Three

Chloe, the store manager, pointed out various things for us to do. Even things that don't exist, she makes them exist. The neat clothes, she asked us to iron them to make them more presentable. The floor that we had been cleaning since morning was mopped again. He said Richard Smith's arrival at the store was a blessing, and it had to be prepared perfectly.

Damn it! She rarely even shows up at the shop. How could she come today with such a myriad of annoying orders! Unfortunately, I had spent all my energy crying all night, so I had no energy to argue with her. As a result, I couldn't control my sweat because I had to run here and there. Cleaning A to Z.

Natty wasn't much different. She complained a lot-shedding her frustration towards Chloe while doing her job. "If I ever become Richard Smith's second wife, the first thing I'll do is fire that damn Chloe!"

I laughed at his rant. Life is really hard on people like us. These three years have really taught me a very valuable lesson because it's been very expensive. I had to lose the house I bought for nothing. Sacrificing my life for the sake of cunning, selfish humans. Daydreaming like Natty did was the cheapest thing we could do to stay sane through it.

"You know," Natty glanced right then left, front, and back. "Chloe thinks that by sucking up to the shopping center owner, her career will remain safe."

I laughed. "Of course I know. I'm not stupid, Natty."

The woman nodded. "That's right," she said.

We then laughed together. Just for a moment, to rejoice in the suffering we were going through. Just for a moment, so that we could end today's task properly without feeling like ending someone's life.

Natty had a point. If I were in Richard Smith's family, I'm sure life wouldn't be this hard. Just one Lucas is nothing. He would have bowed to me and begged for mercy. Unfortunately, I'm just a stupid woman who would do anything to be with him. Now, I'm the one at a disadvantage. I was the only one having trouble coming to terms with the situation.

In the middle of our busy day, Chloe came in. She was breathing heavily, apparently walking in a hurry. After calming down, the head of our store said, "In five minutes, all of you should be standing at the entrance. Not a speck of sweat on your face. Not the slightest blemish. Get it?"

Without waiting for our reply, Chloe hurried off, who knows where, leaving us in confusion and of course—frustration. We were just going to greet the owner of the shopping center, right? We're welcoming her as a store employee, not Miss Universe.

"Damn Chloe!"

"Damn Chloe!"

We said it together, exchanged glances, and then laughed. I guess, when it comes to Chloe, Natty and I will always be on the same page.

"Never mind," Natty said. "Let's hurry up. I'm tired of hearing Medusa's babble."

I nodded in agreement. Agreed that Chloe deserved the nickname Medusa, because all she did was throw temper tantrums.

The tapping sound of loafers echoed throughout the room. A Richard Smith had arrived with more than four bodyguards and several directors at his side. The wealthy man's bodyguards wore all black, while the directors were more varied, some wearing gray, white, and black suits but with different styles from the bodyguards. Richard Smith wore a gray custom suit whose price is unimaginable for someone who has to pay in installments for three years to buy a house. The loafers he wore were black with gray accents to match his outfit.

The shop crew lined up on the right and left, welcoming the group of rich people with their heads bowed, but not me. Really, I'm not used to bowing even though I've been working in this field for several years now.

Richard Smith stopped right in front of me. His smile seemed dismissive. He looked at me with the corner of his eye. I frowned deeply. What was wrong with this old man? Why would he do that?

He cleared his throat. "I just wanted to look around," he said. "Seeing someone who chose a life as a shop assistant instead of spending his parents' money.

My gaze reflexively darted around, looking at my coworkers. Those who had looked down were now standing up straight with puzzled looks on their faces. Unlike me, who was filled with annoyance. Really, what's wrong with this old man, anyway?

I'm sure Natty couldn't bear to talk to me, but under these circumstances, even the slightest whisper would be heard by others. So, we could only look at each other and exchange codes. I don't know if she understood my codes, because I honestly didn't understand what she was saying with them.

"Everyone, except this lady," he said pausing with his index finger right in front of my nose, "come out."

All eyes were now on me. Those eyes were filled with curiosity as well as surprise. I don't know what they were thinking when they looked at me with those round eyes. But, I don't care anyway. Just a little annoyed at this old man.

Why, try to make a scene by inviting me to talk openly like this? There's technology called cell phones and chat apps, for God's sake!

Everyone rushed out, leaving the two of us surrounded by the clothes that had been keeping me alive for the past year.

This wealthy man exhaled harshly, then clucked while looking at me with an annoyed glare. Well, he should know that I'm annoyed right now.

"Still playing around, huh?" Was the first sentence that came out of his mouth.

Playing around, he said? Damn it! I've never played around with my life. Everything I've done so far has always been based on serious decisions. Never with the intention of playing around, including living a life that, now that I think about it, was full of misery with Lucas.

I let out a breath that felt heavy. Remembering all of that made those feelings of sadness and humiliation creep back into my chest. It was so heavy.

"I won't bring up anything if you come back home. There's no need to bring anything, just you who's ready to help me run the business," he continued.

I rolled my eyes with no intention of responding to his words. I had told this man, who unluckily was my father, a million times that I had no interest in inheriting his company. I wanted to live freely. To be myself without thinking about the impact on the company that houses thousands of employees.

"Sara, trust me. You'll thank me later. You know, we are working on something and your husband is on this field. Do you get it?"

Richard Smith raised one eyebrow, while I looked at him with a suspicious look. I had a feeling he knew something to mention my husband.

That's right. There must be something.

"Sara?

"Well, you know something, didn't you?"

He just shrugged as an annoying smile appeared on his old face. He shrugged, then patted my shoulder with a slight squeeze there. This was his usual gesture to encourage me and my mother.

My shoulders slumped as Richard Smith left the shop. My chest felt very heavy. Meeting the father I left behind for love, after all these years, slapped me hard. This meeting made me realize that this is what love really is-sincere and unconditional.

With unsteady steps, I hurried to retrieve my belongings in the employee-only storage area. I had to quickly fix everything that had been broken in this life. Especially my parents' trust. I was sure that, deep down, my father was very disappointed in me.

That's right. I was never interested in becoming the heir to Richard Smith's fortune, and my father knew that. However, my decision to leave them had left an unforgivable wound.

Before my feet reached the door to the employee break room, someone grabbed my shoulder, preventing my hand from opening the door. I turned around with both eyeballs rounded to see Chloe and several employees including Natty huddled together, as if waiting for something interesting.

"What just happened? Why did Mr. Smith want to talk to you alone?"

"You didn't get fired, did you?"

"What's going on?"

The questions were a constant barrage, as if I was doing something unlawful. Really, I was just talking to one Richard Smith.

I shrugged, then said, "I was just talking to him, not doing anything. Why are you guys so curious?"

"Of course we want to know," Chloe snapped. "We all know that he's the richest man, the owner of the place we work for now. Why would he want to talk to you alone? You're just a lowly employee."

Her words really made me angry. My eyes began to round and burn with anger. I didn't work in a cold room and face a computer. However, this job wasn't a lowly one either, let alone being said by Chloe who was only one level above us structurally.

This really made me angry.

"Really, Chloe? You're demeaning our work?" Natty spoke up before I could reply to Chloe's words.

This kind of situation never crossed my mind. I mean, what for? I get it, everyone is curious about the private lives of the rich, but can't they do it discreetly?

"Shut up, Natty! I'm talking to Sara," Chloe retorted.

Natty looked like she was about to speak up, but I quickly stopped her. "I don't have time to do all this. You'll find out later, Chloe."

I rushed inside as I had originally intended. There was no point in talking too much right now. They only wanted to see what they wanted, not what was real. Judging by Chloe's character, she wasn't someone who would take my words seriously. She just needed something to mock.