CHAPTER 6

Harley's POV

After I ended the call with the arrogant man, I dropped the phone and stared into space, thinking of what just happened. 

Why the hell is he asking me to become his personal nurse? So he can deal with me, use me the way he wants, humiliate me and make me beg for money? I don't even understand what he wants.

Is he this foolish not to know that I am not a girl who will stoop so low to grab the opportunity of being a personal nurse for an arrogant fool like him? 

I don't even care if he is a billionaire or not. His behavior and lack of approach are totally out of it. I just feel bad that he has a good look. He ought to be as ugly as a duckling. That appearance would have fitted his dark and stupid mind.

I blow a sigh and lean back on the headboard.

Grandma must have heard me crying before Jim called me. I heard the sound of her wheelchair fading away. I feel she doesn't need to know what is happening. I don't want to tell her that I lost my job and I can't afford to pay her surgery fees anymore. 

The hope that the fees will be complete soon is what keeps her going. I know how tired she is of using the wheelchair, I know how uncomfortable she gets when people see her in the wheelchair or when we go out.

I made a vow to make her walk again but now all my hopes have been dashed. And the only person that I thought can put an end to my misery has also disappointed me. I don't feel the trials of life when Jim is beside me. 

Now that he is gone and there is no hope of him coming back as soon as I want, the weight of the past seems heavy on me. I feel burdened. I can't bear it alone. I need someone to bear the pain with. 

That person is Jim but he is miles away.

Everything is overwhelming. Everything happening seems unreal but it is. I know it is real. But I find it very hard to believe that I have just lost my job, despite all the sacrifices and nights of sleepless nights. I can't believe Jim and I are no longer together. 

We were the perfect couple. Chelsea, my best friend, is the only one who is not in support of my relationship with Jim. She feels Jim isn't up to the task. I am more educated than him, I have a job and he doesn't but I didn't care about all these differences because of how I feel. 

I ask myself if Jim truly loves me. How can a man who loved a woman just go away like this and even break up with her over the phone? Does he even value the moments we have shared? I don't know when a tear slips down my eyes until it falls off my face.

Wiping my tears, I brace myself up and tell myself I will overcome whatever challenge that comes my way. I am a strong woman. 

I am intelligent and hardworking. I am going to start looking for another job first thing tomorrow morning. I won't let the arrogant bastard's action get to me and I promise to make him pay for doing this to me. As for the doctor, I will deal with him too for letting money and fear steal away his loyalty and kindness.

After sitting still for a few more moments to let everything sink in and encourage myself to let it go and not let it bother me too much because of my grandma, I finally get up from my bed to go take a shower. Before I can enter the bathroom, I hear a knock on the door. I am thinking it is Grandma again until I hear Chelsea's voice.

"Harley, open the door", she says and knocks once again.

I stroll to the door and fling it open. Chelsea comes in and stares at me like I have grown two horns.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I question and move away from her.

"I was damn scared you would do something bad..." She stops mid-way, pulling me back so we can face each other squarely. 

She examines me carefully from head to toe as though to search for a scratch or any evidence of hurting myself.

Since grandma didn't come to my room, she must have gone back to the living room to call Chelsea to come to check up on me. Chelsea is my best friend and confidant. She knows how to make me spill whatever is bothering me, even when I don't want to say them. 

I keep staring at her as she scrutinizes me carefully. The silence and the stares are making me uncomfortable so I turn back and walk to my closet to look for something to wear after taking a bath.

When I see the big T-shirt I took from Jim, I throw it away angrily before looking around for another cloth to wear. Chelsea moves close to me and grabs my hand.

She is peering at me intensely as if she will get to read through my expression and know what is wrong with me. 

"What happened to you, Harley?" She demands softly.

"I lost my job", I answer bluntly and pull away from her grip to continue looking for what to wear. 

"Stop what you are doing and talk to me." She requested of me.

"I said I lost my job", I shout in frustration, turning to face her. I see the hurt that flashed across her countenance because of my shout and I squeeze my eyes shut before moving to the bed. I can feel the tears burning in my eyes again and threatening to fall.

"Is that why you are like this? I don't know you to be like this, Harley. I've always known you to be a strong woman who is ready to face whatever challenges that come her way. The Harley I know isn't this fragile and doesn't look pathetic the way you are looking right now. Is it the job that is making you this way or Jim?" She questions me with a serious look on her face as she follows me to the bed. She sits next to me, placing her hands on my lap.

I am surprised at the way Chelsea is talking to me. Chelsea has always been the quiet and emotional one. I am always there for her when she needs someone to talk to. I have a bunch of problems that I always overlook but whenever Chelsea has one single problem, I am always there to help her out.

Chelsea comes from a wealthy background and anytime she is faced with problems, I wonder why she feels sad despite the money they have. 

Even with that, I have never once asked her for financial help. I am proud, yes. I don't have money but I have self-respect.

"Is it Jim or the job you lost?" She repeats and I find myself tearing up again.

"Both", I answer in between sobs. "I miss the idiot."

She chuckles and pulls me in an embrace. "It's ok. You know I love you, don't you?" I nod in reply.

I stay in her arms for a while as she wipes my tears. When I pull away, she looks at me and laughs.

"Why are you laughing?" I demand.

"Nothing", she won't stop laughing.

"You better tell me what it is or I will have to throw you out of my room." I threaten, wiping my tears away hurriedly.

"I just can't believe the iron lady is crying. I've never seen you cry", she points out.

"Now, you are glad that you've seen me cry?" I stand up with arms akimbo with a frown touching my lips. I don't like the way she is taunting me. It is making me feel stupid for crying over Jim or my underpaid job.

"No. I'm just shocked. Your grandmother is worried about you." She stops laughing. 

She must have detected the anger in my tone. I am not supposed to be mad at her but I can't help it. I am supposed to be mad at the people making me cry; Jim, the Head Doctor, and the billionaire. I just hope Chelsea will understand that it is just a transfer of aggression.

"I ran all the way here", she smirks as she gazes at me lovingly. She tucks a strand of my hair and guilt sips through me.

"Stop exaggerating. You didn't run...." She laughs again.

"I was scared. I thought you were about to commit suicide and I am not ready to lose my only motivator", she explains, watching me with amusement.

"Shut up", I snap at her with a smile. "I need to take a bath," I tell her, standing up to go to the bathroom. I suddenly feel better talking to her even though I haven't told her all about what happened. 

I am sure I will be back to my normal self when I tell her everything, starting from the arrogant man's harsh words to the doctor's decision for me to stop working down to Jim's breakup over the phone. 

Telling her about the billionaire's proposal is totally out of it. It is a stupid idea and I will never take the offer even if he gives me a billion dollars. To hell with him and his money.

"I was about to go out with Trevor when Grandma called", she announce to my hearing.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" I feel bad for ruining her plans with her boyfriend.

"Go take a bath, let's go out together." She suggests, waving me away to go take a bath.

"What? No, I don't want to ruin your date with your lovely boyfriend. Go enjoy yourself", I wag a finger at her. I feel better already, she should go and we will meet tomorrow to talk about what happened to me.

"So you can continue to wallow in self-pity? Nah! We are going together."

"No", I protest. I do not feel like going out. My wish is to sleep if possible and forget my sorrows or to get drunk and think less of my problems.

"I insist. Trevor is coming along with his friend, Frederick."

I roll my eyes at her. "More reason why I don't want to go."

"I'm telling you so you won't feel you are ruining the day for me. Instead, you are helping me out. Come on. It will be fun, you know?" I am silent. 

"We will talk about how to get you another job." She adds with an encouraging smile.

I am a bit excited about it. But then I feel she might want to help me secure a job in her father's company which is what I will never take. 

My excitement died down immediately after I remembered that. But I know she won't let me be if I don't go out with her.

"Are you going?" She asks me again.

I let out a heavy sigh.

"Alright, fine." I surrender. "Let me go take my bath." I start to walk to the bathroom.

"Great, I will pick a dress for you before you are out", she says and I hear her rush to my closet as I enter the bathroom and slam the door shut behind me quietly.