Taming the Devil's Heiress

8 - Challenge Accepted

"I thought I made myself clear that you were grounded?" Dad asked as soon as he opened the door of my bedroom.

"Oh come on Dad..." I grunted. I was still sleeping and only stirred when he slammed my door open.

"Why are you still in bed? Get your ass up here!" he growled and I just rolled my eyes before doing what he wanted. My hair probably looks like a bird's nest on top of my head. I tried to tame it down with my hands but they're not cooperating, just like this man in front of me!

I thought I had already escaped his wrath when I didn't see them last night, but oh boy, I was wrong!

"Dad, I just want to have fun, which I didn't even get. I went to Dmitri and didn't even finish my damned cocktail drink!" I groaned.

"But you finished half a bottle of that tequila!" he eyed the bottle on my bedside table. "What am I going to do with you?!" he asked exasperatedly. I just sighed in frustration.

"Give me back your phone," he snapped.

"Dad!" I whined.

"Elinor! Don't make me repeat myself!"

"Fine," I grunted as I picked up my bag to get my phone. I gave it to him.

"Can I go back to sleep now?" I asked.

"No. Did you forget that you have to go to work?" he snapped.

"Dad... Can't I just go to our company? I promise I won't be a pain in Dmitri's ass." I tried to convince him.

"No. Hurry up. You're running late." he sternly ordered, before leaving me alone. I sighed and checked the time. Nice. I only have half an hour. I won't make it.

I didn't bother to hurry. I'll still be late no matter what I do anyway. So I took my time in the shower, making sure that there were no traces of alcohol left in me. I breathed into my palm to check my breath. I shrugged when I got satisfied. I quickly got dressed before going down.

"Honey... You're already late." Mom's gentle voice greeted me. "Are you okay?"

"No mom. I feel like s**t. I wanted to sleep." I pouted, wishing that my charms would work on her this time.

"You shouldn't have drunk alcohol last night. Here, drink this." she gave me medicine for my headache, which I gratefully took.

"Thanks, mom." I sighed after drinking the medicine.

"Aren't you going to eat breakfast?" she asked.

"No, I'm good."

"Let's go then. Your father has already left because he has an early appointment," she said, which almost made me roll my eyes.

"Mom, I can drive my way to Moore Holdings. You, Dad, or Dmitri didn't have to go out of your way just to drop me there." I tried my best to lower my voice, so as not to piss her off.

"Honey, please understand. We are doing this for your sake," she said her tone like that of explaining to a three-year-old me.

Right.

I didn't say anything anymore. I don't want to say anything that I might regret later on. I just looked out of the car while trying to contemplate my decisions in life. Or the lack thereof rather. I am aware of how much of a spoiled brat I am, but how is that my fault? Ugh. Aren't they supposed to be blamed for this?

Not my mom though. She always insisted on not spoiling me, but it was always three versus one.

"Honey," Mom called me and that's when I noticed that we were already parked outside Moore's company building.

"Bye Mom," I said with a deep sigh.

"Bye honey, take care."

I smiled at her despite the heavy feeling in my chest. I'm already forty minutes late. I'm sure Sebastian will flip the f**k out, but whatever. I'm already in a bad mood anyway. There's nothing that can make this worse. I leisurely walked to the elevator and pressed the number on his floor.

"Good morning Ms. Alistair," his secretary, greeted me.

"Morning," I smiled at her.

"Do you know what time it is?" Sebastian asked as soon as I stepped inside his office. I rolled my eyes.

"Uhm, it's nine forty-five. Don't you have a clock?" I answered sarcastically. He sighed, even the way he breathed shows just how pissed he was.

"I told you, you need to come on time. And what the hell are you wearing again?" he asked heatedly after looking at me from head to foot.

I looked down at my outfit. My pencil-cut skirt is longer now. It reached above my knee but had a slit on the left part. I wore a tube top and covered it with a coat.

"What's wrong with these?" I asked confusedly.

"I'm going to deduct fines from your salary every time you don't follow the rules," he sternly stated.

"Sure Sir." I rolled my eyes before going to my table in the corner. At least now I know that I will have a salary.

"Elinor," he called, just before I could sit down.

"What?" I asked one of my eyebrows raised.

"Were you f*****g playing with me last night?" he asked with a grim expression on his face.

What the hell is he talking about? He was the one who kissed me last night! I almost forgot about it. But before I could say anything, he already glared at my left foot, his forehead deeply creased.

Why is he looking at- Oh s**t!

I completely forgot about that!

"I thought you sprained your ankle? How come you're wearing that thing again?" he c****d his head while looking at my face, watching out for any reaction that I would give out. I held my chin up, I'm not going to back down.

"I took some pain reliever. It's all good now. You don't have to worry about it." I told him.

"I'm not worried. I'm just thinking that you were taking me for a fool," he snapped.

"Now, why would you think that way?" I smirked, and he just clenched his jaw. I may be caught red-handed, but I still won't admit it.

"I got hurt last night but I woke up feeling okay. I'm guessing it's because of the goodnight kiss that I got." I smiled seductively.

"Go to work." he sternly said while glaring at me.

"Yes Sir!" I even playfully did a hand salute for him.

"We have a new project. Work on a proposal, the files are on your table," he said in a more professional tone now.

"Am I supposed to work on it alone? Don't I need a whole team for this?" I may be a brat, but I at least know some things about this.

"Do it on your own. The presentation will be next week," he stated before turning his attention to his computer screen.

My jaw dropped. Is he being serious right now? So, I'm a one-woman team now?! Tss. As if... Did he think that I couldn't do that?

"Fine. Challenge accepted." I spat, putting my game face on.

He's underestimating me. I'll show him just what I can do then.

I picked up the folder on my desk and started reading about the project. It's a three-tower, high-rise commercial-residential building. How would I be able to come up with a polished proposal within just a week? Has he gone crazy?!

I frowned when I saw our company name under it. So, this is a tied-up project with AGC. I suddenly wondered if it was my father's idea to have me work on this project. Tss. Whatever.

Let's see, I need to do research, especially on the project cost. The materials needed, timeline, and work schedule. Ugh. Can I wrap it up in a week? Of course not. But if I had to turn out heaven and hell just to prove myself, then I would.

Good thing they already have a rough draft of the building's design. I just need to check the structural aspects of it. I took a deep breath while looking at the blueprints.

Okay. Game on.

I spent the next hours working. I didn't even bother to glance at Sebastian. Acting out like the brat that I am, proved that I won't save myself here. My father won't give in to my whims that easily now. He had reached his limit and set out to punish me. The only thing I can do to get my ass out of this damned office is to prove myself.

"Sebby!" a sing-song voice echoed inside the office after quite some time. I think I've heard that before.

I looked up and I was right. The girl that I saw yesterday outside the building is now inside Sebastian's office. She still looked the same. Simple and angelic in her white floral maxi dress. Her blonde, wavy hair is cascading perfectly down her shoulders. She looked prettier up close.

Is she really his girlfriend? She doesn't seem to be the type to engage in flings or hook-ups. So it's either she's his girlfriend or just a friend.

"Liz... What are you doing here?" Sebastian asked.

Liz... So that's her name. Was it short for Elizabeth?

"How about you? What are you still doing here? You should be eating lunch right now!" she sternly said, but I can still hear the playfulness in her soft voice. Even the way she speaks is so different from mine. But what did she say?

I looked at my wristwatch and found out that she was right. It's already almost one in the afternoon. That explains the wild grumbling of my stomach.

"I had a lot to do," Sebastian explained.

"Well, that could wait. Let's go and eat," the girl said.

I tried to ignore them and just focus on the task at hand. They can talk like I'm not here.

"Okay," Sebastian sighed. He fixed the files on his table before standing up.

"Where do you want to eat?" the girl asked.

"We can just go to the company cafeteria. I had a lot of things to do," Sebastian said apologetically.

Yup, don't mind me here. I'm not even hungry. I told myself bitterly, which was answered by violent rumblings in my stomach.

"Oh, it's okay. I just want to eat with you. There's no one at home. You know how I hate eating by myself," the girl said.

She linked her arm with Sebastian's, then pulled him out of the room. My jaw dropped when the brute didn't even bother to glance at me!

What the f**k? Did he seriously forget that I am here?!

My jaw clenched. My breathing started to get ragged. How dare he?!

I wanted to call my Dad and tell him that that brute was slave-driving me! Not only that, but he's also starving me to death! Argh! I reached for my bag but immediately remembered that Dad had taken my phone this morning.

I feel so pissed.

And hungry!

I walked out, stomping my foot angrily on the floor. I didn't mind the weirded-out expression that his secretary was giving me. I was about to get into the elevator when I realized that I also didn't have any cards with me! Just what were my parents planning to do? Were they trying to starve me to death?!

Ugh.

I hadn't noticed it in the past few days because, those times, Sebastian brought me with him to his luncheon meetings. But that girl showed up today and he completely forgot about me!

I stomped back to the secretary's table, thinking that I could call my parents. But it dawned on me that I didn't know their contact numbers. My shoulders slumped in frustration.

What am I supposed to do? I'm hungry. And pissed. Totally pissed. I wanted to go find Sebastian wherever he is and punch him in the face! I know that I'm not his responsibility but... Ugh. Whatever.

"Is there any problem, Ms. Alistair?" she asked me when I remained standing in front of her table.

"Nothing." I sighed. Feeling defeated and hungry as f**k, I went back to Sebastian's office and slumped on my cheap office chair.

I leaned my head back on the chair. I closed my eyes for a while before deciding to just start working again. But I couldn't even think with an empty stomach.

I gave up and just tried to search for our company's contact number. Then I used the phone in Sebastian's office to call.

"Good afternoon. This is Ania from Alistair Group of Companies. How may I help you?"

"This is Elinor Alistair. I need to talk to my Dad or my brother, Dmitri Alistair." I told her.

There was complete silence after that. I thought that the receptionist had already cut the call when she spoke again.

"Uhm, I'm so sorry Miss. We've already received a lot of prank calls like these in the past. I'm afraid that I will have to cut the line." she answered apologetically.

"Then just give me their phone numbers! Dad took my phone and I didn't memorize their numbers! I need to talk to them right now!" I almost screamed so I tried my best to control my temper.

It wasn't her fault, Eli. She's just trying to do her job! I told myself.

"Please... Can't you... Can't you recognize my voice?" I asked. I heard her sigh from the other line.

"I'm sorry Miss, but I've never heard of Ms. Alistair's voice before."

Damn it. She's right. I rarely go to our office building, let alone talk to any employee.

How can I convince her that I am indeed who I claim to be?

"Ugh. Nevermind." I hissed before cutting the call. I went back to my desk when I remembered that I could just send my brother an email.

I hate how I was like a young child complaining about my dilemma, but what else I could do? Right now, I am willing to swallow my pride rather than let myself die of hunger. I just hope that he reads this soon.

I promise that I will never forget this day!

I was cursing when the phone on Sebastian's table rang. I immediately stood to pick it up.

"Hello?" I grumpily asked.

"Easy there, sis." I almost jumped in relief when I heard Dmitri's voice.

"Dmitri! What the hell were you all planning to do? Did you seriously think that I could survive without a single penny with me?!" I screamed at the top of my lungs when I heard someone clear his throat.

I turned just to see Sebastian's guilt-stricken face. I c****d an eyebrow at him but didn't say anything. I didn't understand whatever my brother was babbling on the other side of the line.

"Whatever. Just find a way to feed me or else!" I threatened, before slamming the phone back into its cradle!