4

Madeline stared at the man before her.

His face seemed known, like she had seen him somewhere.

But, her brain was still too mixed up to recall clearly. Her heart, which had been racing from almost being struck by a car, hadn't even gone back to normal.

"Are you fine, Miss?" The man's worried voice pulled Madeline from her daydream.

"Oh, yes. I'm fine," he replied quickly.

She tried to get up but when she moved her leg pain shot from her knee. Madeline frowned then looked down at the leg.

"Your knee bleeds," the man said, sounding more worried.

It seems, he didn't pull quick enough and the car brushed Madeline's leg.

Yet, odd, the hurt from the cut didn’t seem to be felt. Maybe because the hurt in Madeline's heart was bigger.

Betrayed by her fiancé.

Thrown out by her own father.

Expelled from her family's company.

Next to all that, the cut on her knee was naught.

Madeline lifted her head, looking at the guy watching her state with sadness in his eyes.

She grinned a bit, but it seemed fake. “Thanks for helping me, mister. I can handle it alone. Sorry about the mess”

Madeline did not wait for an answer, she bowed a bit to say her thanks then walked away with a limp.

The guy looked quiet, seeing until her shape fully went out of sight down the road.

Then he let out a breath, turned around and walked to a dark car that was close by.

When in, he took out his phone and called a person.

“Sir it seems there is a problem with Miss Brooks.”

**

“Your father fired you?”

Haris, Madeline's uncle and the nearest person she still trusted, looked at her with a face of surprise and rage.

“That man is so cruel!”

His voice was filled with disbelief.

Haris grabbed his phone, looking set to ring Adhitama.

"I'll speak to him. No matter what the issue is, the way he is treating you is crazy!"

But, Madeline quickly took her uncle's hand.

"Uncle, don't."

Haris looked at him hard. "Why? Are you still backing a guy who didn't even pause before kicking you out of his family?"

Madeline bit her lip. There was something really bad in her uncle's words, but she couldn’t blame no one but herself.

"Papa ain't wrong for being mad," Madeline said softly. "͏I was bad at going to the bar that night I was also bad at talking without thinking in front of a lot of people. I won't make excuses for myself."

Haris took a deep breath.

He looked at Madeline for a long time before asking, "So what is your plan now"?

Madeline was silent for a moment.

She knew her dad had shut all his places. She had left her ride at the Brooks Group office. Today, she would have to take a taxi to her uncle's house.

After thinking for a moment, Madeline looked up.

"Uncle, do you know someone whose business is wanting for workers? I want to find a job."

Haris lifted his brows, looking at Madeline closely.

 "Don't you want to chat with your dad first?" she asked "Who knows he could change his mind"

Madeline shook her head.

"This ain't so easy." Her voice had a lot of grit. "And this time I wanna show Dad that I can be by myself."

Haris sighed again.

Watching his often pampered niece change into a strong person left him with no choice, too help.

Finally, he said, "Try applying here."

Haris said the name͏ of a company and then shared details about a job that he heard of.

Madeline shook her head, taking the info with her eyes bright with hope.

"Thank you, Uncle."

After talk with Haris, Madeline lost no time and right away applied the next day to a company her uncle talked about.

She got all the needed papers from a company for a job application.

But, when she got to the building Madeline was shocked.

ARS Company.

A big company with power in the country.

The house was big, with a wide entrance and fancy, new inside.

Doubt quick crossed her mind. Was she truly good enough to work here?

Madeline swallowed hard and stepped inside.

But, before she could ask the desk clerk a known voice made her stop.

"Look who's stranded here?"

Madeline spun, and her eyes straight away got small.

It was Sonia.

The lady stood with her arms crossed over her chest staring at her with scorn.

Madeline shut her mouth tight. Of all the spots in the world, why did she have to see this lady again?

Sonia smiled, then looked at the paper Madeline was carrying. “What is this? You want to apply for a job here?”

Madeline made her face look blank. “Not your concern.” 

But, her brows wrinkled when she saw the angry look on Sonia's face.

The lady giggled quietly. “I say you back off before you feel sorry for applying here”

Her tone was threatening.

“Just so you know I have a high job here.” she smirked. “So, if you join here, I can guarantee you’ll suffer.”

Madeline slapped Sonia’s index finger away from her shoulder roughly.

“Get your hands off me.”

Her tone was cold.

Sonia glared. “Who do you think you are, huh? I told you—”

“What’s going on here?”

The cold, heavy voice sounded between them.

Madeline flinched. She immediately turned toward the source of the voice, her body frozen.

Nathaniel.

 The man stood there with a cold expression and piercing, piercing eyes.

Why was this man here?

However, Sonia's next words shocked Madeline even more.

"S-Sir CEO…"

CEO?!

ARS Company. Nathaniel.

Madeline's heart sank.

This company belongs to Nathaniel?!