I wake up from the beautiful memory to only land onto a hospital bed.
An irritating tube attached to my hand as I guard my eyes using it,trying to block the blinding lights.

"Aghhhh"

I say to only have someone dim the lights, the creases on my forehead vanishing as I finally look around.

"Good morning, how are you feeling?"

I just stare at a lady standing beside me for few seconds.To realise where I was...at a hospital.
Not fond of them but definately acquainted well.

"What happened?"

I ask rubbing my forehead to see the doctor beside me, adjusting the drip.

"A ligament tear, a minor fracture in prosterior of vertebra and a sprained ankle."

I just take a deep breath to only hold in a scream.

Fuc*!

My back hurts like shi*. And breathing hurts even worse. The doctor takes in my painful expression and sighs.

"It will hurt for few days....but luckily nothing that can't heal with time....3 weeks at max."

Thank God! I look around to see the place....

Wait a minute.. wasn't I sleeping in that muddy hole last night? When and how did I came here?

"How...how did I came here?"

I ask and the doctor looks up at me from the clipboard in her hands.

"Sir Lockwood brought you here.... don't you remember?"

I lower my head, feeling embarressed.

"No....I......"

"It's fine. You may have fainted because of the fatigue and pains. It happens."

I gulp again looking around at the 5 star ambience....damn man this place looks expensive....how will I pay the bill?

"Excuse me....if you don't mind can you please call anyone from your family...."

I look up at her surprised. Gulping and not knowing what to say.

"There are some formalities to be taken care of."

"I...I am afraid there is no one...is it compulsory?"

I ask and she stares at me , surprised.

"No one? Mother, father....sister... brother...uncle?"

I just move my head in a no. Controlling the tears which were at the brink of falling.
Not looking up at her.

She just nods after a few minutes of silence and leaves.
With a low.

"I am sorry."

I just lay back on the bed. Family? The word was foreign now.
I have been alone since so long....it doesn't even matter now.

I was used to this....you are stronger than this Vivian...you don't need anyone.

With this thought I close my eyes and give in to the much needed sleep.

............

      3 weeks later

Ethan was struggling, managing work these past few weeks have been difficult. Especially with the absence of his secretary.

Rubbing his tired eyes,he heard a knock on the door and he replies lowly without looking up.

"Come in"

The door opens and closes but the person doesn't say anything.

"Speak"

He says sounding tired.

"Here is your schedule for today Sir.......we are having a shoot at 11.....with Ms Gloria Valentine.....And here your......coffee."

Ethan looks up, surprised to see her familiar face.
Eyes downcasted, a file in one hand and a cup of coffee in another.

Moving back his seat,he places one leg on the other and just stares.

She was back already? If he remembers correctly he gave her a month off.

"What are you doing here?"

He asks coldly,still not taking the burning cup of coffee from her hands.

"Sir..  The doctors said I...I am fine now..."

He again doesn't say anything for a minute.
Taking the cup of coffee from her hands,he places it on his table and approaches her.

She feels afraid stepping back. With him stepping forward.
Cornering her, he sees her eyes set on the floor and hands clutched on the folder.

A harsh pull is felt and next she knows,he has pulled the files from her hand.
Surprising her.

"Go home Miss Vivian. I don't have time for convincing and sh**"

With this he turns around to leave when her widened eyes met his back.

"Sir please-"

He doesn't pay heed. Unless she comes and literally blocks his path.
Determined eyes fixed at him.

"I am fine now...I wanted to come to work willingly.......plus you paid the hospital bills.."

"I ...I am really thankful sir...but you didn't had to..."

He smirks raising an eyebrow at her. Hands placed in his pockets as he questions her.

"You think you are someone really special... don't you miss Vivian?"

She gulps and gives him a confused look.

"I don't understand Sir..."

Looking around he takes a deep breath before, nearly pushing her back on his table.
A gasp leaves her lips as she gets trapped between the table and his big frame.

"I didn't paid you hospital bills ......you will repay them to me."

"$50586 in total."

Shock covers her features....she can't afford so much money....he can't be serious!

"But -"

"Each month the amount will be deducted from your salary and when it's paid......you will get your first pay."

Her mouth opens and closes in shock. She has bills to pay dammit! Electricity...water...food! How will she afford it.

"It....it's wrong.........

Sir"

Surprised,he moves closer to her. Taking in her fragrance.

"Excuse me?"

"You ...you can't do something like that Sir...I was hurt...while doing the office work....you...you can't charge the hospital bills on me."

She stammers but still says, looking back at him from under her eyelashes.
His jaw clenches ,nose almost close to her.

But not touching.....

"Oh really Miss Vivian? Last I remember it was your foolishness that landed you in a damn hole at 12 o clock at night."

"I...was delivering the samples."

He smirks again,eyes moving lower to stare at her lips.

"Ah the samples....how can I forget the Samples that got drained with the rain...instead of reaching the FW companies office"

"I ....I.....was really on official work....why will I be there in the first place.....you can't charge me for the bill......it was your company's work I was doing!"

She raises her voice till the end and he closes his eyes.
Moving up to show her his finger.
Asking her to shut it.

"Shhhh mind your tone Miss Vivian"

"No one talks to me in that tone..... standing in my office Miss Vivian"

He has turned more rude over the years and her? More independent. Staring back into his cold eyes she answers.

"Then I am afraid someone needs to. "

"I will sue your firm Mr Ethan Lockwood."

And that's was it. Fires of rage burned in his eyes as he looked down at her in nothing but hated.
Moving closer,he makes her bend further back on the mahogany table.
His breath hitting her lips and body caging her.

"Things like this don't suit coming from a bitc*** mouth who was convicted for murder."

"And trust me when I say I will make you land back into that pathetic place if you don't realise your place..... here in this office Miss Vivian"

"Everything here is owned by me....the table to you lean on right now....the floor below your feet and even......."

"The air you breathe."

She gulps, wishing to say much more but biting her tongue she stop herself.
She needs the money...or she will be on streets.

She will die before she asks all those that left her for help again.

Her father....her sister...were all dead for her.
And even this man who stood in front of her.

"Is it understood, Miss Vivian?"

He asks challenging her. The twisted position of her back being stretched on the table hurting like sh**. But she doesn't show it.

With a cold look. She answers.
Eyes still defiant.

"Yes"

He doesn't like that defiance in her eyes.
Staring back at her and moving closer....he makes her lean further on the table and her back to ache more.

"Yes What Miss Vivian?"

This bast***! Vivian wanted to scream at him but doesn't.

"Yes ,Sir"

She emphasis on Sir and he moves back, making her take a deep breath of relief.
Throwing the folder back at her,her unsteady hands manage to catch them.

As they make an eye contact one last time.

"We leave for the shoot in 5.You will be assisting Gloria today."

And that was it, closing the door. He was gone leaving her devastated, even worst than a disaster.

If only she knew, another disaster was already on its way.

Known as Gloria Valentine

Ethan Lockwood's girlfriend.

.........................

It was a sunny day today, the beach sun burning the sand under her feet.

He sat comfortably on his chair, drinking a cooler with fingers tapping on the table.Expensive branded shades hiding his eyes from the sun or rather giving him a leverage to look at the girl running from one place to another without her noticing.

Boxes in her hands as she listened to everyone's orders,preparing for the shoot beside the beautiful beach.

"Get me the latest edition of the  Arabic El E Oudh !"

The director screams and Vivian nods, running back into the vanity and getting it, breathing heavily.

"Not this one stupid girl! The green one! Hurry!"

She holds her stomach ,  nodding. Her feet bare as she goes for yet another sprint again, making a smile to linger on Ethan's lips
Oh boy,how he was enjoying the show today.

The chaos was common on shoots, but the honours for today's session goes to the young sensational model covering the front pages of fashion magazines.

Stepping out of her car,she is surrounded by paparazzi . A beautiful black dress adoring her that contrasts with the white of the beach, making her stand out.
An expensive bag loosely hanging on her forearm as she puts in her shades and enters.

Everyone expected her to go to her vanity, but instead she detours to walk towards the brown eyes boy sitting in solitude inside this chaotic shoot.

Ignoring everyone following,she greets Ethan with a kiss on his either cheek, staring at him seductively.

"Missed me sweetheart?"

He pulls her closer, his hand resting on her naked waist as he whispers in her ear.
Aware of a pair of green eyes staring at them.

"I missed this more."

And with that,he smirks and turns her face to land his lips on her. Gloria kisses back immediately,her hands entangling in his hair as she deepens it.

Camera clicking is heard in the background, but Ethan's not concerned about it,his eyes still fixed at those green orbs which no longer stared back at him.

Instead they were lowered to the ground, knowing once she was the one here in his arms.

But now?

She killed the bond that developed between them....she killed it herself.

Ethan smirks and breaks the kiss, enjoying her reaction.
While Gloria chuckles and steals a peck from his lips again.

"See you after the shoot. Lock."

She leaves swaying her hips, making Vivian to come out of her thoughts and follow her.
After all she was her assistant for the day.

.
.
.
.
"Why can't you hold it still. Here like this! "

Gloria screams at Vivian whose hands were shaking due to fatigue. Lifting the heavy boxes has made her arms muscles shiver and scream in protest.

"I....I...am sorry ma'am.."

Gloria just rolls her eyes at her. And the shoot begins the n th time again. With Gloria spraying the perfume and flipping her hair in the artificial wind.

Her sundress flying with the air as she poses, seductively yet elegantly.

"Cut!"

And that's when Vivian again rushes to her, regretting of not taking the one week leave offered to her.
Her back has started aching and she knew she was over exerting.

"Get me something to drink!"

"Get me the white sundress!"

"Who will get the gladiators dammit!"

"Why are you so fuc**** slow!"

.
.
.
.2 hours later

"Okay guys! This is the last shoot for today! It's for the oceanic blue latest edition!"

"We go a bit deep into the water....on that rock over there. Gloria...come on my love..give your best pose."

"Yes... that's it...perfect!"

Gloria was standing on top of a rock posing. While Vivian just stared at the water.
It was too deep ....too deep....it screamed danger to her and she was feeling her anxiety hitting.

The memories were too much....the water...it brought them all alive.
Moving her head in a no,she was going to go back when one of the girls holds her hands.

"Vivian? Go Miss Gloria is calling you.....give her some water...."

She moves her head in a no,when the girl nearly pushes her back into the water... someone hands her over the bottle and she starts taking slow steps.

You can do it Vivian...it's just water .. don't be afraid....

"Hurry up girl we don't have the entire day!"

Gloria screams and she nods, getting on top of the rock and giving her the water. Vivian's eyes fixed at the never-ending sea behind her and that's when a vision hits her.

"I ....I... can''t breathe Sophie! I ..can't...!"

"......hold onto me...come on..Viv......"

"Help .... please....help!!!!!!!!!"

"Sophieeeeeeee!!!!"

Vivian lost her balance,the vision making her body turn cold. In desperate need for support she lands on Gloria instead and next they know.....both fall off the rock, with Vivian below.

"Ahhhh you stupid girl! Fuc* it! You ruined my dress dammit!"

Gloria screams at Vivian...who was too lost to interpret anything... holding onto the rock for support, her senses finally came back to look at everyone staring at her with accusing eyes.

She gulps.

"Who hired this useless piece if sh**! Fire her!"

"Maa'm are you fine! Are you hurt! Wait the medics are here!"

All the staff flocked around Gloria while no one cared about Vivian. Who struggled to stand on her own...her back hurting worse.

Spitting out the water, she cleaned the tears in her eyes. Seeing everyone leaving her alone.

Her hand automatically moves to the corner of her lip and she sighs... breathing heavily.
The water proof make up....she was again wearing it today.
But still she needs to check first.

Happy for once that no one cared for an unimportant girl like her, for her being in the shadows of some supermodel.

Rushing out of the water she hadn't taken two steps when a voice stops her.
The person standing in front of her, making her hands to cover her mouth instantly.

"That was a nice stunt you pulled out there. Enjoyed the attention ?"

Sh** man! Ethan Lockwood stood right in front of her, with hands in his short pockets and a taunting glint in his eyes.

Desperate to leave him and check her makeup,she tries walking past him when she is pulled back by a harsh grip on her arm.
Making her widened eyes to look back at his calm brown ones.

"Why are you covering your face?"

Was all he asked, making all the colour to drain from her face.
Double sh**!

               .....