Chapter 1

Audrey took out the final thing from the box and placed her Paris-winter snow globe on the bedside table neatly as she hummed the tune of Back To Life.

"And I'm bringing you back.. to life.. OOOoooOOhhhhh..."

"And what are you singing now?" Ava discreetly asked as she furrowed her eyebrows. Ava Lee stood tall in her five inch heels adding to her 5'3'' height. Her long sleek black hair tied into a high bun. The pencil skirt and blue satin shirt only accentuate her petite body. Descended from the African and Asian line, amplifies her rowdy personality. She placed the handle bag on Audrey's table still waiting for her reply.

"Shoes off! Shoes are not welcome in my room!" Audrey alarmed.

"Jeez, chill out. It's just shoes girl. Chill!" Ava took off her shoes, casually threw it outside to the living room then she let herself fall onto Audrey's bed while Audrey gave her a sharp stare.

"So what are you up to, what's the box for?" Ava pointed to the empty card box lying on the floor in Audrey's simple and plain bedroom.

"Ohh I just quit." Audrey replied lightly, continued tidying up and gave final touches on her table. Ava waited for her friend to elaborate her statement but Audrey seemed to be uninterested and continued fiddling with the clips on her table before leaving the room with the dejected Ava.

"Wh- You can't just drop a bomb and leave me dying here just like that! I'm basically scalding here. Spill!" Ava pouted watching her friend walked into the kitchen opening the fridge door.

"Well, I finally quit my job today. You know how I can't stand him any longer. Each minute spent in that office is like taking away my precious years of well-being. And you did not see how extra temperamental he was today. Gosh!" She revolted.

"And with Mamie's condition, I just feel that it's the perfect time to start new." She recalled back to her conversations with her grandmother a few days earlier.

Ava watched as Audrey started to slice the chicken breast into smaller pieces, chopping the garlic and tossing the pasta to a boil.

"Yeah, your grandma surely understand you better than yourself and just wants the best for you. I guess she just wants you to finally pursue your dream rather than having to stand that rude, annoying, arrogant yet handsome, good-looking, attractive, fine, charming, perfect boss of yours. Damn, I would melt just at the sight of him." She trailed off without paying much attention to her friend who has dumbfoundedly dropped her jaws.

"Gosh, were you even listening to me every time I told you how rude he was, or how he just seem to enjoy to humiliate others or how he has no tolerance for any mistake at all. He is just condescending, arrogant, rude and.. and pure evil!" She continued to toss her pasta with much exasperation.

"Damn girl, I heard you alright, and I also happen to remember how he's voted as one of the most wanted bachelor of 2019 and 2018! If only I get the chance to meet him! Ugh!"

They continued to bicker while eating the savoury chicken alfredo pasta that Audrey prepared before making amends and went to their separated rooms.

Audrey took a quick shower, changed into her loose tank top and grey shorts then laid herself down on the queen sized bed. Letting her thoughts wonder before drifting to sleep. Reflecting back to the days working as an intern at Loyd's corporation straight after graduation and worked her way up to the Managing Director position in an impressive three years' time. The pressure of being impeccable throughout her whole year of being the Managing Director was due to her demanding and insolent boss. Ever since she was promoted to the Managing Director position last year, she was introduced to the sole successor of the Loyd's corporation, and has been answering to the boss himself, Ethan Loyd. She relished her time working at Loyd's Corporation with her co-workers, employer and other staffs. The only thing that is making her hate her work was the CEO himself. Once, she witnessed how her boss threw the files to the floor because it was the wrong file that was brought by his marketing staff. There was also a time when he demeaned her fellow employer for being incompetent and fired him immediately regardless the many years he had worked for Loyd's Corporation. She felt terrible for Justin as she somehow felt responsible for his dismissal. Her project proposal was chosen over his, while he was discredited and humiliated. Most of the time, she would often stand up to her boss when nobody else even dared to say a word. She cannot comprehend how someone could be so mean to others.

"Excuse me, Mr Loyd, perhaps you don't have to make that poor girl cry." Audrey flared as she saw Anna, the accountant staff cried her way out of the meeting room.

"Well, she should at least understand the job description of an accountant before she even applied to work as one! Such idiot!" He adamantly stated.

"I simply cannot understand how your mind think, sir." She mumbled.

"That is why, I am here and you are there, Miss Bouquet. Now, is there anything else regarding this meeting? If not, all other comments can be kept to yourself." He stood up and started walking out of the meeting room.

Sometimes she wondered how she still had her job until now, and slowly her eyes closed, drifting off to sleep.