chapter 1

-Eri Sunville-

I heaved a huge sigh. Why was this happening to me? Why did bad things only happen to those who can't handle it? If this were to be happening to a billionaire or something, he wouldn't care but why me. Was my family cursed?

I dropped my phone, covering my face with both palms, resting the back of my palm on my knee as I just sat there on the bed.

I recalled the conversation I just had with the doctor and if I heard him right, which I obviously did, my younger sister had pancreatic cancer. I mean why? Why is the world so cruel? She's the only one I have, the only one I can be with and now the world wants to take her away.

Doctor Mike had said the treatment would cost $55000. I mean $55000. Do I look like Bill Gates?

Where in the world was I supposed to get such a huge amount? I have never even seen a quarter of the amount before not to talk of raising it and I needed to do it fast as the disease must not stay in her body for much longer else it could become worse.

Apparently, Doctor Mike had said she still had stage 2 cancer and it was still easy to treat and we must do that quickly before it advances to stage 3.

Quickly meant quickly. Where on earth was I going to get $55000 quickly? I heard the sob come out from my throat. This was too much to handle. I can't lose her. She's my world. I need her.

"Eri." I turned my head to the door when I heard Suzy. There she stood, her figure evident from the door.

She was wearing a white tank top and gray bum shorts. Her straight shoulder length black hair was packed in a rough bun and her face made it evident that she'd been crying.

That made me even more sad. She was just 21 and didn't deserve what the cruel world was throwing to her. How could she think in a right manner when she knew she needed $55000.

I just couldn't get that amount right in my head. Where would I get that amount?

Even if I searched the world, I would never have such an amount in my life. I'm not even sure if in mine and Suzy's entire life, we've even spent that much.

"I'm sorry." Suzy said, her voice coming out mostly as a sob.

I stood up immediately, rushing to her, wrapping her in my arms. "Don't talk stupid. What are you sorry for?"

She rested her head on my shoulder, loud sobbing coming from her. I could feel her tears soak my cloth but that just made me start crying.

"I'll find the money." Even after I said it, it didn't sound possible, but no matter what I must find the money.

***

"I know you're desperate for a job, but don't you think you might hurt yourself with this excessive search for a job." My best friend, Rose said, her voice filled with concern.

Although I knew she was only speaking out of concern, I got annoyed because she'd actually think there's something called 'excessive search for a job' when I needed as much as I could get. I rose my head from the laptop, shooting her a quick glare before continuing to type.

She sighed. "I don't know what we could do, but any amount I get I will certainly use it as an assistance. I could also plead with some of my friends to help." I felt tears in my eyes at her effort.

I turned to her. "Please do."

She gasped a little, reaching out for my hand over the coffee table. "Don't cry. Everything will work out. I'm sure about that. Suzy has always been a strong girl so you aren't in the position to weaken. She needs you right now."

"You're right." I said, but it came out as a whisper and I was sure she didn't hear me. It wasn't like she needed to hear me, I was telling it to myself mostly.

A small television attached to the wall of the coffee shop had a woman speaking.

"The contention is still ongoing as to who the anonymous fiancee of the successful Billionaire and owner of the Jonzx Haiè International as well as many other companies, Don Jones, is. Some people are debating on Gil Scott while some other people are on June Silver while some others are on Hanny Bandit. But we will all see who the Mrs Jones will be on the 26th of July, bla bla bla." I had stopped listening. It's not like the wedding of some billionaire was going to get me the $55000."

I continued my search for a job, applying at literally every 'help wanted' link I'd seen. "I think I'd go for Hanny Bandit, they seem to be very close."

At first I was confused as to what she was talking about but then I realized she was referring to the Don Jones. "I don't really care about his choice."

She stared at me with a raised brow. "Why?"

I didn't leave my head from the laptop. "First of all, I think he's overdoing it. I mean why does a man have to make his wedding so- I don't know- elaborate. The wedding is still in a month and he's making such a fuss. And he's making his fiancee anonymous, that's just stupid so he gets the fame and she gets nothing only a 'i told you it was her' on the wedding day. So stupid." Normally I wouldn't talk about something with such annoyance but when you need to get a huge amount of money and you have no idea where on earth you're going to get even half the amount, anything is going to piss your ass off.

Rose's expression read surprise. "Wow, that was so-" she trailed off, seeming to search for the right word. "Whatever, so what's the second reason."

"Well he's a billionaire. His stupid wealth and marriage wouldn't add a fucking penny to my account, in fact he gets more money while I still sit here in search of a stupid job." The anger in me rose but soon softened when I saw Rose's expression, the one that showed she had a sensible idea.

"What?" I asked when she didn't say a word.

"You know, maybe you could actually get a job. Why don't you try searching the Jonzx Haiè International company's website and see if there's help wanted. I can't stop the thought that they may need you, I mean an employee."

I couldn't see her expression as I had already started the search as soon as she mentioned the company's name. Please need my help, please, please, please.

I clicked on the website.

Please.

I went to the employment site.

Please.

I clicked on 'any job left'

Please.

My grin went from ear to ear when I saw the sign that said help needed. I rose my head from the laptop and turned to Rose's expectant face. "They need help." That caused her to smile

_____

"Just keep hoping Suzy, that they grant me the job." I took the plates from the table, heading to the kitchen and dropping the plates on the sink.

It had been three days already since I sent the application, what were they still waiting for?

Were they not going to give me? I hadn't gotten any reply from any of the other places I applied for a job, it was frustrating having to just sit at home when I know that the precious time is wasting, I can't risk wasting any more precious times.

"Don't stress yourself about it too much. Everything will be okay." She smiled.

She still looked okay as doctor Mike had said it was going to keep happening step by step. I needed the money as soon as possible.

He had said they could start the surgery if we had up to half of the money and even now, my account only spoke $2000 which was gathered by Rose and some of her friends.

"I'm sure it'll be." Just then my phone vibrated in the pocket of my gray jean trouser I thought matched perfectly with the yellow oversized shirt I had on.

I removed it from my pocket, clicking on the message I had gotten. I felt my heart beat faster as I read it. My smile was certainly able to tear off my skin but I didn't bother.

"What happened?" Suzy had rushed to stand beside me. She grabbed my phone from my hand and read the email from Jonzx Haiè International.

They had called me for an interview, which was on Thursday, that was in 2 days time. "Wow, you finally got a response." She wrapped her hands around me, shaking me from left to right.

"Oh my," I grabbed my phone from Suzy whose smile was almost as wide as mine. "I need to call Rose right now, I am really nervous. The Jonzx Haiè International are going to be interviewing me."

"Yes call her."

I dialled Rose's number, she answered after the second ring.

"Is everything alright?" She sounded concerned, she has sounded like that since Suzy's disease was diagnosed.

"I'm going for an interview on Thursday."

"Really? Where?"

"Jonzx Haiè International." Her squeal caused me to drift the phone backwards a little.

"Are you serious right now?"

"You bet your fucking ass I'm serious." I chuckled. "I'll need your help with what to wear-"

"Say no more." She interrupted and hang up.

***

Thursday had finally arrived. Rose had made sure to dress me in the best style for an interview.

I had on a white button down shirt with grey pants and the only expensive black Michael Kors hand bag Rose had. She had packed my black mid-spinalcord length hair in a bun and lent me her grey heels.

As soon as the taxi dropped me in front of the Jonzx Haiè International. I felt my body shaking, I was nervous. Very nervous.

I recalled Rose's words. 'Walk like you own that position' so I walked inside as soon as the door had automatically opened for me to go in.

I was greeted by a female who I guessed was the receptionist. "Are you a visitor?" She asked, in a calm tone.

She looked like she could be in her mid-twenties. She was wearing a red knee length gown and her shoulder length red hair was swaying like waves on her shoulders.

"I'm here for the interview." I replied, a smile planted on my face which was replied with a warm smile from her.

"Please write your name here." She pointed to a book that had a pen beside it. I took the pen, writing my name down and the time which I checked from a wall clock.

"Where do I go to please?" I asked unsure of where to even head in this gigantic building.

"Keep going straight and head to the first right, you'd see an elevator, go to the 20th floor. The first door you'd see is where you're heading to." She sounded like she had been saying that too often today.

"Thanks. I'm Eri by the way."

"Dina."

I waved her goodbye, going through whatever path she had told me to go to. When the elevator dinged, the doors separated and I walked out.

I was surprised to see only 3 men sitting on the waiting area in front of the door I guessed was where the interview was being held.

I had expected to see like a million people ready to be interviewed. The 3 men stared at me as I walked to sit beside one of them which was very discomforting.

"Good morning." I had to say, hoping it would stop their stare and fortunately it did.

After an hour, the 3 men had finally been interviewed and I was next. A woman opened the door, she looked like she could be in her early thirties.

She had straight blonde hair, and was dressed so formally it made me nervous. "Eri Sunville." The way she called my name just made me even more nervous.

I stood up immediately. Here it goes. I headed into the room and if I said I was expecting the office to be this beautiful, I'd be lying I had actually imagined myself to be interviewed like the way suspects of crime were interviewed.

But staring at the office, I was wowed. It was huge with a table at the front, the walls were glass and the view from there was beautiful, I couldn't help but stare.

The table that had a lot of papers on it had a woman sitting on the chair in front of the table while there were two chairs at the other side of the table which I guessed was where I was going to seat.

The woman rose her head from the laptop she was typing, a smile appeared on her face and I couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was. She had long black hair that was packed in a ponytail, I couldn't guess what her age but I could tell she was young.

I wasn't sure if she was wearing a gown or shirt and something else as I couldn't see from below her waist which was covered by the table. She had pretty and bright green eyes that stared at my hazel eyes.

"Eri Sunville." She snapped me from my thoughts.

I walked towards the table. "Yes." I smiled remembering Rose's words to always smile

"Please have your seat." I immediately complied sitting opposite her, placing the bag on her laps. She continued typing on her laptop. "May I see your C/V?"

"Of course." I opened the bag, handing her my C/V.

She took it and scanned it. "You've been to 10 jobs? Why?"

"Because I am a woman who likes adventures." That was a lie. It was because I just did as many job I could do at the same time to get money. I remembered Rose telling me to not act too desperate for the job neither should I act like I didn't need their job.

"You do know that if you're going to be doing this job, you're going to have to only stick to this job because being the personal assistant and secretary of Mr Jones is going to demand your whole time."

"And I would be willing to give away that time." With that she rose her head and stared at me, her eyes showed something I guessed to be interest.

***

The interview was finally over with and I had gone home. The interviewer, who I now knew was Miss Donna, had told me that I would receive an email tomorrow letting me know if I got the job or not.

That was too much for me, I was sure I was not going to sleep. As I lay on the bed when I got home. Suzy ran to me, sitting on the bed beside me.

"How did it go?" She asked eagerly. She still looked okay like Doctor Mike had said, I just hope she'd stay okay till I can get the amount ready.

"I don't know, she said I'd get an email tomorrow." I groaned. "This is too much tension. Why not just tell me right there whether I got it or not."

"You shouldn't overthink okay? I made something for us to eat."

"Why are you cooking in your condition?"

"I'm okay, trust me." She stood up. "I'll serve your food and we can both eat here." Before she left, she turned. "Rose came saying she wanted to borrow a shirt though I knew she just wanted to check on me."

That was just Rose, she was a sweet person, had always been the best since we met. Rose and I met when we were just 15. I was still struggling to heal from my mom's death and my uncle who had accommodated Rose and I said he could no longer take care of us, it was not good for him financially so he asked us to go back home. Rose was in my class and she help me overcome the depression that was already welling up. I did the same for her when her parents died in a car accident when she was 17. The three of us had been sister's since then.

It was night already and sleep was refusing to arrive, I couldn't stop checking my phone even though I knew they weren't going to send it in the middle of the night.

Suzy couldn't sleep either and I knew Rose couldn't sleep as she just kept on sending irrelevant messages every hour. This was a very nervous moment for them.

"You should sleep, it's not good for your health." I whispered in the darkness and silence.

"I would once you do."

We stayed in that position for a while until, I guess sleep came because when I opened my eyes, it was slightly bright. I stretched, yawning and sitting on the bed.

"How on earth did you get any sleep while I was just tossing around on the bed." Rose's voice caused me to jerk my head to the closet where she stood with my cloth.

"I don't even know." I said truthfully, standing up from the bed fully aware that my hair was flying freely on my head. "What does the time say?"

"6:30a:m"

"Why are you here so early?"

"The tension was killing me at home, I realized if I was here to see if you got the job, I might feel better."

***

I didn't care that Suzy and Rose's heads were hitting mine as we were sitting in circles with my phone in the center. We had been in this position for about 30 minutes and I was sure no one was willing to break from the position.

We had never been this silent in a long time but I could feel the tension from everyone. I was probably the most nervous as it felt like my heart was about to pop out of my body.

As soon as the phone vibrated, I grabbed it from the bed standing up ignoring the fact that Suzy and Rose had also been waiting to know the news. They also stood up. I clicked on the email with shaky hand.

I felt the tears drop down my face when I saw the email.

"What happened?" Rose grabbed the phone from me, immediately throwing me into a hug. "You got the job you moron! Whoa!!" I didn't care that she was screaming so loudly into my ear, all that mattered was that I got the job.

"You got it!" I heard Suzy's voice from behind. "Oh my! You got it!!!"

"I got it." I said when Rose had released me from the hug and the three of us started screaming and dancing and laughing and doing whatever we felt made us happy.