Punished by My Vengeful CEO Husband

[Iuri Stevens' vision]

" Aya," I call her, but she doesn't stop walking. "Please wait" I ask and hurry my steps, when I reach her I hold her arm, this makes her abruptly stop her escape.

" Let me go!" she screams and struggles to get loose, but I don't let go of her arm, I need to talk to her.

"Please listen to me..."

"What for? You want to make fun of me! Call me a slut, just like everyone else must be calling you in there? What do you want, you spineless idiot! Are you happy I'm in the shit!? Do you see this as a form of revenge?" she screams hysterically.

"Of course not, why would I take revenge on you?" I let go of her arm, take off my jacket and cover her breasts, her eyes stare at me in disbelief.

"You think I don't know the reason for that stupid dinner?" The hatred in her speech leaves me disoriented.

"What are you talking about?" I question confused, "Our parents are friends," I try to justify myself, "They always had dinner at our house, and for me it was also a surprise when you showed up..."

"You are a liar!" she rolls his eyes. "That dinner..." the tears fall again from his eyes, this makes my heart so tight, even more because I don't understand the real reason "My mother made me go, only because the spoiled son of her bosses was in love with me. Surely you just wanted to use me like Leandro did, you must be the same, two unscrupulous scoundrels who think they can do whatever they want without..."

"Don't compare me to him!" I interrupt your speech, I won't allow myself to be compared to this rubbish. "I will never lie to you, I never even thought about using you, because I don't...

"I never even noticed you in the room" screams hysterically "an ugly pimply ass who thinks he has money and then wants to manipulate everyone around him! All you're going to get in life are women who only want you for your money, because you have nothing more than that to offer!

I even thought that this would be the year that I would stop being an Invisible in her life. I deluded myself thinking that I had a chance.

"I never thought I was better than anyone else" I say tiredly "Nor have I ever forced you to do anything, I know I'm not the most beautiful, but..."

"Go to hell, you invisible piece of shit!" interrupts me "I want to fuck you and everyone else!"

"Aya...

"Trrrrrrrim, trrrrrrrrim! " the sound of awakening takes me once again from the memories that torment me in dream form every night.

Today is my last day here in this city, tomorrow I will return and take over the company. I will make the best of my last day here, just like this: With a brunette warming my bed.

Today:

5/29/2023 New York, Manhattan, East Village.

[Vision of Aya Millenis].

It is impossible not to get emotional, in these four years that have passed, so many things have happened.... I am ashamed of many of them, but I thank God for the people around me, especially for Mrs. Carmen and Mr. Gustam, they are the reason that I can be here today.

The numerous flashes in our direction register the awarding of the trophy, I hold the graduation diploma above my head while Mr. Stevens embraces me. Even though I wanted to give it all up, thanks to my friends, today I have a degree in Economics. My smile is huge.

"Congratulations Aya" after the photos, Leandro comes to congratulate me. Mrs. Carmen and Mr. Gustam went to greet the children of the other employees of the company.

"Thank you, congratulations to you too," the hug.

The mark on my wrist reminds me of the stupid thing I tried to do two years ago. After I accepted the help of the Stevens family, I asked them not to tell my parents about me or that they were helping me. I didn't want to have to face my mother so soon, I know what a spiteful and poisonous mother I have. The scenes from my last dance are crystal clear in my memory:

"You're a slut!" my mother's scream makes me cry even more, I raise my hand to my face and sure enough it is red, it burns badly, she has never hit me so hard.

"I can't believe you did that, Aya!" my father says disappointed and angry "I told you not to lie to me!"

"Momom, dad..." my voice comes out shaky from crying "Let me explain, no... that's not how it happened..."

"Shut up!" order and I shut up at the same time "I've been clear with you, Aya! You have shamed your whole family! You are a disgrace to the Millenis! Your existence..."

"No, no, no..." I shake my head frantically in denial, getting punched in the stomach must hurt less than hearing that.

"You humiliated me, you humiliated your mother and your sister, you disgraced our name."

"She is no longer my daughter!" my mother cuts him off and his speech hurts more than the slap that was given to me a few moments ago.

"Mom, please..." I try to get closer, I can't take being rejected like this.

"Don't touch me!" his hands push me, I fall off my heels and fall on my ass on the floor

"She doesn't even deserve that!"

"No, Mom, please .... Stop it! Stop it..."

No matter how much I ask, the hatred in my mother's eyes cut through my skin like sharp knives. She pulls at the thin straps of my dress ripping them, I try to stop her, but I get another slap in my face. The screams give way to sobs, and as if on fire I feel the fabric being torn, my breasts are exposed, I try to cover them at all costs. The shame I feel is so great.

"You are not worth a penny, we raised you in the best way possible! We raised you with the best! But you're a fifthrate, scrotumsucking slut, a...."

"Please stop..." even though my knees are shaking, I stand up while holding the tears to hide the nakedness of my breasts "That's not me, please believe me... I would never do anything to embarrass you like that, that woman in the video is not me, please...."

"The floor is your place! You filthy scum!" my mother pushes me using more force than before. The contact of my forehead with the damaged floor of the court makes blood run down my forehead and the cut stings.

"Let's go, we've wasted enough time in this shithole."

"No please, don't do this to me, believe me, please..." I hold my mother's dress and she kicks my hand, my wrist throbs.

I close my eyes tightly to scare away these memories.

In my mind, I imagined that I would only see her on the day I entered the company headquarters, however, the world put her in front of me long before that, when I was leaving college, the memories to this day hurt me, every line and expression are extremely clear in my memory:

"Where did you steal that book?" she speaks harshly.

I answer nothing, I just put my head down, memories of the day of the prom come flooding back and I take a deep breath.

"From your clothes and the direction you got here, you came from college in New York, how did you get in there? I know, you got into bed with everyone in the management to get a ferry, right? I could only, the way it's a..."

"Yo... You have no right to pry into my life or make any wrong speculation about..."

"Bitch has no life, without selling your body you could never get in there, also do you lie with the students for a place to sleep? You are a filthy pig, surely you must have several STDs by now."

Headless to listen, I start to pack my things inside my backpack, better to go back to the Stevens residence, but she gets in my way and throws everything on the floor, stepping right after, crumpling the expensive book Ms. Carmen gave me.

"Why... Why did you do that!" I kneel on the floor, taking the book from under her heels.

"You're not worthy of reading those books or even stepping foot in that place, you're just a slut who fucks anyone and makes videos to expose yourself in front of everyone!"

"I didn't do any of that!" I speak with a choked voice and get up from the floor, hugging the book tightly over my breasts.

My cheek burns, again, this is the third time she has hit me, tears fall, I deserve this slap, no matter how hard I fight against it, I will always be defeated by my mind.

"Your place is in a brothel, wiping the floor with your tongue. A worthless slut, don't you ever dare appear in front of me again, stop spoiling the scenery with your promiscuous presence."

She turns her back and starts walking away, I feel my knees weaken, but before they reach the ground, she turns towards me again and looks me up and down, even though I haven't done anything wrong, I feel dirty in front of her eyes.

"You should be dead" her words hurt me "Or rather, you shouldn't even have been born, then we wouldn't be subjected to the shame of having you tarnish the Millenis surname."

Her words cut me, I can no longer bear the weight of my body and collapse on the floor, once again the tears fall thick from my eyes.

I shake my head to shake off these memories, today is not the day for that.

"And Luana?" I ask as I take a sip of the champagne in my glass.

"She is taking pictures with her mother" he replies and points in the direction where she is.

I watch her smile for the cameras as she hugs her mother. I am happy for her, I became friends with her two years ago, I know all the struggle she had to go through to be here today, just like Leandro. They make a very beautiful couple, I am happy for them. Despite the pain of remembering what they did to me, I am also happy for their transformation and for the friendships that they came to have with me.

The day when Leandro and I met again for the first time after the dance, somehow still hurts me, and every second of that day are vivid in my mind:

After I packed everything into my backpack, I walked to the Brooklyn Bridge, where the East River passes and connects to Manhattan, it is very high, during the course I thought a lot about my life, I often have the feeling that I'm messing up the lives of Mr. Stevens and that I'm taking advantage of their kindness, I'm not worthy of their help; today I can't trust anyone else, I exclude myself from the world and always manage to convince the teachers to let me do my homework alone.

Dona Carmem didn't want to tell me where Iuri went, I haven't had any news from him for two years, every day my heart eats with guilt for the things I said to him, I don't even know if I will see him again, but I pray to God that I will, I really need to apologize.

The road is busy, throwing myself in front of a car would be very painful, and this could ruin and delay the lives of other people who have nothing to do with my unfortunate situation.

I take a deep breath, sit down on the railing of the bridge facing the river and feel the wind blowing in my face, it is calm, a pity my mind is not like that. I feel troubled, haunted, and dark. I remember my mother's words, I should be dead, or rather, I shouldn't even have been born. My chest hurts, I don't want to live anymore, I don't want to ruin anyone's life anymore.

From the small pocket of my backpack I take out a stiletto and look carefully at its sharp point, it is possible to see a glimpse of my reflection, surely everyone will be better off without me, my parents will no longer have reason to be ashamed of me and Messrs.

Yeah, I have no place in the world.

"What do you intend to do now?" I snap out of my reveries with Leandro's voice.

"I will start working full time at Stevens company headquarters, in the economics department of the company" I say smiling, I will now no longer be living with Messrs Stevens "And you?"

"I'm going to do a master's degree in accounting," he answers smiling.

"I'll be waiting for you at the company.

Two years ago, when he saved my life, Mr. Gustam offered him a job at Stevens as a way to thank him, he accepted, but said he would only go when he finished his studies and had the ability to perform the job as best as possible.

"I finally found you!" my older sister appears hugging me "I'm so proud, you've grown so much" she says with emotional eyes.

"Thank you, sis" I smile and she hugs me tight.

I contacted her a year ago, she was very happy and so was I, she is the only fragment I have left of my family, she has not told our parents that she talks to me, they will only hear about me tomorrow, when I will enter as an employee at the headquarters of the Stevens company, before I was an intern at a nearby branch office, I can't even imagine the face my parents will make when they see me there.

"Mrs. Carmen appears and greets my sister, who also hugs her.

"Every day you look younger" she says smiling.

"How nice of you" she smiles openly, "Too bad you arrived on time to leave."

It's already two thirty in the morning, from today I will no longer live at Mr. Stevens' house or use their car, I'll be independent. The money I earned from the internships I saved and bought an apartment with two bedrooms, one suite, a large living room and kitchen and service area very large. they did not let me refuse the gift and furnished the AP, it was perfect. Now I have a little place that I can call my own.

"Well, at least I will be able to see you tonight, tomorrow I will be in court all day.

"I hope you win, as always," he smiled at her and hugged her once more as a way of saying goodbye.

"We will give you one last ride," Mr. Gustam speaks smiling proudly.

I agree and we leave the college. I can't wait for the time to come and show that I have value.

The glass doors open, it is exactly seven thirty in the morning, in half an hour the company goes into full swing, I know that all the managers are already gathered to meet the new employee in the president's office, I take a deep breath. With firm steps I enter the metal box and press the button for the top floor, in less than five minutes the doors open and I take the first step into another new phase.

I didn't want any position that I had to be in, and because I'm just a simple employee I shouldn't be introduced to the entire management of the company, but Mr. Gustam insisted, he wants to show what his rejected daughter has become.

I feel my heart beating hard, as if it were about to burst out of my chest, I need to stay cool and centered, I can't falter. Sucking in a deep breath one last time, I open the big smoked glass door. I enter with my head down, I am wearing a black pencil skirt and an icecolored social blouse, black stiletto heels, and loose hair that bangs against my butt. Raising my head, I note with satisfaction the wideeyed, disbelieving eyes of my parents.

7/26/2026 Cambridge, Massachusetts.

[ Iuri Stevens' Vision]

"Will you call me again?" asks the greeneyed brunette I didn't even make a point of asking her name.

Last night was my last night here, in half an hour I will travel back home and take over the presidency of the company, my parents will have their dream retirement. It's already seven years away, has anything changed there?

"I think your friend told you that I don't stay with anyone more than once," I say in a cold way while I fish my clothes spread on the floor.

"Did you really think that someone like me would be with someone like YOU?" they all laughed and I cringed, grabbing the strap of my backpack, "Look in the mirror monster, look at those pimples on your face that look like volcanoes, that awful messy hair," at that moment I remember her touching my hair and saying how soft it was, liar! "You stink like a pissing nerd. I would never put my mouth in your mouthpiece! I'm disgusted just thinking about it."

And look how I am today, they try to win me over, they get me, and then they want a second round. Only now I'm the one who dismisses them.

But these memories don't hurt as much as Aya's words.

"I thought I was different..." she says, pouting.

"Why did you think that?" I ask, turning my back to her and putting on the top of my suit.

"You treated me like a princess, just calling me kitten, such an affectionate nickname..." I only called her that because I didn't know her name.

"Don't confuse things, I'm a man, not a boy. Now get dressed, I will leave the motel bill paid, if you want to eat before you leave just ask, I will leave it paid too."

I finish the knot of my tie and leave the room, leaving her alone, I go downstairs and the car is already waiting for me at the hotel entrance.

I am returning home.

[ New York, Manhattan, Upper East Side View by Aya Millenis]

"What do you say we go out drinking?" Leandro suggests, "We haven't done that in over a year" he comments as he tidies up the papers on his desk.

It's been more than a year since we all went out together on a program, Leandro keeps calling, but both my sister and I are busy, she because of her work, and I?

"I'll go to the orphanage," I reply, smiling.

"I understand, you can't stay too long away from her.

"No" I agree with his statement, "I like her so much.... I will go with my sister today."

"Well, then I will take the opportunity to take my cat on a walk. Oh no... She is also at the orphanage, it seems that now you exclude me from your programs. I feel lonely!" oh drama, I hold back the urge to laugh.

"Don't be so melodramatic, that's not your strong suit."

"You are right, I will wait for her to come back, I guess a movie at eight is not a bad idea."

"It is a good idea, and it does a lot of good, keeping romance in marriage is very healthy."

"Yes, it is. So, see you tomorrow Aya."

" Bye" I wave goodbye to him and go back to organizing the papers.

After putting everything away, I take my bag and leave the room and walk to the company's parking lot, time has really flown by, I have been working here for three years. Leandro is one and a half years old, but he already holds the position of director of the economic development sector, and now I am his secretary.

I get out of the metal box and drive to the company's parking lot, get into my silver Audi A4 and drive to my sister's house, the drive takes about ten minutes.

"I thought I would never leave the company again" she speaks as she gets into the car and throws a huge bag on the back seat.

"And miss my little one's birthday? Never!" I say, and as soon as she closes the car door, I start the car.

I won't bring anything like cake or party stuff, there are many children there and it wouldn't be fair to do it for only one, so I'll just bring a small gift. My sister brought gifts for everyone yesterday, just to give me the excuse that today she'll only get one.

"What did you buy?"

"A barbie doll, from that movie diamond castle."

"I love that movie, it was one of the best."

"I agree, I also bought the DVD and am taking it to the kids there to watch."

"What a coincidence, I'm bringing popcorn and soda, we can already simulate a movie theater for them."

"It's going to be a really cool one."

"Yes, and tomorrow we'll go to a party, you need to find a husband soon, Luana said there were some couples with their eye on the little one," she pauses and we both sigh, "Too bad Leandro's friends gave up at the last minute."

I remember how the conversation with the first suitor went:

"Do you want to go to my place or yours?" Luan asks me already inside the car, we were in the restaurant talking about his visit to the child on Monday.

"To my house" I answer tiredly. All I want right now is to put my feet up and sleep very comfortably.

I feel his hand on my thigh, and my whole body tenses up immediately.

"Relax love, when we get to your house I will make you see stars!"

"What do you mean?" I ask holding myself back from screaming.

"You're going to cum so much on my cock" he answers me smiling and I feel my stomach turn.

"NoNo... We're not going to have sex!"

"Why not?" he removes his hand from my thigh, I breathe a relieved breath.

"Because I don't want to" I answer with a firm voice.

"So I have to accept a child that isn't even mine, marry you in two weeks and you don't even want to give me the piriquita? Or better yet, we've already been going out for a month and you haven't even given me a tongue kiss.

"Isn't your dream to have a family?

"I want to fuck you!

Now I'm the one with the incredulous look in his eyes, my mother's words come back to my mind: "You're just a slut that will be eaten and thrown away.

"Stop the car" I command.

"What?"

"I told you to stop the damn car, stop it now!" I speak loudly and he brakes sharply.

I open the door and get out, but before I close it:

"You're a disgusting man, you shouldn't even consider yourself a man!" I slam the car door hard."

I shake my head to push these memories from my mind, I am feeling hopeless.

"Don't worry sis, we'll find him" he speaks confidently.

During this year and a half, I met more than two hundred men, and among them seven agreed to marry to adopt the girl, however, they wanted something "more", ahead of time and even though I really wanted to adopt this girl, I couldn't get into bed with any of them. Of these seven, five came to meet my little girl, but she didn't like any of them and got naughty.

After fifteen minutes I park in front of the orphanage and take a deep breath, I will kill the longing of the weekend away from her.

[Leandro Silva's vision].

"Leandro" I hear Mr. Gustam's voice and stop walking, I turn to him, it is not common to meet him here.

"Is there a problem sir?" I ask worried, could it be that there was an error in my sector's reports? Impossible, Aya always checks everything.

"No, no, you and Aya always do a great job" I feel relieved, then he continues, "It's something else."

"What?"

"My son is coming home from a trip, he finally finished his studies and now he will take my place as the president of this company."

His words weigh heavily on my mind, I feel the guilt weighing on my conscience, I have never apologized to Iuri for the things I said and did to him, but who would have thought that I would end up working for his father and, consequently, for him. I don't know how I will face him, but I hope he doesn't fire me, in just a single year I got a very high position, now I live well and have my own house and family. Luana is four months pregnant.

After my father's death, I became a complicated child who only got into trouble and made fun of other people's faces. As time went by, practicing these things got tired of me, I won't lie saying that I became an example of a person, I did something with Aya that I know will never be forgiven, even though she told me to leave the past where it is, in the past.

I have never told anyone about what my personal life is like, not even to Suzanne, who is the reason I did what I did with Aya at that time. She never knew my mother, all I let others know was that I was a good looking guy and did super well in sports, they thought I had the perfect life.

"I'm glad Mr. Stevens," I end up stammering, damn it!

"Well, I want you to arrive very early tomorrow and hold a meeting with the other directors, I will announce the arrival of my son," he says with a giant smile, despite everything I am really happy, I know as Mr. Gustam waited anxiously for the return of his son.

"That's fine," I smiles yellow. I'm afraid, but if he dismisses me, it will be well done for me, nobody told me to be an idiot like that.

Ah, that damn ball, I still remember seeing for the first time the hatred in Iuri's eyes:

Without saying a single word, Iuri comes towards me, raises his closed fisted hand and lands a right punch to my mouth. He is much shorter than me, but I deserve it so I don't discount or defend myself, I just accept the punch.

"You are trash, a scumbag, what you did in that girl's life is unforgivable, you are worse than shit!" the truth hurts, what you say is unforgivable.

"I know." That's all I can say.

Mr. Gustam's voice takes me out of my thoughts.

"Well, you can go now," he turns away and walks back the way he came.

I go to my car, and as I get into it I take my cell phone from my jacket pocket and type the message that will notify everyone, press forward and the message goes to all the directors informing them that they should all be at the company at seven thirty in the morning. The presentation of the new president of the company will last half an hour.

I take a deep breath, I will not be able to take my wife for a walk, I will be eating myself up with anxiety and fear until it is time to meet Iuri.

I look at my wristwatch and it is five o'clock in the afternoon, she is still at the orphanage, I will buy readymade food for us. Since today is Aya's child's birthday, she should not arrive until eight in the evening. I take a deep breath, tomorrow will be a long day.

[Aya Millenis' Sight]

"Why are you looking like that?" I question Luana and she looks at me with a sad look.

"Come with me," she speaks and walks away from the room with the children, I follow her to the hallway where there is no one.

"Is there a problem?" I ask, but something tells me that it is a problem, and a big one.

She sighs and hugs her own body, this only makes the tightness in my chest increase.

"I have two pieces of news, Aya, and neither of them are good news."

"What is it?" I try to control my vocal cords that want to shudder.

"Well" she sighs and I hold my breath: first I want to thank you for all your effort and constant giving that you do. It's thanks to you, your sister and my husband that the orphanage hasn't closed its doors yet, however, they bought the orphanage's place and well... The children are going to be relocated to other orphanages in other cities."

I can't hear you right, I feel my eyes burning, I will never be able to bear to see Heloysie again, I have to do something, I can't let this happen. She can't be taken away from me.

"I know how much you love the girl, but there is a couple who want to adopt her, they are kind, I am sure they will take good care of her..."

"No, no, no," I repeat frantically as I shake my head in the negative. "They... they can't adopt her, I... I will..."

"I know how painful this is for you, Aya, I more than anyone else do, but think of her welfare..."

"I will adopt her," I interrupt her, "Her welfare will be mine to give!" I speak and the air starts to get heavy around me.

"You've been trying for over a year to find a husband, and unfortunately, you haven't even found a boyfriend. The truth hurts. Luana doesn't hold back her words.

"I'll manage, Lu," I say with my eyes filled with tears.

"You have to understand me Aya, my duty is to take care of these children, I can't let her live here waiting for you, she needs parents and many parents need a child. Don't be petty."

"I'm not being mean, but she wants me as her mother and I want her as my daughter!" my voice comes out shaky, my heart hammering hard in my chest. There has to be another way.

"Just wanting doesn't make the law act Aya, I know how special one is to the other, but she is only two years old, if I don't let the couple adopt her she will have to go to another orphanage and God knows what the people she will have to deal with are like, you know exactly what I am talking about."

Yes, I do. I don't want my little girl to be mistreated by anyone or to starve, to get absurd punishments for nonsense. My heart squeezes, I know that the best thing to do is to let her be adopted, but my heart won't accept that no one but me can be her mother.

"I... I can't accept it," crying tries to rise up in my throat, "Only I can be her mother..."

"Stop being selfish!" she vociferates loudly surprising me, it's not like her to lose her temper like this, "Look, it hurts my heart to have to separate you two, it hurts me a lot to be one of the ones responsible for inflicting suffering on you once again, but I need to think about what's best for her, Aya, please, I beg you to try to understand my side."

"And.. What if I get help? Someone to buy the orphanage back?" I am desperate, I know, but I need to fight for my daughter with all my heart.

"Only a miracle will make it happen" she sighs, I know that just like me, she doesn't want the doors of this orphanage to be closed "I'll give you that chance, but you'll have to find someone by four o'clock tomorrow afternoon, after that time, Heloysie will be adopted."

I know I swore I would never ask Mr. Gustam for anything again, but no amount of pride is more important than the smile on my little girl's face.

"Let's go back to the room," Luana speaks and walks back in front of me.

At dawn in the apartment

Now what? How will I ask Mr. Gustam to buy the orphanage? He and his wife have already done so much for me, I don't want to have to bother him again. It's past three in the morning, I can't stand still, I keep moving around. Every month I donate half of my salary, my sister donates a third and so does Leandro, I know it has always been little, but at least that would put at least three meals a day on the plates of the thirteen children inside.

I take a deep breath, I need to calm down, today Mr. Gustam has nothing scheduled, he will have the morning free, he always arrives half an hour before the other employees, I will go to the company at seven thirty, I usually arrive with ten minutes to spare, but I do not know how long it will take to convince him, better to arrive at the same time as him. But how will I convince him?

I already know, as soon as I open the door to his room, I'll do it like in the anime movies, he surely won't refuse!

I feel a little more confident, I go to the kitchen and drink a glass of natural water, then return to my room, set the alarm clock and lie in bed, I can't have a face full of dark circles under my eyes.

At exactly seven thirty in the morning at the Stevens company headquarters

The doors are only an inch away, my heart is beating so hard I can hear it, I try to control my breathing, I press my briefcase to my chest and feel the blood getting warm, after three years, I haven't kept much contact, nothing but good morning, how are you and take care, that's all. What the hell... After three, searching to ask for something that will take so much money.... I can't give back, I need to ask for help, I did my best during these two years.

I take a deep breath and close my eyes, now is the time, I know Mr. Gustam is behind his desk looking at some papers as he always does, every day, come on Aya, be brave, remember Zenitsu, he is the embodiment of fearfulness, but when it comes to Nezuko he turns into the bravest in the whole universe of the anime Kimetsu no Yaiba, be like him!

With my eyes closed, I open the door without even knocking, he is probably looking at me without understanding anything, I let my briefcase fall on the floor and still with my eyes closed I kneel down, put my hands on the floor and rest my forehead, I always see the anime characters doing this position to beg for something or to apologize, I need to beg for help. I fill my lungs with air, open my eyes and stare at the floor.

"Aya..." the voice of Leandro makes me stop talking, I feel my body freeze.

The tears stop, slowly, not yet believing the voice I hear, I lift my head, my eyes widen and tremble, all the leaders of the company are here, my eyes go through them one by one, the disgusted looks coming towards me are those of my parents, all the others look at me either with pity or disbelief. My eyes land on a tall brunette man. I know him from somewhere... Where have I seen those eyes before?

Iuri!

No no no, it can't be him... I don't want it to be him... but my heart tells me yes, it is. He's back.

He is so different, he is no longer as thin as before, now he has a body with more muscles than Leandro's was when he was a teenager today he is a little chubby, thanks to the delicacies Luana prepares his black hair is combed perfectly back and his beard is well done, his posture is totally different from what I remembered, he now seems to be dominating everything around him, I feel small and helpless before his superior look?

No, no, no, no... Why is he here? His eyes look at me, not like before, in a warm and loving way, at this moment they look at me in a cold way, for sure he didn't want to see me here. The tears come back, I asked God so much to see him one more time, but now that he is finally here, I realize that I am not ready, even after seven years, I still can't look into his face and apologize.

Unable to hold back the tears I pick myself up off the floor and run out of the room, I shouldn't have gone in there.

[ Iuri Stevens' Vision]

"Finally, my boy is back!" my father hugs me tightly and I reciprocate in the same way.

Seven years away from here, from my parents. During the vacations from one semester to the next, I dedicated myself to the academy and to learning martial arts. I worked hard to improve physically, and I am happy with the result. Today I look in the mirror and feel handsome, even though I am still tormented by Aya's words that insist on hammering in my head day after day.

"You have become a very beautiful man, my son," my mother also hugs me, and I lift her off the ground by the waist and spin around with her in my arms. How I have missed her.

"You look even more beautiful, Mom," I speak and release her.

"The years have favored us, honey," she smiles openly.

"How about we go to a pizza place, the one we used to go to when you were a teenager," my father suggests.

"Come on!" smiled, I really missed the pizzas there. I've never seen anything like it.

"You guys don't really change, let's go for pizza lunch? Really? When are you going to become adults?" my mother hasn't changed a bit.

"Once in a lifetime won't kill you, honey."

"Yeah, Mom, when was the last time we had pizza together?"

"Okay, this time I'll let it go!" she says smiling and we head for my dad's car.

I still like anime a lot, one of the few things I still keep from the past. But of course, I only watch it when I finish my responsibilities. My father has made the Stevens name grow a lot in the construction business, and I already have plans on how to make this name even more prominent.

The way to the pizzeria takes about five minutes, as soon as we enter the establishment, we choose a table. It is no longer as rustic as before, now it is modern, I remember the sound system that used to be here, where people would choose the music they wanted with chips, now there are only two televisions that are showing the newspaper, the same newspaper on both.

"It's a pity that this place isn't like it used to be," I say, observing the place.

"Yes, technology comes in everything. But the pizzas are still a delicacy, my son!" comments my father smiling.

I have missed them both a lot, they have always been loving and companions, I have perfect parents! I always wanted to have a relationship like theirs, but I have accepted that I won't be so lucky.

"What will you have?"

"Family size four cheese pizza," my father answers the waiter, the same order as always.

In less than ten minutes we are served. During the meal we talked a lot about how I went to college, if I met any special girls and stuff like that, I noticed the sad look on my mom's face when she said that I haven't met anyone worthwhile. I know how much she wants a daughterinlaw, and a granddaughter. But this will take a little while yet.

After eating the last piece of pizza, we went back to my parents' house. Tomorrow I will get my own place, I don't want to go on living with them, I am already twentyfive years old. I need to hold the reins on my life.

"Have a good night, honey," my mother kisses my cheek and leaves the room.

I look around, nothing has changed, my anime posters are still here in the same place. Sigh, I am still a big anime fan, but now I don't have as much time as before.

Seven years ago, Aya was sleeping right there, right in the next room... No! Don't think about her! I close my eyes and in a short time I manage to fall asleep.

The alarm clock goes off at half past six in the morning, I stretch out on the bed and after a few seconds I get up, with lazy steps I go to the bathroom and do my morning hygiene. The cold water from the bath rouses me from my sleep, I dry myself and put on the suit made by my tailor, with the comb I put my hair back. I look in the mirror once again, I let my beard grow because I read in a magazine a survey asking women if they like men better with or without a beard.

"Son, coffee," I hear my mother shout, I finish putting the watch on my wrist, come out from inside the bathroom and go to the pantry of the house.

At the table my parents are already setting their plates.

The meal lasts ten minutes, and as soon as my mother is finished we get up from the table and leave the house. I still remember the last social party I went to, I always found it so boring, I only went to see Aya, but she only went twice. That doesn't matter anymore, I would probably never see her again, and that's good.

It doesn't take more than twenty minutes until the car is parked in the company parking lot, I take a deep breath, from today on I will be in front of all this. I walk in front of my parents, the tinted glass doors don't let me see anything from the inside, however, they saw me coming and opened the door for me, Juliana, Aya's mother, I had forgotten that this woman worked here, she should have retired by now.

"Welcome, Mr. Iuri Stevens," she speaks softly, but it annoys me just to hear her voice.

I enter without answering, she swallows dryly, all the leaders of each sector are present, but I don't have time to notice the faces of any of them.

"Let's go to the presidential office" my father gives the order.

My parents and I go to the private elevator. They don't stop smiling for an instant, they are probably already planning the first country they will travel to on vacation. The doors open and we go to the president's office, which from now on will belong to me. Everyone enters and settles in, I observe the view from the glass wall, everything is more beautiful when you look from above.

"Well", my father begins and I turn to pay attention. "From today, my son will be the president of the Stevens company, he was away for seven long years, studying to be able to occupy the position and my wife and I can finally rest and enjoy our retirement, it's been a long thirtyfive years here, working with each one of you was very good", he turns to me "Son, in these years that he was away, new employees entered the management of the company, I will introduce them, step forward, Marcos Decapri, director of HR and Leandro Silva, director of the economic development sector."

You have to be kidding me, I can't believe that the guy who spent his childhood bullying me is now one of the directors in the company. How did he get this?

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Stevens," Marcos extends his hand and I shake it.

I notice Leandro's hesitation to approach me, he must think that I will fire him as a way to get revenge for everything he did to me. Maybe I will fire him, but first I will see if he has changed and if he is a good employee and leader, I can't start by firing good employees.

"Sir..."

Her voice is cut off as the doors are opened simultaneously, a woman of short stature enters with her head bowed, who is she? I wonder if it's someone from the management who was late, she already started off on the wrong foot with me, I hate being late... What is she doing!? She kneels down and sticks her forehead on the floor, I have seen this position before, however, only in anime. Who is this woman? She must be a deranged madwoman.

"Aya...," Leandro calls her.

"She must have heard that the heir is single, manhunter," Marcos mutters, but I can hear him well.

"Well, you can go back to your sectors, I want only Mr. Marcos to stay," I speak giving myself up, I need information.

"Goodbye Mr. Stevens," they say goodbye and shake my hand.

"Goodbye son, and well ... Be wise in your decisions," my mother hugs me, and I hug her back.

"I will, Mom."

"Success, my son," my father hugs me too, then hugs my mother by the shoulders and they walk out together closing the doors.

I adjust my jacket and walk to my chair behind the table, Marcos remains standing, I signal with my hand for him to sit too, so he does.

"What can I do for you, Mr. Stevens?"

I take a deep breath, I know I didn't want to have any information about her, but now she works here, I may have to see her every day. I will have to have information about her, all these years that I have stifled this desire, have gone down the drain as soon as her eyes landed on me.

"Why did you say that about Miss Aya?

"Are sr. a friend of hers?" he asks with wide eyes.

"I'm the one asking the questions," I speak firmly.

"Well... For over a year now she has been dating over two hundred men, a different one every night or every week."

"Were you one of them?"

"Yes, Leandro introduced us last month," he pauses and scratches his head, "She wanted me to marry her in less than a month."

"Right," I feel disappointed. This information hurts too much. I should have gone on without knowing anything about her, "What does she do here at the company?"

"She works in the economic development department, as Leandro's secretary for two years."

I have actually lived to see them work together, which has happened in the years that I have been away.

"She has been making donations to the Zain orphanage for two years now, after she moved up in position, the orphanage can't get any more donations and things got critical, since then she has been manhunting. However, the building has been bought and the children will have to be relocated. Leandro's wife is the director there. I believe that's why she came here, because she couldn't get a richer husband than her competitor."

"Thanks for the information, you can go now."

"Okay," he gets up and leaves.

I spin in my chair and watch the cars rushing down the street, I just wanted distance from her, I thought I would never see her again and to increase my surprise even more, besides seeing her, I also saw Leandro again and from the scene, the two of them are now friends.

"What are you talking about!”, I ask confused, “Our parents are friends,” I try to justify myself. “They always had dinner at home, and for me it was also a surprise when you showed up....”

“You're a liar!” He rolls his eyes, “That dinner?” tears fall from her eyes again, my heart clenches, even more because I don't understand the real reason, “My mother made me go, just because the spoiled son of her bosses was in love with me. I'm sure you just wanted to use me like Leandro did, you must be the same, two unscrupulous bastards who think they can do whatever they want without....”

“Don't compare me to him!” I never lie to you, I have never thought of using you, because I don't....

“Because I never gave you the time of day," she screams hysterically, "I never even noticed you in the room, a prickly ugly man who thinks he has money and then wants to manipulate everyone around him! All you're going to get in life are women who only want you for your money, because you have nothing else to offer!”

“I've never thought I was better than anyone,” I say wearily “nor have I forced you to do anything, I know I'm not the prettiest, but…”

“Go to hell, you invisible piece of shit!” she interrupts me, with a sad face, “I want to fuck you and all the others!”

“Aya…, " I shake my head, this is no time to remember these things.

Aya, Aya, what am I going to do with you?