Chapter 5 Devil of a President

• Antonia Traver's POV
• Right before the car could slam into the man, I pulled him away. It might have been a tad too forceful, since both of us fell down. Everyone gasped in horror and shock, but all I felt was pain and agony in my arm as it hit the ground.
• The Rolls-Royce was already gone when I knew it, and Dallas' guards came to capture the man.
• "Curse you, Stone! Curse you! I wish you were dead!" the man yelled, but someone stuffed his mouth and dragged him away like he was a dog.
• I could sympathize with the man. Dad once told me the corporate world was like a warzone, though to me it felt more like hell. One wrong step and it would be over for all of us, and that man in the Rolls-Royce was the one controlling our fates. Alas, we had to sell ourselves to that overlord if we needed to put food on the table.
• Just when I was about to leave, I got a message about my bank balance. The kindergarten fees cost twenty-five thousand dollars, leaving me with about six hundred dollars in my account.
• Kindergartens sure cost a lot. A year of tuition and food for three kids costs twenty-five thousand dollars? Six hundred isn't even enough to buy them formula. What should I do? I struggled internally for a while before eventually turning around to go into the building.
• So what if I had to work with Michael? Not like he could do anything to me when everyone was around. Actually, he had a point. I was no longer the same rich woman I used to be. I was a mother who had kids to raise, and dignity wasn't a priority when survival was on the list.
• While I was waiting for the elevator in the lobby, I saw a bunch of bodyguards escorting someone to the VIP elevator. Everyone bowed and greeted him as he walked past them. "Good morning, Mr. Stone."
• I couldn't see what the man looked like from where I stood, but I knew he was Dallas Group's president—Elijah Stone.
• For some reason, he looked oddly familiar to me. I was reminded of the male escort who slept with me all those years ago, but that was impossible. I shook my head, telling myself to wake up. Stop dreaming. No way he's that guy.
• Why am I reminded of that male escort whenever I see a guy who is built like him? No way a powerful company president like Elijah could be the guy who slept with me at Twilight Bar.
• Elijah Stone's POV
• I entered my office, and one of my men told me Gasque Looney was already apprehended. They also took the liberty to look into that woman.
• Larry reported, "Mr. Stone, the woman who pulled Gasque away was a bystander… No, wait, she just reported for duty five minutes ago. She's now a secretary working on the thirteenth floor. Her name is Antonia Traver."
• I grunted.
• Antonia Traver. The daughter of Traver Corporation's late president. I knew that a long time ago. Her father killed herself after the family went bankrupt, and then she disappeared from this city. Now she's back and working in my company? Good. I'll have the chance to see if she's worthy of being my partner.
• Unlike me, Dolph was stoked about the news. Just like a child, everything he said and did came from a place of instinct, not rationality. All he wanted to do was make love to Antonia and imprint on her.
• I couldn't do anything about that, so I told Dolph to take it slow. If we made a move on a woman who just started working in my company, it might scare her away.
• Antonia Traver's POV
• I went to the HR Department and reported for duty. They would pay me eleven hundred dollars during probation, insurance included. Once I passed probation, they would increase my pay by three hundred dollars.
• After I went through the paperwork, I wondered if eleven hundred dollars would be enough for the family. The kids' formula cost about a grand a month, and then there were also bills to pay.
• Just when I was swimming in my dilemma, some of the employees came over and greeted me. "Hi, Miss Traver. Welcome to the Administrative Department."
• "Thank you." I shook their hands. This was my first job, and getting along with my colleagues was imperative.
• And then they said, "We're holding a welcoming ceremony for new employees like usual. Are you fine with that?"
• I quickly answered, "Sure. Food and drinks are on me."
• My colleagues seemed happy. "That's a good girl. We'll head to the restaurant after work."
• "Sure."
• I still had some work after everyone had clocked out, so they waited for me downstairs.
• After I finished my job, I picked up my bag and rushed to the elevator, but the doors were already shut. The VIP elevator's doors opened though, so I dashed into that elevator without thinking. I don't have much time here.
• "This is the president's elevator. Leave," the bodyguard chided.
• "Huh?" I turned around and saw that devil of a president standing behind the bodyguard. He gave his bodyguard a look, and his bodyguard didn't chase me out anymore. I quickly turned back around, my heart thumping like crazy. I'm in the same elevator as Elijah Stone himself!