The Billionaire's Revenge..

(Annabelle)

I knew I wasn't getting the job. I had known the second I discovered who my interviewer was, and who so happened to be the CEO of Armstrong's Finance Holdings too.

If getting hired into AFH with an online degree certificate was once unlikely, now it seems inconceivable.

Yet, I sat primly before the man who was about to spell doom on my fate. Breath held, hoping, and eyes focused on the man who had his eyes squinted over my resume as if it was a piece of dirt that was out of scale on his upscale office.

Adrian Armstrong has not changed that much from our last encounter. Maybe more charismatic, intimidating, and much more handsome. He still has the slick brown hair that gleamed in the morning sun streaming through the high office windows. His thick eyebrows that are always furrowed together in his habitual sign of focus, his pointed nose which is one of my favorite features of his, and his full lips, nibbled by his teeth. His broad shoulders filled out his tailored suit, evidence of the six passing years.

I blinked a few times, looking away before my thoughts and eyes could wander past his exposed arms that's a nest of delicious curly hair and veins.

We're here for the job, not to ogle at some sexy man who dumped us like a piece of trash years ago... A job that we're unlikely to secure. Snap out of it Annabelle Dickinson.

Adrian glanced up, pinning me with his beautiful brown eyes that were hard to read for just a second, and then he glanced down at my resume before he tossed it to a side.

That's it. Another rejection.

My shoulder slumped, and I tried not to burst into tears right here... at least not in front of Adrian Armstrong. He did not need to know that I was having it rough, or desperate in need of this job.

Not like he's going to help. After all, he'd tossed us away as he'd tossed my resume away now.

When Adrian straightened up and leaned against his chair, I was prepared for his next words which were now familiar I could recount it head off from how much I'd heard it, but...

"You're hired!"

"What?" I must have heard wrong. I definitely must have. "Did you say I was hired?"

Adrian frowned, he tilted his head forward and pinned me with a glare. I tried not to squirm at the glare, but I couldn't help the warmth that spread all over my face... probably because it's suddenly gotten hot in here, and not because of Adrian's brown eyes that seemed to be boring into my soul.

"I'm sorry Ms. Dick, but I'll let you know that we consider fraudulent a great crime here."

"Fraudulent?" I raised my brows.

"If there's any disability you have and you didn't list it here, then it's considered fraudulent, Ms. Dick."

I raised my brows in confusion, unsure of what Adrian was implying. "I am not disabled. I have no disability."

"That didn't explain why you couldn't hear what I said earlier, Ms. Dick." Adrian tutted.

My cheeks burned. I shifted on my chair, looking anywhere but the asshole before me.

"I was just surprised."

"Hmm."

"I mean, not like I'd expected to be hired anyway." Asshole!

I'd gone for various interviews, and written hundreds and millions of resumes, but I'd gotten the same reply every goddamn time. ' we're sorry, we need people who're more experience ' as if I'd not know that me being an online degree holder was the cause of my setback.

How dare he be so arrogant as though he knows anything about me? That arrogant peacock.

"I'll let you know that there are many candidates who applied for this job, Ms. Dick. You can simply reject the offer if you don't want this job."

My gaze locked onto his, my nostril flared, and my hand balled into fists, ready to throw some deadly blow into his infuriating mouth.

I wonder how bad it could be. If he'll throw me into prison, then that'll be bad. I have a kid who needs her mother. And Lord knew I could not afford to lose this job.

So, I took a deep breath and willed myself to calm down.

"I want the job," I said. "I'm taking the job."

"Good," Adrian said with a small smile as he reached out his hand for a handshake. "I hope we get along well, Ms. Dick."

Never happening. And what's with the consistent mention of my surname?

Taking his hand, I gripped it as tight as my small hand could which seemed impossible to induce some kind of pain because his hand was bigger, firmer than mine. Still, I fixed him with a subtle glare and scowled. "It's Dickinson. Annabelle Dickinson."

"Pretty sure it's the same thing. One is the full name, the other is the shorter one, Ms. Dick."

Damn! I know. Did I not? But I had not answered to "Dick" in a long ass time. Given that, the only one who found pleasure in calling me that was the asshole sitting before me.

Of course, I had loved him calling me that. It always begin as a tease...where he'd asked me if I'd want his dick or if I'd want the "Dick" in my name. And we'd always ended up in bed with his dick which I preferred more to the "Dick" in my name.

But that was years ago. And him calling me that now was not sex-induced. In fact, it was repulsive and disgusting.

I yanked my hand free and rubbed it on my clothes as if to rub off his touch.

Ignoring his raised brows and the smug smile that tugged the corner of his lips. I stood up, and hijacked my bag from his table. We're definitely not getting along, still...

"I hope we get along "well" Mr. Armstrong."

"Of course. See you tomorrow, Ms. Dick."

{Adrian's}

I finally saw Annabelle Dickinson. After all these years, I'll finally have her close to me.

I had countless questions for her. Many things I wanted to talk to her about, but could not bring myself to.

What's the point? Not like I'd missed her like she'd hoped I did. And I've not lived the last six years mopping around or crying miserably because she'd dumped me over the phone.

In fact, I'd only gone to her place only every two weeks for two years before I stopped and started clubbing away.

Annabelle did not want me. She did not want to see me. She'd hated me enough that she'd broken up with me over the phone with just five words; "I can't do this anymore."_ a statement that was very, very concise, sharp like the edge of a knife, and cut through my chest till it pierced my heart into pieces with no explanation, leaving me defenseless.

Annabelle won't explain. No! She'd left the town before I could even ask the question. She left me broken, shattered, and with a void in my heart.

But I'd seen her again. She'd waltzed into my life like the damn angelic devil she is. With her strawberry blonde hair, her button nose, and her lips that always tasted like my favorite apple snack and fit perfectly into mine. Her steel blue eyes had glared at me with no familiarity and something akin to hatred in them.

The past six years might have washed away her youthful innocence, making her more refined and beautiful, but they'd not washed away the hatred she might have harbored for me.

It's mutual anyway. The last six years had been a blur of academic pursuit and simmering anger all directed at her.

Even when I'd vowed to forget her. When I'd sworn never to cry over her brutality, she still found a way to crawl her wicked way back into my heart just like she'd crawled her way back into my life, seeking for the post of a secretary in my company.

Oh. She was not qualified. Lord knew I wouldn't employ an online degree holder with little to no experience. But it was Annabelle Dickinson, a girl with a big dream. It surprised me that she'd opted for an online course instead of the prestige school she'd vowed to attend.

Perhaps, I'd employed her because I want to hear her story, mainly the reason she broke it off with me...and definitely not because I want to see her beautiful face every morning.

"So, have you taken your pick yet?"

I looked up from Annabelle's resume I might have been staring at all day just in time to see my soon-to-be ex-secretary walk in. She inched closer to my table and dropped the files she had with her on it. "Who? Let me have their details so I can fill them up on your schedules."

Jessica was my secretary, and still my secretary until she finally quit tomorrow. After she'd worked with me for three years, she was finally getting hitched to her long-time boyfriend... something "I" failed to do.

Of course, it was hard letting Jessica go. The lady was perfect at her job with her good nature. She's a perfect combination of brain, brawn, and beauty.

And I could swear that her fiance was a lucky bastard.

I tossed her Annabelle's resume with as much anger as I could muster. Six years ago, we'd planned to make things official between us, get hitched, and live the perfect couple life we'd always wanted.

Of course, it was not just the wishful thinking of two teenagers. At 22 years of age respectfully, we knew we wanted each other...until Annabelle thought it was too much for her.

"An online degree holder?" Jessica snorted. She flipped the pages, and with every flip, her nose scrunched up as if she'd smelled something pungent. "She was a part-time at a restaurant? Worked as an online marketer until recently?" She dropped the file on the table so she could fix her hand on her hips. "Were you threatened into hiring her? She put a gun to your head? No, I don't think she could do that." Jessica's gaze darted to Annabelle's picture then back to mine, her gaze incredulous, "She looks too innocent to do that."

And look can be deceiving. That woman was as vile as a venomous snake. The only thing she'd not done was put a gun to my head, granted. But she'd taken my heart and shredded it into pieces...not that innocent to me.

I grabbed her resume so I could ignore Jessica's penetrating glare.

"Did I do something wrong?" She sighed. "I mean, I was supposed to do the interview."

"Nonsense! I won't let you miss your fitting just for some stupid interview." My glare made her face flushed, and her own glare softened. "She needed the job. And what matters if she's an online degree holder? As long as she's good at her job."

"We don't know if she's, Adrian. The working experience she has wasn't needed here. You need someone who has real working experience. Clearly she has not worked in a company before."

"Because those companies she applied to was being a dickhead!" I shouldn't be defensive. I don't even know why I'm getting worked up because of Annabelle.

But I want her. She needed to be here. "And she can get that working experience here."

Jessica's brows shot up, her gaze narrowed as she kept opening and closing her mouth before she let her shoulder sag and grabbed Anna's resume too.

"Sure, Mr. Armstrong. I'll check her email and forward your schedule to her." Then she stomped up to the coffee table. "Just know this is an insult to my years of hard work."

Well, not like anyone could ever replace Jessica. She's more than a secretary who'd put up with my assholic nature over the years...and not even Annabelle Dickinson could last that long because I'd just gotten the perfect reason for wanting her here with me.

"Jessica?"

"You don't have to apologize," Jessica turned to me with a sarcastic smile. "I'm going to be fine with whoever you hired. Even if it's someone who could ruin all my years of hard work. I'm calm just like a clam."

I am not about to apologize. "Okay." I shrugged. "Duly noted. I won't apologize."

Jessica's nostril flared, but I pretended not to notice.

"I need to make a few changes in my schedule."

"Are you postponing some meetings?"

"Well, no?" I pinched my nose. "Just a few changes to my basic needs. My day-to-day activities."

"Okay. Let's hear it."

I straightened up, a smile spreading on my lips. "Let her know that her working hours are from 7 to 7."

"Isn't it from 8 to 4?"

"Well, it's changed now. Include in it that she's to prepare my coffee as early as 7;30am. An extra latte."

Jessica's brows furrowed, her eyes narrowing, "You don't drink coffee that early in the morning. And not even with that much sugar."

"I'm letting her do it because I don't take it." I shrugged. "And her hair must never be let down. Preferably, rolled in a bun."

Not like I care how people leave their hair, but this is Annabelle who hates having her strawberry blonde curl in a blonde.

Jessica frowned, then she nodded something like "Okay." If she found my new policy strange, she did not let on. Instead, she went back to making her coffee. I savored my triumph, a sly smile creeping onto my face.

If Annabelle thinks she can come in here looking all beautiful and drool-worthy, and ignore me like we're no more than strangers, then she'd better be prepared to be treated likewise.

Because I am going to make her working life here miserable.

(Annabelle)

"I got another job."

"Better than the last ones?" My mom almost snorted over the phone.

I sighed, my shoulder sagged as I massaged my temple with my fingers.

I understand my mom's "I told you so" tone, which is her way of showing concern. When I got pregnant, both my parents had advised me to get rid of it.

Why should I keep the baby of someone who broke it off with me without any reason? At 22 years of age, why do I want to become a single mom when I have my whole life planned ahead of me?

They'd said the pregnancy was going to hold me back, and at the end of the day, I'd regret keeping the child of a man who was so cowardly and hated us enough to break up with me over the phone.

Maybe they're right about the first bit. After all, both of them had cast me aside because they couldn't continue taking care of a stupid girl who was stupidly and blindly in love with a heartbreaker.

But I'd not regret keeping the pregnancy...not even for once. Because I had given birth to a girl who is everything to me but never a regret.

Getting pregnant with Mimi might have held me back on my education. Granted, I might have opted for an online course because I couldn't jumble up being pregnant, working part-time, and in college. Even if it was all about money than it been hectic. And Mimi might have had her Dad's eyes, and look like a mini female version of Adrian Armstrong, never for once have I regretted having her.

She's my everything. My joy, and the reason I could still go on with life to achieve my dream of becoming a marketer for some big company.

No! Just because Adrian had abandoned us doesn't mean my kid had to take the brunt. The moment I knew I wanted to keep her, I prepared to give her the best life even if it might be hard.

"It is," I replied. "I'm working in a company now...as a Secretary," I added before my mom got any weird idea.

Mom sighed, and I could imagine the deep frown etched on her face. "Are you sure this company isn't a fraud? And they'd employed you as a secretary?"

Because not many companies will hire someone who'd done a six-month online course instead of going to a real school.

I focused on Mimi's photo that hung primly over my kitchen's top cabinets. It was a picture taken when she won the dance competition at her school. She'd dressed like her favorite celebrity dancer, and have her dark black hair in a ponytail. Mimi looks so excited, her eyes glint, and her lips spread in an infectious smile that always makes me smile too.

And today, I focused on that smile so I could ignore the sting that comes with my mom's doubt.

Never for once had I expected anyone's validations, but I could really do better without them discrediting me, as their ways of looking out for me.

"No, it's not," I said. "And I've truly been hired as a secretary because they seem to need one urgently." I withheld the rest of the information. She needs not know where I work or who has hired me. After all, Adrian was a forbidden subject. He's the "Voldemort" of our time.

"Okay," she didn't believe me. "How's your kid?" And I pretended not to notice her ignored the fact that she wouldn't call my Mimi by her name. At least, she's made an effort by asking of her, she acknowledges her existence. My Dad couldn't even bother.

"She's fine. She's with my friend Julie since her place is closer to her lesson."

"Alright." I waited for her next word, but I got a tiny beep on her end instead.

With a sigh, I dropped my phone. I don't let my parents' nonchalant attitude bother me so much, and today is one of those days where they could do better at the back of my mind.

I officially started at AFH today, and nothing could ruin my mood...not even the fact that my boss is the runaway asshole father of my daughter.

I fixed a simple breakfast for myself, ran a quick bath, and in a few minutes, I'd skittered out of my single-room apartment, taken the morning bus, and found myself standing before the gigantic building of AFH.

I let myself admire the tall building that stood gigantically amid the city, dazzling in the morning sunlight and commanding attention like royalty would.

A smile spread on my face, and my heart stuttered in my chest.

I can do this. I would prove to them that it doesn't matter if I've only taken a six-month course online, I can be as diligent, dedicated, and hardworking as those who'd graduated from those prestigious schools. And if I'm lucky enough, maybe I'd be able to apply to their marketing team too.

With a last glance at the building, I made my way in to take the elevator to the 13th floor.

I know I still have about thirty minutes to admire the building and other workers beautifully dressed in their corporate wear, and their necks adorned with AFH's ID card. After all, it's only 7;30am. But today being my first day, I needed to make a very good impression, and besides, my neck itches to have one of those IDs around it.

As I made my way down the path that led to Adrian's office, I felt my hands shake, and my heart thrummed in my chest... definitely not because I was nervous right, but because I was excited to be the first one to grace the office.

Or maybe not the first.

Because there's Adrian, leaning against the glassy frame of his office door. He was dressed in a white shirt, tux discarded, and his blue strip tie slung around his neck.

I tried not to stare at the expanse of his muscles under his shirt as he crossed his arms over his chest, nor pay attention to the way his brown eyes steeled over my black heels as if he knew I'd gotten them cheap from the knockoff store downtown.

"Good morning," I cleared my throat. "Good morning, Mr. Armstrong."

Adrian's brown eyes met mine, then he glanced down at this watch before he locked gaze with me again. His nose scrunched up then his entire face followed in a deep frown.

"You are late, Ms. Dick."