The next day...

"Charla will direct you to your chair and acquaint you with the office." Saying those words Charles pinged and immediately there was a knock at the door. "Sir, you called me?" A gray-haired woman in a stiff business skirt and a shirt came inside. "Yeah Charla, meet Aliza. She is my new secretary cum personal assistant and Aliza is Charla, the head of the personnel department. Charla please acquaint her with the office and show her the desk. "As you say, sir...." Charla nodded and Aliza followed her out.

Aliza looked around in awe at her new office room. The walls were painted in a gray and cream delightful combination. To one of the walls was a huge glass window where she could record the busy city life of people. In the center was a huge African wood desk with a high profile comfortable chair attached. Aliza could never dream she would one day be an employee of a well-to-do concern like Richmond Industries.

On the center of the desk was an Apple Laptop placed. Aliza's eyes went wide in amazement. Charla who was standing beside her patted her shoulder in cheerfulness. "Here is your new Apple mobile. The CEO's number is already fed in this and the others you can add depending on your choice." She handed her a brand new smooth mobile carton. Aliza's eyes glittered in happiness and choked on her speech as she thanked Charla. Using an Apple laptop and mobile was incomprehensible for a middle-class girl like her.

Later Charla introduced Aliza to the staff, the cafeteria, and the coffee machine where she had to make coffee every day for Charles.

****

Tomorrow night is going to be a huge drug business deal. Charles returned from his office early to Sarte - the club he owned and where most of his cocaine trades are done. No sooner than he entered the bar, the bartender bowed to him and forwarded Charles his usual drink. A scantily dressed dancer with glitter all over her body and breasts bulging out walked to Charles. "Good Evening boss, you called me?" She asked him politely.

Charles nodded after sipping the contents of the Bourbon in his glass and spoke. "Tomorrow we are going to have a huge trade of Coke Laila. Tell the dancers to be ready. Nobody will be forced into sex against their will and I take responsibility for it." His eyes were serious and sharp looking straight at Laila. "You and your colleagues will be paid double what you are paid for doing overtime tomorrow and the next day all of you can take a day off. The only thing I want to be sure of is that you and your team should be efficient in diverting the cops from this covenant."

"You are the most liberal paymaster I have come across in my career sir. We are always pleased to do the extra work because you amply fill our pockets. I will keep my team ready." Laila answered professionally and bowed to Charles before taking her to leave. Lighting a cigarette Charles dialed his sister's number. "Hello Princess, how is college?" He spoke cheerfully to Edith. With the information, his sister delivered he wasn't happy. Edith had joined her college late and was denied hostel admission because the rooms were full.

His innocent sister was obsessed with a manipulative rogue and the Rodriguez family couldn't risk her staying outside the college hostel. "Wait, do not call dad yet. You are still on the college campus. Am I right? Do not leave the campus until I call you again. It is late at night and unsafe for you to go out." Charles ruled on Edith and dialed the next most warranted number - the Dean of New York University. "Thank you very much, Mr. Mandela. My sister will join her classes this Monday." Charles spoke crisply and disconnected the call.

He then called his best friend Allesandro. "Hey man, how are you?" Charles asked his friend, nipping the ash of his cigarette in the ashtray. "I have a request for you about my sister. Edith lost her hostel accommodation because of joining late. I want you to accommodate her in your home so that she will stay safe away from that wolf and also complete her education. I have already spoken to the Dean of New York University and she can continue her graduation there without a problem." Charles took a sip of his drink and chatted for a few more minutes with his best friend. Later cutting the call he exhaled a huge sigh. Edith's matter is settled.

****

That night after she returned home Aliza was on top of the world. Her Uncle and Stella were going to an anniversary party of one of her friends. Andrew left for his friend's place and would stay for the night. Aliza took a relaxed bath and put on her old but comfortable nightwear. After she gets her first-month salary she plans to buy a few dresses and official wear for the office but till then she has to adjust with the little she has.

She made some beef sandwiches and steamy chicken soup to go by and sat for dinner. After long years of waiting Aliza was finally bestowed with something cheerful to happen in her life and she cannot stop but is tickled pink. Relaxing on the sofa with her dinner plate in her lap Aliza put on her favorite movie on Netflix and started to watch it.

Not even half an hour has passed. It was nine at night when the doorbell rang. Aliza wondered who was at the doorstep. Her uncle and aunt wouldn't return this early from the party and Andrew wasn't expected before tomorrow morning. Perplexed, she went to the entrance and stared through the peephole and the air blocked her throat, peeping at the person on the other side.

Bolting the chain Aliza half opened the door and spoke through the gap. "Hello Fredrick, aunt Stella, and Uncle Nelson had gone to her friend's anniversary party. You can come and meet them tomorrow." She answered Fredrick Stella's brother in an anxious voice. "Do not play stupid games with me. Did I tell you that I came to visit Stella? I'm here to meet you. Fucking open the door now, I am dying here in cold." He snarled.

Aliza plastered a fake smile and opened the door in trepidation. Fredrick wobbled through the entrance entering inside. His shirt was half tucked and his huge stomach was bulging out from his low-tucked pants. A smell of cheap alcohol was leaking out from him. "Get me a bottle of soda." He commanded Aliza after taking a glass from the crockery shelf.

Sitting on the sofa of the front hall he poured himself a drink and some more in another glass. "Fredrick, you are already drunk. Please stop drinking and relax in bed." Aliza told him in a shiver gathering her last bit of courage. "Did I ask for your advice?" He roared at Aliza in anger. With quivering hands, Aliza placed the bottle of soda on the table.

"Come on, give me company." Fredrick extended the glass to Aliza. "I just had my dinner. I'm full." Aliza told him in begging orbs. "I did not ask about your interest. I told you to drink." Aliza took the glass in her cold hands. She was sweating profusely even in the coldest month of winter. Creating as much distance between them as she sat on a single chair and took the glass.

"So it is true that you're over the moon grabbing a job at Richmond Industries. That sexy hunk, Charles Rodriguez... I heard the worst things about him. He is a playboy and a manwhore. Stay away from him as much as possible." Then what are you, a saint who worships women? Aliza wanted to ask but she controlled her bursting instincts. "Do not build hopes that you would work too long with him. Within the next six months, we are getting married and you will resign from that job. Is it clear?" He roared, cleaning the glass of its contents in one swoop.

"Yes...." Fredrick opened the chips packet he brought with him and munched on them. "I did not hear you." Aliza gulped heavily. "Yes..yes Fredrick. I will resign from the job as soon as we are married." She restlessly played with her fingers answering him. He immediately bent forward and slapped his hand on the table shaking the articles on it. "Damn it! It is not after marriage, it is before marriage." He stressed the last two words. "Okay....okay as you please Fredrick." Aliza's face went pale with discomfort.

"Now come on, give me a kiss." He waved his fingers like calling a dog and patted his lap. "I wish..." Aliza choked in her voice. "I wish kisses and hugs are after marriage Fredrick." The next moment he was in front of her pulling her hair. "You whore, you keep whoring around with that sexy hunk CEO and you thought I will keep my hands folded? Come on, kiss me, otherwise, I will make you resign from that idiotic job tomorrow itself."

"Please no..." Aliza pleaded. Fredrick held her neck so hard that the mark of his fingers could be seen. He pushed her to the wall and Aliza hit her head. An instant bruise formed on her forehead. He forcefully kissed Aliza and bit her lip when she did not open her mouth for him. Blood began to ooze out of her rims. He hastily opened the first two buttons of Aliza's top before squeezing her breast and giving her a hickey on her throat.

"No amount of concealer will help you with those marks." Fredrick gives a sadistic smile. "Now everyone in your office will see you as mine, including that handsome hero." A disgusting look involuntarily crossed Aliza's features. "Do not dare to give me that look." He threatened. "You hate me. Isn't it right, and now you're going to bear the fruit of it? He lifted her and walked to the bedroom. "Leave me...leave me please," Aliza begged.

"Next time you disobey me, you are surely going to be fucked. Give me what I want and you will live happily. Kiss me now. Otherwise, I'm going to rape you right here." Aliza raised her head and gave a trembling kiss to Fredrick. "That was simply amazing." He remarked.

Little did Aliza know that was a blunder she made.

Saying those dangerous words Fredrick pounced on Aliza like a hungry lion. "Please leave" Aliza tried to push Fredrick but he was too strong for Aliza even in his drunken state. Suddenly something stuck inside her head and she raised her knee. Aliza kicked Fredrick into a place where the sun doesn't shine.

Fredrick roared in pain holding his crotch and fell to the ground cursing her. Aliza realized that it was the only moment of her escape. She ran for her life, ran to save her virginity against the philanderer. Aliza was a woman with strong moral values. She did not believe in sex before marriage and hated involvement with a sex pervert. She wanted to save her virginity to the man she marries but would such a day arise in her life a million dollars questions?

After running up to a safe distance when Aliza made a note that Fredrick wasn't following her she breathed an air of relief. It was then she realized how cold it was. Dread passed through her system. She was dressed in feeble clothes that hardly could protect her from the severe winter. She was penniless with not even a phone to contact somebody for help. Aliza looked around the place she was standing. She was not acquainted with the area.

The road was completely dark with not even a ray of light except the light of the moon shining bright in the night sky. She closed her eyes tight in trembling because of the severity of the cold. Gathering her arms around her chest she looked forward and found a small light gleaming at a distance. She sprinted towards the light clutching her arms tight around her breasts. It was a small garage that was closed.

A gray-haired man walked towards her and asked kindly. "How may I help you?" Before she could answer he looked at the trembling form of Aliza and offered her a blanket from the cot he was sleeping hitherto. "Thank you very much," Aliza told him gratefully. "Do you mind if I make a phone call from here?" She asked him beholden. "Of course young miss....." The old man spoke with generosity and handed her his mobile.

Aliza took the phone from the old man. Maybe it was God's grace on her just this morning she had fed Charla's phone number in her contacts list. Though she did not have her phone with her she remembered her number very well because it was a fancy number. Within ten minutes a Chevrolet Spark stopped in front of her and outwalked Charla in her nightwear. "What happened dear? How could you get stuck in this garage too when you do not have a car? She asked her in a surprise-filled with concern.

Aliza thanked the Gray-haired garage owner and returned his blanket. She stepped into Charla's car and recited to her the complete incident that happened an hour ago. Charla pitied Aliza for her helpless state. She received her warm chocolate milk and offered her shelter for the night. Aliza could spend the night with Charla but the thought of returning to her uncle's home haunted her every second. How severe would be Stella's outburst on her when she hears the news about her running away from Fredrick?

Aliza knew her uncle could not protect her in the matter and her aunt is a witch. Blood ran cold in her nerves as she thought about the jeopardizing situation she was in. The next morning Aliza got up at Charla's home with swollen red eyes as she could not sleep the night. The hickey Fredrick awarded her on the neck turned purplish and was too dark to be hidden by the concealer. His finger marks rested on her cheeks, throat, and everywhere on her hands.

Unless she told that someone had abused her she looked beautifully fucked just as how Fredrick wanted people to think about her. With the disdainful thought, Aliza hated her skin. She scrubbed herself repeatedly in disgust till her skin turned red. With the cold night and the abuse, she had suffered from the man whose body was burning with temperature. But could she afford a leave? She was only a probation employee at Richmond Industries.

****

Going to the coffee maker Aliza made a steaming cup of coffee with a smiley design on the top. Aliza learned to make several designs on chocolate milk and coffee for Andrew. When he was small Andrew was a cribbing kid and drank milk only when the delightful shapes were made. Aliza wished to make her boss happy like Andrew every day with a novel design. After all the years that she is born, if there is anything happy that went on in her life, is to secure a job in Richmond Industries and she will try her best to retain it for several more years even after her probation.

Making a knock at the door Aliza waited for the deep 'come in' to be heard. As soon as she heard the permission she stepped into the CEO's office with the coffee mug. She places the mug on the desk with its lid and waits for her boss's instruction. Charles doesn't even spare a glance at Aliza and she was glad that he did not see her designer face. "There is a green file in the bottom drawer of the bookshelf beside." He pointed to the shelf typing on his laptop. "Write a notice letter to Shaw & Co after taking the details from the file. They haven't paid us for our supplies to date." He started and suddenly looked up.

His eyes went wide for just a hairline and his gaze was pointed at her for a minuscule second. Aliza's heart missed a beat fearing the reaction from her boss. Charles stopped the work he was doing and guarded Aliza with his fingers knotted to each other. Aliza felt agitated under her boss's influencing aura. Everything he did holds poise, a grandeur that marks his power. He leaned back on his chair with his right leg resting on the knee of the other.

"Ms. Stelwart..." He spoke sophisticatedly but in command. "Once you are outside the office premises, what you do is none of my concern but being an employee of my company and my secretary I do not want my business counterparts to see you as a 'ready to be fucked' doll." Charles switches off the air-conditioning and opens the window of his room with a remote. "I know I am too blatant but I want this to be my last warning." He lights a cigarette and puffs out smoke. "Your look shouldn't affect the reputation of my company." He pointed to her rudely with his eyes. "I do not want my business colleagues to think that I hired a whore." The sight of Aliza's red face with marks settled an unfathomable anger inside Charles.

All the candidates who came for the interview were more qualified and experienced than Aliza but she was the only woman who was covered in clothes from top to toe. Charles held an unknown respect for her and that was the exact point on why he hired her though she was underage with zero experience looks could often be deceptive. And Charles realized it too late. "Next time you sleep with someone let those marks be concealed or let them be in places only your boyfriend or husband could see. Otherwise, it gives a cheap look." He stressed the word 'cheap' with disgust.

Aliza couldn't control her tears anymore. "I'm sorry sir, I will be more careful further." She replied and raced away from the CEO's room with water flowing from her eyes in rivulets but Charles cared two hoots with what he said.

Returning home Aliza had to face the worst action from her aunt. Stella rebuked her and beat her black and blue for denying her brother. Her uncle who was standing beside and watching the show had no words to say except the cut of a sorry look. Andrew who tried to oppose was pushed away by her aunt as she landed beatings one after another on Aliza.

****

"Thank you, Mr. Charles Rodriguez, I and my team had a warm welcome at the airport from your staff and this is the best deal we had ever done." Mr. Vangchew shook hands with Charles at Sarte, the club where the cocaine deal was made.

Suddenly they heard a yelp followed by a disturbance. Charles looked doubtful at the people around when his sight fell on a man trying to force on one of the bar dancers. Charles immediately walked to the spot. "If the girl is willing, there is nothing wrong in having an enjoyment but if she doesn't want to bed you, remember there is a protection stapled behind all the girls that are working here and that shield is me." Charles declared. "You have to cross me before you reach the girl." Charles pointed to himself.

The Chinese delegate was about to hit Charles but he stopped him in a mid-way with the obstruction of his arm. He then punched him in the belly and landed a blow on his face. The Chinese man vomited blood and fell unconscious. "Respect a woman and never dare to touch her against her will. Otherwise, she can be at your peril." He declared aloud to every man in the bar and walked out of the place.

Charles reached his office and lighted a cigarette. The bikini-clad and glitter-covered bar dancer fell on her knees near the feet of her boss. "Sir I'm indebted to you. Just because of me, an ordinary bar dancer, you have lost one hundred fifty million worth of deals. I do not know how I can return your favor." Charles helps the woman to stand on her feet. "What is your name?" He asks her in gentleness.

"Sir I am Julia. I have been working in your bar as a bar dancer for the last three years." Charles nods and signals one of the dancers assembled to bring Julia a glass of water. "I do not tolerate discourteous behavior towards women. That scoundrel misbehaved with you and he got the fruit of his actions." Julia spoke while her eyes were directed to the floor. "Sir, you lost your deal because of me." Charles patted her shoulder with a smile. "Money is not more important to me than the dignity of a woman." Julia looked at Charles with an admiration filled with surprise.

"Sir, I'm very fortunate to have been able to work in your club." All the other women assembled supported her and there was unanimous applause.

Six months later

Every day Aliza was abused by her aunt and her sickened brother Fredrick for going uncooperative with him. Aliza desperately needed an outlet but her aunt was a very powerful witch, she would drag her out to suffer more even from the threshold of hell.

With the days passing Aliza became immune to her aunt's beating until the day she announced the most fateful day of her life, her engagement with Fredrick

Aliza's engagement was fixed within ten days and as agreed earlier she was to submit her resignation to Richmond Industries. Aliza feared the black eye of her boss. She was to pay 20 million to the firm in compensation if she resigns from the job before the bond period. Working in such a reputed company with a huge salary was a dream come true for Aliza. If it was on her she wouldn't think of resigning from the job even in her bleakest period. 

Her boss Mr. Charles Rodriguez was a gentleman and very professional. Despite the backlash she faces every day in her home from her aunt, Fredrick going to work was a breath of fresh air for Aliza. For the past six months Aliza was careful or to be more apt lucky that Fredrick or Stella did not attempt to design her face or open areas of her body with their marks.

****

It was five in the morning. Charles heard the ring of his alarm clock and pushed away the comforter. His perfectly shaped long feet kissed the carpeted floor as he walked to the window inhaling the fresh morning air of nature. The sky was still dark but there were traces of light. The chirping of birds could be heard from the casement that had the picturesque view of his five acres of garden around his opulent bungalow.

The flowers were slowly blooming, enthralling his room with their magnificent fragrance. Looking outside Charles could see a cuckoo in one of the trees singing as though welcoming him for a new morning. Just as he was about to reach the washroom Charles could see his telephone ring.

Gazing at the caller-ID a pleasant smile adorned his features. "Good Morning Mama..." Charles greeted his mother and received a cheerful voice from the other end. "Wish you a very happy birthday my baby, may you live long with so many years of health, prosperity, and happiness." Charles chuckles and thanks his mother before he could hear some kind of shuffling in the background. Immediately his father's voice came to be heard. "Hello son, wish you a very happy birthday. Are you coming home today?" Allen asked him in eagerness.

"Thanks, dad..." Charles wondered at the sudden change in his dad's behavior. Earlier it was always his mother who asked this question to him. "Dad, I have no plans for now. I'm very busy but I will try." Charles declined his father's offer courteously after a sigh running his fingers through his thick black hair. Soon there were calls from his sister and brother wishing him a happy birthday.

Charles wasn't a very social person. He hated parties and always made plans to avoid them. During all his twenty-six years of life, he doesn't remember when he had his last birthday celebration. Oftentimes he forgot his birthdays while busy with work. His siblings and friends including other family members called him boring and a party pooper but that is what he was and he doesn't wish to change himself for the worse. Charles knew if he gave a hint to his mother she would plan a huge get-together with a lot of pomp and show.

Just as he disconnected the call of his younger brother he could see a call from one of his men popping on his phone screen. Charles contemplated looking at the caller id. His men never call him outside working hours and if they were ringing him at such an odd time, obviously the matter is understood to be serious.

"Yes Benjamin, what's the matter, you are calling me this early?" Charles immediately picked up the call on the second ring. There was a power and control in his voice which he often used against his men to keep them under check. The Mafia had stamped him cold-hearted and insensitive but that's how the system works. Though wasn't bad at heart he became ruthless, hard, and callous claiming thousands of lives. Within a leap of an eye and not a hitch in his heart, he took away the blood of thousands of people but there was always a reason behind it. He isn't inhuman like he is often marked but always had to wear the cover of a demon to conquer the deleterious and grant justice to the sinless.

"Sir, Ricky was caught in the wee hours of this morning by our men stealing dope from our godowns and exporting it to the African harbors." Charles tightened his fists with eyes emitting fire. "Where is he now?" He growled in an untamed ire. "Sir since he was resisting our men he was given an injection of Morphine and is now lying unconscious tied with ropes in our underground cell."

"Good," Charles remarked. "I will be reaching there in twenty." At the speed of a flight, Charles drove to his underground torture cell on the outskirts of the city where he taught the delinquents an irreproachable lesson - a victory of truth over injustice. "How dare you steal from me, Ricky Mendos?" Charles hit Ricky so hard that blood began to ooze out of his lips in the first blow. He punched him in the stomach like a bulldozer and the victim vomited blood. He signaled the man beside him to ready the defibrillators. Continuous shock treatments were given to Ricky. His face became blue and he vibrated with force on every inlet of electricity in his body. "Please award me death." He pleaded feebly. "Oh you are destined to get death but before that, you need to experience what is defying Charles Rodriguez, how dangerous it is to meddle with the merciless mafia leader of the Dark soul gang. You need to suffer the irresistible torture in my hands." He declared with no mercy grinding his teeth.

Charles signaled once again the man operating defibrillators and another jolt of electricity passed into his bloodstream of Ricky. The defaulter couldn't bear it anymore and he died on the spot. "This is what you get when you try to cheat on me. So better be careful before you try to show your smartness." Charles roared to his men assembled in the dark room.

The men bowed their heads, unable to use their words to meet the unbounded fusillade of their boss. "Send the body to his family and inform them that Rickey was punished for his breach of conduct." Lighting up a cigarette Charles spoke in subtle softness. "I do not want his innocent kids and family to suffer the brunt of his sinful actions. Inform them a five million allowance is deposited in the bank and for anything required in future they can surely call me. Give his wife my number and I will always be there to help them." He spoke to one of his right-hand men.

His bodyguards and men gazed at him in untold admiration after experiencing the soft side of their boss. "Sir we will never go disloyal to you and will continue to be your bound workers till our last breath." One of the men spoke standing perked and others joined him in a slogan. Charles simply nodded to them and walked out of the room buttoning up his jacket in powerful long strides like a king after presiding over his subjects.

*****

"Tonight is our engagement followed by a party. Do not try to play your smart games before the public because if you do you are going to face hell from me." Fredrick threatened Aliza and squeezed her breasts. "Wow, they are so soft. I am eager to taste them." He reckoned like an evil wizard staring at Aliza's shapely plums in wantonness.

The party started and everyone at the venue was enjoying their time except Aliza. "Today we assembled here to organize my niece's engagement with my wife's younger brother Fredrick Roger. I wish the pair cherish many long years of happy marital bliss. Cheers to the couple." Nelson remarked, holding out his drink.

Aliza gave a forced smile with tears in her eyes. Nobody knew they weren't tears of happiness except Charla who was present at the engagement as one of the guests.

Today after her engagement Aliza's situation became more perilous. Fredrick drank too much and abused Aliza to no recovery. She asked him for a couple of days to convince her boss and resign from her job. "You bloody bitch you still dare to decline me?" Fredrick snarled at Aliza's face, forcefully brought her into his arms, and kissed her like a monster. Aliza wanted to hide in some corner of the room like a scared kitten but Alas she had no chance to escape the evil eyes of her 'would-be' fiance. "Fredrick please let us do this after marriage." She begged him but Fredrick had no heart. He gave her a treacherous smile and made predatory steps toward her.

Unable to stand his advances Aliza slapped him going foolish and that was the biggest blunder she made. Something sparkled in the eyes of the demon. Fredrick heated the frying pan on the gas stove and plastered it on Aliza's face. "I will wipe away every bit of the courage in you so that next time you wouldn't dare slap me back." He declared monstrous and hit one more time in Aliza's stomach.

"Please do not hit me like that. I am going to be your wife soon, have some mercy upon me." Aliza pleaded but Fredrick did not have the beating organ in his chest. He blew her in the stomach making use of a hockey stick Andrew played with and struck her repeatedly on her knees until she couldn't walk and walked away from the room.

Making soft sobs Aliza dragged herself to the phone in her bedroom and called Charla to help her out of the home for the night. The next morning Aliza did not want to think about what was going to happen to her in the office. She feared the abhorrence of her boss was too small a statement to describe her anxiety.

What will be his reaction when he sees his secretary with abusive marks on her face unable to even walk properly to his room?

Will he retrench her off the job because of her unchanged approach towards work or become the knight in shining armor for her?

Rays of light began to occupy the sky in the early hours of dawn. Aliza grimaced on when the light will arrive in her life or was she ever fated for such happiness? As soon as she placed her legs on the floor a shooting pain bothered her knee. Aliza trembled in ache and slowly walked to the bathroom holding the walls of the room.

She reached into the mirror of the bathroom and looked at her face. Tears flowed endless out of her eyes for the horrible suffering she endured because of her aunt and her monster fiancé. How was she going to face her boss with such a dreadful appearance was the first question that occupied her mind. A round purplish lesion surrounded her eye. The corner of her lips had blood marks because of bruising kisses Fredrick gave her. Red marks of bytes occupied her neck.

Her knees were beaten so badly that she couldn't stop but limp with pain. What was the answer she was going to give her boss if he asked her about the artworks on her face? Will he continue her in the job?  If he retrenches her should she pay the firm the 20 millions as signed in the contract? Where will she get that much money? Last time he found sketches on her face, he called her a slut and severely detested her. That look of his still haunts Aliza till today. She could stand anger in her boss's eyes but she cannot tolerate contempt for her. He called her cheap and stamped her a whore - the horrible name chases her dreams she couldn't recover till date.

Aliza was in a pool of sweat as she thought about the possible scenarios she was to face in her office today. She borrowed a full hand top from Charla so that at least the bruises on her hand couldn't be made a note. She debated to herself about all the possible excuses she could give to her boss if he questioned her on her thrashed features.

Walking to her boss's room after a knock, Aliza placed Charles's coffee mug on the table and was about to leave. Thank heavens he did not see her face Aliza sighed. But her relief was short-lived. "Wait, where is the...." Charles stopped midway in shock looking at the face of Aliza consecutively with a feel of loathe on his face.

Charles wasn't the person who would misbehave or go abrasive towards women. His sophistication and civilization intervenes before he does that to any lady. He decided to settle the dues of Aliza and send her away from the firm without tarnish. She was a black mark to his reputation.  Little did he know about the true character of the woman before employing her? Charles chided to himself. Unlike his previous reproach   Charles did not communicate anything negative or derogatory to Aliza. He simply wanted to get her to resign from the job without besmirch.

"Aliza calls Charla into the office?" He ordered her to type an official mail in his laptop. "Sure sir" Aliza replied, energized. She was on the seventh heaven that her boss either did not notice her bruised features or chose to ignore them. Either way she felt very fortunate and thanked the Almighty for saving her on the day. Within a few days she would heal and become normal. Aliza suddenly became very positive about her thoughts when her boss did not show anger on her.

Charla walked inside Charles's room as soon as she was informed. "Charla drafted a resignation letter for Aliza and took signatures from her. From tomorrow onwards she need not come to the office and you will get back to be my personal assistant cum secretary. I'm terminating the lady from the job because she doesn't have a character. She is a stigma to my eminence and esteem of my company with those provocative dirty marks on her face." Charles concluded with a slight blemish.

According to the orders of her boss Charla couldn't leave the room to do the required work. She stood rooted to the ground twiddling with her fingers. Charles raised his eyes to Charla in command. His orbs owned a suspicious look. "Sir I know I'm in no position to speak this information to you and I very well know I am risking my job in this by supporting Aliza against your decision." Rising from his seat Charles pushed his hands inside his pant pockets and walked in slow raptorial steps towards Charla. His lips were plastered in a thin line intimidating her with his controlling aura. "What do you mean?" He accentuated his dominance. Charles did not like at least bit the old woman's indirect referral.

"Sir please...." Charla made out a bleak request taking steps back "I do not have time for unnecessary drama, Charla. Do not beat around the bush and come to the point directly." Charles told her firm. "Sir Aliza is not a girl without a character. In fact she is fired. All the marks you see on her face are not the results of sexual turn-ins but the blemishes of severe abuse both from her aunt and her fiancé. Aliza desperately needs a powerful someone's help who could bring her out of the clutter and may be some psychological counselling too for the years of oppression, torture she had to suffer.

"What are you saying Charla?" Charles asked her unbelievable and had his eyes on stalks for which Charla nodded keeping her eyes to the floor. "I am sorry sir." She told him rather unheard of cowardice. "Actually Aliza has been an orphan since the age of six. Both her parents passed away in a road accident. Since then she had been raised by her uncle. Her aunt loathes Aliza's presence in her house. As a result she uses her as an all purpose maid. Now she plans to marry her off to her forty five years old brother, a philanderer and an alcoholic. Yesterday was her engagement with the dog and he used her like his punching bag when she decided against sleeping with him."

"Fucking hell" Charles exhaled muttering low to himself. He then looked back at Charla. "Let this information be between you and me." Charla gave a curt nod and spoke gratefully. "Thank you very much for not sacking me sir."

Charles immediately lifts his office intercom and tells his bodyguard. "Yeah Ethan, I'm sending down a girl.  Take her to her home, help her pick her belongings and settle her in the employee quarters attached to my castle. And one more important piece of information..." Charles made an ascending inflection. "You need not hesitate to teach the people in the house a lesson in case of a requisite physical action if they resist the girl from picking up her luggage. Is the matter clear?" He asks Ethan and disconnects the call after he hears a firm 'yes sir'."

Charles instantly called Aliza to his office. Getting up from the seat as soon as she put down the receiver Aliza made a huge prayer to God to let the day pass without a hitch. "Yes Ms Stelwart..." Charles addressed Aliza after she wished him. He deeply observed the walking style of her and gulped down a huge curse. "Ms Stelwart, our business is expanding and I would require the services of my personal assistant outside the working hours too. Calling you to the office at odd hours may be too risky considering you as a girl in her prime age.  As regards to your allowances, you need not hesitate but will be sufficiently compensated along with a rent free accommodation of employee quarters beside my bungalow."

"But sir...I'm engaged, my fiance..." Charles turned a deaf ear to Aliza's frail disagreement and did not leave any clues for further argumentation. "I hope the matter is clear to you, Ms Stelwart. A driver is waiting for you downstairs at the office premises beside a Gray Limousine A193958." He shunned her professional, dismissing her off his room and picked up his receiver to speak to someone on the phone.

Aliza had no choice but to follow her boss's instructions. No sooner had she reached the office parking, a buffy middle aged man greeted her. "Good Morning madam I'm Ethan, your driver for today." Throughout the ride Aliza had been sweating profusely in pensiveness in spite of the air conditioning being too high in the vehicle with the torment she was about to face from Fredrick and the outburst of her aunt.

Ethan observed Aliza from the rear view mirror. He was smart to connect the dots - the cadence in his boss's tone, the bruises marked on Aliza's face and the limp in her leg. An understanding grin flashed his features and also a surety in his heart that the naive girl had been lucky to finally reach the hands of a seraph.

"Uncle Nelson, considering the demands of work in the company my boss had ordered me to shift to employee quarters immediately." Aliza told Nelson anxiously fearing the irate of her aunt and before Nelson could reply Stella reached Aliza. "You bitch you did not tell your boss that you are going to leave the job soon? How dare you.." Stella was about to slap Aliza.

Aliza closed her eyes in fear anticipating a sting on her cheek but the slap never reached her. Opening her eyes she discovered Ethan was holding firm the hand of Stella stopping her from attacking. He twisted her arm and pulled it to her back. Stella screamed in pain but Ethan did not loosen his hold until her arm turned blue with the marks of his fingers. "Keep your hands in your control." He admonished Stella low and menacing. Nelson had a victorious smirk on his features. Finally the thing he couldn't do for years, somebody else had done it for him.

As soon as her arm was released Stella immediately called her brother. Fredrick reached the house within ten minutes at the speed of a rocket and fumed on Aliza while she was packing her last few things. "You filthy whore, how much did that pig grant you to sleep with him?" He raised his hand but Ethan immediately forced him to halt on his actions. He hit him so hard that Fredrick flew in the air and fell on the floor in a bump.

"You will not say one more word against my master. Otherwise I will smash you to pieces." Ethan intimidated Fredrick in a warning and kicked him in the guts. "Young madam, if you finished packing, can we leave now?" He asked Aliza politely. Before Aliza could speak Fredrick interceded. "Wait till my hands reach you, you whore.  You're soon going to take the replies for your actions from me." Ethan passed a disgusting look at Fredrick, picked the luggage of Aliza and walked her to the car.

"Stay happy Liza." Nelson softly patted the head of Aliza in a fatherly affection. Aliza hugged her uncle avoiding the fiercely stares of her aunt. 

As soon as she reached the exit of the house her eyes went wide in astonishment. The person she least expected was standing in front of her.