CHAPTER ONE 

 "Yes ma'am, I understand. I'll be there very soon." Isla said, trying to hold her stuff together. She carelessly placed her phone in her ear and supported it with her shoulder as she tried to hold her laptop and her books together at the same time.

 She was on a call with her boss and had been instructed to come to the studio as they had a shoot to do. 

"Yes ma'am, I'll leave now. Oh shit!" She said as her books fell to the floor.

"No ma'am, I wasn't referring to you. Yes ma'am, okay, bye." She quickly said and hung up the call.

She quickly bent down to pick up her books and noticed some of them were torn.

"Oh no." She muttered.

She quietly picked them up and put them into her small bag. She ran back to class to talk to her friend, Melissa.

"I have to go now. My boss needs my help." She said panting.

"For what? Can't it wait? You've been missing classes." Melissa said with a frown.

"I know, I know. But I need to do it, you know the situation right? Please don't stop me. I also have a package to deliver, I'll try to do that after work."

"You won't come back? Even to study?" Melissa said.

"Don't worry about that, take notes and send them to me. Thank you, love you, bye." She said and ran out again.

Melissa just shook her head in pity.

"I feel for her, damn." She muttered.

Isla was twenty-one years old. She was studying business management in school. Her father was late and she had four siblings to help her mother train as the first child. She had to work as an assistant in a photography studio and endured her annoying boss. She also had an online mini thrift store. Her mother worked in a soap company and her pay wasn't high.

********

Ethan walked briskly, in his black tuxedo and dark glasses, with his hands in his pocket. His personal assistant walked behind him, holding his briefcase.

"Welcome boss." One of the pretty female staff greeted them with a cheerful smile, but Ethan only grunted in reply.

All other staff avoided him totally, which was cool with him because he didn't actually care.

He got to the front of the elevator, and his personal assistant quickly pressed the button. They both got in, another female staff also got in.

"Hello, boss. I love your tuxedos, you sure know how to make beautiful designs, these are one of a kind." The staff said.

Ethan ignored her.

"Umm...boss?" She called again, trying to get his attention.

"Who are you?" Ethan asked without looking her way.

"Ava Williams, sir." She said.

" I want your resignation letter on my desk," Ethan said.

The elevator stopped and he walked out. His personal assistant followed him immediately, leaving the confused girl wondering what she had done wrong.

Ethan got to his office and walked

 straight to the shelf. He used his finger to wipe it as if looking for traces of dust.

"Everything is clean and sparkly. I made sure of that." Nicholas, his personal assistant said.

"Hmmph," Ethan murmured.

He walked to his desk and wiped it again, while Nicholas watched with an amused look on his face.

"After the incident last time, I was strict with the office cleaning. Relax." Nicholas said again.

Ethan shrugged and sat down on his chair.

"So, where are the files?" Ethan asked.

Nicholas sighed.

"Take a chill pill bro. You haven't had lunch yet. You didn't even have breakfast."

"I'm not hungry Nick. Look, there's not much time. I need to go through those files, I heard there were some letters too from people seeking employment. Dispose them all, there are no vacancies." Ethan said.

"Speaking of letters, don't you think you were too hard on Miss Ava? She was just being nice." Nicholas said with a shrug.

Ethan glared at him.

"I'll go get the files," Nicholas said and left.

Ethan sighed and held his forehead with his hands.

*******

Isla rushed into the studio sweating profusely, she ran all the way there as she didn't want to spend money on transportation.

"Sorry, I'm late." She said, panting.

"Good, you're finally here. Quickly set up the lights, get the chairs too. Hurry!" Her boss Madison ordered.

Isla kept her things in a corner and immediately got to work.

"Mrs. Ivan wants a flowery look. Go get the props." Madison ordered.

Isla was still busy setting up the lights when the instruction came.

"Yes ma'am. I'll do that as soon as I'm done with this."

"Hurry up Isla. There is no time, we don't have all day. Stop acting like a slug!" Madison yelled.

"Yes ma'am."

Isla hurriedly set up the lights and ran out to get the props. There were different colors of flowers in the prop room, she didn't know which one was needed, so she went back to ask.

"Ma'am, what colors of flowers do we need?"

Madison glared at her.

"Are you crazy? You mean you've forgotten so soon? Oh damn, you're so dumb. Mrs Ivan booked this shoot weeks ago, and we literally planned everything. Why the hell are you asking me what color when everything has been planned out? Go get the red and yellow flowers, silly girl." Madison yelled.

Isla sighed and walked back to the props room. She took the red and yellow flowers, but when Mrs Ivan was adorned with them, she noticed the color combination wasn't right.

"Ma'am, how about we use a different color, the color combination doesn't fit." She suggested.

"Oh...you don't only forget things easily, you also forgot that I'm the boss and you're nothing. Do not teach me my work." Madison warned sternly.

"M...m..miss, I th..think she's right." The stylist stammered.

"What the hell is wrong with you both? This is the color the client wants. Why are you both trying to act smart here when it's obvious you both are dumb." Madison said.

Mrs Ivan chuckled softly.

"Madison, let's hear them out." She said and turned to Isla.

"Let's hear your suggestion, dear."

Isla's throat dried instantly as she noticed Madison's deadly stare.

"Okay?" Mrs Ivan said.

"Umm...I....how about purple and yellow? I think it goes better." Isla said.

"Wow, brilliant. Madison, that's a brilliant suggestion from Isla. Let's do it."

Madison rolled her eyes.

"Fine then. Isla, go get the flowers."

Isla smiled as she hurriedly got the flowers and of course, the combination was perfect as it also suited Mrs Ivan's skin tone.

Isla smiled proudly as she saw her suggestion come to life.

She had gone to get water for Mrs Ivan when she heard a loud bang and scream from the studio.

"Isla!!" She heard Madison's voice yelling urgently.

Isla immediately turned...