Winning Back The Heiress (Heir & Heiress 2)

"Miss Griffin, Mr Stone will see you now" the receptionist says smiling at me after putting the phone back in it's position.

I exhale nervously and smoothen the imaginary crease in my shirt before standing up and moving towards the direction of the door to the CEO's office.

Esme, calm down, He's just a man. An ordinary man with the reputation of a dragon. You can do this.

I give myself more internal pep talk before going inside.

I become confused when I enter the office and see no one. The chair at the desk was empty.

Where is the infamous 'Mr. Stone'? The legendary man who has built the group of companies he inherited into the biggest empire. The man whose name rule every single headline about success and magazines about the hottest men ever.

God Esme you're so stupid. You should have done some research about him or at least searched for a picture of him on the internet. If only I was someone that keeps up with the news and magazines. But no, I'd rather have my head buried between a book.

"Miss Griffin" A husky voice says from behind me and I literally jump two feet in the air and drop my bag.

I quickly spin around holding my hand to my chest. When I set my eyes on the person that just almost scared me to death, the breath I'm trying to catch leaves me in a second.

Perfection.

That's the only world that springs to mind. He is so handsome, I feel like I have to pay a certain fee before being allowed to look at him. When I finally lift my face to his, an involuntary shudder travels down my spine. His smoldering hazel eyes are assessing me curiously. I quickly turn my eyes to the floor unable to hold his intense gaze. I pick up my bag from the floor but I'm still unable to lift my eyes to his.

He looks.........familiar. A little bit like someone I've been repeatedly seeing in my dreams.

Nah, that's nonsense. Get your wild imagination in check Esme!

I feel a hand move under my chin and lift it up and I see that he has moved a bit closer but there's still an appropriate space between us. His gaze becomes more probing and then his hands cup my cheek gently caressing it.

"Daisy, is it really you?" He mutters his voice deeper than when he first spoke.

Daisy?

Who is Daisy?

"I-I'm... Uhhh....no?" I reply stammering unable to think straight.

For God's sake Esme, at least talk like someone who went to school.

He moves closer and rests his forehead against mine. His other hand join the first one in caressing my face.

"Why did you leave me? Where have you been? I've missed you so much angel" he says his breath fanning my face. Tingles run through my while body even though I have no idea about what he's saying. If I tilt my head up, my lips will touch his. He's affecting me in a weird way. My mind doesn't even feel like it's mine anymore. What is wrong with me?

All of a sudden, he retracts his hand and close his eyes for a brief second before opening them and placing his hand in his pocket. His expression back to the business man look.

"Pardon me, Miss. Griffin. I thought you were someone else" he apologises noncommittally before walking past me to his chair and then he takes his seat.

A stupid part of me almost wants to claim to be the person he mistook me for so he can touch me again. I kill that stupid part as soon as it rears it's head.

"Umm...yes, It's fine. It can happen to anyone. I mean there was this one time I mistakenly carried another baby home from the park instead of my brother. It was when I finally got home that I noticed and I had to go to the park and search for Bastien before my parents came back from work because they would have my head if they know I lost my own sibling just because I was too busy reading a story. I finally found him after one hour of searching and panicking with an old Lady who was later employed as his nanny and....." I trail off and internally slap myself very hard.

Jesus Christ Esme, he only apologised not ask for your life story.

I laugh nervously and take a seat then spring up immediately.

"C-can I take a seat?" I ask and bite my cheek inside in embarrassment. I am so not getting this job.

"Please" he answers gesturing to the chair and I finally seat down.

"I've gone through your CV and you graduated with a first class in business management. Why do you want to work as an assistant when you can get any job you want?" He asks his face not revealing anything.

I laugh again and punch myself internally over and over again. He asked a question not tell a joke.

I clear my throat "Well, it's extremely difficult to get a good job in this economy and this company is the best place to get the best experience in business" I answer trying to remember everything I've practiced saying in front of the mirror a million times.

The only difference is that when I was practicing in front of the mirror, I wasn't gawking at it like it's the reincarnation of all the Greek gods combined.

"Hmmm" he nods then stands up and picks up his keys.

"I have somewhere to be in a few minutes. Mrs. White will be in touch with you" he says referring to the receptionist.

Now I'm definitely sure I've lost this job.

I nod miserably and stand up and make a move to walk out of the office.

As I open the office door, I come face to face with someone and my brain goes blank for a moment. It's like my brain is trying to remember something.

Why can't I get my memories back?

"Daisy" the person asks in shock before hugging me tightly.

Who is this Daisy person?

"Lily, Miss Griffin is not Daisy" the deep throaty voice of Mr. Stone comes from behind me.

The girl hugging me pulls back to stare at my face and then looks behind me to stare at Mr. Stone's face.

"Why didn't you tell us you've finally found her" She asks looking hurt and then her face scrunches up. "Wait, what do you mean by she's not Daisy? Of course she's Daisy. Look at her, she looks exactly the same only more beautiful!" She exclaims smiling.

My face heats up a bit as a result of being called beautiful.

"This is Miss. Griffin, she came for the personal assistant interview" he says sternly.

"Oh. I'm really sorry then Miss. Griffin, you look a lot like someone I know" she apologizes.

"Yeah, I figured that out" I answer smiling.

"So, I'll be on my way" I add making a move to walk out.

She smiles as I walk past her and when I look back, I see her hugging him.

So she is his girlfriend then.

When I finally make it out of the building, I decide to hail a taxi since I didn't bring my car. Esther (my car) was starting to give me problems and fixing a car isn't one of the priorities in my budget right now.

As soon as I'm able to stop a taxi, my phone rings and I roll my eyes when I see the name of the caller.

"What?" I snap when I pick the call.

"Baby, I'm really sorry. I don't know what came over me, I was so drunk. Please, all I'm asking for is a second chance" he pleads.

"Listen Jack, I don't care about whether you were drunk or not, what is done is done, you can't take it back" I repeat what I've been telling him repeatedly for two weeks now.

"I know I don't deserve this but please give me one last chance" he begs again.

"Don't you get it, I've given you more chances than anyone deserves and yet you mess up every time. How do I know you won't repeat this when next you are drunk? I think we're better off apart" I say then hang up.

Why can't he just leave me alone once and for all?

This time I'm so determined not to take him back. I won't fall for all his sweet words anymore.

The taxi finally reaches my apartment and I go inside and then go to my desk and tick out The Stone Empire from the long list of companies I've applied to. I'm running out of options fast.

Will I have to later settle for a low-paying job after working hard in college to graduate with a first class?

My dream of building my own company now seems more far fetched than ever.

The day passes by in a blur and in the evening when i'm preparing to go to the gym I just registered myself into, my phone rings.

It's an unknown number and I start praying for it to be one of the companies I've applied to calling me with a job offer.

"Miss. Griffin?" A lady's voice says from the other end.

"Yes?" I answer eagerly.

"This is Mrs. White from The Stone Empire's headquarters. I believe you came in for an interview today?" She pauses for my response.

"Yes, yes I did" I answer quickly anticipating and dreading her next words.

"You have been offered a job as the personal assistant to Mr. Stone. You're expected to resume tomorrow" she says curtly.

"Really? Oh my God! Thank you so much! I'll work really hard" I squeal out before clearing my throat and trying to not sound like a teenager talking about boys "I mean, thank you, I'll be there"

She chuckles softly "It's okay to be excited and welcome to the team. Be here by eight 'o' clock tomorrow morning. A little advice from me, don't be late not even by one minute, Mr. Stone hates tardiness" she says and I jot that down mentally.

"Thank you Mrs. White" I say beaming and she replies before hanging up.

When I drop my phone, I do a little celebratory dance before going to my closet and picking out my outfit for tomorrow.



I can't wait for tomorrow.

**************************

*Hunter's POV*

"Hunter! Hunter!! Hunter!!! Why did you leave me? You let him take me"

"You let me down Hunter"

"I thought you loved me"

"I thought we were meant to be together forever"

"Now i'm dead because of you"

Daisy's voice keeps echoing around the empty room I'm standing, her words taunting me. I try to block it out but it only gets louder. I can't take this anymore....

I spring up from my bed sweating. It was only a nightmare. It's been a while since I've had this kind of nightmare. I bury my face in my hands and will myself not to let any tears fall. I didn't cry when she died, why should I cry now?

She's not dead, she can't be dead. I will keep searching for her until I take my last breath.

I stand up from my bed and get ready to go to the office. When I get to the office, I go up straight to my office door. I pause when I notice the light of the assistant's office was on.

No one can be around at this time, I always come in about 1 hour before everyone. I walk forward and when I enter through the door that leads to the assistant's and I's offices, I see Miss. Griffin humming and arranging her table.

Why exactly did I hire her?

Am I being the biggest masochist on earth by having someone so alike to Daisy so close and yet so far?

Her similarity to Daisy is making my heart hurt.

I move forward to make her aware of my presence but just as I'm about to call her name, she steps back to admire what she was doing and collides into me.

She turns around and I drop my briefcase and immediately hold her to steady her. She blinks rapidly in shock and her mouth opens to form words but she closes it again.

I run my eyes down her profile and I feel my body react to her beauty. My eyes linger on her red lips for a few seconds too long before moving back to her blue eyes.

Daisy liked red lipstick.

My eyes trail back to her lips and I gulp to tamp down the temptation to kiss them and see if they'd feel like Daisy's. She bites her lips and I grit my teeth in frustration.

Why does she look so much like Daisy?

I'm definitely going to fire her.

Her hands which I didn't realize were resting on my chest curl and for a moment, I forget this isn't Daisy and move my thumb along her plump red lips. I want to kiss them so badly. I've missed her so much.

Sanity flows in the next second and I give myself a reality check reminding myself that she's not Daisy.

Fuck, what am I doing?

A breathy sigh escapes my mouth at his gentle touch and I unconsciously lean my face forward and close my eyes. His gentle hands disappear a second later and my body mourns the loss of his warmth.

What am I saying? This is not me. Why am I acting like this? He's my boss for God's sake!

He obviously thinks I'm someone else, which I'm definitely not but why am I not protesting for him to not touch me?

I just broke up with Jack so I can't say it's because I'm starved of affection.

I open my eyes and look up to see his face revealing nothing.

"Good morning Miss. Griffin" He picks up his briefcase and turns to go into his office.

I nod shakily because I'm pretty sure I won't be able to form words if I open my mouth.

Is this how every day will be like?

Immediately his door closes, I collapse in my chair then take a deep breath.

Who is this Daisy? Why is he mistaking me for her? And why am I liking his touch?

I shake my head, I seriously can't be thinking about this right now. I have a new job and it's something I need to focus on. To prove people like Jack wrong.

Fifteen minutes later, Mrs. White comes in to show me the ropes and show me around. I spend the rest of the morning doing that. There really isn't anything much to do today, tomorrow is the day I start the real work.

Now there is only one thing I need to do before the end of the day and that is to prepare Mr. Stone's schedule for the month. The hard part is that, I have to do it with him.

I pick up my notepad and pen then move to his door. I hesitate before knocking, and when I finally do, there is no response. I knock again and again but still no response and before my brain can tell me that this is a bad idea, I open the door and go inside. I mean he could be injured or something....

Shut up Esme, you just want to snoop around his office, don't make excuses.

I'm really starting to hate my subconscious voice. The door closes after me and I walk forward slowly.

"Mr. Stone?" I call out since there is no one in his office and I didn't see him go out unless he had already gone out when Mrs. White was showing me around. But why would he leave his office unlocked?

I really should get out of here now. I turn to go back outside when something catches my attention through my peripheral vision. My curiosity gets the best of me and I approach the picture hanging on the wall almost sacredly. It looked out of place in a office this fancy.

Get out of here! Now!

I don't listen to the sane voice in my head and I finally get close enough to see the picture properly. I gasp when I see the people in the picture.

It's a picture of me well a girl exactly like me and a younger version of Mr. Stone. He was holding her waist from the behind while he rested his head on her shoulder. The girl was wearing a baseball cap bigger than her head probably for Mr. Stone. She was smiling really wide in the picture and Mr. Stone was smiling at her instead of looking at the camera.

My hands unconsciously reach forward and remove the picture frame from the wall. I keep staring at the picture in wonderment. Why do I find this picture so fascinating? Jack and I have many pictures like this and I don't stare at them like a loon.

A sudden migraine hits me and my head feels like it's spinning for a second. My brain goes haywire again and random things start popping up. Things like the sound of my laughter, a guy's laughter and the flash of a camera.

I make a move to return the picture. I suddenly don't feel so good.

"What the fuck are you doing with that picture?" A very deep and extremely pissed voice asks coolly from behind me and I drop the picture in shock.

The glass frame shatters and all I can do is watch it scatter all over the floor.. I turn slowly to face a really angry Mr. Stone. His eyes are trained on the picture lying on the ground. His fists are clenched tightly and I gulp in fear.

I hurriedly pick up the remainder of the picture and try to clean it with my blouse.

"I'm so s-s-sorry Mr. Stone, I didn't mean to d-drop it" I stammer out.

"What. The. Fuck. are. You. doing in. My. Damn. Office?" He asks his voice deeper than usual hinting at the fact that I'm as good as dead.

"I'm really sorry Mr. Stone" I say my voice shaking. I start backing away when he starts walking forward. He looks lethal.

I feel my back hit the wall after a few more backward steps and I really start panicking. He keeps walking towards me until he enters my personal space. I hold the picture frame to my chest as if it can protect me.

He snatches the picture from me and a tiny glass remaining on the frame tears through one of my fingers. I'm too afraid to feel the pain though.

"Don't you ever come into this office when I'm not there and don't you ever think about touching anything in here. You're here to work and reluctance to do what you're meant to do means you lose this job, got it?" He asks lowly and I nod my head hastily.

"Now GET OUT!" He yells and I jump in fear almost in tears.

I run outside his office before he decides to punish me for what I did by firing me and rush to the ladies room. I try to compose myself but I can't stop shaking.

Why did I go snooping around his office?

I notice my finger has started to bleed and I rinse the blood out. It stings and I grit my teeth. I've always had very low physical pain tolerance.

I finally calm down and go back to knock on his office door. As much as I don't want to go back in there, I have a job to do or else I'll get fired.

He asks me to come in and I open the door as hesitantly as I can to delay seeing him. When the door opens wide, I walk in just as his phone rings.

He picks it up and I keep standing there fiddling with my fingers.

"What?" He yells looking shocked.

"You've found her?" He asks again standing up and picking up his keys.

"Wait right there, I'm on my way" He starts to walk towards his office door and I hurriedly move out.

I don't want to be alone in his office ever again.

"Call Mr. Heart right now. I'll be there soon" he says before hanging up and rushing out of the office.

Why is he so shocked?

Who is the person that was found?

And why does the name Mr Heart sound so familiar?