Chapter 2

"OH MY GOD, Mr. DeMarco! I'm so sorry!" Faith looked at him wide-eyed. She was horrified. She was already making a terrible impression on him. What if she had just ruined something important?

Anthony stood up abruptly and walked to the other side of the desk while Faith frantically attempted to save the papers and wipe down the desk.

"What is the matter with you?" Anthony barked.

"I'm really sorry. It was an accident. I will clean this up immediately!"

"I'm talking about your hand. Why aren't you taking care of it? Are you dumb?" he said gruffly, grabbed her arm, and pulled her toward the bathroom.

His touch gave her goosebumps. Is he worried about me? Faith thought to herself.

Anthony turned the faucet on and held her hand under cold water. He was still not looking at her. A tiny vein was visible on his forehead.

Oh great, he is definitely annoyed at me. Faith sighed.

"Have it treated as soon as you leave this room; otherwise, it'll scar," Anthony said.

"Yes sir," Faith whispered. Warmth spread through her body as he held her arms. Too bad it was just for a brief moment.

She grabbed a cold compress and some bandages from the first aid kit box and used them to treat her wound, then went back to work. She didn't want to go to the hospital and waste a workday. She couldn't afford it.

But she couldn't last an hour in the office without being called into the boss's office again.

"Ms. Williams, why aren't you going to the hospital?" Anthony asked. He seemed even more irritated than before.

"There is a lot of work left, so I thought..." she couldn't understand why she felt so tongue-tied in front of him. Get it together, Faith, she scolded herself in her mind.

"Go home, Ms. Williams. You're excused for the day. Get your burn treated. I will not risk a lawsuit when you are injured in my company," Anthony ordered quietly.

Faith looked down. "Yes, sir," she said. This wasn't good. Going home now would cut her hours short.

"Don't worry about the hour cut. I told Nancy to adjust your timesheet in the computer so you will get a full day's pay," Anthony declared as if he had read her mind again. "Also, send her the bill from the hospital, and the company will take care of it."

Faith released a sigh. Anthony DeMarco wasn't as cold as people said. She mumbled thanks and packed up her stuff.

She stopped by the pharmacy to pick up her father's medicine on her way from the hospital. The pharmacist saw her from the other side of the counter and smiled brightly.

"Faith! Hi, I didn't expect you to see here so early," he said.

"I had to take care of some things. I was just wondering if you had the prescription ready?" she looked at him expectantly.

"Of course," he nodded and took out a bag.

Faith's heart twitched as she saw the amount written on the cash register. Forty-five dollars! As far as she remembered, she only had twenty-dollar left in her bank account as she had to pay one of her father's medical bills.

"Something wrong?" The pharmacist looked concerned.

"Um...I think I'll come back for this. Hold onto it for me, would you, Cameron?" Faith laughed nervously.

"Are you sure? You said he needed it, right?"

"Yeah. I'm sure. I'll come back," Faith quickly said and left the pharmacy before he could ask any more questions. How embarrassing.

Her father was waiting for her by the door.

"Where is my medicine?" he asked. Gee, dad, a hello would've been nice, Faith thought.

"I couldn't get them today. Don't worry. I will go back and get them as soon as possible," she smiled at him reassuringly.

"I NEED THEM! Can't you do anything right, you stupid bitch!" his voice grated harshly.

"Dad, please..."

"You're useless! I raised a stupid, worthless daughter! Go get my medicine right now. Do you think just because I'm in a wheelchair, you can treat me like this?" he picked up a vase and threw it at her.

Thankfully, she was able to catch it before it shattered. "Dad, just calm down, okay? I told you I would get them as soon as I could. I'm the only person who earns a living in this house, so I have to wait till I get paid again. Why can't you understand that?" Faith tried to explain calmly even though she had to explain the same thing several times before. Her dad simply didn't care to listen anymore.

"Oh, so just because you earn a little bit of money, you're suddenly better than everyone?" her father sneered.

"How can you say that? I am trying my best!" Faith cried out. She didn't know how long she could take this.

"And who knows where you actually get money from? God knows where you are going and who you fucking because I don't see you doing anything more useful than to use your whore body..."

Faith tuned him out and strode up the stairs so she didn't have to listen to more of his ugly words. Tears stung her eyes. This wasn't the first time her father spoke to her like this, and it definitely won't be the last, but it still hurt her deeply.

Her sister Mary peeked out of her room with a terrified expression on her face.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

Faith sighed. "I'm fine. Go back inside. Dad isn't feeling well, as you heard," she smiled weakly.

Mary nodded and closed the door.

Faith let herself fall onto the bed and closed her eyes. Another day in paradise, she thought bitterly as she fell asleep.