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.

"Marry her Sandro, we cannot have a better groom for Edith than you. You have known her since her childhood being the best friend of Charles you are affiliated to each of her tantrums." Edith's father Allen Rodriguez insisted. "Man, I always wished you to be my brother-in-law. She is the only princess of our family. Can we trust anyone better for her than you?" Charles asked his best friend Sandro. "She is innocent and we know she behaved like a child in running away. Please excuse her and accept her as your wife." Henry seconded his older brother Charles.

", you are glorifying me too much." Sandro added timorous running a hand in his hair. Allen patted the shoulder of Allesandro. "Son, you deserve it. Please accept her." His aged eyes held a request looking at Sandro. "She had been living with you all this time, no one in this world knows her better than you apart from us." Charles supported his father. He brought Allesandro to a side hug to which Sandro reflected a magnificent smile. "Of course I love her too." He declared finally to everyone in the house and the complete Rodriguez family was caught unawares.  

"Hey three cheers to our princess for getting married." Henry rose for a toast. Soon there was clinking of glasses. Allen hugged Sandro with a proud smile. There was fatherly affection held in his orbs. Arianna followed her husband. "Son" she looked up at Sandro and ran her fingers slowly on his hairy cheeks, her eyes welled tears oozing love. Sandro bent his head and kissed the forehead of Arianna holding her in his arms. "I will always keep her safe mom." He promised her. Charles hugged him and patted the back of Charles. "Welcome to the family, my friend." The drinks were served in a festival of the moment. 

"Unlock the door of the Princess." Allen voiced to one of the servants who was serving snacks along with cocktails. The house of Rodriguez suddenly felt like an abode for celebration. Festive glitter rolled along the walls of the opulent mansion. After all, it was the marriage of the only daughter of Allen Rodriguez, the world famous orthopedic surgeon and underworld leader.

Charles brought his sister into his arms and hugged her. "Stay happy....always." He nods and kisses her forehead. Allen comes to stand beside Edith and runs his hand softly on her hairs in affection. "What is happening?" Edith stared around the members of her family asking them innocently. The room instantly vibrated with everyone's chuckles. "You're getting married, Princess." Allen informed his daughter.

******

Charla?" Aliza asked, stupefied. Charla nodded in happiness and hugged Aliza. "Boss sent me here to help you with the packing." Aliza's admiration for Charles increased substantially for his generosity and concern. "Our boss is a very caring person." She declared to Charla in an emotion filled with tears. "Yes he is!" Charla supported her friend recollecting the discussion she had with Charles about Aliza.

Aliza waved to her uncle after giving him a goodbye kiss on his cheek. Both the friends kept chatting endlessly throughout the ride. Aliza breathed a new lease of life. She felt like a bird released from a cage. Her happiness was boundless and gratitude towards Charles was immeasurable. Aliza's limitless joy was all seen in her glittered eyes.

Half an hour later they reached the premises of Orchard house - the name of the bungalow where the prestigious CEO of Richmond Industries lived. As soon as the Gray limousine arrived the guard opened the gates of the massive estate. Aliza had her jaw open looking at the enormous Terra  and splendid greenery around her.

To the right were huge trees with extended long branches and to the left side were pleasant green pastures with flowers in between of different varieties and colors. Aliza wondered how many acres the bungalow is situated. Words fell short in her dictionary to describe the goofy ambience of United States richest billionaire Charles Rodriguez's house. She was dumb and at the same time infatuated. The pathway to the house was long enough for more than twenty minutes of ride from the entrance gate.

Finally the car stopped in the parking lot where several other latest model cars, sports cars in different colors, were parked in pride. Ethan went inside the bungalow to get the keys for Aliza's accommodation while she and Charla waited outside the limousine. In front of them was situated a marvelous fountain of a lady holding a water pot which poured streams of water on all the four sides. Aliza's eyes were on stalks amazed at the beauty of the habitat.

"Hey ladies, here are the keys." Ethan played a set in his hands. "Follow me behind." He told them enthusiastically.  He opened the locks of four employee quarters one after another to give a choice of selection for Aliza. The first one was in a Gray and white theme - a quarter that looked completely of a male's choice. The second one was pink and blue, too girlish. Aliza did not like the choice of colors. The third one was completely cream - looked bland like an old man's house with no combination and the fourth quarter presented its best for Aliza.

It was a combination of Gray and turquoise color, a small two room set with a kitchen. It has an attached bath, a bedroom and a small sitting room which could accommodate a sofa and a TV. Aliza liked her new home very much, cozy and comfortable away from the abuse of her tyrant fiance and her treacherous aunt. But she did not even get a chance to say her goodbye to her cousin. Aliza misses her uncle and cousin Andrew.

Within two hours of arrival Aliza settled her luggage and styled her new home with the little stuff she had taken the help of her best friend Charla. Beside Aliza's quarter were other staff's residences including the cooks, butler, house maids and the security guards. After helping Aliza Charla left for her home before she prepared a simple meal of spaghetti for both of them.

An hour later of settlement Aliza received a call. A landline intercom was arranged in all employee quarters of Orchard house so that the boss could communicate to his employees whenever required.

"Hello Aliza.." A deep male voice was heard on the phone. Aliza would blatantly recognize the dominant masculine voice that is always filled with control and power in each syllable uttered even in her sleep. "Ye...yes sir...Good morning sir....I mean good evening sir." Aliza stuttered. Damn you girl, why do you keep stuttering in front of him? He is not going to eat you. He is only your boss. Aliza's inner self intervened.

"Good Evening Ms Stelwart, I'm sending a physician to your quarter. I think you had a huge fall because of that limp in your leg but now that you are under my supervision I will take care of it." Charles spoke in a double meaning but Aliza was too naive to know that her boss already had a version of her perilous past. "Yes sir...no sir...I ....I will take care of my leg sir. You need not bother sir" Aliza replied breathless one after another four statements like a military junior answering his commandant.

They heard a sigh on the other side. "Ms Stelwart I do not take orders, I'm sending a doctor to you. You need not pay him anything and give him the truth about the problem you have been suffering." He stressed on the word 'truth'. "And one more thing you need not come to the office for the next two days. Charla will manage." Saying those words Charles cut the call giving no place for a contradiction from Aliza.

Ten minutes later a knock was heard and Aliza opened the door for the doctor. Just as her boss ordered she told the truth to the doctor. It was for the first time in her life that Aliza spoke without hiding anything about her health. Since the age of six she was trained to hide her problems and live with her worries but today after so many years of trouble she felt good days have finally arrived in her life.

She called Andrew, told him how happy she was feeling and spoke to her uncle too in complete smiles. Nelson felt joy hearing his niece so cheerful after decades of torment that she had to face his wife.  In the background Aliza could hear the grunts and curses of her aunt but this time she was not going to spoil her mood thinking about the evil lady. "Shall we have a shopping and weekend lunch together uncle Nelson?"

Fredrick wasn't able to digest his defeat in the hands of Aliza. A girl who even feared his shadow became a cause of his peril. The very thought made the blood run cold in his veins. He wasn't able to move his arms. There was ache in every part of his body. How could she have the courage to quit the house and leave him to suffer?  He felt like a butchered bull and expected Aliza to serve him night and day until he became hale and fit again. But Aliza left him to suffer his own hell and that was the biggest blow to his ego.

Fredrick was seeing red with every passing second. He decided to teach Aliza a lesson and immediately called his sister Stella to discuss his next course of action. Stella wasn't present when he reached Aliza in his brother-in-law's home. On the contrary when he calls her now she is no more active like always. The bodyguard Ethan hadn't left his chance to discipline her either. And the news about his sister's sick state added fuel to the already existing fire in Fredrick's stance. You are over Aliza. Fredrick  to himself.

She took the medicines the doctor gave to her and was about to sleep when Aliza heard her phone ring again. Without seeing the caller-id she picked up the call and spoke groggily. "Hello?"

The words the speaker spoke next made blood drain out of her face.