Esmeralda's POV

"Lily, Miss Griffin is not Daisy" the deep throaty voice of Mr. Stone comes from behind me.

The girl hugging me pulls back to stare at my face and then looks behind me to stare at Mr. Stone's face.

"Why didn't you tell us you've finally found her" She asks looking hurt and then her face scrunches up. "Wait, what do you mean by she's not Daisy? Of course she's Daisy. Look at her, she looks exactly the same only more beautiful!" She exclaims smiling.

My face heats up a bit as a result of being called beautiful.

"This is Miss. Griffin, she came for the personal assistant interview" he says sternly.

"Oh. I'm really sorry then Miss. Griffin, you look a lot like someone I know" she apologizes.

"Yeah, I figured that out" I answer smiling.

"So, I'll be on my way" I add making a move to walk out.

She smiles as I walk past her and when I look back, I see her hugging him.

So she is his girlfriend then.

When I finally make it out of the building, I decide to hail a taxi since I didn't bring my car. Esther (my car) was starting to give me problems and fixing a car isn't one of the priorities in my budget right now.

As soon as I'm able to stop a taxi, my phone rings and I roll my eyes when I see the name of the caller.

"What?" I snap when I pick the call.

"Baby, I'm really sorry. I don't know what came over me, I was so drunk. Please, all I'm asking for is a second chance" he pleads.

"Listen Jack, I don't care about whether you were drunk or not, what is done is done, you can't take it back" I repeat what I've been telling him repeatedly for two weeks now.

"I know I don't deserve this but please give me one last chance" he begs again.

"Don't you get it, I've given you more chances than anyone deserves and yet you mess up every time. How do I know you won't repeat this when next you are drunk? I think we're better off apart" I say then hang up.

Why can't he just leave me alone once and for all?

This time I'm so determined not to take him back. I won't fall for all his sweet words anymore.

The taxi finally reaches my apartment and I go inside and then go to my desk and tick out The Stone Empire from the long list of companies I've applied to. I'm running out of options fast.

Will I have to later settle for a low-paying job after working hard in college to graduate with a first class?

My dream of building my own company now seems more far fetched than ever.

The day passes by in a blur and in the evening when i'm preparing to go to the gym I just registered myself into, my phone rings.

It's an unknown number and I start praying for it to be one of the companies I've applied to calling me with a job offer.

"Miss. Griffin?" A lady's voice says from the other end.

"Yes?" I answer eagerly.

"This is Mrs. White from The Stone Empire's headquarters. I believe you came in for an interview today?" She pauses for my response.

"Yes, yes I did" I answer quickly anticipating and dreading her next words.

"You have been offered a job as the personal assistant to Mr. Stone. You're expected to resume tomorrow" she says curtly.

"Really? Oh my God! Thank you so much! I'll work really hard" I squeal out before clearing my throat and trying to not sound like a teenager talking about boys "I mean, thank you, I'll be there"

She chuckles softly "It's okay to be excited and welcome to the team. Be here by eight 'o' clock tomorrow morning. A little advice from me, don't be late not even by one minute, Mr. Stone hates tardiness" she says and I jot that down mentally.

"Thank you Mrs. White" I say beaming and she replies before hanging up.

When I drop my phone, I do a little celebratory dance before going to my closet and picking out my outfit for tomorrow.



I can't wait for tomorrow.

**************************

*Hunter's POV*

"Hunter! Hunter!! Hunter!!! Why did you leave me? You let him take me"

"You let me down Hunter"

"I thought you loved me"

"I thought we were meant to be together forever"

"Now i'm dead because of you"

Daisy's voice keeps echoing around the empty room I'm standing, her words taunting me. I try to block it out but it only gets louder. I can't take this anymore....

I spring up from my bed sweating. It was only a nightmare. It's been a while since I've had this kind of nightmare. I bury my face in my hands and will myself not to let any tears fall. I didn't cry when she died, why should I cry now?

She's not dead, she can't be dead. I will keep searching for her until I take my last breath.

I stand up from my bed and get ready to go to the office. When I get to the office, I go up straight to my office door. I pause when I notice the light of the assistant's office was on.

No one can be around at this time, I  always come in about 1 hour before everyone. I walk forward and when I enter through the door that leads to the assistant's and I's offices, I see Miss. Griffin humming and arranging her table.

Why exactly did I hire her?

Am I being the biggest masochist on earth by having someone so alike to Daisy so close and yet so far?

Her similarity to Daisy is making my heart hurt.

I move forward to make her aware of my presence but just as I'm about to call her name, she steps back to admire what she was doing and collides into me.

She turns around and I drop my briefcase and immediately hold her to steady her. She blinks rapidly in shock and her mouth opens to form words but she closes it again.

I run my eyes down her profile and I feel my body react to her beauty. My eyes linger on her red lips for a few seconds too long before moving back to her blue eyes.

Daisy liked red lipstick.

My eyes trail back to her lips and I gulp to tamp down the temptation to kiss them and see if they'd feel like Daisy's. She bites her lips and I grit my teeth in frustration.

Why does she look so much like Daisy?

I'm definitely going to fire her.

Her hands which I didn't realize were resting on my chest curl and for a moment, I forget this isn't Daisy and move my thumb along her plump red lips. I want to kiss them so badly. I've missed her so much.

Sanity flows in the next second and I give myself a reality check reminding myself that she's not Daisy.

Fuck, what am I doing?

Esmeralda's POV

A breathy sigh escapes my mouth at his gentle touch and I unconsciously lean my face forward and close my eyes. His gentle hands disappear a second later and my body mourns the loss of his warmth.

What am I saying? This is not me. Why am I acting like this? He's my boss for God's sake!

He obviously thinks I'm someone else, which I'm definitely not but why am I not protesting for him to not touch me?

I just broke up with Jack so I can't say it's because i'm starved of affection.

I open my eyes and look up to see his face revealing nothing.

"Good morning Miss. Griffin" He picks up his briefcase and turns to go into his office.

I nod shakily because I'm pretty sure I won't be able to form words if I open my mouth.

Is this how every day will be like?

Immediately his door closes, I collapse in my chair then take a deep breath.

Who is this Daisy? Why is he mistaking me for her? And why am I liking his touch?

I shake my head, I seriously can't be thinking about this right now. I have a new job and it's something I need to focus on. To prove people like Jack wrong.

Fifteen minutes later, Mrs. White comes in to show me the ropes and show me around. I spend the rest of the morning doing that. There really isn't anything much to do today, tomorrow is the day I start the real work.

Now there is only one thing I need to do before the end of the day and that is to prepare Mr. Stone's schedule for the month. The hard part is that, I have to do it with him.

I pick up my notepad and pen then move to his door. I hesitate before knocking, and when I finally do, there is no response. I knock again and again but still no response and before my brain can tell me that this is a bad idea, I open the door and go inside. I mean he could be injured or something....

Shut up Esme, you just want to snoop around his office, don't make excuses.

I'm really starting to hate my subconscious voice. The door closes after me and I walk forward slowly.

"Mr. Stone?" I call out since there is no one in his office and I didn't see him go out unless he had already gone out when Mrs. White was showing me around. But why would he leave his office unlocked?

I really should get out of here now. I turn to go back outside when something catches my attention through my peripheral vision. My curiosity gets the best of me and I approach the picture hanging on the wall almost sacredly. It looked out of place in a office this fancy.

Get out of here! Now!

I don't listen to the sane voice in my head and I finally get close enough to see the picture properly. I gasp when I see the people in the picture.

It's a picture of me well a girl exactly like me and a younger version of Mr. Stone. He was holding her waist from the behind while he rested his head on her shoulder. The girl was wearing a baseball cap bigger than her head probably for Mr. Stone. She was smiling really wide in the picture and Mr. Stone was smiling at her instead of looking at the camera.

My hands unconsciously reach forward and remove the picture frame from the wall. I keep staring at the picture in wonderment. Why do I find this picture so fascinating? Jack and I have many pictures like this and I don't stare at them like a loon.

A sudden migraine hits me and my head feels like it's spinning for a second. My brain goes haywire again and random things start popping up. Things like the sound of my laughter, a guy's laughter and the flash of a camera.

I make a move to return the picture. I suddenly don't feel so good.

"What the fuck are you doing with that picture?" A very deep and extremely pissed voice asks coolly from behind me and I drop the picture in shock.

The glass frame shatters and all I can do is watch it scatter all over the floor.. I turn slowly to face a really angry Mr. Stone. His eyes are trained on the picture lying on the ground. His fists are clenched tightly and I gulp in fear.

I hurriedly pick up the remainder of the picture and try to clean it with my blouse.

"I'm so s-s-sorry Mr. Stone, I didn't mean to d-drop it" I stammer out.

"What. The. Fuck. are. You. doing in. My. Damn. Office?" He asks his voice deeper than usual hinting at the fact that I'm as good as dead.

"I'm really sorry Mr. Stone" I say my voice shaking. I start backing away when he starts walking forward. He looks lethal.

I feel my back hit the wall after a few more backward steps and I really start panicking. He keeps walking towards me until he enters my personal space. I hold the picture frame to my chest as if it can protect me.

He snatches the picture from me and a tiny glass remaining on the frame tears through one of my fingers. I'm too afraid to feel the pain though.

"Don't you ever come into this office when I'm not there and don't you ever think about touching anything in here. You're here to work and reluctance to do what you're meant to do means you lose this job, got it?" He asks lowly and I nod my head hastily.

"Now GET OUT!" He yells and I jump in fear almost in tears.

I run outside his office before he decides to punish me for what I did by firing me and rush to the ladies room. I try to compose myself but I can't stop shaking.

Why did I go snooping around his office?

I notice my finger has started to bleed and I rinse the blood out. It stings and I grit my teeth. I've always had very low physical pain tolerance.

I finally calm down and go back to knock on his office door. As much as I don't want to go back in there, I have a job to do or else I'll get fired.

He asks me to come in and I open the door as hesitantly as I can to delay seeing him. When the door opens wide, I walk in just as his phone rings.

He picks it up and I keep standing there fiddling with my fingers.

"What?" He yells looking shocked.

"You've found her?" He asks again standing up and picking up his keys.

"Wait right there, I'm on my way" He starts to walk towards his office door and I hurriedly move out.

I don't want to be alone in his office ever again.

"Call Mr. Heart right now. I'll be there soon" he says before hanging up and rushing out of the office.

Why is he so shocked?

Who is the person that was found?

And why does the name Mr Heart sound so familiar?

Hunter's POV

I can't believe this. After all these years, I'm going to see her again. She really isn't dead.

I pull up outside the restaurant where I'm meeting with the private investigator and Mr Heart. I hope Mr. Heart is feeling alright this week. He took the news of Daisy's death very hard and he has heart conditions.

As I enter the restaurant, the waitress recognises me and points me to the table where Mike the private investigator was sitting. I walk towards the table and as I take my seat, my father and Mr Heart arrive.

We all wait for Mike to speak and I feel my patience running out when he doesn't say anything.

"Where is she?" I ask impatiently.

"The thing is I haven't really found her..." I spring up from my seat in anger before he can complete the sentence.

"But I finally have a lead. This is better than the fruitless clues we've been having for years" he pauses so we can process his words and I sit down again.

I nod at him to continue talking and he does.

"As we all know, her dead body was never found. Only blood and her belongings. Last week, a twelve year old boy named Bastien Griffin posted a picture of him and a girl that look exactly like Daisy. He took it down the second day when someone commented that his sister looks like the dead heiress and he deleted the account. Now my point is, this might actually be Daisy or else why would he delete the account? I've had my team trace his internet actions and they've gathered that the family stays in this city. The girl in the picture is actually the young boy's sister Esmeralda Griffin....."

"Esmeralda Griffin?" I ask shocked.

"Yes, your new assistant is the girl in the picture but I have no proof that she is Daisy" Mike says but I'm too shocked to even reply.

But Esmeralda can't be Daisy...

Why would she act like she doesn't know me if she was Daisy?

"She can't be Daisy. She doesn't even recognize me" I state.

"Yes and that is where it gets confusing. Her family have her birth certificate and pictures of her growing up with them. On one hand, I think it's Daisy because the similarity is too much to be a coincidence and there is no trace of Miss. Griffin on the internet or any social media but on the other hand, I think she's just a look-alike because of the proof her family has" Mike answers.

Mr. Heart's face falls and I feel more sad because I could have prevented all this if only I stayed with her that day.

"I'll carry on with the investigations and see what more I can find. When I do get something useful, I'll call you" he says and we all stand up and exchange hand shakes.

I hit my steering wheel in frustration as soon as I enter my car. This happens every damn time. I get my hopes up every time Mike calls only to be let down. But what if Esmeralda is Daisy?

No, that can't be? There is no way she can pretend not to know me. No one can be so good an actress.

There is only one way to know.

Daisy has a birthmark on her back, if I can just be able to check it without looking like a pervert.

An idea pops up and I drive to the office with determination. When I enter her office which leads to my office, I see her typing away on the computer while wearing cute little glasses.

When she notices my presence, she gets startled. Another thing I've noticed about her, she gets scared easily or maybe she's still scared because I yelled at her earlier.

"M-Mr. Stone, uh.." She fumbles for words.

"We have a charity gala tomorrow night and I always take my assistants as my plus ones so be ready by eight 'o' clock in the evening tomorrow. And don't worry about your outfit, it's on the company" I say and then walk into my office not waiting for her response.

As I enter my office, I dial Lily's number.

"Hunter! Wow, you called today. What favour do you need?"

"Can't I just call you because I want to see how my little sister is doing?" I ask.

"I know you and because of that, the answer is no" she answers.

"Fine, I need you to send in one of your latest designs. One that is classy and backless. And when I say backless, I mean it displays the entire back" I say.

"That order is a little strange coming from you. So you wear dresses now?" She asks.

"Don't be a smart-ass, I need it delivered in a few hours. And send the bill with it" I state.

"Consider it a gift. I'll have Festus bring it to the headquarters" she says.

I respond before hanging up.

I then sit down and run my hand through my hair. If this goes well, I'll be able to check if she really is Daisy.

A knock sounds on my door and I tell the person to come in.

Esmeralda walks in looking absolutely gorgeous and really uncomfortable. I make no move to make her comfortable. I keep staring and she keeps fidgeting looking everywhere but my direction.

"Take a seat" I say gesturing to one of the seats in front of the desk.

She settles down and opens her notepad.

"Sorry to bother you Mr. Stone but we have to prepare your schedule for the month" she speaks up her voice sounding firmer than I expected.

She finally looks at me her face determined. The part of me that enjoyed making her fidget grows more and more.

I nod and we start. She's actually not doing a bad job on her first day. We work on my schedule for thirty minutes. After we're finish, I give her a list of people to send some emails to and some people to call.

By now, she seems so professional and the part that loves making her nervous is now as big as a planet.

I stand up from my chair and move around the desk towards her seat. I sit directly in front of her and she leans so far into the seat as if she wants to enter into it. The evil part of me can't resist smirking and leaning after her.

Her face still remains professional and I take it a bit further by caging her into her chair and leaning further.

"Do I make you uncomfortable?" I ask already knowing the answer.

"No" she answers stubbornly. Daisy was stubborn too.

"Really?" I question leaning so close my nose was practically touching hers.

She blinks rapidly and I feel myself get caught in my own trap by getting mesmerized by her eyes. The smirk slowly falls from my face as my eyes devour her features. Fuck, it should be a crime to look this beautiful and be this adorable.

"No, you don't" she insists.

As if enraptured in a spell, I can't resist getting closer and pecking the corner of her mouth. I do it again and when that doesn't seem enough, I throw all caution to the wind and decide to go in for the kill and kiss her. I mean what would it hurt?  Just as I'm about to do just that, she says something that halts me.......

"Hunter, what are you doing?" She breathes out.

Hunter?

My first name.

Nobody ever calls me that except my family since I've graduated high school. Most recent newspapers and magazines only ever write Mr. Stone. No one in the business world knows my first name.

How did she know my first name unless......