She sat in a gutter outside the hospital, looking so helpless, while staring blankly at the people passing by. Everyone seemed so busy. Like they're running some errands. Like they have a deadline to catch. Like they have an appointment that they need to attend. Like they're life has a direction. Tears started forming in her eyes as she stares at them feeling so jealous. Why is her life like this? Why is she the only one who seemed to have no direction in life?
"Your mother's condition is getting worse. She needs to undergo operation." The doctor told her just a while ago.
"Then perform the operation already! Don't worry about the money! I'll... I'll find a way to pay the bills, I promise. Just... just please, help my mother." That was what she said.
She already lost so much in life and she can't bear to lose her mother as well. She'll do everything to save her. She just need to find a job—no. A single job is not enough. She needs to find as many as she can so that she can earn more money and save them for her mother's operation. Yes. That's what she needs to do.
Full of determination, she stood up, sun kissing her face. She had to close her eyes for a few seconds due to the sudden contact. It made her eyes hurt a bit.
"Portia? Portia Chua, is that really you?" She opened her eyes to see who called her name. Her jaw dropped at the sight of a very tall man, with a smirk plastered on his face as he stared at her in amusement.
"Jonas." She uttered. His smile grew wider when she recognized him.
"So it's really you, huh." He said. She didn't budge even though she knew she can't stand his presence. "How many years has it been again? 4? 5?" He asked. Even his voice annoys her.
"Not really important." She fired back.
"What are your doing here? Are you visiting someone?" He casually asked which made her brows furrowed.
"Stop acting like we're some sort of close friends, Jonas." She said, getting really annoyed.
"Ooh. Still feisty, aren't we?" He teased again making her roll her eyes. She walked passed him, ready to leave him alone there but suddenly stopped on her tracks when she heard him talk again.
"So your mother's still sick, huh?" She turned to his direction. She's not just irritated now. She's getting mad already.
"It's none of your business, Jonas." She wants to just walk away and get rid of him but he's not getting the signal. She walked away yet he followed her.
"What the hell do you want?!" She said when he didn't stop following her. Jonas placed his hands inside the pockets of his hands before answering her.
"I'm here to offer you something." He said. She was taken aback with what he said.
"W-what do you mean?" She asked, getting confused. "What offer?" Jonas smirked even more before he started walking towards her slowly.
"Don't worry, Portia. The deal is easy. I'm going to pay for your mother's hospital bill in exchange for you doing whatever I want." His deep voice sent shivers down her spine.
"A-and what is it that you want?" She tried to act normal even though her heart is beating really fast. She's nervous. This guy is manipulative and evil. Of course, he has a plan.
"Simple. I just want you to get close with my brother again, seduce him and helped me steal his position and inheritace." Her eyes widened and her lips parted when she heard what he said. She immediately shook her head. Jonas stood in front of her, crossing his arms over his chest, and stared at her like he's saying that it's really just a normal and easy thing to do.
"No way, Jonas." She said giving him a death glare. She took a step back from him
She shook her head again, repeatedly. There's no way in hell that she'll do that. She can't accept that kind of offer. It is dangerous. Getting close to him will only put her to danger again. Getting close to him will only make her fragile, weak and vulnerable again. Getting close to him will only hurt her again.
"Come on, Portia. That's just Zico. You two have history so that would be our advantage—"
"Your advantage, Jonas! I will never agree to this!" She firmly said. The smirk on his lips slowly faded and he just stared at her in disbelief.
"I'm telling you, I'm going to pay for your mother's bill. Just do what I want." He saud emphasizing every word trying to scare her so she would agree.
"I don't need your money, Jonas. I can pay for my mother's bill myself." She said. But he stopped her again before she could walk away for the second time.
"And how long will that take you, Portia? How many months or years will it take you before you can finally pay off your debt including your mother's hospital bill, huh?" He said with his usual manipulative voice.
"My offer is not that hard, Portia. You'll just have to seduce him and make him give the inheritance and position up while your mother is waiting for you in your house because I paid for her bills. That's it. When I finally get what I want, you and your mother can finally live happily." He continued convincing me. I can't accept this, can I? Entering his life again will mean goodbye to my peaceful one.
But...what will I do about my mother's condition? How will I pay for the bills? Even if I overwork myself with multiple jobs, I can't pay that easily. It might also stress my mother even more and she might get sick again.
"Fine! Fine! But after all of this, I'm going to move out of this city with my mother and you'll never bother us again, you hear me?" I said. He smirked again and leaned closer.
"Of course, dear."
Jonas did exactly what he had promised. He paid for my mother's bill and her operation went well. Now she's recovering while I'm left with a huge debt to Jonas.
I sighed as I stared at the skyscraper of Lim Group of Companies in front of me. This is it. My heart is pounding really fast and I've lost count of how many times I've sighed since I got here. And so, I sighed again.
I closed my eyes firmly before taking a deep breathe. When I opened them again, I started walking towards the entrance of the building. The two guards looked at me in confusion but I didn't mind them. They're supposed to check if I'm one of the applicants or the employees but they didn't. I think Jonas had already told them about me. I nodded at them as I continue entering the building.
I almost choked on my own saliva when I saw how luxurious the interior of the building is. You can easily tell that the owner is a very wealthy man because of this. I took a deep breathe once again. Men and women in their corporate attire is gathered here in the lobby of the building. They're all applicants.
The CEO is looking for a new secretary since he fired the former one who only lasted for four months. I guess the rumors are really true, huh? He's really ruthless and strict.
"You'll go there and apply for the position, Portia." I remembered what Jonas said. "I'll use my connections to make sure that they're going to hire no one but you." He assured me.
"That can't be possible. Zico will surely be the one to interview the applicants." I said as I rolled my eyes at him. We agreed to meet here in a coffee shop near the hospital. It was just yesterday when he asked me about the offer. "And if he finds out that I'm one of them, I'm doomed."
"Of course not. Zico always lets the HR do their work or else, he'll fire them." He said, taking his turn to roll his eyes at me. Wow, this guy.
"Believe me, you'll be hired as their secretary and after that, you'll work for him, seduce him until he falls for you again and then make him give up the position and inheritance so I can finally take over." He said as he leaned his back on the chair. I bit my lower lip and avoided his gaze. I can't believe I'm doing this.Yes, I'm mad at Zico because of what happened to us, but this, this will still be unfair to him.
I sighed once again as I stare at these hopeful and determined people. They surely want and deserve this job more than I do. But they didn't know that at the end of day, they still won't be hired because Jonas will make sure that I will be Zico's new secretary.
I sat patiently on the waiting area as I wait for my turn. Some of the applicants were going out of the room looking so depressed. The interview must've been heard. It made me nervous.
"I told you. He'll be here. He'll be the one to interview the applicants." The two woman beside me started talking to each other. Amusement is evident in their voces.
They're looking outside with wide eyes. Curiousity made me look at what they're looking at.
I almost fell from my chair when I saw him. My heart pounded abnormally and my knees were trembling. What the hell is he doing here?
He still has this dark and intimidating aura surrounding him. His thick brows are furrowed and his deep and dark eyes made my jaw dropped. He's tall and perfectly toned body screamed superiority as he walk towards the interview room. Countless fazes following his every moves.
When he's finally inside the room, people, especially girls started sighing.
"He's super hot." One of the applicants said. It somehow made my blood boil. I rolled my eyes and just stared at the wall.
But my anger wasn't able to cover the fear and nervousness I was feeling. My heart continued pounding faster as my turn is approachig. What should I do if he sees me?
"Next applicant, please." The woman at the doorstep of the interviewing room called. I am pretty sure that she was looking for me already.
With trembling knees, I stood up. Careful not to fall down. I feel like my soul is slowly leaving my body as I approached the room.
"Good luck." The woman said with a smile on her face as she opened the door. I slowly, hesitantly went inside. The panel of interviewers were all looking down, still not noticing me. Only one is looking at me.
I felt my eyebrow palpitating as I stare at the nervous and confused Jonas sitting in front of me. He faked a cough and I almost jumped to kill him when all the interviewers lift up their heads to look at me.
My eyes landed on the shocked Zico. He stared at me with wide eyes and parted lips.
"What are you doing here?"