Chapter 2

"Mr Hamilton!

Robert calls out, shocked at the audacity of the lady in front. The bodyguards rush towards Andrea but he signals them to retreat.

"Did you just lay your filthy hands on me? He asks, still shocked at what happened. In all his years of existence, no one has dared to raise their hands on him to talk more of the bedraggled girl.

"Yes I did and I will gladly slap you again." a single tear fell from her eyes.

"I pray to God every morning to not cross paths with narcissists like you!

"Do you know who I am? Lance asks, he takes slow steps towards her, gazing at her like a black panther waiting to devour his prey. The atmosphere suddenly changes because of his cold aura. Andrea felt intimidated by the tall and imposing man standing in front of her, but she buried the fear deep inside, mirroring his action.

"I don't know who you are and don't care to know! She replies and then pokes her middle finger on his solid chest. "I'm just trying to teach you manners which you seem to forget at home."

Robert snicker silently at her choice of words. He knew that was a blow to his boss's face.

"Let's get out of here Boss before the paparazzi sights you! He whispers to Lance but that was the least of his worries at that moment. All his attention was on the fiery lady.

"If you think I will be swept away by your money, then you're wrong." She picks up the money and pushes it to his chest. "I can take good care of myself!

Her action enraged Lance the more and he roughly grabbed her hand drawing her close to him, their body almost touching.

"How dare you? He barks

Andrea squirmed from his hold. Immediately she takes out her phone from her pocket and takes a quick picture of Lance's face. "If you dare hurt me, then I will report it to the police. I have evidence, your face." She retorts

Lance slaps the phone from her hand and it falls to the ground.

"My phone! Lillian squeals and tries to fight Lance but Robert intervenes. Robert hesitantly withdraws Lance's hand and then whispers to them "Mr Hamilton the paparazzi are running towards us!—we need to go right now. But Lance didn't budge.

"Mr. Hamilton, This won't look good on your reputation at the moment, please heed my words," he tells him desperately.

Lance blinked angrily, his eyes darting to the umpteen numbers of paparazzi running in their direction with cameras.

"Trust me you won't get off easily, I promise! Lance grunts then quickly walks to his car.

"Let's never cross paths ever! Andrea shouts, loud enough for him to hear her. Before their cars sped off into the darkness of the night.

*************

The cab stopped in front of an old building, Andrea paid off the driver and limped to the front porch of their building where her mother stood tapping her foot on the floor.,

"What happened to your knee? Her mother rushes to her to check the injury.

"It's nothing much Mum, I trip! She answers, entertained inside, and her mother follows suit nagging.

"Andrea, can't you see you're not helping yourself? Your mates are out there working and fending for themselves but all you do is waste yourself at the club every night."

She breathed out and then walked to stand beside her daughter who was now stripping off from her clothes. "This is not the daughter I raised!

"Don't you see that I'm trying my best Mum? I have been interviewed by many companies and yet I couldn't secure a job! She screeches and then points at notes stuck to the walls where she wrote down the list of unsuccessful interviews.

"I've tried all my best! She declares and rushes to the bathroom and locks the door after her, to hide her tears from her mother.

Minutes passed with Andrea crying on the bathroom floor. For the first time, she was tired of living. Andrea could remember how hopeful and excited she was to face the real world after high school. She studied hard throughout college and graduated with an outstanding result, a healthy relationship, and a promising future but now all has gone down the drain. Here she was, hopeless and frustrated.

After many thoughts, she finally manages to clean up her injured knee, freshen up, and walk back to her room to notice a tray of medicine, biscuits, and warm milk, and beside it is a small note.

Andrea picked up the note and read "I'm sorry if I hurt you with my words!!

A smile slowly makes it up to her face. Her mother was the only solid background. They might quarrel, argue, and misunderstand each other but she was her only supporter.

"I'm sorry too Mum! She yells, knowing fully well that her mother will be standing outside her door. "Thank you, sweetie, sleep right." she hears her mother say from outside the door...

Andrea quickly picks up her phone to check the message sent to her by the Hamilton Group. She had an interview that morning even though she was mentally and physically exhausted, she had no choice, getting this job was her only hope.

"My last chance! She breathes out! Her eyes darted to where she hung her sleek suit. A smile creeps to her face as she remembers how her mother had saved up half of her salary to buy her the suit on her twenty-second Birthday. Even though it was a thrift, she still cherishes it and believes the suit will bring her good luck.

She casually jumps on her soft bed, feeling very worn out and in pain. She couldn't help but remember her encounter with the arrogant stranger that night, from the look of things the man seemed to come from a wealthy family but his character was trash.

Andrea quickly pushes the thought to the back of her head. She had better things to think of, like how to walk majestically on her heel with an injured knee, how to cover her dark under eye with makeup to look presentable, and the last thought was how she would stop herself from breaking down if the interview didn't go well. She felt her eyes slowly closing and she finally gave in to sleep.

The whole room was quiet except for the soft snores escaping her lips. A notification sound echoed around the room and a message popped on her phone screen.

"This message is to inform all interviewees that the time for the interview has been changed from 12 noon to 10 am. The company is truly sorry for any inconvenience it may cause.

Best regard,

CEO,

Hamilton group of companies.