His business was all that mattered to him, never his only daughter, never me.

Sometimes, I wondered if I was just a pawn in his business, a tool to be used for his benefit, but whenever that thought crossed my mind, he would do something, say something that only rooted my feet further into his soil, made me feel more connected to him. After all, he was the only family I had left.

Today was just another one of his attempts at father-daughter bonding, a pathetic one if I viewed it from the window of reality.

I strapped my grey heels before standing up from the bed, my heels clicking against the pearly white tiles, its echo bouncing off the walls as I walked to the vanity mirror situated in the corner of my room. Hazel orbs gazed back at me, following the outlines of my auburn strands that framed my face as my slender fingers traced the single flyaway back into the tightly knotted bun sitting comfortably on the nape of my neck.

A sole knock on my bedroom door sounded, making my eyes roll to the back of my head as an extended breath passed through my parted lips. My mind failed to pay any heed to it as I picked up the jade blazer, slipping it over the white blouse I had tucked inside the emerald dress trousers, completing my suit.

The swift movements of my hands for the final time made sure to polish the look I was going for; Edmund Pierce's daughter. A title that had become my only identity, after all, the multiple attempts by my other attributes to overthrow that title all ended in vain.

Stuffing my phone in my purse, I slid its strap over my shoulder as I headed out of my room, being mindful of closing the door behind me as a sign for the housekeeping to stay out. The quick clicking of my heels followed me down the spiral stairs as I walked straight through the main door held open for me. "Morning, Grace." My tight smile greeted her, void of much emotion as I slipped past her and towards the black car right in front. With each step closer, the displeased expression on his features became more vivid as his seated figure exuded annoyance.

Just like before, the door to the back was held open for me. "Good morning, Calvin." The monotonous words received a nod of the driver's head as he pressed the door shut after I took my seat.

"You always have to take your time, don't you?" The bored tone mocked me, his frame leaning back comfortably against the leather of the seat. His fingers ran through his scruffy beard as I shifted my gaze. "Wasn't I clear enough last night that when I knock at your door, I want you ready and in the car?"

The gentle hum of the engine filled the silence as I rummaged through my brain for words that would avoid an argument right now. "A girl needs her time, Dad."

"It's time you stop acting like a girl and be a woman." His displeasure was injected into each word. "You are Eleanora Pierce, act like it."

His intended pressure on Pierce was all he wanted to highlight, all I ever was to him, and this earned him my mild glare. "Isn't it enough I am attending this meeting with you?" My attitude was something he had gotten used to at this point.

"You are not doing me any favours, Eleanora," he scoffed, "If you weren't my only child, I wouldn't have bothered." His words stopped stinging at an early age and now I could only chuckle.

"Don't know if that is my bad luck or yours."

"A little bit of both." His mocking smile was countered by one of my own, a successful effort to bite down on my tongue from giving him a piece of my mind.

I turned away from him, my figure leaning close to the door with my stare focusing on the passing buildings, a blur to my eyes as the car drove past them in a hurry. They stood tall, towering over the road we drove on as the morning sun rays reflected from the bright blue glass. It only took around fifteen to twenty minutes from the house to the office deep in the city centre so I only had to stay this close to him for another ten minutes, give or take.

The soft click-clack of his phone keyboard was followed by his words, "There is a new addition to the meeting." My lips never moved to respond so he continued, "I do not trust him entirely. We had some interactions several years ago, but if everything goes well today, I'm planning to try him in both businesses."

I took out the small, compact mirror from my purse, holding it up to my face as my middle finger tapped my nude lip. "You do you, Dad."

The mention of both his businesses brought a sour taste to my mouth. The name Pierce was very well known in the world of construction, it was no secret that Edmund Pierce worked his day and night into one to establish the construction giant it is now but behind this giant stood a brooding monster, his other business, his illegal child as I called it, that had consumed my father, fueled his greed and became the bane of his existence.

"Eleanora, I want none of that today," he slipped his phone back into his beige suit jacket. "Bite your tongue, stay on your best behaviour, and stick to the agenda." His gruff voice resonated with authority.

Who would've thought that my twenty-six-year-old self would still be taking orders from my father. "I wouldn't give you a reason to off me, Daddy." I smiled sarcastically, my gaze not leaving my reflection from the compact mirror as my fingers brushed over my cheekbone.

The sun's heat warmed my face, or maybe it was the anger simmering in the pit of my stomach. With one last look at my sun-kissed complexion, I shut the mirror close, sliding it back into my purse just as the car came to a halt in front of our destination.

Pierce Enterprise.

The urge to get away from my father and his unreasonable commands was strong, coercing me to push open the door without waiting for one of his employees to open it for me, walking ahead of him as we entered the building.

The building was one of the tallest in the area, something my father held great pride in, claiming it stood on top of his blood, sweat, and tears.

The marble floors shone under the bright lights emitting from the grand chandelier that hung low from the high ceiling. The grandeur of architectural excellence always had people stopping in their tracks to stare, taking in the art pieces that were littered across the lobby, some decorated the table as a centrepiece for people who waited, seated on the plush sofas whilst other artistic statements hung on the bright walls.

I remembered being awestruck when I first walked in, but now after many years in this firm, my focus was stuck on the line of elevators beyond the single desk, extending long enough for a handful of office workers to sit, some with their individual screens, as they assisted the people. A single big vase sat right in the middle of the front desk, stuffed with a variety of long-stemmed floral, intricately adorned, showcasing radiant colours and leading with a pleasant aroma.

"Welcome, Miss Eleanora." Olivia's lean frame came into view, her clipboard in hand. "Mr. Pierce." She nodded in my father's direction who already caught up to me.

"Brief me on the status." My father's steel eyes never met her but the guttural command towards his secretary was enough to shake her in her heels as she followed with quick feet.

"All four of your guests have been guided to the conference room, I have informed them that you'll be joining shortly." Olivia depressed the button to the elevator on the far right, which was always for his use only. "Eould you like some refreshments to be brought to your office before you head to the meeting?"

"No, I'll deal with the meeting first. I'll let you know when I need you." He stepped in as soon as the doors slid open and I followed suit behind him.

"Of course, Sir." Olivia walked away, hurrying to attend to some of the many tasks my father had piled up on her.

I pushed the button for the fortieth floor, exclusive for the meeting we held with high officials of other companies, and now waited in silence alongside him.

"The addition I mentioned, " he spoke from behind me, "Maintain distance from him, I don't trust him yet." It was a repetition of his earlier words.

"I doubt he's as dangerous as you."

"Must you always be so against me, Eleanora?" He was tired of me already.

"Give me a reason not to be." I smiled over my shoulder.

"Whatever," he dismissed, "I better not see you mingling with that boy." I rolled my eyes but my ears did perk up at his choice of words; boy. Did he mean this meeting would include someone other than old, wrinkly men in a three-piece suit?

The ding of the elevator cleared my head and I stepped out, facing a long carpeted hallway that led to a glass door. From the distance, I took notice of the figures already seated through the glass.

Pushing the door open, the room quickly settled, the voices hushed as their stare fell upon me, scrutinising me as if they had never seen me before. Behind me, he entered; Edmund Pierce, his presence bringing everyone to stand to their feet. Their behaviour earned my eye roll.

Of course, I get welcomed with judgment and he gets respect.

The length of the table stretched along the middle of the room with chairs lined against it and standing next to the chairs were dad's guests. The glass walls not only illuminated the room but also gave a perfect view of the skyline.

A suffocated chuckle inadvertently escaped through my nostrils, my lips squeezed shut at the sight of defiance seated at the opposite head of the table, right in front of where my father was supposed to sit. His eyes were already stuck to my movements as he further relaxed into his leather seat, not acknowledging my father's presence like the others who were still standing. His elbow rested on top of the wood of the table as his thumb toyed with the silver ring on his finger, the other arm placed on the armrest. The dark stubble peppered across his face, highlighting his light lips that sat thin and unimpressed, devoid of any emotion.

I presume this was the boy.