Bane Of Her Existence

I would rather die than forgive Jake Miller.

This was my mantra as I walked into the restaurant, head held high, perfect strides, and looking out for dirt.

He was waiting, as expected. It was his turn to wait and it was my turn to make him wait.

"Mr Miller?" I peered down at the man seated there. The years had done him a lot of good; he looked much better than the last time I saw him...

"Director Frost! You are as pleasant as I imagined."

And still, the same bootlicker I once knew.

I smirked, ignoring his outstretched hand and signature smile; I pulled off my sunshades.

The look of absolute horror was worth it. His beautiful face was frozen in shock as he stared at me in disbelief.

For some seconds, we both stood, watching each other. Billionaire heir, Jake Miller-he had turned out fine.

"That's good to hear. Shall we proceed?" Taking my seat, I couldn't help but snicker.

One shot for me!

"Danny?" I nodded at Doris, my PA and she left immediately to give us some minutes of privacy.

"Hello, Mr Miller. Thank you for the -"

"Enough of that, Danny. What..." He was still gaping at me like I had fallen from the sky.

"Mr Miller! I'm here strictly for business, nothing more." I reveled in how strong I sounded. The self-esteem classes were paying off.

"I can't ignore the fact that this is Danielle-freaking-Frost sitting before me, all dolled up and perfect."

"That's because you never believed I could be successful." I felt the first attack on my patched-up heart, saying those words. "You haven't changed a bit, Jake. It's nice to know that."

Jake leaned forward, his face set into the cocky mask that would have warmed my heart and made me do anything for him. I was wiser now.

"I never said such, Danny. You look great, changed over the years." His smile was warm, but I knew never to trust it.

"Can you just cut the sugary nonsense? I'm here for business not to talk nonsense with fake friends." I didn't want to stay here longer than necessary. The more I spent time with him, the more my walls collapsed until I returned to the pathetic female he knew.

"I guess old things never change. You're still driven by your emotions, controlled by it."

"That's better than being a remote to your Mummy and Daddy." I shot back. I always knew what pushed his button and the tightening of his jaw proved that I had indeed struck a chord.

"A remote? I think that's the description of your relationship with poverty. You still have your scar. That's surprising seeing as the layers of mud couldn't cover it up." He sneered.

I gasped as my fingers subconsciously traced the jagged scar on my cheek, that no layer of makeup could hide. It was inhumane to refer to it.

"That's too low, Jake. Too low even for you." I said, steadying my voice with the last bit of strength I had. I couldn't break down before him.

"I know, Danny. But I have to get to your level, don't I?" He blew me a kiss as he stood, straightening his suit. He was truly the devil. No one could beat Jake Miller in being a monster.

As he walked past me, he crouched beside me, whispering in my ear.

"Nice try, Danny. But I still get nightmares thinking of your face." I gasped in shock as a tear slid down, breaking my face. He smirked at the impact he had on me.

"Mark my words, Jake. I will make sure you eat your words." I seethed, but he just laughed it off, strutting out of the restaurant.

***

"I can't do this Clara! I just..." My tears choked me as I cradled my head. I was disgusted with myself. An utter disgrace and weakling. A few words from Jake Miller sent me running back to Clara.

"You haven't told me what he did to you. This is just their first meeting, right?" Doris nodded, looking more confused than anyone. Thankfully, she had come in as he left, he wouldn't have hesitated to open up old wounds in front of a total stranger.

"I hate Jake Miller. I can't breathe the same air as him, Clara. There's got to be something else," I wiped my eyes, ready to take necessary actions.

"You want to throw away a five hundred million dollar contract because of a man?"

I looked away, the shame eating me up. I would rather eat nails than see Clara being disappointed in me.

"I will think about it."

"There's nothing to think about! This business, for crying out loud, is not some stupid reunion. Your past has no place here." I could sense the irritation in her voice.

"Doris, talk sense into your boss. I can't do this right now." Clara didn't meet my eyes as she left, obviously angry that I had wasted her time. I hated it when I had let her down.

Doris hugged me from behind, her familiar scent of cupcakes making me feel a little better.

"You can't let this opportunity pass you by, Dee. This is that contract we've been looking for."

"You weren't there, Doris. He's not human. I can't work with him." They couldn't understand. I have known this guy for twenty-five years and hated him for fifteen years. I knew him inside-out.

"You can. There won't be much interaction. I will always attend any meeting in your place." I smiled wistfully at her innocence. That was exactly what Jake wanted. He wanted to show that he still had an impact on my life. But I would show him that I didn't need him to be successful. I was going to silence him permanently.

"It's fine, Doris. I will work with him. Pass me my make-up kit, please." If Doris had more questions, she didn't ask and that was why I loved her.

I took an aspirin to calm the throbbing headache as she laid out my daily makeup products.

"Why do you hate him so much?" She blurted out, confusion etched on her face.

Smiling, I traced the hideous gash on my cheek.

"He gave me this very scar."

"Hey, Mom!"

Mom dropped the watering can, whirling around. At sixty she still seemed so strong and young.

"Danielle! Come over here child!" I laughed at her stern voice, running up to the garden to hug the only person who cared about me.

"How have you been, baby?" Her eyes crinkled in worry as she held me in her arms. I was transported to my younger years, after a long day of mocking and bullying, this was my solace.

"I'm good, Mom."

"You are late today. What's wrong?" She steered me into the house, quickly getting to work-making pasta.

"I...uh met someone today." She grinned, passing me some carrots to chop.

"A guy?"

"Yeah." I didn't look up as I concentrated on chopping the carrots. But I could sense her eyes following me as she placed the pot of pasta on fire.

"What's wrong, baby?"

There was no use hiding it, "I met Jake today." My mom froze mid-air, turning to me, her warm eyes filled with anger. She walked up to me, hugging me and kissing my scar.

"Mom! It's okay. We just had some business-"

"No! You're not doing anything with that boy. I don't care what it is, but do not speak to him ever again." She looked ready to cry and I nodded. I could never say no to my Mom.

"I love you, Danielle and I can't lose you again. I don't want him anywhere close to you." Her eyes flew to my scar one more time and I could see the flash of bitter memories in her eyes as she went back to cooking, but she was distant this time.

"Did you go to the library today?" I hoped to brighten her mood, but it was too late. She had slipped into her gloomy state.

"No. Mr Davidson is gone."

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Mom." This was the second guy she had something close to romance with and he left too.

"His grandson hit the jackpot and decided to take him out of this...dastard town." This was a touchy topic I avoided at all costs, but it was hard to shut her up after she had started.

"Kids! They don't value relationships. Just yesterday, Davidson was here, today he's gone. Tearing him away from everything he valued and loved. That's wrong!" She was shaking now and I hugged her from behind. I hated how much this upset her. My Mom had been through a lot of relationships ending up with the men leaving.

"They should be jailed for that! There's a law against that, right?" I nodded, as I steered her towards the couch. She was crying now.

"That's right! We must sue, Danielle. We have to sue them. They took away Davidson's happiness."

"Mom, get yourself together! Davidson doesn't matter now. I'm here with you, always."

My mom smiled, her eyes filled with love, "Always."

A few hours later, as it neared my usual time to leave, I took her to bed. After her breakdown this evening, she was in a fragile state and I would have slept over, but I needed to be early tomorrow.

"Sleep over, baby. Stay with Mommy."

"I want to. But I must go, cause of work." I pecked her head as I tucked her in.

"I never want you to leave, Elle. Stay with me forever." My eyes watered at her words. I loved my Mom to bits and would never leave her.

"I won't leave you. Ever." I turned off the lights and was about to go when she called out.

"Promise?"

"With my life."

***

"There's no way out of this, Jacob. You have to work with that company," his father said with a tone of finality. Jake stood there, hands shoved in his pockets as Danny's words replayed in his head.

"That's better than being a remote to your Mummy and Daddy."

That's exactly what he felt like-nothing but a remote.

"I'm the CEO of Miller's Realtors now. I'm not working with that girl. We've always worked with Elegance. Why can't I do that now?" Jacob protested, but his father barely spared him a glance, more interested in his phone than in whatever Jacob was saying.

"Jay, it's not our fault. We want to work with Elegance, but the contract says Style and Impact." Jacob could feel his anger rising, the urge to punch something growing inside him. He hated how much control everyone else had over the situation-everyone except him.

"Besides, you were so eager and ready to work with Style and Impact two days ago. What changed?" his father asked, his eyes sharp and prying. Jacob avoided meeting his gaze. There was no way he was going to admit that he was backing out because it was Danny.

Coward.

"It's an old rival of mine," Jacob muttered, trying to dismiss the subject.

"Well, fix it," his father replied coldly.

"It's not that easy, Dad! If I could, I would have done it already!" Jacob snapped.

"Don't you raise your voice at me, boy!" his father shot back, his glare fierce. This was how all their conversations had gone lately-each one of them fighting for dominance.

"Then get back in that seat and finish what you started. I won't be your puppet," Jacob spat before storming out, anger rolling off him in waves.

Jacob got into the passenger seat of the car in the driveway, his lips set in a thin line.

"It did not go well." A pretty lady dressed in a short red dress sat in the driver's seat. She started the car, speeding away.

"I'm stepping down."

Victoria's head whipped towards him, a look of pure shock on her face.

"You wouldn't dare."

"Watch me, Vee. This is getting out of hand!" Jacob slammed the dashboard angrily. Danny was right, after all, he was nothing but a remote.

"Destroying my car won't fix anything. But if you step down, who's going to run the company?"

"None of my business!"

"You're a multi-billionaire who has his own company and still manages his father's! I don't see why you're so worked up about this. Many crashes one or both." Victoria scoffed, her eyes set on the road.

"I'm actually on my way to crashing both if I don't get that contract. A billion-dollar contract, Vee! That's massive."

Suddenly his phone pinged and as he read the message, his signature cocky smile appeared.

"What's that?"

"Guess who's got balls now?" He showed her the phone.

"Danny wants to work with me."

The papers were shoved under my nose the moment I walked in. It was nice to see that someone was not wasting any more time.

"It's a thirty-six-month contract. A business conglomerate and an estate," He meant business now as he leaned against the desk, eyes on his tab. "A hotel, mall, and the business headquarters, then two fifty-storey apartments."

"So I have to keep seeing your face for three years?" The words were out before I could think.

"Yes, Miss Frost. Or do you have a professional problem with that?" His tone matched mine yesterday and as much as I hated to admit it, it hurt a little.

"Not at all, Mr Miller."

"Well, in the absence of intelligent questions," he shot me a look, "Please sign."

The pen felt like lead as I picked it up. Three years of seeing Jake Miller, can I do this? I could feel the familiar constricting of my throat as panic reared her ugly head in.

"Unlike you, Miss Frost, I do have other businesses to attend to."

"There's a lot to consider here, don't rush me!" I snapped, sighing as I picked up the papers. The words scrambled before me as I looked at the signatory. I noticed Jake coming to stand behind me. Despite my impressive height and heeled boots, he still managed to be a head taller than me. Pushing my dark locks, I felt his hot breath beside my ear.

"If you had so much as developed a brain in high school, you wouldn't find it hard to locate the signatory..." his finger traced the words to the dotted lines, "...here."

"Some space, please? I can't breathe with the stench of malice suffocating me." He scoffed, but stepped back, regaining his cold demeanor. His foot tapped on the floor impatiently, making me cringe.

"I'm getting five hundred million dollars for this project, right?"

"You have eyes and a brain for a reason, Danny. Read the contract."

"I would if you weren't breathing down my neck!"

"So I still affect you? So sorry, sweetheart, I don't date hideous creatures." His smirk was back on, the Jake I knew was back and I wouldn't let him affect me.

I signed the papers defiantly, the desire for revenge burning through me.

"Careful there, Danny. I know you ain't signed such huge amount before, no need to tell the world about it."

I didn't give him the satisfaction of replying, instead, I took my copy of the contract, picked up my handbag, and turned to him.

"Being talkative doesn't suit you, Jake. Try speaking jerk." I strode out, flicking my hair over my shoulder, but I was barely out of the door before he stopped me.

"Not so fast, Hot Cheeks. We're not done yet." He straightened his suit jacket and adjusted his tie, but I wasn't falling for those little habits again.

"What else do you want from me?" He frowned, a snobbish look on his face.

"Have I ever wanted anything from you? Come on, we need to go see Mr Montgomery."

The name sounded familiar, I knew Doris once mentioned him as the...wealthiest man in the US. What did we have to do with him?

"Stop making your ignorance obvious. I can see your frown from here." I stared daggers at his back as he led the way to his private elevator.

"Cursing me in your mind won't help either." He added, still not looking back.

Dang it! How does he know me so well?

We got into the elevator, a heavy silence hanging over us as a question plagued me, but I would rather walk on broken glass than ask him.

***

"Please wait here, Mr. Montgomery will be with you in a few minutes."

"Thank you." Jake flashed her his usual charming smile and the secretary turned beet red, scampering away demurely.

I scoffed at his antics. "Is she the one warming your bed tonight?"

"Why are you so concerned with what goes on, on my bed? Don't tell me you still have sex dreams about me, I might be sick."

I turned away from him sulking. Even the most minimal words he used affected me and I hated it. It was obvious he just wanted to elicit a reaction from him and I was obliging his wishes.

"Hey, listen up," he turned to me with a very serious look, "Whatever you have against me...suck it up the moment that man walks in, do you understand?"

"Who is he?" I asked finally.

"Our employer."

Danielle-stupud-Frost! Only you wouldn't know your freaking employer.

"So, we need to act as though we-" he gagged, "-respect each other. Or we lose this contract."

Before I could reply, the middle-aged man walked in and Jake sent me one last pleading look.

The devil in me wanted nothing more than to mess up the meeting, but the sensible woman Clara had raised was still there.

"Mr Montgomery, it's nice to finally meet you." The man nodded at us, taking his seat at the head of the conference table, his bimbo secretary making seductive faces at Jake, behind him. It thrilled me that Jake ignored her.

"Hello, Mr Montgomery. I'm Danielle Frost." He arched an eyebrow at me as he pulled out his cigar.

"You look considerably younger for the work you put out there. I'm impressed." I could feel my cheeks heating up till Jake kicked me beneath the table.

"I apologize for my absence and...well...unavailability. You know how business is."

"There's no problem, Mr Montgomery. We would have started with your approval."

The man nodded, signaling to his secretary to go get snacks.

"Can I see the blueprint?" He asked.

Wait, the blueprint? We haven't had any meetings about the contract. As I opened my mouth to speak, Jake held my thighs and whipped out some documents from God-knows-where, handing them over to the man.

Traitor!

Anger seared through me, but I managed to subdue it as he went through the documents.

"I know designs take a lot longer to prepare, but will it be ready by the end of this week?"

"I'm so-"

"It will be ready." Jake cut in.

The man regarded us suspiciously for a while before shrugging. He handed the file back to Jake before standing.

"I'm glad that you two are hardworking. I will get back to you about the blueprints. Have a great day." He strode out and I barely restrained myself from pouncing on the devil beside me. As Mr Montgomery got to the door, he turned back.

"I'm sure you two know the terms of this project?" We nodded simultaneously.

"Good. Because once there's a misunderstanding of any sort, you will be terminated as per the contract. I won't have anything jeopardize this project. Not even an old rivalry."