my words, “What do you mean by that Emma?? I am just stating the facts. Why is it so difficult for you to accept it? Your tears or screams won’t change the truth that you do have no chance against Damien Knight.”

She snapped at me. My jaw dropped. But Stella was outraged. She grabbed my shoulders in a bruising grip before sneering in my face, “Why are you creating a mountain out of a molehill Emma? You are jobless and have no financial support. How are you going to survive? He isn’t demanding a one-night stand. He told you to just resume your job and forget everything. Alright then. Do that. Burn the past and join the office. The air will settle down eventually and things would turn back to normal. It is in your best interest, Emma. Think from a broader aspect.”

She spoke while looking straight into my eyes. I can’t believe I asked for help from her.

Stella kept staring at me but her brows furrowed when I let out a scoff, “If this was your advice then what was smoke and rage all about? When you wanted me to compromise with my dignity then why were you cheering up for me?”

I spoke and let out a chuckle. Her face instantly turned pale.

“N-No you’re taking me wrong Em. I was only-“

“ENOUGH!!”

I blared and yanked myself out of her hold. Stella was taken aback but I didn’t let her speak as I was so done with her nonsense.

“The thing I despise the most is double-faced and shrewd people like you. If you didn’t want to help me, you should have said that to me to my face. I think I wasted my time but not anymore. Thanks for the company but I think I should leave now.”

I told her and without waiting for her reply, stormed away. Stella called me from behind but I didn’t stop as there was nothing left to talk about now.

End of Emma’s P.O.V.

Emma was devastated and heartbroken. She had never thought that Stella would suggest something like this, compromise her dignity. She told her everything from the beginning to the end but her efforts only turned useless.

Her ocean pools watered. Everything was over now. For the first time in her life, she failed. She couldn’t fulfill the promise she made to herself. Damien won and she lose. Now she had to work under him according to the conditions.

Emma stopped in her tracks when she felt her head pounding violently. She was saving the little money she had so she skipped her breakfast and was only surviving on water. She had large hopes for today but failure after failure not only demoralized her but also extinguished the tiny ray of hope in her heart.

Grabbing her head in her hand, Emma tried to move to a corner but her legs gave up and she staggered to the ground.

“Damn, what’s happening?”, She tried to stay conscious but luck today wasn’t favoring her. A blinding pain again hit her head and she doubled over whole closing her eyes tightly.

“Oh no no!!”

Emma panicked and tried to hold something when her heels tripped and she fell.

But to her surprise, instead of the hard concrete, her body was enveloped in a warm and soft embrace.

A pair of strong arms grabbed the girl before she could land on the ground tightly. Emma felt a tender touch on her left cheek as someone pressed her face against a toned chest. Her eyes closed of their own volition when a soothing fragrance hit her olfactory bulbs which calmed her senses down. Her body went limp in his arms.

Still forcing herself to stay awake, Emma tilted her head and looked up at bleary eyes only to find a pair of steel eyes looking at her with guilt and concern.

“I am sorry, Princess.”

*****