Chapter 1

Eliana's POV

I must admit, today is the best day of my life. No, scratch that. It is the most important day for a girl like me. No, I'm not getting married.

But you can say it is a dream come true because I was looking for a job and I saw a vacant position in my dream workplace, the glorious RAUSHAN COMPANY.

I graduated with good grades after I was kicked out of the orphanage. They said they were done 'pampering' me because I was 'an adult' now.

Pampered my foot!

While I was learning, I worked as many part-time jobs as I could fit in my busy life of being a student.

I am my only caregiver, which means I'm responsible for building a better future for myself, just like how I rented an apartment so I didn't have to worry about being on the streets when I was done learning.

So finding a vacant position barely three weeks after graduation is a big deal.

I just couldn't contain my excitement. I kept dancing and jumping on my bed like a mad dog.

Now I just need to convince them to hire me.

"Well, better sleep early," I muttered to myself. I changed into my purple pajamas and cuddled the teddy bear I received as a gift from my parents on my ninth birthday.

I drifted off to dreamland, hoping tomorrow would be my chance to make my dream come true.

•••

I woke up with my alarm shouting like one mad bitch who spilt her nail polish. Well, at least that is what it felt like.

I groaned and turned off my alarm, but instantly the events from last night came crashing down on me, making me beam with excitement because today was the day for the interview.

I quickly got out of bed, grabbed clothes to change into after my shower, and went straight to the bathroom. I showered, got dressed, and ate my breakfast cereal. Then I went to my vanity mirror to check myself one more time before going to the interview.

I saw a woman with curves in all the right places, long midnight black hair pulled into a tight bun, emerald green eyes, pink lips, and fair skin wearing a grey skirt below her knees, a white blouse, and black heels. I am proud to say I passed through a lot of shit to be here. To be this women in front of me. To be the Eliana Joyce I see right now.

Life hasn't been easy for me. A traumatic experience left a deep scar on my heart, and uncountable sleepless nights followed, and my parents... But it's in the past, and now is the time to focus on my future career.

Let's do this, Eli!

As I thought these things, a smile was tugging on my lips, which disappeared as quick as it came when I realized I would be late if I didn't leave now.

OK! Enough of this staring, girl!

I mentally scolded myself while grabbing the car keys from the kitchen counter. Locking my apartment, I went to the parking lot and got into my car (which was secondhand and quite cheap but nevertheless well-kept), speeding off because I wanted to get hot chocolate from the cafe.

You see, when I am nervous or frustrated, I have a habit of eating chocolate because as my mom told me, 'if you are angry or nervous, pour your emotions into the chocolate because it will calm you.'

Mom! How much I miss you! How could he do that to you? To me?

But before I could open my car door, my passenger door opened and a man in a dark blue suit with coffee in one hand and a briefcase (probably filled with important documents) in the other got into my car, panting heavily like he had just run a marathon.

He put the coffee in the cup holder and looked back at me with those mesmerizing ocean blue eyes, sending me into a daze. Then he said in a deep voice:

"Like what you see?"