Rima’s POV
As I walked into the bustling café, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled my senses. I glanced around, searching for a quiet corner to focus on my job search. I had just moved to the city two weeks ago, leaving behind a life that was no longer mine, a woman who died tragically but found her peace and got away from a miserable existence filled with pain and suffering, seeking new opportunities in this unknown place. My name is Maria…. No wait.. Sorry.. My name is Rima Karam, and this was the beginning of my journey to reinvent myself.I finally found a small table by the window and settled down, pulling out my laptop and a stack of resumes. It was the last day of the weekend and the café was filled with a lot of people chattering and laughing without a care in the world and I couldn’t help but envy that.As I started browsing through job postings, my eyes were drawn to a man sitting a few tables away. He was tall and striking, exuding an air of authority that demanded attention. With warm brown eyes that seemed to see right through me, medium-length blonde hair trimmed at the sides and styled to perfection, and a jawline that could cut glass, he was the very definition of handsome. A subtle stubble beard accentuated his features, making him even more distracting. I couldn’t help but be curious about him. He looked to be in his early thirties.Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t notice when he got up and walked over to my table. It wasn’t until he cleared his throat that I realized he was standing right beside me.“Excuse me, is this yours?” he asked, holding up a resume that must have fallen from my stack.I felt my cheeks flush as I nodded, hastily taking it from his hand “Yes, thank you. I didn’t realize I’d dropped it”He glanced at my resume before meeting my gaze “Rima Karam, huh? You’re looking for a job?”Feeling a bit flustered, I nodded again “Yes, I just moved here, and I’m trying to find something in marketing or business administration”He raised an eyebrow, seemingly impressed “Well, it just so happens that I’m in need of a personal assistant. My name is Jacob Snow, and I run a marketing firm here in Toronto”I blinked in surprise, unable to believe my luck “That’s incredible! I would love to learn more about the position if you’re willing to give me a chance”Jacob studied my face for a moment, as if he were trying to gauge my sincerity “Tell me, Rima, why should I consider you for this role?”I took a deep breath, determined to make the most of this unexpected opportunity “Mr. Snow, I may not have an extensive background in marketing, but I am hardworking, dedicated, and eager to learn. I will do whatever it takes to not only meet but exceed your expectations”As I spoke, I couldn’t help but notice the way his eyes seemed to sparkle with curiosity. There was an intensity to his gaze that was both thrilling and unnerving.He leaned against the wall, his arms crossed as he considered my words “You certainly have a fire in you, Rima. And I appreciate your honesty about your experience. Alright, let’s give it a shot. You’re hired”My heart soared at his words, and I couldn’t help but feel that fate had brought us together “Thank you, Mr. Snow. I promise you won’t regret it”He chuckled, his expression softening ever so slightly “Something tells me I won’t. But let’s see if you can keep up with me. I’ve been known to work my assistants to the bone”I grinned, feeling a surge of confidence. “Challenge accepted, Mr. Snow”Our eyes locked on each other as we stared silently into each other’s eyes, I could feel a spark between us, an undeniable chemistry that seemed to crackle in the air. I knew that I should be focused on the professional opportunity before me, but I couldn’t help but be drawn to him.As he sat down in front of me, he started diving into the details of my new role, and the various responsibilities I have to take on.As he shared the details of his marketing firm, I couldn’t shake the feeling that our meeting was almost too good to be true. My past had taught me to be cautious, and I’d promised myself never to be fooled again by innocent encounters.“Mr. Snow… ” I began, hesitating for a moment “I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but this all feels like such a huge coincidence. I need some kind of proof about your identity and that you actually own the company”He studied my face for a moment, his expression inscrutable. Then, slowly, he pulled out his wallet and handed me his business card “I understand your concerns, Rima. It’s wise to be cautious”I examined the card, my fingers tracing the embossed logo of Snow Marketing. It seemed legitimate, but I knew that appearances could be deceiving “Thank you for understanding, Mr. Snow. Do you mind if I look up your company online? I just want to be sure”He nodded, an amused glint in his eyes. “By all means. I’d rather you be certain than have doubts lingering in your mind”I pulled up the company website on my laptop, my fingers flying across the keyboard. As I navigated through the pages, I found images of Jacob at various company events, as well as articles and testimonials that confirmed his position as the CEO.Feeling satisfied with my findings, I looked up at him "I apologize if I seemed overly suspicious, Mr. Snow, but I just wanted to be certain that you are who you claim to be. After all, one can't be too careful nowadays"He smiled warmly, his eyes softening. "No need to apologize, Rima. In fact, I'm impressed by your thoroughness. It's a quality I value in my employees"Despite my initial suspicions, I found myself drawn to him, his magnetic charm and wit pulling me in.Curiosity piqued, I asked lightly "Can I ask why your last assistant left and how long she worked for you?""Actually, she didn't leave; I fired her. I probably should have warned you before hiring you. I haven't had an assistant who lasted more than two months"I was surprised and couldn't help but wonder why no assistant had managed to last. My thoughts took a dark turn as I considered the possibility of harassment, after all, I didn’t really know him.He seemed to catch on to my train of thought somehow "They were just incompetent, I didn't do anything, I swear" he said, raising his hands in a defensive gesture "Each of them had a lacking in some place, but most of them had too many commitments to keep up with my work. Miss Karam, I require my assistants to be fully devoted to me. I work hard, long hours, both at the office and at home. That's why I need my assistants to always be on call. If you have any issues with that, we should probably stop now and I should retract my offer""Oh no, I'm totally single and, like I said, I just moved here. I don't really have anyone here. Everyone I know is back in Lebanon""Can I ask why you decided to move to Canada?" he inquired gently.I hesitated, trying hard not to reveal too much, and answered in a clipped tone, "The economy in Lebanon is just declining every day. I looked for work for a long time and couldn't find anything, so I decided to come here""What about your family? Do they approve?" he asked with genuine interest.I answered simply "Of course, they do. I'm their only daughter"His eyes pierced mine, and I averted my gaze to the window, reminding myself not to share too much personal information. He was a stranger, and even if he wasn't, he was just my boss, not my friend."I take it you don't have a place here yet, right?" he asked lightly."No, I'm currently living in a hotel. I didn't want to rent a place until I knew where I'd end up""That's great. I always provide the small flat next to my penthouse for my assistants. It's much easier that way. We can commute together, and you'll always be accessible whenever I need you""Oh, that's convenient. Thank you. How much is the rent for your flat next to your penthouse?" I asked cautiously.He chuckled, and I felt a warmth spreading through me "You don't have to worry about rent. It's part of your compensation while you work for me""How about we wrap this up, and I'll help you move your stuff from the hotel to the flat so you can get settled before your first day tomorrow?" he offered kindly.I nodded my head and said appreciatively “That would be great”I gathered my things and we both left the café. Waiting outside was his personal driver who introduced himself to me as Travis. A man in a finely tailored suit who looked to be in his early forties with a very athletic build similar to Mr. Snow’s. He looked more fit to protect than to drive to be honest. Travis seemed kind and welcoming as he shook my hand and congratulated me on the new position.As we got into the exquisite black SUV and drove off, I looked at the window absentmindedly, my head wrapping up what just happened.Without applying for a single job, I got hired in a very successful marketing firm by none other than its CEO. I knew that I had a lot to learn. But I also felt a connection with Jacob, a bond that had been forged in that serendipitous encounter at the café. Little did I know that our paths crossing would change my life in ways I never could have imagined.Rima’s POVWith my things packed in two suitcases in the trunk of Mr. Snow’s car, we headed to his home. We didn’t exchange a lot of words because he was busy on his phone concentrating on whatever was displayed on it. After a few minutes, my phone rang inside my bag. I took it out and looked at the name displayed on the screen, ‘Tony’. It was the person I owed my new life to, the only person I could trust to keep me safe. I glanced up at Mr. Snow, asking cautiously “Can I answer?” He waved his hand and said casually "Of course” before he looked away, granting me permission. I knew I could talk freely with Mr. Snow and Travis listening in the car because the whole content of my conversation was going to be spoken completely in Arabic; my native language, which they wouldn’t understand a word of. Tony’s deep voice sounded from my phone, his tone soothing and fatherly; momentarily making me think of the real cruel father I have, the one who was the main reason I ended up he
Jacob's POVI stood by the window of my office, gazing at the bustling cityscape of Toronto. For some reason, I couldn't shake the memories of my first meeting with my new assistant Rima yesterday and the bustling café filled with strangers. It was strange – I never paid much attention to the women around me, having built a fortress around my heart. I have always preferred fleeting one night stands over relationships, knowing that no woman would ever put up with my relentless work schedule and inability to take a day off, even on weekends.That fateful day, I was supposed to be working. But, frustrated by the lack of an assistant, I decided to take a break at the café for a change of scenery. I planned to return home and continue working, but as soon as I saw her, my focus shifted. I couldn't help but observe every little detail about her. Her delicate beauty stood out to me, and although she might not meet the standards of the modeling world, there was an allure to her that surpass
Jacob's POVWe were working late tonight; Rima was at my home office, and we had been at it for three hours now, preparing for a new campaign. I could have asked one of my marketing team to work on it, but it was a charitable event that I wanted to oversee for myself. This client was the first I ever landed when I started the company, and for some reason, I wanted Rima to be the one working with me on it and not any of the marketing team members.Despite not having much knowledge yet, I was determined to hear her inputs and ask her questions. At first, she was a little hesitant to say what was on her mind. I could understand that she knew she was out of her element and was afraid to say something that would make me feel like I made a mistake by hiring her. She didn't have the depth of knowledge I was looking for, but I encouraged her anyway. I knew she would get there because she had determination, and it was clear as crystal in her eyes. That's also part of the reason why I was inv
Jacob’s POVA wave of unease washed over me the next morning when Rima didn't answer her phone. Yesterday, she had been eager to meet up and head to the firm together for her first day. She had picked up the phone almost immediately, but now, after two disconnected calls, there was no response.I wondered if she had forgotten to take her phone off silent and overslept. I was already preparing a lecture for her on punctuality when I left my apartment with a tense expression. As usual, Travis was by the door, ready to take my laptop bag "Good morning, Mr. Snow" he greeted cheerfully.I gave a terse nod, opening my front door before he could reach it and headed straight to Rima's apartment; which was directly on the right side of mine. Sensing my foul mood, Travis hesitantly asked "Is everything okay, Mr. Snow?"My frustration grew when Rima didn't answer her doorbell after a full minute "No, most certainly not" I muttered, pulling out my phone to call her again. I could faintly hear
Rima’s POVA war. There was a raging war between my head and my heart.They never got along to begin with; they always fought each other. And I was always determined to go with my heart until my heart literally led me to my death. That’s when I decided to never ever ever listen to it again.He was being kind and warm despite my rudeness, my shouting, my refusal to share and my lies; which he so obviously saw right through. He was still wiping away my tear. I had fought so hard not to let it fall in front of him. His face was so gentle, so understanding.My heart was screaming at me to open up to him and telling me I can completely trust this man and that I wouldn’t regret it like the last time. It gave me the exact same advice when it was George standing in front of me and look what happened to me because of it!He said we share a connection, an impossible one that shouldn’t even exist because logically we only j
Rima’s POV*The Night Before*A vivid flashback of one of my most harrowing memories infiltrated my sleep last night, taking me back to a month ago.I found myself holding my breath in the cramped space that served as my temporary refuge. I was hidden in the car trunk of one of George’s bodyguards, a man named Dominic. He was the only kind soul in the villa where George held me captive, forbidding me from ever leaving his mansion or, more critically, escaping his grasp. Dominic was the lone beacon of light who could see my suffering during the months I spent married to George. Every person in the villa knew I was there against my will, subjected to abuse, beatings, humiliation, and pain in all its forms, but no one dared to help me… except Dominic.Whenever George left for work, Dominic would check on me. He tried to keep me company and comfort me when he could. His kindness was my lifeline in the darkness that had consumed me. After a
Rima’s POVHe walked over to the wall to my right, filled with whips, canes, chains, and every torture device imaginable. My heart dropped as he picked up a bullwhip I had never seen him use before, one that looked capable of causing a lot of damage, irreparable damage.He tore my shirt in half from behind and unhooked my bra before taking a few steps backward."I want you to know that you brought this upon yourself. I'm only using this because my previous lessons didn't stick. But I'll make sure this one does" he said darkly before swinging the whip towards me.A scream filled with pain echoed around the basement as I felt a slash open up on my back. It was the most painful thing I had ever experienced at his hands, and he didn't give me any time to recover as he swung again and again.I begged, pleaded, and swore never to do it again, but he only seemed to enjoy my pain and suffering as he continued to add more cuts to my back without mercy
Jacob’s POVRather than navigating the intricate networks of my professional realm, I found myself inexplicably drawn to Rima’s image on my monitor. There she was, every subtle movement spellbindingly captured by the subtle security camera nestled above my office door. My fixation, bordering on obsession, strayed into the territory of a voyeuristic stalker.Under normal circumstances, my surveillance of personal assistants was a strictly professional exercise, a bulwark against time wasted on frivolous smartphone activities or any suspicious undertakings that could become a looming threat. This vigilance was born from a bitter experience, a system devised and implemented a year after the birth of my firm.Back then, despite our small but dedicated team, we were steadily eclipsing our major competitors, pulling in the big fish from the corporate ocean of Toronto. Our surge in popularity was largely driven by a series of groundbreaking marketing campai