Taking a bold step.

After Vanessa left the hospital, she returned back to her apartment and was in the living room, as she was carefully thinking of ways to get the remaining bill balance.

“What am I going to do now? Daddy's surgery for tomorrow is depending on me”. Vanessa announced and was pacing back and forth. She further started biting her fingernails because this was what she always did whenever she was feeling anxious.

“Think of something, Vanessa. You have less than 24 hours to act”. Vanessa reminded herself before she finally thought of an idea.

“That's right. All the people I helped out when I was still CEO. I'm certain they'd want to help me after learning about my situation”. Vanessa exclaimed and immediately brought out her cell phone.

She called the first one, the person answered and by the sound of his voice, Vanessa was certain he wasn't ready to help out at all.

This was what Vanessa did throughout the afternoon, by calling and asking for help from all the people she helped, but to her great surprise, none among them was able to help her.

“Humanity! Is this how they'd repay me back after all the things I've done for them? It was all because of my help they became successful! And they couldn't even spare me a dime? How wicked!”. Vanessa declared and was in a really bad mood because she clearly recalled how sweetly they all behaved with her while she was still the CEO of Diamond V company.

Not able to think of another solution, Vanessa simply sat on the floor and was staring at the ceiling. She did this for hours until the time was 8pm in the evening.

Vanessa was lost, but somehow, the only thought she could think of flashed right into her head.

“Mr Xavier…. He'd help me out if I do what he wants, right?”. Vanessa questioned herself before her eyes darkened as she recalled how Xavier withdrew from helping her company, just because she didn't agree on signing the contract marriage documents.

Vanessa tried her best to keep her pride and dignity, but the thought of her father not getting the surgery tomorrow, completely weighed her down.

“Listen, Vanessa, your father is more important than your pride! And what about your mom? Would you ever forgive yourself if anything happens to her too?”. Vanessa asked herself this question before she finally made her decision, and that decision was for her to agree to whatever terms and conditions Mr Xavier throws at her!..

Vanessa later called her ex-manager since she'd like to collect Xavier's phone number from her, but to another great surprise, the manager informed Vanessa that she didn't have Mr Xavier’s phone number. Plus, she further reminded Vanessa that when Mr Xavier showed up at Diamond V company yesterday, he didn't contact anyone beforehand.

“Gosh. Is his number so special that even my ex-manager doesn't have it? Just who is he?”. Vanessa mumbled and frowned. Actually, she was like this because she didn't know who Xavier actually was. To be honest, she was once the CEO of a large company, so she didn't have the time for Internet gossip when she had a lot of work on her table.

And because her father's surgery was so important to her, Vanessa rushed to bring her laptop and began searching for any image that was related to Xavier. After many long minutes of researching, she finally found information about Xavier mansion’s location.

“It's now or never”. Vanessa announced before she rushed out from her apartment and went to where her car was parked.

And since Xavier's mansion wasn't many miles away from her apartment, Vanessa arrived in 20 minutes and was stuck outside as the security guards refused to let her in.

“Hey, just let me in, I have to see Mr Xavier. I'm not a stranger, I'm…. I mean, I was once the CEO of Diamond V company”.

“Ha, if you were the CEO, then I was the Chairman”. The security guard mocked as he didn't believe Vanessa's identity. Feeling that Vanessa was only joking with his time, the security guard entered inside and slammed the gate as he wasn't ready or planning to let her enter.

‘Gosh…. Even his security guard is rude’. Vanessa thought before she went ahead and stood beside her car which wasn't that far from the gate. “If you like, don't let me in, but I'm not going to leave here tonight until I meet with Xavier”. Vanessa wanted to yell out these words at the security guard, but later, she ended up mumbling it to herself.

Vanessa waited for more than 2 hours before finally, Xavier arrived. Actually before that, Vanessa was sitting on the floor while her back was resting against her car, plus, she was asleep. But when she heard the sudden strong beeping of a car, she woke up and stood up.

After yawning and rubbing her palm on her face, Vanessa said to herself, “Wait, does that car belong to Xavier?”.

Seeing how the security guard opened the gate and the car was about to drive in, Vanessa knew that this was her only shot! She rushed and blocked the car's path, causing the car to almost hit her.

‘Screech!’. The sudden brake caused a screeching sound.

“Miss, you still haven't left?”. The security guard questioned with a displeased face. He hurriedly tried to send Vanessa away because he was afraid of losing his job.

“I'm not going anywhere”. Vanessa was adamant about leaving. Soon, she called out with a really loud voice, “Mr Xavier, are you in there?! If you're in there, I have something important to say!”.

“Miss, stop doing this, you'll get yourself into trouble!”. The security guard quarrelled before he grabbed Vanessa's arm and was about to use force on her.

“Let her be and leave!”.

The sudden deep voice from the car instantly caused the security guard to leave Vanessa. And for a second, the security guard’s heart skipped a beat before he recovered himself and immediately stepped back.

Staring at the car that was just a step away from her, Vanessa saw the tall figure who suddenly came out from the driver's seat.

The aura surrounding Xavier was so breathtaking and aloof that it caused Vanessa to forget what to say.

Xavier's hands were dipped in his trouser pockets as he confronted Vanessa and stood in front of her. When Vanessa didn't say anything, Xavier raised an eyebrow at her and said, “Aren't you planning to speak?”.

“Em….”. Vanessa tried to say something but she just couldn't even though all the words she wanted to say are currently playing inside her mind.

“Get in the car”. Xavier ordered and returned back to sit in the driver's seat.

‘What's wrong with me? Why couldn't I say anything? That's so embarrassing!’. Vanessa thought before she desperately went ahead to enter Xavier's car.

Xavier drove inside his mansion after Vanessa entered his car. Soon after, he came down and ordered her to follow him inside his mansion.

‘Don’t better try anything funny with me’. Vanessa thought to herself as she was still wary of Xavier. Anyways, she followed Xavier inside and when she arrived at his living room, she waited for him to tell her to sit before she sat down.

‘Why isn't he sitting? Isn't this his house’. Vanessa wondered as she saw that Xavier was standing and staring at her. ‘I have to end this quickly so that I can get away from here. This guy is creepy even with his great looks’. Vanessa concluded thinking before she mustered up her courage and announced, “I seriously need your help, Mr Xavier. I promise to do anything you want me to do, as long as you're willing to help me out”.

Xavier didn't say much, he simply brought out the documents in his suit and ordered, “Sign this”.

After seeing the contract marriage documents that Xavier offered once more to her, Vanessa was now convinced that Xavier was a psychopath. Like, who carries a contract marriage document with them?! To Vanessa, it was as if Xavier was already expecting her to come to him and sign the documents!.

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