Gabriella's POV

Later that day

I walked through the hospital doors. My stomach knotting at the thought of seeing my grandma so weak. The sight of her lying there, pale and frail, made my knees feel like jelly.

"Hi, Granny," I said, forcing a smile as I held her hand. "How are you feeling today?"

She tried to sit up, her frail arms trembling. "I'm fine, baby. Don't look so worried."

I swallowed hard. "You don't look fine to me. You're... you're too weak."

She chuckled softly. "I've been through worse. Now, tell me-have you eaten today?"

I shook my head. "I barely had time... things have been... complicated." I stopped myself before saying too much. I couldn't tell her about Ben or losing my job-not now. She didn't need that on top of everything.

She smiled, a faint but warm smile. "Granny just hopes you get married before I die," she said, her voice weak but determined. "Promise me you'll get married, Gabriella."

I blinked back tears and nodded firmly. "Nothing will happen to you Granny." I wiped away a few tears.

She chuckled weakly, "Look at me Gabriella, I am serious. I need to know you won't be alone when I'm gone, Your grandfather and I were separated years ago by that dreadful fire. I know how it feels to be alone. Please promise me, find a nice man to settle with."

I let out a sigh and held her hand gently, "Okay, I promise."

Her eyes softened, and she squeezed my hand. "That's my girl. Don't cry, you're stronger than that."

I let out a shaky breath and forced myself to stand, heading toward the front desk to settle the bill. My hands trembling as I was hoping for a better negotiation with the hospital. The smith hospital was the largest in the city, also the only place which had the medical personnels trained enough to help grandma with her cancer.

My eyes widened in disbelief. "What the...?" I muttered under my breath, my voice shaking. "Ben... he... Locked me out from our joint account ?!"

I always knew it was a bad idea, he promised me that we would be saving money together. Even though I put in every penny I earned from work for grandma's surgery, I still deserved a share.

I pressed my hands to my face and pinched the bridge of my nose. "I'm... I'm broke. Just... completely broke," I whispered to myself, the words tasting bitter. My chest tightened, and for a moment, I felt like I couldn't breathe.

I turned to the nurse behind the desk, trying to force a calm tone. "I-I'll pay soon, please. Just let her go through with the surgery. She... she can't wait. Please."

The nurse shook her head firmly, her expression unreadable. "I'm sorry, Miss Brooks. We cannot proceed until full payment is made."

I felt my stomach drop. "You don't understand! I just need... a little more time. She's... she's very sick! Please, don't make her suffer!"

"I'm sorry," the nurse said again, her tone firm but not cruel. "Hospital rules are rules. No payment, no surgery."

I looked around, desperate. The hospital corridor seemed suddenly huge and suffocating, full of people who didn't know me, didn't care. My fists clenched so tight that my nails dug into my palms. "There has to be something I can do..." I muttered to myself. "A loan, a payment plan, anything!"

The nurse folded her arms. "I'm afraid there's nothing I can do without authorization from the finance department. You'll have to come back with full payment."

I slammed my hand lightly on the counter, catching a few startled glances. "Full payment?! Do you know how much that is to me? Do you know what my life is like? She's my grandma, for god's sake!"

The nurse didn't flinch. "I'm sorry. Rules are rules. We can't make exceptions."

Then I saw the grumpy man who had me fired, he by passed me like he didn't just destroy my life. My only chance of saving my grandma.

I felt the heat rise to my cheeks, a mix of frustration, fear, and helplessness. I could feel tears prickling my eyes. "I... I'll figure something out. I promise," I whispered, my voice barely audible as I clutched the poster in my bag like a lifeline. "I'll figure something out, I swear."

I stepped back from the counter, letting out a shuddering breath.

I tried following the man, so that I can give him a piece of my mind, but the lobby was crowed. I lost him within seconds.

"Why does everything have to happen at once?" I murmured to myself, feeling the weight of my empty wallet and broken trust settle heavily on my shoulders. "First my job, my ben, now this... what else? Can't I just be some heiress with tones of money?" I murmured silently, stomping my feet angrily.

I walked back to my grandma's ward, feeling like I was carrying the weight of the world. I sank into the chair beside her bed, forcing a fake smile. "Hey, Granny... want to hear something funny?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Hmm? What now?"

I leaned closer and began rattling off a ridiculous story about my morning shift at the coffee shop, the one where I accidentally spilled coffee on a customer. I exaggerated it just enough to make her giggle.

She laughed softly, and I almost cried with relief. "You always know how to make me laugh," she said.

I held her hand tighter. "I'll always make you laugh, Granny. No matter what."

As her laughter faded, I whispered to myself, "How am I going to get the money? I can't even pay for the surgery, and I just... I just lost my job."

I looked at her again, forcing a smiling through my fear.

"Granny... I promise. I'll figure this out. I won't let you down."

"Check on all the cancer patients, throughly." I heart the man's voice again, I wanted to bolt up and see where he was, but grandma held my hand gently, her smile trapping me instantly.

Gabriella's POV

The next day, I woke up earlier than usual.

The interviews were on, I stared at the poster Emily gave me, and reminded myself: this could be my chance to do something for grandma. The only person who raised me after my parents death. She deserved the world. I was running out of time and I had to act fast.

I made sure I read through the poster.

Cash advance if hired.

It was an opportunity I couldn't waste.

However, my mind kept drifting to Ben and his gruesome betrayal. My stomach churned immediately, I felt like puking.

I blinked away a few tears, I wasn't going to mess up my mascara again crying over that jerk.

I cried myself to sleep last night, cursing at him, seeing his posts about Ivy, he had no shame in admitting that he was cheating on me.

His words played in my mind constantly, I didn't want someone dating me out of pity.

The cold wind brushed against my skin and I shivered, I regretted leaving my sweater at home.

......

When I stepped outside, the taxi ride felt longer than it should have. I kept looking out the window at the towering buildings of the financial district. I had never been anywhere like this before. The sidewalks were filled with people in sharp suits and heels, I swallowed nervously.

The building itself took my breath away. Its lobby was massive, and a receptionist desk that looked more like it belonged in a hotel than a corporate office. I hesitated at the entrance, feeling out of place in my plain outfit, clutching my small handbag tightly.

"Relax, Gabriella. You've got this," I whispered to myself, stepping forward.

I felt eyes on me. I turned to see a woman standing near the elevator, her expression frozen in thinly veiled judgment. She was tall, blonde, perfectly put together in a fitted designer dress, heels clicking sharply on the marble floor. Her lips curled into a smirk as she glanced me up and down.

"Well, that's... an interesting choice for an interview," she said in a sing-song tone, her voice dripping with mockery.

I froze for half a second, then straightened my back. "Interesting? Thanks. I like to stand out," I said, raising an eyebrow.

Her smirk faltered. "You... you really do know how to make an entrance, don't you?"

I crossed my arms, refusing to let her rudeness slide. "Well, someone has to bring some originality. Not everyone can wear designer dresses and heels, you know."

Her eyes widened slightly in surprise and then narrowed. "Excuse me? Did you just-"

"Yes, I said it," I interrupted, my voice firm. "If you're trying to intimidate me, it won't work."

Her face flushed, and she stormed toward the elevator, muttering under her breath. I couldn't help smirking to myself, feeling a rush of satisfaction. One problem down.

Taking a deep breath, I had never interviewed at a place like this before-luxurious, professional, intimidating.

I stepped into the waiting area. Immediately, I noticed a line of women who looked like they had walked out of a fashion magazine. They glanced at me as I walked in, I felt their whispers prick at me.

"What is she wearing?" one of them murmured, a high, nasal tone that made my skin crawl.

"She... looks like she just came from the grocery store," another added, laughing softly.

"The CEO will definitely throw her out."

murmurs erupted but I didn't care.

I straightened my shoulders. "Good for me," I muttered under my breath. "At least I'm not a fake doll."

They snickered again, and I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

From behind the glass doors leading to the CEO's office, I could hear snippets of voices. Some were hushed, some were sharp. I caught the sound of someone crying. My stomach sank.

"Crying?" I whispered to myself, curiosity mingled with a pang of dread. I couldn't see who it was, but the sound made my palms sweat.

"What the hell...?"

A moment later, one woman istepped out. Tears streaked her flawless makeup as she wiped her face and muttered angrily, "That man is impossible! I can't deal with him!"

I felt a shiver run through me. Was this normal? Who was this ruthless CEO that made everyone tremble?

I glanced at the poster again, there was no face. only names.

John Smith.

From the rumours, he kept a very low profile. He also owns many hospitals, companies and many more.

A tall gentleman called my name.

I adjusted my skirt and smoothed my blouse. "It's my turn," I muttered to myself. "Just be yourself. Show the CEO what you can do. Don't let him scare you. You've survived worse than this."

And as the CEO's door loomed in front of me, I whispered one last reminder to myself: "You can do this. You will do this. For grandma."

As I entered and gently closed the door. My eyes immediately landed on the arrogant man who got me fired.

Oh shit.

My heart pounded. Palms sweaty.

"You!" He growled. His eyes narrowing at me.

"What the fuck?!" I said through grittled teeth.

John Smith's POV

"Well, look at who we have here," I scoffed. "Are you here to beg for forgiveness?"

"What? No." She scoffed. "How can I apologize? You got me fired! You knew I never tried to hurt your sister intentionally. It was an accident!"

I glanced at her stubbornness, sitting upright so that I was staring straight at her. She stood at the center of the room. Even with all that confidence, I could sense her fear.

"There is no such thing as an accident, especially in my world," I huffed. My voice was low and calm... yet sharp enough to make anyone tremble.

"Then clearly you've never worked at a coffee shop before," she spat.

My heart stopped for a second. "Did you just-?"

"Put you in your place? Yes." She said, gracefully walking toward my desk and sitting like she owned the building.

Immediately she sat, I inhaled her scent-so sexy and seductive. Her glasses were now showing her perfectly green pair of eyes. How did I not notice?

"You got me fired. You are selfish! Unlike you, some of us have problems!" she said, blinking away a few tears before hardening her gaze again.

She kept talking, scolding me, yet my eyes kept lingering on her pink lips, her soft features that I totally didn't notice before.

"I came here hoping to get a job, but the heavens granted me the opportunity to drag you by the ear myself..." she said, slightly standing up and pulling my ear.

"Ouch! Are you crazy?" I yelped.

I looked into her eyes. They were glittering with tears, yet no drop fell.

Her face looked like someone I knew. She resembled one of my patients at The Smith's Hospital.

"May I see your resume?" I held out my hand, making sure she didn't grab my ear again.

Her presence was making my body excited, and I hated it. Just yesterday, I hated her. Today, I was throbbing over her sexy attitude.

She handed me the papers, her hands trembling. Our hands brushed for a second, and I saw a slight shade of pink on her cheeks. Was she feeling it too-this weird fucking feeling?

"I am well qualified," she said, folding her arms confidently, yet I could see through her. Her eyes gave away, there was a flicker of panic, saddness and hurt. She seemed like an expert in masking her pain.

whoever this girl was, she was messing with my mind. She was making me feel like I needed her each and every day.

I put down the papers and glanced at her. I gulped a little when I noticed her eyes were on my lips. Her anger returned in seconds when I caught her nearly drooling at me.

"Great. Then you start right now." I opened my drawer and placed a stack of cash and a business contract on the table.

"Uhm... right now?" she asked nervously, almost like she had somewhere to be.

"Do you need me to hire somebody else?" I teased.