CHAPTER 4

Marie wiped her face quickly, "Yes?"

And then a smile spread across the doctor's face as if reading her thoughts, he said.

It was successful, miss. “Your father would be fine now,” you will be allowed to see him in a minute.

Marie's heart swelled with joy as she eased open the door to her father's ward after a meeting of impatient waiting. The beeping of the life machine and the smell of antiseptics filled her nose.

She walked soundlessly to the bed where he lay tired and sat on the chair beside it, “She took his hand in hers and kissed it.”

Richard's eyes fluttered open, and he smiled upon seeing his daughter," You are here?"

Marie nodded. She looked up at him, and tears flooded her eyes—tears of joy and of something else she couldn't place. She was happy to see him healthy again and, most importantly, alive.

"Yes, Dad. How do you feel now?" She asked, smiling.

Richard took a deep breath and managed a weak smile, "Alive."

"I'm glad you are okay, Dad. You got me so worried," Marie told him, her voice choking with tears.

"I'm sorry, child. But I'm fine now, and that is all that matters,” He said. And then a questioning look crossed his face, I think I overheard the nurses saying the surgery would cost a lot of money, “how did you manage to raise it under short notice?"

Marie inhaled, she was grateful to Aaron for stepping in to save her father but as she thought about him, a slash of worry went through her features, and his words came drifting into her ears.

"The world itself is cruel, princess...I wasn't the one who insisted you pay back. Since you can't get me my money in two days, I want you to...be...my….wife"

She couldn't gather up that money in two days even if she decided to rob a bank. It would take more than two days to strategize. She felt tears stinging at the side of her eyes.

"Marie?" Richard called softly, sensing that there was something wrong, "What happened? Is something wrong?"

Marie shook her head quickly and managed a thin unconvincing smile, "I'm fine, dad. You do—"

Her words were cut off in mid-sentence as her phone buzzed in her pocket, she reached for it quickly and her heart gave a mad jump as she stared at the caller's ID.

Grumpy bald boss. The name she had used to save her boss' number stared at her.

Marie shot up to her feet, she had totally forgotten to report to work or even ask for a day off and she knew what it meant when the boss called himself.

"Good grief" Marie exclaimed, lowering quickly to plant a kiss on her father's forehead, "I have to go back to work now, Dad. It slipped my mind, I'd be back before evening"

Marie's words were blown by the wind as she dashed out of the ward before her father could even utter a word.

It seemed running was her thing, Marie dashed out to the lounge with everyone staring, muttering 'Excuse me' and 'coming through'.

She got into her scooter and drove quickly back to the Cafe, her fingers crossed and her heart pounding so hard against the walls of her chest and threatening to burst out.

Marie got to the Cafe and hurriedly took off her helmet. She dashed into the cafe and the Cafe workers seemed to give her a consoling look and nodded towards the boss's office.

Marie knocked and waited for a response, but she got none. She slipped into the boss's office and met him seated thickly on his chair behind his large scattered desk.

"Sir, please. I can explain," Marie said quickly.

"Hush," He said, cutting her off in mid-sentence, "You think you can do whatever you want right? You know how much I hate absence from work and, I heard that you excused yourself from work yesterday without my consent".

Ri, Marie thought grimly, that backstabbing bitch. She knew she was the only one who knew she left work yesterday, why was she doing this to her?

"I-I'm sorry, sir. It's just that my father was rushed to the hospital and...and he ne—"Marie was saying.

"You know what? He said, waving his hands in the air tiredly,’ "You are fired,” just pick up the stuff that is yours and leave. It's just the beginning of the month, and for all I know, you barely worked, so nothing, no penny, would be paid to you."

 Marie got on her knees and started begging him, with tears pouring down her face.

“I beg you, sir. I still need this job,” don’t fire me, my father is still in the hospital, and I still have some bills to pay, she pleaded.

He leaned back on his swivel and turned slowly back and forth, probably enjoying every single bit of her plea.

"I don't care if your grandfather is in the grave and needs returning, this is business and your absence alone can cost me, my customers," He said, "Please, don't forget to neatly submit your uniform to the counter and drop off your scooter keys on your way out"

Tears journeyed down her eyes and her whole world felt like scattering, her heart was heavy with tears and pain as she begged him.

"Please, sir. I promise never to leave without your permission, please give me another chance...I promise not to ruin your business. Okay, okay, you can cut off my pay for what I did but please don't fire me, I need this job" She begged.

"You should have thought about that before taking laws into your hands,” now, get out!" He barked.

Marie, having submitted her uniform and dropped off the Cafe's scooter keys, walked out feeling like she was going to be depressed.

Tears strolled down her eyes as she gave the cafe one last look and strolled to the road. “She was tired and devastated,” She felt there was no more hope to survive anymore.

She walked onto the road, blinded by her tears, without even knowing when a car sped up in front of her and stopped. Marie's eyes widened, and she came to a sharp halt.

She looked up slowly at the SUV before her. The window at the back winded down slowly, and Aaron came to view it. He gave her a look all over.

"Get in the car,” He ordered.