Past...

The night the Millers died

"Jake, it's late. What are you doing?"

She asked her twenty-year old son as she stepped into his room after knocking. Jake raised his eyes from his tablet to look at his mother with a mischievous smile.

"Planning a party for the success of my coming exams."

She shook her head, "You are too confident. First you should pass and then you'll plan the party."

He surprised her when he flung the tablet away and jumped off the bed and landed in front of her. He said in a deliberate hurtful tone, "You...you don't trust me in doing well? I am hurt. My own mother doesn't trust me."

Elena Houston Hills sighed deeply, "Jake...I trust you, son."

He laughed at her, "So much seriousness?! I was joking!"

She shuffled his hair and said, "Goodnight, son."

Elena closed the door and looked at the time. She was tired. That job as the headmistress of Whiteleaf school was killing her. So many problems with so many parents! She had one last thing to do. She walked to her husband's study. She had wanted to talk to him since so many days.

She had notice that he had some kind of tension but he had not talk to her about anything. Now that she had a little time, that was the perfect moment to discuss. She slightly pushed open the study door and heard additional unfamiliar voice.

She listened hard and heard her husband talkling, "Here you go. Now after the work, go away from here. At least for two years."

Another voice responded, "Killing the Miller family would be easy. If you have other jobs like that, you know where to find us."

Elena was shocked at what she heard. She hastily stepped away from the door and hid in another room. Killing the Miller family would be easy? That was impossible. She should have wrongly heard. She had talked to Emily Miller that morning about her daughter's 17th birthday.

When she was assured the men were gone, she slowly stepped into the study room. "Robertz?"

When he turned to her, he was more than pleased. She was more fearful. "Yes darling?" He walked to her and caressed her hair, "I'm so happy today. You can't know. I...I feel free!"

She swallowed hard, "Why?"

He smiled, "I've made a fantastic deal!" "Wh...what deal, Robertz?"

He stared at her and then frowned. He tightened his grip around her, "Elena...did you hear something?" She felt sick.

He violently shook her, "Answer me, damn it!"

She angrily shouted, "You sent this two men to kill the Miller family! What's wrong with you? You're not a murderer! Just stop them, Robertz." He released her.

She had heard everything. Elena slowly stepped back towards the door. "Stom them, Robertz. You'll get into trouble." Robertz looked at her murderously, "I'm doing all this for us, for Jake. I can't continue working under them and soon, I'm sure Jake would do the same! I want Jake to earn respect!"

"He is your best friend! I...I'm going to call them, Robertz. I can't let you commit any crimes."

Before she could ran away to the fixed phone in the living room, Robertz raised his hand and slapped her hard. "You're not doing anything, Elena!"

She felt down and wiped off the blood from her mouth and stared at him, wondering if he really hit her. She was no more in control of herself. He was way too strong for her to deal with. Robertz grabbed her by the blouse and lifted her up. Two buttons were snatched in the process but were pitifully ignored.

Robertz threatened, "You won't say anything Elena. Promise me."

She shrieked as she felt pain. She could barely speak nor could she breathe. "Robertz please...Let me go."

She managed to say between the few air that she had left. He released her and she felt on her knees. What had happened? What was she doing? She had to inform Andrew and Emily about the danger.

Robert knelt beside her and stared deeply in her terrified yet determined eyes, "If you know how much I love you, Ellie. My Elena." He grasped her hair and banged her head on the floor itself. The last thing she knew was the total darkness that invaded her.

Robert looked at his wife and sighed deeply. He lifted her in his arms and whispered as he silently walked towards the main door, "I'll put you in a place where you'll not cause any trouble to me." Her breathing against his neck was even.

He knew she was unconscious. He would never killed her; he loved her too much for that but he loved his desire--that is, to kill the Miller-- as much. He had suffered for too long. It had to stop. He deposited her in his car and drove away. He had to think what to tell Jake the next day.

Present

Victoria was fidgeting with the things that was in the room she had been interviewed. She walked by a shelf and scrutinised all the objects that were neatly displayed. She observed the photograph that attracted her attention. Her expertised eyes easily notice that the photo was torn. Only Robertz and a younger Jake hills stood side by side. She supposed the other part of the torn photo contained her mother since she noticed a few blond hairs at the side of the photo.

She was about to take it in her hand when she heard, "Victoria Hyland!"

She nearly let it slipped from her hand. She stabilised the photograph and turned towards Jake. "Yes, Mr Hills? Already made the contract?"

She felt the urge to run away at the way he was stampeding towards her. Anger was smouldering in his bluish eyes. He grabbed her arm and solemnly ordered, "Out of my office!"

So that room was his office? It was so gloomy like the man itself. He could have at least pulled the curtains and opened a window. She let herself being pulled away and once they were out of his office, he threw her towards the wall and pointed his finger to her, "You don't have the right. Who do you think you are?"

She smiled as she brushed off the dust from her clothes as if his hand had dirtied them, "Your father's new secretary, Mr Hills. You have the contract?"

Jake wanted to strangle her. She was not at all disturbed by her misconduct even though he had clearly shown her. His shouting had no effect on her and that thought was frustrating. He had much to do other than being here with her and yet, he felt compelled to make her understand. "Listen to me Victoria. There are certain rules here that all must abide to."

She was bored. She wanted the contract and he was talking about rules. Would she not have to read them in her Employment Contract all the same. Jake continued, "First rule; you are not allowed to enter my office. You are only an employee; so behave like one...Second rule; I am your boss, so respect me. Third rule...You are--"

Vitoria deliberately cleared her voice and interrupted him as politely as possible, "Mr Hills, if you permit me, let me correct you. You are not my boss but your father is. Excuse me."

She had the guts to turn her back to him, ignored him as if he was a nuisance. He watched her as she took perfect strides, her stiletto heels sounding like an antique metronome. She was the perfect example of a confident and fearless woman. Something was strange about her though; she seemed to be motivated by something he could not figure. Her purpose here was not for the job only or maybe it was not for the job at all. Was he imagining things?

Victoria knocked at the door that was found at the end of the corridor. That was where her enemy resided in this edifice. The small speaker stuck near the door above which there was a camera creaked slowly before saying, "Come in!"

Victoria opened the door and said as she walked in, "Good morning, sir. I am your new secretary. Mr Jake Hills sent me."

As she saw him, she struggled not to let the anger come out. She struggled to remain as natural as possible. The question was: would he recognised her? If yes, then she'd kill him right away and if no, that was good for both him and her since she would have time to make him suffer pain worse than death. He gestured towards a chair and she automatically took a place.

"I am Robertz Hills. I need your signature."

Good, he did not recognise her. Robertz observed her as she read the contract. Although she appeared to be a little younger than he had expected, He trusted his son's judgement. The girl seemed smart. She'd be of good help. As soon as Victoria imposed her signature, Robertz said, "How do I call you?"

She responded, "Victoria Hyland." Robertz made a handshake with her.

"Welcome to our company, Victoria. I'll ask Jake to personally assist you in your induction training." The induction training was done to show a new worker around the organisation. This would be a good thing for her. She would learn about the company's weaknesses. Their weaknesses were her strengths.

"Jake! What are you looking at?" Lillian asked as he was standing in the middle of the corridor just before his office.

"Jake!" He gazed at her, at first not even realising who was talking to him and then, he exclaimed, "Lillian! Tell me."

She laughed and snapped her fingers in front of him, "You tell me! In what world are you lost?" Jake shook his head, "Forget about that. Let's proceed to my office. We have some information about Teracom Company, right?" Lillian insisted, curious of what he might be thinking, "Tell me, Jake. Please."

Since she so wanted to know that his mind was disturbed by Victoria Kate Hyland, he would let her know. "It's about dad's new secretary...I just hired her."

No. Jake rarely talked about a woman and she knew he did not cared about them. He cared only for her.

"What's about her? She's beautiful? You like her?" Lillian felt insecure all of a sudden. She prayed to God the answer would not be a stab to her. Jake belonged to her. She was the only woman who had a right on him. And she was sure that the love she had for him was reciprocal. Or else, why was she the only woman he liked to talk to? She held an important place in his life; he had himself once told her.

Jake closed his office door and chuckled, "Don't be silly, Lily. When I hardly know her, how do you expect me to like her? Concerning her beauty, yes she is. Only on the exterior. Who knows? She might a dark person inside. The only woman who have a place in that tight heart of mine is you, my sweet Lily. And I know you are beautiful, both inside and outside."

His remarks never failed to make her heart skip a beat. She threw her arms around him and whispered, "Aw, how I love you, Jake!"

He caressed her hair as he returned the embrace, "Love you too, Lillian. Now, let's not get too emotional and settle down for work."

She knew that one day he'd fulfil her heart's secret desire; he would propose her to live with him forever. She would wait. She had waited for three years for that. A little more waiting wouldn't hurt her.