"What the bloody hell is this?" Aaron yelled throwing the designs on the desk.

"They are the designs you asked for." I replied with confusion.

"This trash is what you are going to show the Duke's grandson tomorrow? I think you do not understand how important this project is, Amelia," he yelled again, his voice getting louder.

"But, what is wrong with them? I think they are good enough." I tried to explain.

"Good enough?" Aaron scoffed, "It is the Duke's family! Do you think good enough is what we are looking for? I specifically mentioned in the email that it is supposed to be a three floor house. Where is the design for the third floor? Also, the designs for the first two floors are ridiculous! They are so plain and unclear. Do I need to explain such basics to you as well? Are you that unprofessional?" he said getting even angrier.

"My professionalism is not a matter of question, Mr. Kingston. I told you it was not possible for me to design something good in two days! But, you said-"

"I know what I said. I asked for a draft but, this is incomplete and extremely vague. It is not even worth calling it a draft. It is absolutely shit." Aaron yelled again.

"Two days is not enough!" I exclaimed.

"Then, you should have worked overtime. I told everyone in the meeting that they will have to work additional hours for this project, didn't I? You could have worked on Saturday if two days weren't enough for you! But, no you had different plans so you decided to procrastinate on your work!" Aaron's voice rose a notch.

"I did no such thing. I would never procrastinate on my work for anything. You know it very well, Mr. Kingston." I was getting angrier by each passing second. I tried my best. I gave him the best designs I could make in such a short period of time. I don't know what more he expected from me. He is an architect himself. He knows how hard it is!

"Redo all of them properly. I want a perfect draft for all the three floors tomorrow before the clients arrive. Work as many hour as you have to. If it is not done correctly and the design is anything less than perfect, consider yourself fired", he ordered and restarted working on this laptop.

"Mr. Kingston, you know it is not possible for me to complete it in one day. I am not even sure what is wrong!" I told him almost yelling. This man is getting on my nerves.

"Then I'd suggest you stop wasting time and get back to work." he said without giving me a glance.

"I know why you are doing this. You want to fire me and this is the chance of the century for you, isn't it? You might already have something ready like you had for Mrs. Brown and you will just reject everything I design irrespective of it being good or bad. That is the plan, isn't it?" I asked frustrated. He did not reply as if he didn't even hear a word I said. I was fucking angry at this point. It is impossible for me to redraw them in one day and he knows it.

"I will not give you the satisfaction of winning."

Even if he already has the backup plan and is adamant on rejecting my designs and firing me, I will work my best. I will redo them with all my strength and throw it on his face. I will draw them so much better that he will feel guilty when he will reject them.

I collected the designs and left his office. When I went outside, the floor was dead silent and everyone was staring at me. It looked like they all heard what happened inside. Some of them were giving me pitiful looks and others were giving curious glance. I just avoided their stares and got back to my desk. Since all of us were working on this highly secret project, our desks have been shifted temporarily to the fourteenth floor. As a result, the setup is pretty random. The guy sitting on my right is from legal department, the woman on my left is from finance and the girl behind me is from the construction department. Luke's desk is right beside the girl from construction.

"What was that?" Luke inquired as I sat down.

"He didn't like the designs and he wants me to redo them." I shrugged.

"All of them?" he asked with raised eyebrows.

"Yup and the deadline is tomorrow. I am dead." I sighed.

"Well, you know, I have worked here for five years. Boss is not really a rude boss like other CEOs. In all these years, I have never seen him shout without a reason. If he is angry, there must be something really messed up with your work." The girl sitting next to Luke said.

Well, in these five years, he didn't have me working for him. He wasn't hellbent on firing anyone and he didn't hate any employee to the core. He didn't want to torture anyone and he definitely didn't want to find slightest reasons to shout and yell at people.

I couldn't really tell her that so I best kept silent. I scratched all the previous work and restarted working on the designs. It was already midday.

It is going to be a hell of a long day.

After almost about two hours of brain storming and scratching so many different ideas, I finally started on something solid. It was so hard because I was not even sure what I was missing. Additionally, it is just me on this whole project. I do not even have someone to discuss or review it in case of confusion. I haven't even talked to the clients myself to understand their taste.

By the time I was vaguely done with the first floor plan, it was three in the afternoon. I decided to take a break, go to the pantry and have some coffee. I got up and walked to the pantry still stressed. I saw some other people having their coffees and teas too. I quickly made one for myself.

I left the pantry and took a right to enter aisle to reach my cubicle. I reached near Luke's desk. At the same time, Luke suddenly pushed his chair behind and got up from his chair without noticing me behind him. My hand holding the coffee shook slightly, while I was in the process of saving myself, and the coffee fell on my palm burning me.

"Ouch!" I yelled at the impact of hot coffee on my skin, obviously gaining everyone's attention.

"Oh my god! I am so sorry, Amy. I didn't know you were behind. Here give it to me." Luke said taking the cup from my hand.

"It's okay. You had earphones plugged in." I told him still wincing.

"Wait. I think you should apply something cold on it." Luke said and opened his drawer. He search a little and then turned to me. "I only have this cold cream but, I think it should do for now." He took my hand and started applying the cream.

"I am not hurt that bad. I can do it by myself, Luke." I smiled.

"It's okay. It is done." He smiled back.

"I think everyone needs to get back to their work unless you want to get fired." Aaron's voice suddenly boomed in the room making me flinch.

I looked at him. He was holding the door of his office wide open and glaring at everyone. His eyes landed on me then shifted to my hand that was still in Luke's hand. I quickly pulled my hand away and gulped. I don't know why but the way he was glaring at me sent a shiver down my spine. He slammed the door shut and went back inside. I think most of us flinched when the door banged closed.

"Amy, have you both fought today?" Luke asked still staring at the door.

"Yes, didn't you hear in the morning?" I asked him.

"No, I mean-Nothing. Forget it." Luke shook his head and handed back the coffee.

I got settled in my desk and started working again. Soon it was end of the day for everyone. Most people started leaving as it struck six. Everyone sitting next to me had also called it a day and I was left alone in that side of the cubical. I looked over to Aaron's office. He was still in there. I could tell as the lights were still on.

I was getting tired because firstly, I hadn't eating anything since lunch and secondly, I was staring at the computer screen and the paperwork constantly since last six hours without a break. My back was aching due to siting all day on this chair without a break. When I thought I couldn't do it anymore as my brain stopped working, I checked the clock again. It was eight already and I was only half way through. Everyone had left the office except me. The light in Aaron's office was switched off.

When did he leave? I didn't even realize. I closed my eyes and leaned back on my chair. Suddenly, my eyes shot open as I heard footsteps behind me. There is no one in office. Who could it be? I was alone. What if someone....My hand curled into a fist and I turned slowly in my chair to check who it was.

And, of course. It was none other than Mr. Kingston himself. The root of all my problems.

I took a breath of relief and glared at him, "What are you doing here?"

"Last time, I checked this is my office." he answered stopping at my desk.

"I mean what are you doing here sneaking on me. I was so scared, I was about to punch you." I said rolling my eyes.

"I had gone for dinner. I came back to..to pick something I forgot. Why are you still in office until this late?" he said.

"Can't you see? I am working." I said getting back to work.

"It is already late. Complete it tomorrow." he said.

I just threw him a deadly murderous glare in answer. He bloody hell knew perfectly well that it is impossible for me to complete it by ten tomorrow morning unless I work overnight.

He rolled his eyes and said, "Take it home."

"What?" I was dumbstruck.

"Complete the remaining work at home."

"You said it yourself that we can't take the documents related to this project home." I said.

"I know what I said. But it is late and you need to work on it overnight" I opened my mouth to argue but he lifted a finger to stop me and continued, "I am not making any exception for you. We live in the same home so technically you are taking it to my home. Also, I trust that you will not share the work with anyone outside the company."

"How do you know that I will not disclose it to the media?" I asked tilting my face upwards.

He laughed, "Imagine, how funny it will be if you share it to them and yet, not read what they write about it."

I just glared in return. I grumbled and opened my desk drawer. I tried to find a pen-drive so that I could copy my work into it. I had kept a spare one there somewhere. But, before I could find it, Aaron's hand landed on my desk. When he took his hand off, I saw that he had left a pen-drive on my desk. I looked at him and obviously, he was smirking.

But, I have no energy to argue. So, I took the pen-drive and copied the files. I packed all the things that I needed and shut down the system.

"What are you still doing here?" I asked Aaron who was still standing next to me. He just gave me a questioning look so I explained further.

"I packed everything. I will go home now in my car. Why are you still here?"

"You are not going in the car. You are coming with me in the chopper. Peter will get your car delivered to home tomorrow morning. Do not argue with me. I can tell from your face that you are tired and sleepy. If you drive right now, I'll probably find you in hospital before morning."

"I was not going to argue." I lied, of course. I do not want to give him satisfaction of guessing my thoughts correctly one more time.

"That's impossible." Aaron said as he started walking to the elevator.

"Wait, you didn't take whatever it was you came for." I reminded him.

"Oh yes." Aaron averted him eyes and walked to his office door. He opened the door, went inside and came back outside without anything.

"It is not here. Maybe it is at home. Let's go", he said and almost ran to the elevator.

I followed him and soon we reached the top floor where the helipad was. It was so windy and I was feeling extremely cold. Peter took the bags from my bag and we walked to the chopper. Aaron got in and offered his hand to me. I took it and got in. Peter kept the bags in and closed the door. Soon the chopper started and we were flying over New York City.

"No matter how many times I see it, the aerial view of this city is always amazing. Beautiful, isn't it?" I asked Aaron over the noise of the chopper.

"Yes." he replied looking at me. I smiled broader and looked at the view.

"Here, this is for you." Aaron gave me a brown bag. "I got dinner for you too. Hopefully, you will like it."

Oh my god! I was so damn hungry. I think this should be noted as one of those rare occasions when I am glad Aaron can read my mind. I opened it without a second's delay. I think that was the fastest I have ever had a meal.

"That was amazing. Thanks." I told him as I finished and the chopper reached the helipad over our penthouse.

"You're welcome." Aaron said.

We both went inside and directly to our rooms. I took a shower changed into comfortable clothes and it was nine by then. Luke messaged me asking if I reached home. I replied to him and then I sat in the living room.

I do not have a desk setup in my room so the best option for me to spread the drawing sheets is the coffee table. I sat on the ground, put on music and started working on it again. The dinner had done its magic and I was able to think much more clear now. I was little tired but I knew I had to get this done anyhow. At about eleven, I was almost done with the second floor and had only one more floor to go.

But, unfortunately, the work was taking a toll on me and I started to feel sleepy. I started yawning and my headache increased. My speed was much slower now. I felt the need to lie down. I rubbed my eyes with my palms.

"I think you should take a break." I heard Aaron's voice and I flinched.

"And I think you should stop sneaking up on me." I narrowed my eyes at him playfully.

He chuckled sitting next to me on the ground. He handed me one of the mugs he was holding. It had an amazing smelling and much needed coffee.

"Ah! That smells heaven." I moaned smelling it.

"It will taste even better." He said his hand reaching out to something on my left ear. I felt a tingling feeling when his fingers brushed my ear. When he pulled his hand back, I realized it was a pencil. When did I stick it there?

"Why are you being nice to me? Are you feeling guilty for yelling at me in the office?" I asked him.

"No, I am not feeling guilty at all. I did what I had to do", he shrugged.

"You yelled at me in front of at least twenty other people. Yes, it was just us in the office but everyone heard it. Those designs were not that bad and it was the best I could do in two days time." I told him angrily.

"How much work did you complete?" He asked me.

"Only the third floor is left." I answered angrily.

"Do you have your designs from today morning?" he asked again and I nodded. He extended his hand signaling me to give him those.

I gave him those and he opened them. He gave one of them to me and nodded in its direction. "See for yourself. Compare it with the latest design you drew. Tell me which is better."

I saw the two of them. Obviously, there was a huge difference between them. The morning one looked way simpler and ordinary than the one I drew currently. The last one was damn vague and had nothing specifically known. It looked like it was made in utter rush. One couldn't say just by looking at the two if they were drawn by the same person. Even though the basic structure was the same the second one looked way grander and beautiful.

"Do you see it? I scolded you because I knew that you are capable of making that and not this. You could have drawn this even if I would have woke you up in the middle of the night and asked you to do it. But, that one, even when I look at it from afar, I can say that it is like you have honestly worked very hard on it." He explained.

I was speechless so I just continued to look at him. "Considering that you were working on them, I had a very high expectation set. When you showed this one to me, it was like seeing trash in front of the expectation that I had. I have seen you work with so many other clients. I know what your potential is and I was angry that you didn't see it. If it was impossible to make something nice in two days, how did you manage to complete the same work in twelve hours? And this time, you did it even better, didn't you? It was not the days that were less, Mel. It was you who didn't work hard enough and that is not the Amelia I have seen working."

"I had worked my best, Aaron. I would never slack off just because I want to." I assured him.

"I know you wouldn't and you didn't. But, the problem here is that you work better when you are put under a challenge. Which is wrong, according to me, because you should always be working to the highest of your potential, whether there is a challenge or not. Remember I had asked you to give me a review on the design I had made for Mrs. Brown? That was because I had liked your design even better than what I made. And you had made it in just one day. That's when I knew how good you actually are at your work. This time I didn't give it to you as a challenge but just as a normal task so you didn't focus your hundred percent on it. You thought you did but actually you didn't. Then again, when I scolded you and you thought that you will loose the challenge, you actually focused your complete attention and you already see what you could do." Aaron said in complete seriousness.

"I get it. I get your point. I never realized it." I told him nodding slowly.

"Your welcome." He told me and drank his coffee.

"Couldn't you explain it to me in office like this? Was the yelling necessary? Do you know how embarrass I was?" I asked him getting mad again.

"In office, you are my employee. Just like all other employees. You yourself keep reminding me of it, don't you?", he answered with a shrug.

"But, why did you show me my flaw? I am your enemy, right? Why did you not use it to win this challenge?" I aske sipping on the coffee.

"Even though, you are my nemesis and I am dying to fire you, I wanted you to see what you are capable of. I wanna win this challenge, yes but, not by planning and plotting against you. I am gonna win by making you loose. When I give you a task and you fail at it because you are not capable enough. That is my challenge after all, isn't? To prove if you are capable enough. It is just like I would want any of my employees to know. Only difference is that I am explaining it to you in more detail and for the rest of them, I do not go and explain myself. I just yell at them, which is a very rare occasion, when I want work done."

"Then, why did you explain yourself to me?"

"That is because-" he trailed of with a frown on his face.

I waited for him to reply which he never did. I already finished drinking my coffee so I started my work again. Only one floor was left and it was midnight already. Guess I will be done in about two hours. Even though it is a torture, I am doing it with a much happier mind. Knowing that I am capable of doing better things is a great mood booster. I guess this is one thing for which I will always be thankful to my hus-to Aaron. I will be thankful to Aaron.

Aaron got up after a few minutes and took our cups to the sink. When he returned, he walked took his cell phone and sat down again quietly.

"Are you not going to help me?" I asked him playfully.

"Do not get any ideas. You are still my enemy and I am still your boss, Amy. I do not go and help any of my employees. Besides, if I help you make it right, how will I point out the mistakes tomorrow." Aaron replied making me laugh.