Chapter 3

CALI

I placed my hands on my chest as I stepped out of B&S Incorporate, still trying to catch my breath. My heart was pounding not from the interview, but from everything it represented. Opportunity, hope… a chance to finally breathe without constantly worrying about Edward.

I looked around, hoping to see some familiar faces, maybe even the other girls I had shared the waiting room with. But they were gone. Most had already been dismissed, their dreams dashed or postponed. A bitter laugh escaped me.

The city around me felt unusually cold, gray, and empty despite the afternoon bustle. I hailed a cab and slumped into the seat, clutching my bag tightly against me. The cab’s engine hummed as we drove, but I couldn’t shake the weird mix of pride and disgust swirling in my chest. Pride for surviving the interview, disgust at the thought of how some people saw success—as a stage for seduction, manipulation, or desperation.

BRYAN

No girl had ever resisted me like that before. Not only did she refuse my offer, but she yelled yelled at me. At me. Who in their right mind dared? And yet… she did.

The audacity was refreshing. The defiance. The honesty. I could see it all in her eyes the mix of fear, anger, and integrity. She didn’t come to flatter me or to manipulate her way into a position. She came to work. And she was perfect for the role.

The thought made me smirk. The moment she rejected me, I knew she was exactly what I needed. A secretary who respected herself and respected the job. I didn’t need someone who would drool over me or try to seduce me for personal gain. She would challenge me, and that was exactly the kind of drive I valued.

I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my forehead as I let out a quiet laugh. The tension of the day had been intense, but this… this was worth it. I picked up the phone and dialed Catherine, my PA. “Prepare her contract. She starts Monday. Yes, the one who yelled at me.” I ended the call and allowed myself a moment of satisfaction.

CALI

I got home and shut the door behind me, dropping my bag by the couch. The house was eerily silent. Edward wasn’t home yet, and worry crept in like a cold hand wrapping around my heart.

I was just about to sit down and breathe for the first time in hours when the doorbell rang. My stomach knotted. Edward what had he been doing that kept him out so long? I rushed the door, preparing a sharp lecture, but froze when I saw Mr. Lawson, the house owner, standing there. My shoulders slumped, and I rubbed my forehead in frustration.

“Good afternoon, sir,” I greeted, bowing slightly as I let him in.

“There is nothing good about this afternoon, Cali,” he said, his tone icy. Each word sliced through me.

“Your rent is due, and you know that.”

His gaze was sharp, almost predatory, and I flinched instinctively. He stepped closer, forcing me backward until my back pressed against the wall.

“What?!” I yelled, trying to keep the panic from my voice.

He reached out as if to touch my hair. I recoiled and slapped his hand away.

“You know you could pay with your body,” he said, his words dripping with menace. My stomach churned, and my skin crawled.

“Are you mad?!” I shouted, my voice shaking with anger and fear. “I just got a job. Give me this month and I’ll pay everything!”

“You’re being stubborn,” he hissed. “I’ll be back next week for my rent.”

With that, he stormed out, leaving me trembling. My mind raced. $80,000 where on earth was I supposed to get that? And Edward… where was he? If he didn’t come home soon, I would have no choice but to call the doctor.

I went upstairs to freshen up, arranging my clothes and prepping everything I’d need for the next day. By the time I sat down in the living room, a sinking feeling had settled in my chest like a stone. I picked up my phone, intending to call the hospital to check on Edward, but the phone rang before I could dial.

“Good afternoon,” I said hesitantly, my heart hammering.

“Good afternoon. Am I speaking to Cali Rillion?” a woman asked, her voice calm but serious.

“Yes,” I replied, sitting upright.

“You are Edward Rillion’s guardian, correct?”

“Yes, I am,” I said, a sense of dread creeping over me.

“I’m calling from B&S Specialist Hospital, where your brother was admitted.”

My stomach dropped, and I nearly fell out of the chair.

“Miss Cali, your brother needs surgery immediately. If not operated on, the cancer may spread, and it could become very dangerous.”

I felt as if the floor had vanished beneath me. My hands shook uncontrollably, and a wave of helplessness swept through me.

“Are you still there?” she asked gently.

“Yes… yes,” I whispered, my voice cracking.

“You’ll need to deposit $120,000 to commence the surgery. It’s urgent.”

My heart sank. My thoughts scattered in every direction. Rent. Edward. Job. Money. How was I supposed to fix all of this at once?

“How is he now?” I asked, my voice trembling.

“He’s stable for now, but you must get the money within 72 hours. Otherwise, we risk losing him.”

“Okay… thank you,” I whispered, feeling like the world had shifted under me.

The call ended, and I collapsed onto the nearest couch. My chest felt heavy, and tears blurred my vision. $200,000. Everything I had worked for, everything I had hoped for, felt like it would crumble unless I found a miracle.

“Edward, I’m so sorry you’re going through this,” I whispered into the empty room, my voice raw with exhaustion and fear. My body sagged, the weight of hopelessness finally overtaking me. I cried until my eyes burned, until every tear felt like it had drained a bit of the panic from my chest. Eventually, exhaustion claimed me, and I fell asleep right there on the couch, my mind racing even in dreams with ways to save my brother and myself.