Having seen the Rise of the Beasts, I have a very extreme distaste for lack of story and lack of character development. For me, the entire movie was rushed. I did not see much character development at all. This movie could have been divided into two, nice, long movies, if I am honest. While I liked Mirage the most, and this Optimus is not too different from the Bayverse Optimus, especially his comment about removing Scourge's head, I did not appreciate the fast pace and very unnecessary scenes that felt like it cut to the chase too soon or felt they were in the wrong place. It felt cartoony and ridiculous in some scenes. The first thirty minutes of the movie was great. I appreciate a story when it is thought out. This is why, to me, The Last Knight ranks above because there was at least some character development and a story, and as I watched it five times in the cinema, it's rewatchable for me. I have always preferred a mature story as a kid, through to adulthood.

But while I have problems with the film, the basis of it is still good. The first thirty minutes of the movie was great. And for me, the basis of the film is good enough to write a story based off the film and expand on the story. And it will probably just be a single book, though it will not be short either.

So this will be another Optimus Prime x OC story. Rating is for violence, blood, eventual smut, sex scenes, near death experiences, abusive relationship, emotional trauma, assault and suicidal thoughts. The relationship will be another slow burn too. I hope you will all enjoy.

Another day, another morning in this very busy city. While many people rave on about how great New York is to live in, for a young girl who fled her home when she was just sixteen, everything she had now was all worked for. She was nineteen now, and she had been working for a large company since she left her family home. And she received a promotion and bonus last year, which allowed her to move into the apartment she was living in right now. But to say it was great was an understatement. But it was home.

She didn't own a car yet, and she was working towards one since public transportation was getting annoying since she could not do shopping properly, only in small bits. So while she may not use the car to get to work, using it for groceries and general shopping would be nice. But she could only make do with what she had. And she was proud of it. It was way better than the life she had before she escaped her home.

With long, black hair and beautiful green eyes, this girl was able to find someone who she believed to be a good boyfriend. Both she and he have been together for at least six months, and he currently works in construction as a manager. She thinks that he has a great job, and he works very hard for what he has as well. He does not live with her, and the two of them like it that way since they both work different jobs. Her apartment is in a good location for her work, just as his apartment is in a good spot for where he works. And they met up by accident as they happened to be on the same bus by accident, and he offered to take her out for drinks, and it went from there.

But their relationship has only been platonic so far. Neither one has brought up being intimate, and they both simply enjoy going out together for movies, drinks, meals, shopping, watching a movie at each other's apartment or playing video games together. But she has really enjoyed that about their relationship so far. And she felt as though they were growing closer, so she didn't feel like they needed to be intimate with each other to be happy about their relationship.

Making sure that her hair looked neat and her shirt was straightened before getting off the bus, the girl walked briskly along the busy sidewalk to the company building. She glanced up with a smile before stopping at the usual coffee cart to buy herself the usual caramel latte. The barista had the coffee all ready to go by the time she arrived, as she was here almost every day to buy to give herself the boost she needed for the day.

"Good morning, Saphira," The middle-aged man said politely as he addressed the girl. "Just the usual, right? Caramel latte with a sprinkle of chocolate on the top." The brown-haired man looked at Saphira with a smile. "Five dollars."

Saphira chuckled a little as she grabbed out her wallet from her purse to give him the cash. "Thank you, Steve. Just what I need to start the day."

"You and your company help keep my business running, so I gotta make sure you all are at the top of your game," The man joked as he hands her to coffee before putting the cash in the register. "You had better go, Saphira. I overheard Arthur talking about meeting some big partner or something today. I hope you know about that."

"Oh, I don't. But thanks for the heads up. I am a manager in the marketing department, so I am not sure if I will end up being a part of that…but if I need to get a presentation done, I guess we shall see." She smiled at the man before she turned and walked towards the building. "Thanks for the warning, Steve. Have a nice day."

The corporation Saphira worked for collaborated with many different businesses in the city. The CEO built his company on the transportation of goods by truck when he first started, and he expanded that business now into freight trains, shipping carriers and air transportation, and recently he was talking about working with the government to assist in transportation of materials for the military and NASA, and other government organisations that would require a trusted company. And, most recently, the CEO was now collaborating in the car hire business with a city booming with tourism, and he was cashing in.

For Saphira, it was just another thing to deal with. She became manager in the marketing department only last year, and it has been a huge step for her. She's has already been put through the runs of being a manager, and the CEO has been impressed with her work so far. But the senior managers are still quite hard on her. She knows it is because she is young, they see her as a threat. But as Saphira is working extremely hard every day.

After she walked into the building that was very clean, she walked by the secretary desk where several of the secretaries were getting started with their work as Saphira's heels clap on the tiles as she approached an elevator to head up to the correct floor of the building. She already had some work to do from the day before as she manages a small team in her section. She was lucky that there were a few other managers that ran their own sections, so things weren't so difficult. The senior managers also had their own teams, while keeping an eye on the junior managers.

Once Saphira reached her floor, she stepped out and sipped her coffee as she made her way to her office. She was lucky she had her own, private office. She was fine with a cubicle, and she has worked there for a long time, but it was definitely a luxury having her own office. She greeted her team as she made her way to her office before closing the door behind her. Her office did have windows, but she kept the blinds down so no one could see her. She only rolled up the blinds at her door so people knew she was there.

She removed her black jacket and placed it on the back of the chair as she woke up her computer. She set the coffee down and sat in her chair before checking the phone for any messages left. She found there was one so she picked up the phone and hit the play button to listen to the voice message. And it was a message left by the CEO.

"Good morning, Saphira, this is Arthur. I apologize for leaving this on your team's shoulders on such short notice, but we have been able to snag that chance of having an interview with one of the best limousine hires in the city. They are sending three of their managers today, and they need a great presentation ready by one this afternoon. I again deeply apologize, I received the confirmation this morning. It seems they're not too polite, but this is a chance for our company. I hope you understand. I faxed the information to your office, I have also sent the same information to Claudia and Anthony, so they should have it right now. I hope you will not let me down."

Saphira sighed deeply as she finished listening to Arthur. She guessed this was something simply beyond her control. She and her team were working on a project for promoting the company's achievements, but that didn't need to be completed for another week. They had time to waste on something else. But Saphira needed to know if Claudia and Anthony did get the message first. She checked her fax machine to find a few pages of the information.

Oh, great…and it is only eight-thirty.

Claudia and Anthony were the senior managers above her, so she needed to contact them about it. She first dialled Anthony's number on the phone as she knew he would be here. Claudia had a bad habit of turning up late. She waited for him to pick up patiently and he did. "Good morning, Saphira," He deep voice answered after picking up the phone. "Did you get the memo too?"

"Yep, Arthur left a detailed voice message for me," Saphira responded affirmatively. "Did he leave you one as well?"

"He sure did. Seems like we are in for one heck of a day. And Claudia has not even arrived yet." She rolled her eyes as she was not surprised by that woman's behaviour. "Anyway, my team are currently on a schedule for something that is due for tomorrow. I cannot really spare anyone today. I can probably collaborate, but I might be a bit too busy doing reviews and stuff. I am not sure what your end is like."

"Our project is due next week, so we have the time to complete this task." Saphira sighed with a light groan. "It is going to be a pain telling everyone about it, but we have no choice. Do you know if Claudia's team is able to help?"

"I know they were working on something to present to NASA, but I am not sure when that is meant to be finished. You will have to ask her whenever she decides to show up." Anthony was very uncertain about how Claudia will handle it. "I would say just get started. She will probably be here in thirty minutes or something."

"Good idea. I think I will go and inform my team of the task for today and I will get started. We only have a few hours. I will talk to you later, Anthony. Good luck with your project."

"You too," Anthony responded politely. "Do your best."

After hanging up, Saphira gathered the papers together before walking our to address her team. She had ten people under her that she looked after, which wasn't a huge team and she was happy about that. Once addressed, her team were worried about the deadline for today, but they had no choice. They needed to present something to the potential client, and they needed to come up with something fast and professional.

Once her team got to work, Saphira researched the limousine company for thirty minutes before she got to work on figuring out what the presentation should look like. While her team would work on a PowerPoint, she would work on an information board to be used as a reference for key points of the presentation. She grabbed one of the large boards as she began to first write down notes. Time was not on her side and she had to work fast.

It didn't take long before one of her team members sent her a draft of a presentation that she had finished. Saphira began to go through it to check it curiously when the door of her office opened abruptly, startling Saphira. The person who walked in had long, black hair like her, but the woman who walked in had bright, blue eyes and she currently had a smug expression on her face as she sipped her coffee from her cup as she approached her desk. Unlike Anthony, this woman was jealous that Saphira was in a manager position so soon.

"Good morning, Saphira," The woman said in disdain, glancing at the board and notes that Saphira was working on. "I see you are as busy as ever. Ha! I hope you aren't pushing you and your team too hard for the project due next week."

"Morning, Claudia. I am actually busy on a project that the CEO had given to us this morning to create a last-minute presentation to a new, potential client," Saphira responded to the woman calmly as she looked at the screen. "I believe he sent you the same voice message as he did Anthony. And Anthony and his team cannot do it due to a deadline he has for tomorrow. But I can." Saphira looked up at Claudia who seemed shocked. "What about you?" She glanced at the time and sighed. "Claudia, it is nine-thirty. You're like an hour late."

"That is not your business, Saphira." Claudia did not like it whenever Saphira pointed out that she was late, but Saphira was used to that kind of talk. "So a last-minute project, huh? What is it about?"

"You should go to your office to listen to what Arthur has said, Claudia. I am not going to tell you. Besides…" She looked at the woman in irritation. "Aren't you and your team working on something to present to NASA? When is that due? Is that even something that you can skip today doing?"

Claudia glared at Saphira, irritated that she would not tell her. "Well…our deadline is four days…"

"I see." Saphira looked away from Claudia. "Then you do not need to worry. My team has already been working on this for an hour, and we are already coming up with drafts." Claudia glanced at the board and notes with a glare. "Please don't barge into my office without knocking. I have asked you numerous times to not do that."

"And I don't believe you the right to tell me what to do." She turned on her heel with a huff. "Good luck with a short deadline. You have no idea what it takes to impress the CEO. Unless…" She stopped at the door and looked back at Saphira suspiciously. "You and Arthur happen to be close." Saphira rolled her eyes at her. "Eh, you're not that pretty anyway. I just spent the morning with my boyfriend, so I know that I am worthy of a man."

Saphira grimaced as she listened to Claudia. "Please just go and get started on your work, Claudia. You have important work to do, so you are wasting time talking to me."

At first Claudia was upset before she realized what Saphira had said. "Yes…yes I do have very important things to do. Unlike you…" Saphira just rolled her eyes as she kept working. "Good luck, kid."

The woman walked out and let the door slam behind her, leaving Saphira to seethe a little in irritation. She did not really understand how Claudia got away with her attitude in this company. Her attitude and how Arthur wants the company to run do not seem to be a perfect fit. Saphira guessed because Claudia's team were the ones who do the work, while Claudia ticks off on it and puts her name on the projects, it was enough for him. But she wasn't sure if Arthur was totally clueless about the woman's behaviour. But Saphira did not try to do anything because she figured that Claudia's actions would be found out eventually. Arthur was not a stupid man, and Saphira has met him multiple times before. So she simply got on with her work.

And it was quite stressful to get everything put together for the presentation. Saphira took all the draft ideas presented to her for the PowerPoint to create one with enough slides to help keep the attention of the clients while they are being presented. Saphira made sure to keep the notes available as she knew she was not the one presenting these things. It would likely be someone else, or even the CEO himself, as Arthur liked being hands on when it comes to new clients.

When it was just after twelve, Saphira felt as though the final product was ready, and she sent her team on lunch before putting the PowerPoint onto a USB, gathered her notes and the information board to take up to the CEO himself to get his approval. She wanted him to be happy with what she and her team have worked on so that they could relax for the afternoon and work on the other project for the rest of the day.

When she arrived at the top floor, she stepped out and approached the secretary with a smile. "Good afternoon, Lara. My team and I have managed to complete the presentation he is needing for the upcoming meeting with the new client."

Lara smiled politely at Saphira as she stood up from her desk. "How wonderful! He just got back from lunch, and he is ready to look over what you and your team have come up with. I think it was just your team, right?" Saphira nodded affirmatively. "Anthony called me to say he and his team were not able to do it, but I never received anything from Claudia. Do you know what time she arrived today?"

Saphira didn't really want to answer that, but she had to. "She came into my office at nine-thirty." Lara did not seem surprised as she rolled her eyes. "Um…I hope this is not something she does regularly."

"You have been here long enough to observe Claudia, Saphira. Ever since she became a senior manager in marketing, her attitude changed dramatically." She walked towards the large double as she brushed back a strand of brunette hair. "Even though her team does good, Claudia herself does the bare minimum. Between you and me…." She glanced back at Saphira with a smirk. "Her days here are numbered, and you might just take her place."

Saphira just smiled as she did not like the idea of taking someone else's position. Lara pushed the doors open into a large office filled with cabinets, bookshelves and a large desk where the man was sitting at. He was a thirty-year-old man who started the company when he was just sixteen. He had left school and studied business to the point where he could run his own company. And he has done so successfully for years in this city.

He glanced up from what he was writing and smiled at Saphira, taking off his glasses. "Ah, Saphira! I see you managed to get it finished just after twelve. I hope you and your team are not too stressed out."

She smiled politely at Arthur as he addressed her. "We were very busy, and they are all on lunch currently so they can relax for the rest of the day." She placed the board onto the chair in front the desk and placed the notes down. "This is currently the finished product of what you wanted done today, and…" She holds out the USB to the man. "We also have a PowerPoint for you. I am not sure who you have in mind to present all this, Arthur, but I hope it will be good."

Arthur looked at the board with a smile, impressed at how clean and easy to understand it was. "I am impressed. You always take your job so seriously. I know Anthony was not able to help, but he and his team are very busy." He takes the USB from Saphira's hand to plug it into his computer. "Let's see what has been done." He waited for the prompt to come up before opening the file. "By the way, I could not help but overhear yesterday that you were thinking of buying a car, right?"

Saphira was caught off guard the question that Arthur had given her. "I did not realize you heard me. Yes, I was. I was talking to Melanie about it yesterday at lunch. I need one, even though I use the bus everyday to get to and from work. But just for normal stuff, ya know."

Arthur nodded as he understood. "What kind of car were you thinking?"

"SUV, probably. I need something for groceries, Arthur." Saphira cleared her throat a little and glanced at the back of his computer. "So what do you think? I put the PowerPoint together from all the different drafts from the team, so there's a little bit of every person's work in there."

Arthur hummed as he clicked through the different slides curiously. "It is looking very good, Saphira. I am very impressed. You have been a valuable asset to this business." She smiled as she appreciated the compliment, but remained standing as she waited patiently for the result. "I think that this might be…"

"Stop!" Saphira and Arthur jump as the doors slam open with Claudia standing there breathing heavily like she was breathless. "That is all what my team made! Saphira stole it from me while I was on lunch!"

Saphira was surprised as she stared at Claudia in disbelief and glanced at Arthur as he frowned in confusion. "What do you mean she stole your project, Claudia? Do you have proof that she did?"

"Yes, yes, I do!" Claudia responded quickly in an innocent tone as she approached him. She had her own board and USB with her. "See, this is what was meant to be given to you right now, but Saphira stole it from me!"

"Claudia…"

"You have to believe me, Arthur," Claudia pleads as she interrupts the CEO. Saphira was tense and saying nothing as she glanced between the man and woman. "This girl is lying to you."

"Is she?" Arthur tapped his fingers on the desk before standing calmly. "Claudia, how could you possibly be doing this project? Your presentation that is needed for NASA in a few days should be more pressing than something that can be done by a team of people who have time." He placed his arms behind his back as he walked around the desk. "Furthermore, Claudia, I have seen the time you clocked in. It was fifteen minutes to ten when you clocked in…" Saphira was surprised as she saw the woman at nine-thirty, so she thought she had already clocked in. "Anthony already told me he could not do the project, and Saphira and her team have been working on it since this morning."

Claudia was surprised at Arthur's response to her as she glanced at Saphira for a moment before looking at the man. "I-I swear that I got to work on this as soon as I clocked in, Arthur. I promise that my team and I worked so hard!"

"I would have believed you if you did not already have a deadline to meet, Claudia. I know this is not the first time you have done this as well." He stopped in front of her as he looked at the woman with a calm demeanour. "You have tried to claim work has been taken by other members of the marketing department over the last six months. I am not sure what you are trying to do, but you cannot claim something is stolen when you are fully aware, as a senior manager, that every team work on a different project. I have made it this way so there is less stress on the workers, and you try and claim theft."

"Uh, well…"

"Claudia, you are doing yourself a disservice. You have been here for eight years, and you have done a good job. But you need to stop trying to make it seem like others are stealing from you and your team. It is disappointing to me because you have always been a great worker." Claudia stood there in disbelief before relaxing her body. "Please go back to your team, have a bit of lunch and continue your job. If this happens again, I really will have to reconsider your position at my company."

Claudia was alarmed and she began to act flustered as she realized she embarrassed herself. "S-Sorry, Arthur…um…I…"

"It is okay. Just go."

The woman nodded before glancing at Saphira briefly with a slight glare before she turned on her heel to leave the office. Saphira was glad she kept her mouth shut, although she could not help but think that Claudia might have a go at her a little later. She really hoped that would not happen, as the woman should know she had a lot of eyes on her right now. Saphira also knew that saying nothing would ensure Claudia could not say she was mocking her. At least, she hoped not.

"I am terribly sorry about that, Saphira," Arthur said politely as he turned to face her. "That woman is becoming troublesome. I am not sure why, to be honest." He shrugged with a smile before he walked back to his desk. "Anyway, as I was saying, I am very impressed with your team. I think your team deserve a bonus at the end of the month."

Saphira widened her eyes in shock. "Oh, Arthur, that's wonderful! But I don't need a bonus, you can give that to my team. They have worked hard on it."

"I know, but that's why I want to give you a bonus too, Saphira. Plus, once you have finished your current project on promoting this company, I have something I want you to work on. But that will be a surprise." She smiled at him as she thought he was being generous. "Anyway, I will make sure all of this is given to Gavin. He's the one presenting to our new client, and I will be sitting in. I will make sure he gets this." He removed the USB after copying the PowerPoint. "And, I hope you don't mind, but I know someone who is selling a Porsche. A 911 Carrera RS, apparently he just doesn't want it anymore because he never uses it."

Saphira raised an eyebrow. "Thank you, but that isn't an SUV."

"You are right, but you live on your own, don't you?" She nodded a little and Arthur smiled at her. "So you don't need a big car. Besides, he's only asking for like four or five grand for the car, and they're not cheap. He bought it a year ago, and never touched it, he just wants it gone."

Hearing what the person wanted for the car made Saphira curious. "Hmm…I will consider it."

"Here…" He wrote down something on a piece of paper and hands it to her. "That's his number, and his name is Marcus. He's a good friend of mine, and I'll be sure to inform him so he doesn't get freaked out."

She chuckled softly at him as she folds the paper and put it in her pocket. "Thank you, Arthur. I will definitely consider it. I think I might go and get some lunch. I need to give my brain a rest."

"Oh, of course!" Arthur glanced at the time and widened his eyes. "You had better go and get something to eat. I will not keep you." Saphira appreciated the talk as she turned to leave. "And good job, again. I look forward to seeing more projects completed by you."

Saphira nodded as she left the office and said a polite goodbye to Lara. Once she was in the elevator, she contemplated on what Arthur had told her. She has not yet really gone to any of the car dealers to check out what they had. She had enough money to buy a brand new car, but she also would be open to buying a used car. If this Porsche was something that Arthur thought she would have, she might investigate it. And thankfully, she would have time to do that after she has her lunch.