*Four Years Later*

I gently bite down on the tip of my pen as I skim through the video on my laptop. The audio is low enough for me to not need headphones - not that I'm required to have them. After all, I'm just doing my job.

A pair of eyes shielded by thick-rimmed glasses stare at me from across the conference table, gauging my reaction. I try to ignore his gaze but I can't help how uncomfortable I feel. I just hate being stared at.

Hoping he gets the hint, I look up and give him a small smile before refocusing on the monitor. I lean back in my rolly chair as the video ends with some cheesy montage music in the background.

"So?"

Before I can answer, Medusa herself walks in.

No. No, her name isn't Medusa. Her name is actually Daffodil - you know, like the flower. I wish I could say that it's her real name, but it isn't. It's just the stage name she chose to reflect her "innocent" persona. She once told us she'd wear a knockoff purse before telling us her real name.

We call her Daff for short.

And Medusa behind her back. Why? Because she has that icy stare that could turn anyone to stone.

She's a bitch. She's rude, a workaholic, blunt, and doesn't have a nice bone in her body. 

Of course, not many people see that side to her. Only her dear employees have the privilege to. And everyone else she considers to be beneath her. Yay me.

Oh, there's also the fact that she calls me Elizabeth even though that's not my name.

"Daniel, stop making puppy dog eyes toward Elizabeth and focus!" the witch speaks. Poor Daniel - the spark in his eyes dulls and his cheeks redden from embarrassment. He bows his head down to hide his heating face.

"He was just waiting for me to critique the final edit," I inform her. "And it looks super good!" His head pops back up and he smiles gratefully at me. When Medusa has her back turned, I face Daniel and use my index fingers to imitate devil horns behind my head. He softly chuckles and nods in agreement.

We hate Daffodil but we have to endure her. She's the one who signs our paychecks.

"Oh, speaking of, you two need to come with me tonight," she says distractedly as she straightens up the frames that line on the wall. They're some art pieces she bought from the local farmer's market but we all know they're expensive. Nothing comes cheap in California.

I make a face and glance at Daniel, who looks just as unappealed as me.

"Since when do personal assistants and video editors come out with their bosses for a night out?" I ask the question that's lingering in both of our minds.

She makes an annoyed sound from the back of her throat before spinning on her heel to look at us. Her caramel hair bounces over her shoulder as she dramatically flips it to really emphasize what a stupid question I've asked. "They do when it's for business."

Daffodil is really a beautiful person. It makes sense that she's a very famous beauty guru. Not only does she have a thriving Youtube channel, but she also collaborates with tons of celebrities as their own personal makeup artist. Her success is pretty amazing all things considered. I mean, from Youtube to legitimate celebrities? That's talent.

"Business?" I raise a brow. How the hell are we supposed to conduct business in a club?

She rolls her eyes, showcasing how luscious her eyelashes really are. "Duh. I'm meeting with potential clients tonight. I need you two to come to make sure everything runs smoothly."

I feel Danny's gaze on me. Of course, he'd be too shy to say anything so he often depends on me. I try, but there's only so far I can go. Her name is Medusa for a reason.

My fingers drum against my leg as I rack my brain for a good reason to ditch Then it comes to me. There's one thing that Medusa prioritizes over herself and it's work.

"Actually, I was thinking of staying back to edit your photos from the Bali shoot." Along with being her personal assistant, I'm also her public relations assistant, meaning I'm in charge of her social media.

She flashes her teeth in one of her fake smiles. "It's about time." She checks her watch on her wrist then looks back up at me. "You can finish that up, run back to your place, then join us there."

Welp, that didn't turn out like I wanted.

Before I can argue, she shoots me her infamous glare - the reason we call her Medusa in the first place - and it shuts me up instantly.

"Okay," I sigh in defeat, "I'll be there."

"Good." She drops the smile. "You can check the details in my calendar. I'll see you there. If you don't show, don't even think about coming back to work tomorrow." She grabs her giant Louis Vuitton purse from the table and spins on her heels.

I wait for the clacking of her heels against the tile to fade away before I release a breath.

"Remind me why we put up with her?" I ask Daniel as I restart her most recent video that he edited. It's just a makeup tutorial like she always does but somehow she still manages to get views.

Daniel softly chuckles and I look up to smile at him. "Because she pays well."

I snort. "Yeah, tell that to my two-bedroom apartment. I mean, if she paid so well, I wouldn't need a roommate to help with rent."

"The cons of living in California."

I hum in agreement as I look at the video clips once again. Whatever Daffodil lacks in personality, she makes up in looks. Like seriously, she's so talented. She's pretty without makeup, but she accentuates her features to make herself look like a goddess. It's unfair that she looks good naturally, but even more unfair that she has the talent to transform her face.

"It looks good, Danny," I smile as I push his laptop back toward him. "But maybe you should slow down the clips in which she shows the products. That way people can actually know what she uses."

He thoughtfully nods as he takes the computer and faces it toward him. "I guess I can work on that right now. You're staying, right?" He pauses, then adds, "Dumb question. You're always the last person to leave the office."

I wryly smile at him before opening my own Macbook to work on my editing. "You know me, class A workaholic."

Photoshop opens on my computer and I pull up the shoot that Medusa did in Bali. It was a makeup look that matched the scenery around her. The idea was stunning.

"Hey." My laptop screen lowers by an inch. I look up to see Daniel peering at me over the lid. "Did you eat yet?"

I snort and push my screen back up. Eating's the last thing on my mind. I enjoy burying myself in my work. Honestly, I don't mind. Sometimes I get so absorbed in my tasks that I forget it's lunchtime.

"Did you eat, Danny boy?" I distractedly ask as I switch between two filters. One makes her look more orange but Daffodil likes the tanned look. Is this too tan? "Hey, does she look like a carrot with this filter?"

Daniel walks over and hovers behind me. "Yes."

"Perfect," I smirk as I save the file. I'm not actually going to post it. She'd bite my head off. Still, in my mind, I like the idea of ruining her.

I would never though.

"Hey, you need to eat," Daniel says gently as he pats the top of my head.

"Sure," I mumble, looking for actual filters. There's one that makes the water in the background and blue detailing on her face light up. I cock my head as I look at the picture. It's definitely an improvement compared to the carrot tan. Nodding, I save the picture to my 'GOOD pictures of Medusa' file - not to be mistaken with my 'HORRID pictures of Medusa; DO NOT USE' file.

The day I mix up the folders is the day I die. Literally.

Seconds later, or maybe even minutes, a bag of chips plops on my keyboard. I look up at Daniel with raised brows. "What's this?"

He sheepishly rubs the back of his neck. "You should eat something. I'd get you real food but it's almost nine."

My eyes widen as I look at the digital clock in the right corner of my screen. "Fuck fuck fuck! Nine? I need to go home and get dressed!" I shriek, shutting down my laptop and hastily shoving it in my bag. I move to leave the conference room but I turn around and kiss Danny on the cheek. "Thanks, Danny. I'll see you tonight, yeah?" Without waiting for his response, I run out of the building. As much as I hate working here, I don't want to get fired just yet.

I quickly walk to my luxurious apartment. Hah! As if. It's actually a pretty mediocre apartment in a mediocre part of town. I'm just lucky my building is close to my job. I tend to go back and forth a lot. It's really only an issue when Medusa calls me to go around with her, which is pretty often. Then I have to drive over to her place, which is hell when it comes to traffic here.

When I enter my place, I make sure to grip the edge of the door tightly before it slams into the wall. It's been done way, way too much. We now have a small hole where the doorhandle meets the wall.

"Sup, bitch?"

I roll my eyes as I set my bag down by the door. "Hello Laine, always nice to see you too."

Yes, Laine Kirk, my boyfriend from college is now my roommate in this crappy apartment in California.

I ignore his pout as I go straight to my bedroom, the bigger of the two, and raid my own closet. I don't really have many clothes for clubbing. It's been a good minute since I've had a night out. Nothing appealing catches my eye as I search through the small space. I mainly have professional clothing, nothing good enough for a nightclub.

"Jesus, what crawled up your panties and died?"

Of course he'd come inside my room. The crappy lock on my door doesn't work anymore. I've tried to get maintenance to fix it but they're always brushing me off. It's annoying to be a young female adult living on your own. No one really takes you seriously. I'm convinced the only reason I'm even alive is because I'm living with Laine.

"Holy shit! Are you going out?"

I turn and scowl at him. "What's so surprising about that?" I resume my searching and dig deep, deep into the depths of my closet before feeling something velvety. My smile brightens as I pull out a very old dress Audrey bought for me. I wonder if I can still fit into it.

Laine takes the hanger from my hands and places it on the bed. "Relax. You'll look fine."

"I don't really care," I honestly admit. "I'm more concerned about Medusa. If I show up any less than adequate, she'll have my head."

Laine slinks down as the excitement drains out of him. "Oh."

"What?" I ask as I pick up the dress and hold it against my body.

Shit! I still need to shower!

"I just thought you were going out by choice. I should've known."

I flash a sarcastic smile at him before I go toward my bathroom. "What, and miss my nights cuddling with you? Come on, Laine!"

He snorts as he follows me into the bathroom and leans against the doorway. "Right, so exciting."

I grab the edge of the door and stare at him in annoyance. "I need to shower. Move your ass."

He defensively throws up his hands and backs away. I almost slam the door in his face for being so cynical tonight but I'm afraid the structure wouldn't be able to handle it, so I compromise on flipping him the bird and locking the door as loud as I can. Luckily, this one actually locks.

"God, you're still a bitch, Marsh," Laine laughs on the other side of the door.

"Sue me," I snap back before stripping down and getting into the shower.

Once I'm all scrubbed and clean, I wrap the towel around my waist and walk back to my room. I see the perfect pair of heels lying next to my dress and my brows raise in surprise.

Laine.

~~~

The club's bustling with people. I make an annoyed face as I walk past all the people waiting in line and head straight to the bouncer. People boo me and it takes everything in me to not flip them off.

You're here as Ellie Marsh, assistant to Daffodil. You're not just Ellie Marsh.

I repeat my name and association to Daffodil and the bouncer lets me in after skimming his clipboard. I smile at him before walking in. Right away, I can tell this place is high class. There's actually space for once and it doesn't smell like B.O. There's a pretty big dance floor but many people are observing the girls dancing in cages near the DJ booth. There are plenty of seating areas and a long bar. There's even a staircase that I'm assuming leads to private rooms, if you catch my drift.

I see Daniel awkwardly standing by Daff's side. He sticks out like a sore thumb, poor fellow. I instantly take pity on him and wish I tried harder to convince Daff on his behalf. After all, there's no reason we're both needed tonight.

His eyes undoubtedly light up when he sees me. I wave tersely as I approach the two. Medusa looks... annoyed, to put it lightly. Very annoyed. And when her fox-like eyes land on me, I gulp.

"I'm so sorry, I was working on the Bali pics and I completely lost track of time," I rush out.

She holds up a hand, effectively shutting me up. "Don't worry, Daniel explained already. I guess I should just be happy you're here." She takes her time eyeing my appearance in the dim light of the club. "You could've tried harder though."

I reply with a tight-lipped smile.

"Whatever," she waves a perfectly manicured hand. "You're here now. You see that man in the gray jacket?" She points a slender finger to someone sitting on one of the couches. "I'm trying to get his client. She's a model and is participating in the Victoria Secret Fashion Show. I want to do her makeup."

"Aren't you usually the one who gets approached?" Normally, people reach out to Daffodil rather than vice versa. She's just that good.

She gives me a look that says 'cut the attitude' even though it's a genuine question. Right away, I back down and nod. She still has the courtesy of providing an answer though. "He approached me but I can tell he still has his doubts so I've decided to turn on my charm."

"Good luck," I say sincerely. She rolls her eyes at me before tossing her coffee hair over her shoulder and walking up to the man. As she gets closer, her posture significantly improves to show she means business. I watch in amusement.

Daffodil may be a bitch, but she knows how to work a crowd. She oozes charisma and charm. People would give into her at the drop of a hat, she just has to try. She's also a self-made businesswoman. Sure, she isn't as successful as Kylie Jenner, but she's still impressive.

She's dressed immaculately. Whenever she's in public, she wears a full face of makeup. The only time I've seen her barefaced is when she's starting her makeup tutorials. Even when I rush over to her house at 6 a.m, she always seems to be caked up. It's a little ridiculous but also admirable. At least she's passionate about something.

"Can I buy you a drink?"

I pry my eyes away from Medusa and remember Danny's presence. He looks exactly how he does when he comes into work, minus the tie. He usually sticks with dress pants and a button-up, exactly what he's wearing right now.

His question comes back to me and I give him a small smile. "No, I'm good. I don't really drink anymore. Thanks though." My eyes go back to the duo sitting on the couch. The man looks seemingly laid back while Medusa is chatting animatedly.

It's funny how obsessed I was with drinking until I turned legal. Now, at the ripe age of twenty-three, I don't do it often. My old therapist in college helped me realize that alcohol is not the answer to my problems and facing issues drunk is the coward's way to go. I have to agree with her, considering I call alcohol 'liquid courage'. So, I don't drink unless Medusa absolutely forces me to. Even then, I nurse one flute of champagne the entire night just for looks.

"Do you want to grab a seat?" Danny hesitantly asks.

I'm about to say yes but my eyes fall on a guy not too far away from the duo. He's eyeing Medusa like she's a piece of meat and he can't wait to sink his teeth in.

My sole purpose for tonight is to make sure she has no distractions. Before he can approach her and interrupt her very important meeting, I slide up to him and put my hand on his chest. He's older than me, probably around the age of my boss – twenty-seven – but that can't really stop me. Plus the age difference isn't that big of a deal.

I seductively smile at him. "Mind if I cut in for a dance?"

His surprised eyes slowly darken and I inwardly roll my eyes. He looks me up and down before grabbing my hand and leading me to the dance floor. It's as if the looks he had for my boss are completely gone.

God, the things I do for my boss.

I stick it with him for a dance, even though I'm a little uncomfortable. As soon as his hands lower to my ass, I grab his wrists and give him a warning look.

"Come on baby, let's have a good time," he rasps.

Gag. I sweetly smile and force his arms up higher. "No." He smirks and lowers them again. It doesn't take long for me to grab his arm and painfully twist it.

"Fuck! You crazy bitch!"

I cock my head in amusement, tightening my hold until he lets out another scream. "Next time, when a girl says no, it's a no."

With that, I make my quick getaway before he can pull me back. I know guys like that. They're sleazy and would do anything when their ego is hurt.

Being a woman is so unsafe!

I head straight to the bar and order a coke. The bartender pours me a mug and I casually tell her to add it to Daff's bill. I'm sure she can afford a $5 soda.

Sometimes it's the little things that keep me sane.

I manage to find Danny again and plop down next to him on one of the couches that's on the outskirts of all the action. You can see the entire dancefloor from here, and we have a great view of Medusa. He looks a little surprised I'm back and sips his drink with a frown. He eyes the soda in my hand before meeting my eyes. "Nice dance?"

I groan and lean back, massaging my temples with one hand. "Men are literally despicable. What the hell does it take to find someone decent?" The way that man practically groped me and ignored my protests is sickening. I'm lucky I learned a little self-defense over the years.

"I didn't know you were looking," he replies quietly before taking another sip of his drink. I can't tell what it is but I have a strong hunch it's not alcoholic. Danny's sweet and pretty innocent when it comes to all this stuff.

Then again, I seem like the perfect little obedient angel.

That's what I like about California. I have another chance to restart. I had that chance in college but it all went downhill very fast. Here, it's a clean slate. No one knows about my past and I can only hope it stays that way.

"For a guy? No way. Now woman..." I trail, suggestively wiggling my brows. When he looks flustered, I burst out laughing and put my hand on his arm to stop myself from doubling over. "Oh my God! Your face! I'm kidding, relax Danny. I'm into men, I promise."

"I-I know," he stutters.

"But to answer your question, I guess I haven't really had time for it. Medusa really keeps us occupied."

He frowns, a small crinkle appearing between his brows. "You work too hard. You should take care of yourself more often."

I only smile in response before giving my attention back to Medusa. She's haughtily laughing, meaning she's done with the conversation. However, to other people, it seems like she's laughing with complete delight. I just know her well enough to know it's not the case.

True to my observation, both stand up and shake hands. She turns around and triumphantly smiles when her back is to him. I look at her in awe. She isn't the type of person to smile genuinely too often. When she does, it's usually when she forgets people are watching. It's like she thinks happiness is her weakness.

As she approaches us, the smile is gone and replaced by her game face. She stops short of the couch and we both stand up.

"We're done tonight. You can go."

I feel like bowing down and kissing her feet. Instead, I settle for a "thank you!" and make my way out. Daniel's hot on my heels. Medusa stays inside.

"Do you want to split a cab?" Dan asks as we reach the humid air. It's surprising that a nightclub can feel less suffocating than the actual outdoors.

I eye my phone to see the time. It's already eleven at night. I grimace. I really don't feel like taking a cab considering my place is fairly close. "I was actually planning on walking."

He eyes my heels skeptically and I mentally agree that it's a terrible idea. Not to mention, I'm a girl walking alone at night. It isn't the safest thing.

He then surprises me by saying, "I'll walk you."

"Oh, no! You don't have to!"

He waves a hand in the air. "I want to. It's not safe for a girl like you to walk alone at night." I want to point out that I can probably defend myself better than him but I know he's just being a gentleman so I refrain from the sexist comments.

"Are you sure?" I nervously bite my lip. The last thing I want to be is a hassle. He nods and gestures to start walking. I wince before putting a hand on his shoulder. "Actually, my place is this way," I point to the opposite direction of where he was heading.

His cheeks turn the slightest shade of pink in embarrassment. I brush it off and start walking. He quickly falls in step and we spend the whole walk home ranting about Medusa and how awful she is.

A great ending to a bleh day.

~

Mwahaha, time jump! Bet you didn't expect that!! (Not to state the obvious, but this book is written in 2 parts, this being the second.)