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.

Gabriella's pov

I swear he was testing my patience. Every nerve in my body felt irritated by his attitude, even though he had godly looks, he had a bossy attitude.

I walked over to the huge pile of files, all messed up in no particular order.

"Can't he at least keep things neatly?" I murmured under my breath. It was like he messed up everything to punish me.

He walked out of the office and coldly dismissed everyone outside, canceling the interviews.

I let out a sharp breath. I finally had a way to pay grandma's bills. I'd pay during lunch - I'm sure I could rush over to the hospital before John noticed.

After what felt like hours, I held the last file. It seemed like a marriage certificate with two names: Isabella and John, but only John's part was signed.

I scanned my eyes over the paper. I felt my heart tighten, for a split second. I felt a pang of jealousy as my eyes kept reading the same two names.

Why would it bother me? He's an asshole, he probably chased the girl because he's grumpy and too serious.

Almost immediately, I heard John's voice, and I nearly dropped the paper.

What a scary man. I scoffed, shoving the certificate in a neat corner.

I looked at the time, and it was nearly lunch. As I walked out of the office, I heard John's voice again, but I couldn't see him.

"Let's see if Gabriella can do the job right," a manly voice said.

I hovered over to hear exactly what they were saying. My name was being mentioned, and I wanted to know why.

"She's the sixth one you have fired this month alone," the man proceeded. He sounded elderly. His voice was too familiar.

"Even if she does the job right, have you seen that ugly dressing? It's making it nearly impossible to even glance at her." John's voice echoed through the thick door.

My heart pounded against my chest. Hard.

I cupped my mouth and blinked away a few tears. I looked at the mirror in front of me and felt tight knots in my stomach.

Why did his words hurt me so much? I didn't care what that jerk said.

But he was right. I was plain. Too plain.

And so, I rushed out the building doors, the cash in my bag. It was lunchtime.

But my heart was still twisting from John's cruel words.

When I reached the hospital, the scent of medicine immediately hit my nostrils. I hated hospitals, and I wondered how my grandma handled it.

I reached the nurse's desk and called for the payment details.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Brooks, but your grandma is..." She hesitated and looked into my eyes with worried eyes.

Oh no... no... no... This can't be.

"What is going on? If anything has happened today, her...!" I clung to the handle of my bag tightly. I didn't even look at the time; I was too concerned.

"Her condition is worse, whether you go through the surgery or not. There is no hope. Unless you want to take the chances," the nurse said.

"I don't care if she has 2% chances of survival! Please, start the surgery right away." I gently slammed the stacks of cash on the desk.

The nurse looked at me like I was a lunatic. Maybe I was.

She took one stack and began to process a deposit.

"You can have the rest. This is all we need," she said before walking off with some files.

I looked at the money like it had no value. I only wanted my grandma to live, so that we could be together, bake, and watch movies together.

A few tears betrayed me and slid down my cheek.

I grabbed the rest of the money and followed the medical crew who were taking my grandma to the operation room.

She looked lifeless. I felt like she was betraying me, but I wasn't going to give up on her yet.

"Grandma, don't give up on me yet. I still have tickets to watch that movie you had been telling me about." I wiped my tears.

"Shouldn't you be at work right now?" John's voice startled me.

I flinched, my eyes landing on him.

"I'm sorry, I just..." He cut me off.

"You did great," John murmured and tapped my shoulder. "You can proceed to the shift tomorrow. Your grandma needs you."

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. His hands were in his pockets, his eyes bore into mine lazily.

I watched him as he took a peek inside, and for a split second, I saw a glimpse of sadness.

"Thank you," I murmured.

The doctor walked out with a worried look on her face.

"Uhm... Ms. Brooks, we are trying everything we can... but it's..." she trailed off, and I stopped her.

"Can I see her at least?" I pleaded, my hands gripping the door like a lifeline.

She nodded and ushered me in.

I walked in, my grandma's eyes slightly opened, and she pulled a smile.

"My grandbaby..." she said weakly.

I blinked away a few tears and held her hand.

"I'm here. Always." I kissed her forehead. She chuckled lightly.

"I don't have much time. All these procedures are too painful for me to proceed with." She coughed a little. "At least tell me you've gotten married." She grunted and coughed more.

I chuckled nervously, tears streaming down my face.

How do I tell her that Ben is a cheater and a fraud? How do I tell her there will be no marriage?

Then... the door creaked open. John walked in, his hands were no longer in his pockets.

"She's my wife," he said, wrapping his arms around my waist. I felt my cheeks flush pink.

"John..." He cut me off, the feeling of his warm finger shushing my lips.

His eyes locked into mine, and I instantly felt like I knew what he was trying to say. But I couldn't lie to my grandma.

"Oh wow, he's so handsome. He's better than that ass... Ben." Grandma chuckled and coughed harder.

I felt my knees weaken at her sight. I hated seeing her in pain.

"Grandma, it's not..."

"It's not what? You have made me so happy and proud. Now I know you won't be alone," Grandma said.

She rested her head on the pillow.

"Your granddaughter is amazing. I'd love to spend my life with her." John smiled.

But his smile was genuine. He put up such a beautiful act. I couldn't tell if it wasn't true or not.

"Ms. Brooks..." The doctor walked in.

"It's Mrs. Smith," John corrected her. His voice was low, calm, and collected.

Oh shit.