" Ms. Taylor would explain to you the rest of the details." I straightened up and opened the presentations , highlighting the important points and explaining every detail. By the end of it, the clients looked satisfied. Ryan too had a proud look on his face. I smiled at him a little.

" Well , we are ready to sign the deal. We really liked the presentation. I must say that Ms. Taylor is a great assistant to you Mr. Lewis." I offered them a polite smile. I had spent days and nights working on this project and I was glad that my hard work was appreciated.

" I beg to differ. I am surprised that she could handle it, most probably one of her firsts." His words rang in the conference room. I felt everyone's eyes one me, the place appearing to be a lot smaller than it was seconds ago. My cheeks heated up with embarrassment, tears pooling in my eyes. I hung my head low, avoiding all the stares .

It must have been a fragment of my wild imagination that he cared when I felt dizzy. He was the same cold hearted man who was ready to throw insults at me and abash me at any possible situation.

As the meeting came to an end and I too started walking out to avoid talking to Evan, knowing that he would do anything to humiliate me.

" Ms. Taylor." He stopped me before I could leave. I turned back but didn't lift my eyes , not wanting him to see the moisture in my eyes.

" I have a lunch meeting at one. I want you to work on our last project and draft out a report before I am back ." I nodded before walking out. I harshly wiped the tears that left my eyes. Before I could walk into my cabin, a voice stopped me.

" Ms. Taylor." The man who stood before me was present in the conference. He was a fairly handsome guy with blonde hair. He looked at my face sympathetically, most probably owing to the incident back there and my fallen face.

" I'm sorry for what happened back in there." I shook my head at him.

" It's not your fault." I hugged the files closer to my chest , calming my breaths.

" But honestly , a beautiful woman like you didn't deserve such harsh words. You really are an excellent assistant." I forced a smile on my face. He was really being nice , just that I wasn't in the mood.

" Thank you for your kind words." He nodded his head.

" You're most welcome. Can I know your name ?" Before I could open my mouth , a familiar voice was heard.

" Mr. Walker, it was a pleasure doing business with you. Is there anything you need help with? My secretary will assist you." He spoke looking straight at him. I was anxious about his words not knowing where and when he was going to attack.

" Well thank you Mr. Lewis. We will meet again." He nodded at Mr. Walker. He fixed his gaze at me. After Mr. Walker was out of sight , he focussed his stare at me.

" Ms. Taylor, I am sure I just gave you work to complete." I gulped at his menacing glare. Nodding I spoke.

" I was just-" I was cut off.

"Let me make something very clear Ms. Taylor, I pay you to work for me , not to flirt with our clients. If you fail to behave professionally then you can gladly see yourself out of this building. " I never felt so embarrassed in my whole life. The whole office was there as the audience when he threw those insults at me.

I dug my nails in my palm and bit my lips to stop them from trembling but I couldn't bring myself to defend . It was useless to argue because this was not because I spoke to our client but because of what happened three years ago. If he wished he could destroy my whole existence in just minutes.

" Do I make myself clear?" I flinched at his loud voice but nevertheless nodded.

" Evan, that's enough." Ryan's voice boomed but I couldn't make out their facial expressions. My vision was completely blurred with tears. Besides I had kept my head down, too embarrassed to find pity in the eyes of my colleagues.

" I don't want anyone in my cabin." Those were Evan's last words before his footsteps died. The whole floor broke into whispers and murmurs. Realising that I just became the latest topic of office gossip, I hurried out of there. Once I was inside my cabin, my control broke. Covering my mouth with the palm of my hand , I silently sobbed. After a few minutes , I composed myself and went back to work else he would get another reason to humiliate me.

…………...

" Come on, it's lunch break. You can't go on skipping your meals." Cora and Austin dragged me out to the canteen. Just on entering, I could feel the glances being thrown at me.

" Don't let them bother you, okay?" I nodded at Austin and sighed.

Getting our orders , we sat down at a table. I was quietly munching on my sandwich while they kept up the conversation.

" Isn't that 'the Braelyn Taylor?' " There stood Stephie with one hand on her hip and a mocking smile on her face. From day one , she strongly disliked me. She had a huge crush on Austin but Austin is not at all interested in her and she thinks that I am the reason that Austin doesn't look at her.

Talia who stood beside her , mirrored her expression. She was one brainless idiot. Her only purpose was to follow her 'best friend' Stephie in whatever she did.

My appetite was lost just by looking at their faces . Putting down my sandwich I wiped my hands.

"Poor girl was really humiliated today." Stephie made a fake sad face. I quickly grabbed Cora's hand that was clenched into a fist because I knew for a reason that she wouldn't hesitate coliding that fist with Stephie's face.

"Wonder why Mr. Lewis blowed up like that on her face! This never happened with anyone else." Talia delivered her well rehearsed lines.

"Oh they all were present in the conference room. Maybe our poor Brae was trying too hard to get into his pants and Mr. Lewis got irritated." Some people whose brains were of the standards of highschool snickered along with them. Just when I thought I couldn't be more degraded, Stephie just made me feel more low.

"Or maybe she behaved the same with Mr. Lewis." Someone added from behind me.

This time I couldn't control myself from crying in public. I had lost whatever self-control I had and the tears rolled down on their own accord.

"Just shut up. How can you speak so I'll about someone? " Cora shouted, trying to save my nearly non-existent respect.

"Oh I bet Mr. Lewis will agree." Stephie's comment encouraged the snickerings and murmurings.

"Is it ? Then why not go to him and ask if he agrees or not?" From the voice, I knew it was Ryan but I didn't dare look up. I was to mortified to look at anyone, scared to find the same disrespect or pity in their eyes.

" Mr. Lewis - uhh - we were just-" Stephie's stuttering was cut off by him.

" Leave ! Right now." The authority in his voice had the full canteen silenced.

Both of them scurried out before Ryan bent down to come to my level.

" Brae." Holding my hands in his, he softly called. I raised my face and looked at him through my tears. He wiped my tears with the pad of his thumb.

" Go home and take some rest." I wanted nothing more than to hear those words but I didn't want to risk my job. Going home without telling him would be the greatest excuse for him to fire me.

" I can't. Evan …" I trailed off.

" He won't fire you. I won't let him." I wanted to run off at that moment and hide myself under my blanket but I still wasn't sure.He saw the uncertainty in my eyes.

" Do you trust me?" Did I ? I couldn't trust anyone easily after that day but Ryan was different. If he still wanted to trust me after everything I did, then why can't I.

" I do." I faintly whispered causing him to smile.

" Then go home." I nodded my head. I needed to.