CHAPTER 1

AMELIA'S POV

“Could you drive faster, please?” I screamed at the taxi driver carelessly. 

“I am, ma'am. There's a speed limit around here, it is a Government Reserved Avenue,” the young man stated pleadingly.

It wasn't that the car was moving so slow but the urge to get to the hospital consumed my reasoning. I looked at my reflection through the interior rearview mirror and I could see pain and grief written all over my face.

The only thing which remained unchanged about me was my blood-red lip gloss. That has been the only lip gloss I apply whenever I go to work. 

I sent a glance towards my wrist watch, I realized I was 35 minutes late for work. But that wasn't what mattered most now. I had almost gotten ready for work when my phone rang, it was the hospital number. “Come to the hospital now, your father's health keeps getting worse,” the voice said sharply.

“Arrgh! Finally,” I grunted as I alighted from the taxi, handing a note to the driver.

 The strong aseptic scent of the hospital welcomed me. I could only think about my father as I galloped towards the doctor's office. I bent slightly in response to the sharp pain I felt across my stomach, but it was nothing compared to how much I wanted to know how my father was faring. ‘What if he's dead?’ a creepy voice rang in my head but I quickly discarded the thought.

 "I'm sorry, Amelia," the doctor started, his voice a symbol of professionalism, “We might lose your father if we do not embark on a surgery on him.”

“What?” I yelled, eyes widely opened.

“Your father's health is seriously deteriorating. He now suffers from congenital heart defects which require multiple organ transplants,” he announced.

“Transplant?” I yelled. “How much would that cost?”

“I'm afraid, ma'am, it's quite expensive. If there are no further complications, we should be talking about $30 million dollars here.”

The weight of the doctor's word rested on my shoulder.  The harder I tried to open my mouth, the harder the words refused to form. I was emotionless. I felt numb within myself. I wanted to cry but I seemed to have run out of tears. 

“How urgent is it?” I finally managed to say, afraid of what his response would be, but silently praying to find some relief from them.

“The earlier the better, Amelia. But the latest it could be is in 72 hours. You know he's been placed on a life support system for a while, which means delay might be costly,” he concluded, his voice laced in empathy.

“But… But I can't get such a whopping amount in three days, doctor,” I stuttered, looking directly into his eyes. “I do not have anyone to support me, I've taken loans which I haven't even paid back and my salary has been taken in advance. Just do something and help me please…” My throat went dry, tears streaming out of my eyes.

“I'm sorry, but there's nothing I could do about this. It's best if you get the money or…”

I cut him short, standing to my feet and making to leave. I knew he wasn't the cause of my predicament but I unleashed my frustrations on him, “I would lose my father. That's what you'd say right?”

I didn't hear him say anything as I walked out of the office. I raced to my father's hospital room to see how he was faring. I was shocked to my marrow when I saw his body, laying almost lifeless on the bed. “You wouldn't die, dad,” I said, kissing his pale hands and turning to leave for work.

Soon I was at work, I tried to sneak into my office, hoping no one would notice my lateness except the receptionist who would always do. 

“You are late again, Amelia?” 

I knew the voice, it was Leo’s, the CEO. I turned back, wiping my tears with the back of my hands. “I'm sorry, sir. I needed to…”

“It's alright. Just go into your office,” he said, demonstrating with his hands.

As I pushed the door open, consumed by fear and anxiety, an idea struck me. ‘Why not talk to Leo about your father? He seems nice and might be able to help,” the voice whispered.

I threw my bag to the floor, running after him as he went into his office. Not even the noisy sound of my heels would make me relent in my pursuit. 

"Yeah, Amelia. I'm all ears," Leo, the CEO of Rango Electronics said as I stepped into his office. Busy as ever,  he never cared to look at my face. As if he wasn't the one outside the office a few minutes ago.

“I need assistance, boss.” 

He nodded, an indication that I should go on.

"I need assistance. My father, and the only family I have left is at the hospital and he is about to die,” I paused to look at his face but he didn't appear to be bulging. “The doctor said he would be needing several organ transplants which need to be done in three days' time,” I said, resolving to emotional blackmail as I let my tears flow freely. 

"I'm sorry about that, Amelia. But you know this is not the best time. The company is in a financial mess at the moment. The best I could do was give you a three months salary advance, which I already did.”

I kept quiet, letting my tears flow increasingly and thinking of potential way out.

“I hope you get the money you need elsewhere,” he finalized.

The weight of his words rested on my head. I couldn't control the tears that were already gushing out of my eyes. 

As I stepped towards the entrance, I felt a sharp itching on both eyes, forcing me to rub my palm vigorously against them. With my hands still glued to my eyes, I walked absentmindedly towards the door. My legs heavy, my heart aching, and vision blurry, but my determination surged above my challenges. 

“One more thing, Amelia,” my boss said again, his eyes filled with all seriousness as the words escaped his lips, “Do not let your problems weigh you down, this phase shall pass,” he concluded, eyes fixed on mine.

As I turned towards the entrance again, ready to continue my journey out of the office, I felt my body make a clashing sound against something.

I opened my eyes and I couldn't believe my eyes. A sudden rush of adrenaline rushed in my body. I didn't know what to feel as I stared in awe. Fear? Excitement? 

Just again, I felt a cold touch on my shoulder, such that it shocked to my marrow.