Chapter 4 Four

Layla was about to charge at her when Sandy ran in and quickly held her in place.

"I'll kill you!" Layla screamed as Valerie looked on, confused.

'What on earth was going on?' she thought.

Sandy forcefully pulled Layla out and returned minutes later.

"What happened?" Valerie asked.

"You don't remember?"

Valerie shook her head. Sandy sighed.

"You vomited all over her last night when we arrived. She fainted"

Valerie gasped and covered her mouth with her palm.

Layla was a clean freak, and that must have shaken her to no end.

"I should apologize" Valerie said.

"I suggest you don't go now. There is a high possibility she will tear you apart"

Something suddenly dropped into Valerie's mind.

"What time is it?"

"8:30"

"Oh my goodness!" Valerie exclaimed. "I'm late for work" She hurried out of bed, to the bathroom to brush her teeth and rinse her face.

"You know you have to take a bath, right? Because you stink" Sandy yelled from outside.

Valerie shut her eyes in despair. She scurried out of the house and took a cab. She didn't see Mr Duncan outside, so she ran in. She was about to change her clothes when another worker walked up to her.

"Mr Duncan wants to see you"

Valerie's heart thumped in fear.

She knocked on the door with shaky hands.

"Come in" she entered and closed the door behind her. He looked up and rested his back.

"Good morning sir"

"Good morning to you too, Miss Gardner, I know you have guessed the reason you are here. It has come to the notice of the top management that you don't take your job seriously. You come late consecutively". He took a letter from his table and handed it to her.

"You are fired, Miss Gardner" He said. Valerie was about to cry. Her eyes blurred with tears. He went back to work and Valerie left the office. She packed her things, and exited the building

She knocked on the door to her house, and it opened in seconds.

"Hey, why are you back this early?" Questioned Sandy.

"Can I come in first?" Valerie asked dully. Sandy moved to the side and she entered. She sat heavily on the sofa, ignoring Layla, who still looked angry.

"What happened?" Valerie handed her the letter and Sandy read it aloud.

"You lost your job"

"Obviously"

"What will you do now?"

"I have no idea".

Sandy sat beside her and patted her back.

"Everything will be okay".

In Smith Industries, Jared stood before the floor-to-ceiling window looking at the people below, but was lost in the thought . The sound of the door opening brought him back.

"Did you find anything?" He asked Will.

"Yes" He handed him a file where he read everything about her.

"She grew up in an orphanage?" He raised his head and Will nodded.

"There's something else that is not in there"

"What is it?"

"She recently lost her job. Yesterday, to be precise"

Silence descended on the office as jared fell into deep thought.

"Recruit her" he said suddenly.

"But boss....."

"Do as I say" He ordered

"Okay boss"

Jared's phone rang and he dismissed Will.

"Hello grandfather"

"You little bastard! Won't you come home to visit this old man?"

Jared pursed his lips, silent.

"I want you at that mansion today for dinner. Your parents and brother will be there too, so don't you dare tell me you're busy"

"Okay" he said simply and disconnected the call. His family was there, of course, his fiancée will be there too.

His grandfather had set them up together, according to him, she was the granddaughter of his dead friend. Her parents were based in another country.

Night came and Jared drove to the old mansion.

"Good day, young master" the butler collected his coat and he walked to the dinner table. It was full. At the head of the table was his old grandfather.

His face was wrinkled, but he still looked energetic.

On the first two seats on the right were his parents and seated beside them was Jane, his fiancée.

On the left side was his older brother, who was running for president of the country.

All eyes fell on him as soon as he entered.

"You're here" Jane smiled and patted the seat beside her. Jared ignored her and sat beside his brother. His grandfather glared at him, but he played dumb.

"Since everyone is here, let's start" Dylan, his brother said.

Everyone dug in, but their grandfather had more to say. He turned to Dylan.

"I should start setting you up on blind dates"

Dylan did a double take.

"What! No. I'm not going for blind dates"

"How do you want to become a president without a wife? Huh? Tell me" Their grandfather yelled, pointing his fork at Dylan.

"I'll bring someone soon. Don't worry, grandfather"

"Your time is limited"

He turned to Jared.

"And you, I want both of you to have your engagement party" Jane perked up.

"It will happen in three weeks"

"That is too fast, grandfather" Jared objected.

"I said it will happen in three weeks, so it has to" He said angrily.

"When did you say your parents are arriving?" Grandfather asked Jane.

"I don't know, but they will be in time for the engagement"

"Very good. Dylan, come to my office after dinner"

Jared was enjoying the breeze I'm the garden when he felt a hand wrap around his waist.

He shut his eyes and exhaled to tamp down his anger.

"Let go" he growled. She played deaf. He yanked her off him and she fell, letting out a yelp. He without an ounce of sympathy and walked away.

A servant came forward to help her up.

"Don't touch me!" She said. The servant backed off in fear. She rose on her own and slapped the young girl across the face. She held her cheek as tears gathered in her eyes.

"That is for laying those filthy hands on me" She said and strutted off.