Chapter 1.
Alyssa's eyes widened as she stared at her phone screen. "Alyssa, you are fired!" a hoarse voice yelled on the other end.
She placed the phone back to her ear, trying to process what was happening. "Sir, what did I do wrong?" she asked, her voice shaking with shock.
Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as the CEO's response sent a chill down her spine. "I don't want to see your face in this company again. Get another job, you're filthy."
The line went dead before Alyssa could respond. She gazed blankly at the wall clock, the time reading 7:30 am.
Alyssa's eyes dropped, and she shook her head in disgust. "What's wrong with me? This is the second job I've lost in two months."
She leaned against the wall, letting the tears fall. "Is it because I won't give in to their advances? Why should I date a married CEO?"
Taking a deep breath, Alyssa wiped away her tears and headed to the small table beside her bed. "I won't stay idle. Time to find a new job."
She grabbed her handbag and rushed out of the room. As she waited for a cab, an idea struck her. "Why not walk and look for job vacancies instead?"
With newfound determination, Alyssa began strolling down the street, scanning the storefronts for any signs of job openings..
"This life has become unbearable for me. I can only hope to find the strength to overcome all this." She whispered to herself, her footsteps echoing her despair.
As Alyssa walked, lost in thought, a splash of water suddenly drenched her. She spun around, her eyes locking onto a car in the distance. Her gaze then dropped to her soaked clothes, and she let out a frustrated sigh.
Alyssa rubbed her palm over her face, wiping away the water. She glared at the car, which had now stopped, and a young man in a dim blue suit stepped out. He approached her, apology etched on his face.
"You jerk..." Alyssa cursed, her face twisted in anger. "If you can't drive, why not just get rid of the keys instead of making a fool of yourself?"
The young man pulled out a light blue towel from his pocket and began to clean Alyssa's clothes. She slapped his shoulder, pushing him away.
"You're insane!" Alyssa exclaimed. "What's wrong with you?"
The young man looked taken aback but still apologized. "I'm really sorry, it was an accident."
Alyssa snatched the towel from him and threw it back at his face. "You clearly have no manners. You think you can just touch me like that?"
"I'm just trying to show some sympathy," the young man said, taken aback by Alyssa's hostility.
"Fuck off my sight." She yelled at him."Just get out of my sight."
He swallowed his saliva. "You can go to hell with the dirty splash." He retorted and moved to his car.
Alyssa's anger boiled over. "Just get lost! And take your dirty splash with you."
The young man shook his head, turned around, and walked back to his car. Alyssa watched him go, her lips pursed in annoyance.
As she stood there, fuming, she couldn't help but worry about her appearance. Her clothes were soaked, and she looked a mess.
"This guy is a total jerk," she muttered to herself, using her palm to blot the wet fabric.
She took a deep breath and continued on her way, hoping that her disheveled appearance wouldn't hurt her chances of finding a new job.
"********************************
"Welcome, Sir," the young clerk greeted Mr. Adrian, her voice dripping with enthusiasm. She showcased herself to him, hoping to capture his attention.
He turned to her and gave a brief nod, his expression unchanging. Her greetings meant nothing to him, as he saw them as a mere attempt to draw his attention.
Despite her obvious flirting, Mr. Adrian hadn't fired her. He had, however, issued a stern warning: dress decently at work or face termination. And she had obeyed that order.
Certain times, Mr. Adrian couldn't help but think that he didn't blame those ladies who wanted his attention. Who wouldn't want to be close to a wealthy and famous charming man like himself? But he didn't give them the time of day. Heaven knows he wasn't ready for a woman. Oh, he wouldn't give them the time of day for any reason. All that mattered to him was the success of his company.
"Where are the visitors?" he asked the clerk, who kept throwing lustful stares at him. She pouted her lips in a sexy manner.
"They've been waiting for you in the visitor's room," she replied, her voice husky.
Mr. Adrian nodded and walked out of the room, heading to the visitor's room. Immediately he stepped into the room, they all stood on their feet
"It's nice to see you, Sir Adrian," one of the men said with a smile.
Mr. Adrian smiled back, feeling a slight relief from the tension. "I apologize for keeping you all waiting. I had a bit of a clash with a woman on my way here, but it's all sorted out now."
The men nodded understandingly. "It's alright, Sir," they chimed in unison.
Mr. Adrian gestured for them to follow him. "Let's head to my office." They walked behind him, taking seats as he offered.
In the comfort of his office, Mr. Adrian leaned back in his chair. "So, what brings the business board management to my office today?" he asked, his eyes scanning the men's faces.
One of the three men placed a file on Mr. Adrian's desk. "We've come to deliver an important message from the business board," he explained.
Mr. Adrian's curiosity was piqued. "I'm all ears," he said, leaning forward.
The young man cleared his throat. "The business board has decided that in order for this company to continue receiving contracts, the CEO must be married within the next thirty-one days."
Mr. Adrian's eyebrows furrowed. "What do you mean? Why is my marital status a condition for receiving contracts?" he asked, his voice laced with confusion.
Another man stepped in to explain. "It's quite simple, Sir Adrian. The business board wants to ensure that the CEO of this company is a stable and responsible individual. They believe that being married is a sign of stability and responsibility."
Mr. Adrian's face turned red with anger. "That's ridiculous!" he exclaimed. "My marital status has nothing to do with my ability to run this company."