Chapter 5 Austin Hook !

"Maybe life is not about the mountain or the valleys, but about the journey it takes to reach the top."

....

~ Alyssa ~

I stared in silence at the ceiling, which now looked unbearable bare to me. It's been hours since I received my diploma, yet I was still in shock from the drama that unfolded right after.

Just like that, my five-year plan was collapsing right in front of me.

But where had I gone wrong? Was it by trusting a man who claimed to be madly in love with me just two weeks after our first date? Or was it when I decided to help him build his company with my architectural skills?

That couldn't have been my fault, and even if it was, I wouldn't have discovered my creative side if it hadn't been for Mark stumbling upon one of my random studio apartment drawings.

And now? I had to leave the apartment I shared with Cassandra for the last four years... and to top it off, I barely had enough money to survive.

What was I going to do? How would I even get by?

The sound of my stomach growling brought me back to reality and reminded me that I had only eaten a slice of sourdough bread all day.

I stood up and walked toward the fridge in the shared kitchen. Unlike others in the student building, Cassandra and I had a kitchen to ourselves. But honestly, I could call it my kitchen since I was the only one who bothered to cook.

Cassandra insisted it was a waste of time and energy. Why would she bother cooking when she could simply order takeout?

With a sigh, I opened the fridge, only to find it empty. What the hell!

I stared at the empty fridge in shock; how could this be possible when it was partly full just earlier today?

I ran back to my bed to grab my phone. I almost dialed her number to give her a piece of my mind when I remembered... and the thought made my heart ache.

I sighed and dialed some codes to check my account balance and nearly collapsed when I saw the numbers glaring back at me: $400.

It was worse than I thought!

Regardless, I changed into something comfortable and decided to head out to a nearby convenience store to buy some cheap groceries.

Maybe starving could be an option on other days, but definitely not today.

I took my time, slowly descending the stairs of the hostel... the same one I would have to say goodbye to in a few hours.

I could still vividly recall my first day here, feeling lost and out of place... but soon I found my balance. Just when I thought things would get better from there... Well, here I was again, feeling lost.

"Hey, Aly!" I looked up, and my face immediately transformed into a smile at the sight of Rachel, my first friend here.

"Hi," I replied as she closed the distance between us and hugged me. We pulled back after a minute.

"You're leaving already?" I asked, eyeing her suitcases.

"Yup. My parents will be here soon." The joy in her eyes was unmistakable, and I felt a pang in my heart at the sight.

"Oh, that's great! I will miss you," I said sincerely.

"Yeah, same here!" she smiled faintly and reached out to hold my hands. "But we can always catch up on the phone, can't we?"

"We can," I grinned, though long-distance friendships have never been my thing. Sometimes we have to make do with what we have.

"So... what about you? When will you be moving out?" I sighed, hearing her question. How could I explain to her that my whole life had just collapsed before my eyes?

"Soon," I replied. "Before I get kicked out." We both chuckled.

"Take care, okay?" The concern in her voice was unmistakable and warmed my heart. Rachel had always been one of the few people I knew who genuinely cared about me.

"I will," I said as I embraced her one final time before making my way out of the building. I noticed a jeep pull up in front of the building and quickly looked away to avoid feeling downcast. I knew it was Rachel's parents, excited to pick up their daughter and take her home.

But what about me? Who would take me home?

By the time I made it to the convenience store, it was already late.

I walked briskly inside and headed to the grocery section, picking up the ingredients I needed for a meal. Just as I finished and was about to walk away, a woman pushing a cart bumped into me. I lost my balance and fell, thankfully, into someone's arms.

I regained my senses after a moment of daze and stood up, coming face-to-face with probably the most maturely handsome man I had ever met.

"I'm sorry..." I quickly apologized. He brushed it off, but just before he could move, my eyes caught sight of the ingredients in his basket. Before I could stop myself, I made a comment.

His response was rude, which surprised me. I dismissed it as him just having a bad day and not being mature enough to handle his emotions.

I managed to convince him that I was right, and well... he listened quite hesitantly.

Just as I was about to move on, his phone rang, and somehow I ended up eavesdropping on his conversation.

Before I could stop myself, my mouth acted on its own. And finally, here I was, being interrogated like a high school student.

"Do you even have what it takes to be a nanny to a little girl?" His voice was sharp, almost piercing.

"I do."

He narrowed his eyes on me. "Have you ever worked as a nanny?"

"Yes, I volunteered at orphanages during summer vacations." He stared at me with doubt, so I dug into my pocket and pulled out my volunteer ID, which I handed over to him.

He glanced at it several times, as if contemplating something. Finally, he said, "Meet me tomorrow at 3D block..."

I stared at him in disbelief until he handed me his business card. My jaw dropped when I saw his name:

Austin Hook.

The infamous criminal defense attorney. What the heck?!

What have I gotten myself into?

If he noticed my surprise, he left no comment as he walked away from my sight.

Am I dreaming? I pinched myself, unable to believe what had just happened.

...

A/N: How was their first meeting? I find it super hilarious, haha. Do you guys feel the same?