Raya's heart raced as she felt the fabric cover her eyes. She was convinced she was about to be kidnapped, her breaths coming in quick, shallow gasps. Panic gripped her, and she instinctively tried to use the self-defense techniques she had learned, but the person behind her dodged effortlessly. In an instant, the fabric was removed, and Raya blinked against the sudden light. When she turned around, her breath caught in her throat. It was Cassey, standing there with a look of concern etched across her face. Raya's scream erupted, a mixture of fear, shock, and surprise. "You scared me half to death!" she exclaimed. Cassey immediately stepped forward and pulled her into a comforting hug. "I'm so sorry, Raya. I didn't mean to frighten you." Her voice was soothing, and she held Raya close until her racing heart began to slow. They headed back to Aunt Maggie's house, where Aunt Maggie's face lit up with a broad smile upon seeing Cassey. It was as if she had sensed a reason to celebrate. They all embraced, and Aunt Maggie's joy was palpable as she welcomed Cassey back. Despite the warm reception, Raya couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Cassey's arrival felt too timely, and Raya's questions about why she was there were met with evasive answers. Cassey skillfully deflected, changing the subject whenever Raya tried to dig deeper. Frustrated but too exhausted to press the matter further, Raya decided to let it go for now, planning to get to the bottom of it later. Later that night, while Raya was drifting into sleep, Cassey slipped into Aunt Maggie's room. Their conversation was serious and hushed. "Raya's dad broke into my house with a group of men," Cassey said, her voice trembling slightly. "They tortured me, trying to find out where Raya was. He was ready to unalive me, and I had no choice but to tell him what he wanted to know. I was afraid for both our lives." Aunt Maggie's face paled. "I knew he was dangerous, but this… this is worse than I imagined." She sighed with relief. "Thank you for being brave, Cassey. We owe you so much." As they continued to talk, Raya sleepily stumbled into the room, rubbing her eyes. "What's going on?" she asked, her voice slurred with sleep. Both Aunt Maggie and Cassey quickly changed the subject, their expressions carefully neutral. Raya, too tired to pursue the matter, gave them a suspicious glance but eventually returned to her room with Cassey. In the quiet of their room, Cassey and Raya caught up on what had happened earlier, but the events of the day weighed heavily on Raya's mind. As she drifted into sleep, Aunt Maggie lay awake, her thoughts consumed with worry for both Raya and the danger that still loomed.
Raya felt a rush of excitement as she walked into her new workplace. After months of struggle, disappointment, and feeling stuck in a life that seemed to offer nothing but bitter squeezes, she finally had a chance to start over. The joy bubbling inside her was like nothing she had felt in a long time. Her past wanted to claw its way back into her thoughts, but she brushed it aside, determined not to let it tarnish the happiness she had found in this moment.
Arriving early on her first day, Raya took her time to appreciate the grandeur of the office. The marble floors gleamed under the sunlight that poured in from the large windows, and the modern artwork adorning the walls gave the place an air of sophistication. It was beautiful, and being here felt like a small victory in itself. Her heart swelled with gratitude—this was the fresh beginning she had longed for.
Even the snooty receptionist's lackluster greeting couldn't dim her mood. Raya smiled politely and walked past her, holding onto the joy that filled her.
As soon as she reached the desk of Mrs. Ruby, the head secretary, things took a slightly unsettling turn. Mrs. Ruby was kind, but there was a hint of tension behind her warm smile.
"You'll need to wait a little while," Mrs. Ruby said, her voice gentle. "Mr. Heistens is... busy right now."
Just then, the office door opened, and an employee rushed out, face flushed, eyes red, as if they had just cried. Raya's heart sank for the poor soul, but she understood that Mrs. Ruby's delay was meant to protect her from whatever had happened in that room. And, weirdly enough, the gesture warmed her heart. Mrs. Ruby seemed like the kind of person who watched out for others, and that gave Raya a small sense of comfort.
Twenty minutes passed before Luke Heistens, the CEO, finally emerged. Raya had heard about him—a shrewd, ruthless businessman who didn't tolerate nonsense. She couldn't wait to see the majestic face of The CEO, Mr Heistens, Tall, handsome, and immaculately dressed in a tailored suit that looked like it cost more than her annual salary. His presence was commanding, and even in his foul mood, there was an undeniable magnetism about him.
Raya, still feeling the jitters of her first day, instinctively averted her gaze, lowering her eyes as he walked past. She didn't want to draw attention, not now. But it was too late—Luke's sharp eyes had already fallen on her, and his expression twisted into one of disdain.
"Who's this?" he asked Mrs. Ruby, his voice clipped with annoyance.
Mrs. Ruby, ever composed, explained, "The person we initially hired had a fatal accident, and the replacement fell ill. So, we called her in—she was among the final candidates."
Luke's eyes flicked back to Raya, and she felt the full weight of his scrutiny. "I remember approving her based on her profile picture," he said dismissively, "but I didn't expect this." His gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before he turned to Mrs. Ruby. "Fire her. I don't want some incompetent fool sitting at my secretary's desk."
The words hung in the air like a slap. Raya's heart sank, and for a moment, she was frozen in disbelief. How could someone be so cruel, so dismissive? Her mind raced. She needed this job. She needed it to support herself and her aunt, who was depending on her. But as Luke turned to leave, walking toward his private elevator like she didn't even exist, something inside her snapped.
She wasn't going to let him insult her like that and just walk away.
With a surge of anger, Raya marched up to him, her eyes blazing with fury. "How dare you!" she shouted, loud enough for the entire office to hear. Luke stopped in his tracks, slowly turning to face her with a look of surprise.
"You think you can just call me a peasant and that's it? I don't care that you're firing me, but you will not disrespect me!" Raya's voice trembled with rage, but she held her ground. "You're nothing but a spoiled, pompous jerk, a mama's boy with daddy issues! Is that why you think you can treat people like dirt? Because you've never had to work for anything in your life?"
The entire office went dead silent. Even Mrs. Ruby looked stunned, as though no one had ever dared to speak to Luke Heistens like that.
Luke's eyes flashed with anger, but Raya didn't care anymore. She had nothing left to lose. She stepped into the elevator, glaring at him as the doors began to close. "I'm not your peasant," she hissed, her final words dripping with defiance. And with that, she was gone.
The elevator ride down to the first floor felt like a blur, her heart racing from the confrontation. When the doors opened, she strode past the snooty receptionist without a second glance. Her mind was a storm of emotions—anger, fear, frustration, but also a strange sense of relief. She had stood up for herself, even if it meant losing the job.
But by the time she reached home, the weight of what had happened finally crashed down on her. She collapsed onto the couch, her mind reeling. How would she explain this to her aunt? How would she support her now? Tears stung her eyes as the fear of uncertainty settled in.
But as she lay there, staring at the ceiling, Raya realized one thing: she had fought back. She had refused to be belittled or disrespected. And while it wasn't the fresh start she had imagined, it was a start nonetheless—one where she would no longer let anyone make her feel small.Raya had been lost in thought, replaying the events of the day in her mind over and over. The confrontation with Luke Heistens still left her feeling shaken, but she couldn't deny the small satisfaction that came with standing up for herself. As the hours passed, the silence of her small apartment started to feel suffocating. She thought about everything she'd been through and where to go from here, but an unsettling feeling kept creeping into the back of her mind.
It felt as though someone was watching her.
Every time she glanced out the window or around the room, her heart quickened as if she expected to see a shadow moving just out of sight. She tried to shake it off, telling herself it was just paranoia after such a rough day, but the sensation wouldn't go away. The feeling grew stronger as the evening wore on, a cold tingle running down her spine.
The front door creaked open, and Raya's thoughts scattered. Her aunt, Maggie, had come home.
"Hey, Aunt Maggie," Raya said, quickly moving to greet her. But the moment she saw her aunt's face, she stopped in her tracks. Maggie's usual warmth was gone, replaced by a stiffness in her expression and a tenseness in the way she moved. Her aunt's eyes flickered with something that Raya couldn't quite place—fear, or maybe something worse.
Before Raya could ask what was wrong, Maggie spoke in a low voice, her words like a punch to Raya's chest.
"Let's move."