Chapter 4

Dos

My dad is such a handful. He always drags me to his schemes and plans for my own sake beforehand. His plans are sometimes difficult for me to handle. Just like this one.

“Sir, you should go back to your initial position and give us your best smile.” One of my father’s subordinates asked me.

“Let me rest for a bit. This is not something charitable if you are going to push me to my limits. Please?” I asked him.

“Okay, Sir. Fifteen minutes.” He briefly replied to me before turning his back.

Just some seconds later, someone approached me. “Sir, we should go on with the photoshoot. It will be hot soon, the children still want to play.” He argued, sighing when I looked at him irritated.

“Then just let those kids from the orphanage enjoy themselves. No need for me to document with them their play time. It’s just nonsense.” I refused to take photo shoots for the kids.

“But Sir, we are instructed by your father to do so. We need to shoot at least three to five more.” One of the cameramen butted in.

“Are you going to lose your job if you’re not going to take me some photos doing charity?” I asked the two men in front of me.

“No, Sir. Not at all. But we should–” I did not let them finish what they were saying.

“No buts. What? If you are going to make some charitable contributions, do you still need to get documented just for others to say that you are kind to others? I am not as pretentious as those people you know.” I stated as a matter of fact.

“Well, Sir. If that is really your decision then we should get going then?” They asked. Do they really think I will just let them leave just like that? My father already paid for their service.

“No. Stay here and shoot photos of the kids. Document everything they are doing and do not leave them here.” I replied. 

Their eyes widened in shock. “Pardon, Sir?” One of the two men asked.

“My father already paid for your service. Just go on and take photos. If something happens to them, you two will be responsible for it.” I said before leaving them smiling from ear to ear.

Finally, I can now take a good rest after this problem. My father asked me to do some charity work. He decided to take the kids to a nearby park for them to enjoy themselves.

However, he is not willing to do them and sent me on his behalf instead. He even brought a media to take photos. What a fucking scheme!

I met a young woman on my way out of the park. I looked at her cold but distressed face. Her eyes look a bit sleepy and bored. She walks like someone who lost her loved ones. So carefree.

One her right hand is a shopping bag of a luxurious brand, a watch product. While on her left hand are two movie tickets she pulled out of the shopping bag. She threw it out.

I shook my head as I watched the scene. But then after she passed me off, I suddenly realized something. Yes, she is a bit familiar.

She sat on the pavement not so distant from my position. There she gripped on the shopping bag and hugged it tightly. My mouth opened and my jaws dropped when she started crying.

Hmm… looks like another woman got played again like a toy. Most of today’s men really have no shame.

I unconsciously looked at the mall. This mall is the first business I have built and it is only one of its kind. I have never invested in malls again after this.

Two people got out of the mall. A man and a woman who look intimate to each other. They kissed as they went out.

My eyes widened when I saw the woman. Shit! Ashley? What the fuck? What in the hell is happening?

I can barely see the man’s face. But then he looked in my direction where I could see his wide smile. Fuck you, Alex!

So all this time, Ashley is cheating on me whenever she tells me that she is busy? Oh come on, no way! I only got busy a couple of months because of business trips I have to attend. That's why I did not pay attention to her.

There I realized something. No wonder I feel that the woman a while ago is familiar. She is Alex’s college sweetheart. So she got dumped? Nonsense!

Alex always feels airs when he is with her. Our colleagues always praise him for having a pretty and smart kitty. The woman is so well-mannered and is always reserved. Wait…

It’s just impossible for him to leave her. He has been pursuing her since our freshmen years. Did he get tired of her? No. My slut of a girlfriend is a bitch.

After the two sped off the road and left, I quickly picked the movie tickets and got near the woman who was crying hard. This poor lady.

“Hey!” I tried to get her attention. She ignored me but later yelled at me.

Instead of me comforting her just as I planned to, I got into a heated argument with her. What the hell is wrong with ladies these days?

One moment she looks disheveled, the next second she becomes defensive. Did I just ask for a death wish? They always act like wild cats. Damn!

Mari Kristine

This guy is one hell of a schemer. I can’t believe him pulling me as if I am a dog in a collar. He even pulled my hair and my ear a while ago when I wasn’t paying attention to what he was talking about.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I asked the man who grabbed me back to the mall.

He shrugged his hands and gave me a bored look. “I don’t have anything to talk about to you.” He muttered.

I yelled at him when he dragged me to the elevator. “Hey! What the heck is wrong with you?” I asked.

“Just go shout your big mouth as if someone will help you even if I murder you right here right now.” He calmly stated.

Oh right! I forgot about him being the boss of this mall. But should I say sorry to myself about it? Others will drool over and follow him willingly, but not me. I don’t have time for this.

I shut my mouth and did not say a word. I just crossed my hands across my chest and breathed in. People nowadays are complicated. I just freed myself from a toxic relationship, it requires too much energy.

After the elevator door opened, he again grabbed my wrist and pulled me to the end of the mall’s top floor. We stopped in front of a closed movie theater. I looked at him confused but he just frowned at me.

“Wait for me here. Do not go anywhere, the guards might pick you up.” He casually said and gave me two movie tickets. 

The movie theater hall is always closed during this hour. It only opens in the afternoon or dusk and lasts up until midnight. “O-Okay?” I gave him a questioning look.

I looked at the two movie tickets he gave me and read those. The crumpled side… wait! Did he pick up the movie tickets I threw earlier?