I felt eyes on me as I moved swiftly around the office. I had been too scared to lock eyes with the mysterious man that was watching me ever so intently. Ever since I had been working for the Fischer's I had never seen him. I was too focused to even notice new employees because my life revolves around both Fischer men. Especially now that Maurice Fischer was on his death bed, but still too stubborn to back down from running his company. Then there was his son, Robert, who, given the present circumstances, seemed to be in need of someone to talk to. That someone was me.

The truth was practically written all over my face when I would gaze into those penetrating blue eyes. At times I was not sure as to what he felt for me. As of lately, I was only a loyal girl who worked as their personal assistant and that was the extent of our relationship.

The man that continued to watch me sat in the far corner of the room with a portfolio in hand. I decided to continue to ignore him as I simply settled on the task at hand.

I arranged some portfolios while Mr. Browning was on a tangent that held everyone's attention. Every employee of Fischer Morrow was eager to do anything that would please Browning because as Maurice Fischer slipped further away each hour, Browning grew more powerful. I watched helplessly as Robert, in his state of detachment, let Browning do whatever he wished.

I waited for Browning to step into the office, which had been transformed into a room filled with hospital equipment. I detested going into that room. It was as if you were stepping into Death's home and one always felt the sudden sense of despair clinging to the walls. I did not quite understand why Robert spent most of his time in there. It was no lie that he was not on the best of terms with his father, but I knew he was trying to find a way to make amends that he was trying to prove his father wrong about him being a disappointment. I held feelings for Robert. By the way that would sometimes look at me I had figured he knew about those feelings.

Before I was able to shut the door, a crashing blow echoed around the room. I flinched as I turned to see Robert picking up the picture of him and his father when he was younger. I recognized that picture because Robert had asked me to frame it a couple of days ago.

I quickly set the portfolios on the table and walked over to Robert before Browning approached him. "Let me take that." I gently took the broken frame from his hands as he looked at me. I glanced up at him and gave him a small smile to assure him it was fine. "Those files need your signature." I nodded my head to the direction of the portfolios so he would know which files I was talking about.

He nodded. "Thank you Eloise."

Before I was able to say anything else to him, Browning came over to us. He examined the picture before I moved away. He smirked at it and patted Robert's shoulder. "That is a very nice picture."

"I put it there a couple of days ago." Robert replied as he continued to stare at it.

"I will replace the frame." I whispered and moved myself away from them. By the time I reached the door they were already in deep discussion. My heart sank a little as I watched Robert's handsome face stare out the windows searching for some type of answer.

Ever since Maurice's health had worsened, I had to stay at the Fischer's much longer. I didn't particularly mind the longer hours, but I was exhausted by the time I was able to leave. I wrapped my coat tighter around myself as I rounded the corner to the nearest open bar.

My mind had drifted to Robert had remained away from his father's side almost the entire day. I felt bad for him because I could tell he was trying very hard. He so badly wanted his father's approval and I could not blame him for that.

I entered the dim lit bar with the intention of putting Robert to the back of mind for tonight.

Only a few people were there in the intimate setting as I headed straight toward the bar stool. I set my purse down and silenced my Blackberry.

"What can I get you?" The bar tender asked me. He sounded just as exhausted as I was.

"Gin and tonic, please." I replied in the same exhausted tone as I shrugged off my coat. He left before I had the chance to look up at him.

I looked around once more and my gaze landed right on the gentleman sitting one stool away from me. To my discomfort he was starring right at me as he sipped his whiskey. I sighed and ran my hand through my auburn hair. I quickly shifted my eyes to the bar tender who came back with my drink.

"Enjoy."

"Thanks." I muttered. I took one big swig as I noticed from the corner of my eye the man approach me.

"Rough day?"

I set the glass down. "You have no idea."

"I think I do." He replied as he took another drink. The man didn't sound as dead as I was, but there was something about his tone that seemed as if he knew what I was going through. His voice was a strange comfort.

"Excuse me?" I looked over at the man. His green eyes seemed as if they were looking right through me. He gave off the impression that he knew everything about me. I resisted the urge to slap him.

"Cobb." He extended his hand to me.

"That doesn't answer my question." I pointed out. His hand had remained outstretched to me.

"You work for the Fischer's right?" He put his hand down. I nodded slowly as I still tried to figure out where I must have met this man before. "Eloise Harlo, the personal assistant to both Fischer men?"

I shook my head in shock and confusion. "How do you-?"

He held his hand up. "You use to be enlisted in the line of work of which, I am now in."

My simple world I had constructed for myself two years ago seemed to crash down around me. He was one of them. I should have known. "That life is dead to me now." I said bitterly. I had no desire to relive that life because it held too many painful memories, that I didn't even want to think of at the present moment.

"Why?" The man, Cobb, seemed very curious.

"Personal reasons."

"That is hardly an answer."

"And it is hardly your business Mr. Cobb." I hissed.

Cobb put his arms up in defense. "Fine, you don't have to tell me. But I suggest you hear what I have to say."

I laughed bitterly. "Anything you have to say about that line of work, my answer will be no."

"Even if it has to do with Robert Fischer?"

My brown eyes turned sharply to him. "What do you mean?" I felt my heart drop in fear and my hands trembled as I took another swig of my liquor.

"We need to get into his mind and plant an idea into his mind." He said it bluntly as if it was nothing. He examined me as I tried to process this. "We need to perform Inception." I could not let this happen without knowing what it was.

"What idea?" I questioned.

"To destroy his father's empire." Cobb replied as he signaled the waiter for another drink.

"You're insane. There is no way I will let you do that. Robert is about to inherit that empire." I was now growing angry as to what he had informed me about. The urge to slap him was slowly growing as my hand moved further away from the glass.

Cobb said nothing as the bartender set two drinks in front of us. He took one swig from his own as he pushed the other glass to me. I glanced at it then at him. "Listen, I know you are his guardian still. You say you're finished with this type of work, but I know for a fact that you're not. I know about your sick grandmother, Eloise. You need this handsome share that Saito is offering." My heart began to thump unevenly.

"You are so sure of yourself." I said as I took the drink into my hands.

"With this job, this last job, yes I am." Cobb replied. He was determined to get me and I was certainly aware of that by his tone that seemed subtly desperate.

I looked up at him. "I tried to ignore that man, but I couldn't deny he was one of you." I thought of the man who was sitting in the office earlier.

"Eames? Yeah, that was him. He watching all of you." Cobb replied as if it was something practical. For him it was. Even though I had not known the man in the office, I had a feeling in the back of my mind that he was in this line of work. Browning does not do business with just anybody. This Mr. Eames must have acquired some outstanding references. "Eloise, we need you." As of last resolve Cobb decided to plead.

I glanced at the drink in my hands once again, I knew the time would come when I would have to protect Robert, but I never thought I would be by helping these people.