A few days later

EMILY

I hated Mondays. I was born on a Monday.

I placed my head on the window, staring outside the bus.

My phone beeped, and I took it out of my bag. Once I saw Kiara, my sister's name, on the screen, I ended the call.

Seriously, when would these people leave my life?

Just as I was about to return it to my bag, I got a message from her.

< Bitch, why are you avoiding my call? I need money. Call back now. >

I rolled my eyes after reading her text.

She and whatever she needed the money for could go to hell for all I care. Hadn't her mother just literally stolen thousands of dollars from me? Now she was asking, no, threatening me for money like she didn't have her own freaking job.

The bus came to a stop at the terminal, and I stood up immediately. I exited the bus alongside the other passengers and began to walk towards the company I worked at.

My phone started to ring again. I ignored it at first, but when it rang for the second and third time, I took it out of my bag, prepared to answer the call and curse at Kiara, but I paused when I saw it was an unknown number.

Rolling my eyes, I placed my phone on silent, shoved it back into my bag, and continued my way to the company.

When I walked into the office where my team and a few other teams stayed, I was surprised to see that everyone was packing up their things, most of them with a sullen look on their faces. Others looked like they had been crying.

Well, what? Did they lay off this many people?

“What's going on?“ I asked Jay, one of my team members.

He sighed as he raised the brown box to his table and began to transfer his things.

“Apparently this company got sold, and the people who bought it want to renovate the place for it to become one of their branches.”

I raised a brow.

“So one of our competitors bought this place?“

Jay nodded. “They are recruiting some of the workers they think are up to their standards while they fire others.”

“They sent out an email; you should check if you'll be getting fired or not." He added it and walked away before I could reply.

I exhaled and sat on my chair, pulling out my phone.

I saw that I had a missed call from the same unknown number.

Ignoring the call, I opened my email and refreshed it. True to Jay's words, a letter was already waiting for me.

My stomach clenched in anxiety.

Would I be fired too? Or would this so-called company recruit me? If they did not, I'd be jobless; that could not happen.

I pressed my lips tightly and clicked the mail.

The first sentence I read made me smile, but when I read where the company was located, my smile crashed.

Why New York, of all places?

Three years ago, I was glad to leave the place I was born—the place where all my problems began—but now I have to go back there.

I thought of my mom's words.

'Come back home soon, Emily.

I could decide to stay back here and lose the job, or I could go back and revisit the past.

I groaned, turning my phone screen down as I placed my head on the table.

Really. Have I not had enough?

Where would I even stay? That woman had taken everything I had left, and there was absolutely no way on earth I'd go back to that forsaken house.

“So were you fired?“

Jay's voice had me raising my head.

“No”

He frowned. “Why then do you have that look on your face?“ He asked while using his index finger to gesture to my face.

I exhaled.

He wouldn't understand.

“The pay is good, and they are letting us stay in their staff's building for as long as we can.”

He wiggled his brows. “While you are there, you can find someone you love. Who knows?“

Well, one problem was solved.

Mom and Kiara didn't have to know that I was back home. If I could stay at the staff building, then it was all good. On the look of things, a new environment might be what I need.

“So when are you leaving? I'm thinking tomorrow,” he added.

I laughed as I stood up to start packing my things too.

“It looks like you are happy to leave this place.”

“Is it not obvious?“ He snorted.

☆The Next Day Evening

I pressed the pass code the receptionist had given me. The door made a sound, and then it opened.

I made a mental note to change the pass code as I walked in.

I took off my shoes at the doorstep and made my way to the living room.

It was a medium-sized room, but it had the potential to feel cozy and homey. There was a large window that looked outside, with a window bench that looked like it would be perfect for night reading.

I left my bag in the middle of the living room to check the other part of the apartment. It had a furnished kitchen, one room, and a bathroom.

Great. I just needed to make the house look homey.

I already sold some of my furniture back at my house and would use the money to get new ones that I could afford.

I walked out of the bathroom and went to sit on the window bench, staring out into the busy city.

I hope my mother had no idea yet that I was back here. But who knows? That woman always knew everything about me, even though I didn't tell her anything. What would explain how she knew my bank password even after changing it for the fourth time?

I would not be surprised if she suddenly showed up here. She had a talent for ruining my life.

My phone ringing loudly had me jerking up in surprise.

I exhaled, holding my chest, to calm my racing heart.

Damn, that scared me.

I picked it up, and a frown cast over my face, seeing the number that had been calling me. I think I've memorized the number from how many times he or she has called.

Deciding to just end the stress, I answered the call.

“Hello. How can I help you?“

“This is Alexander. We need to talk.”

I did not even think much before replying.

“Sorry, you have the wrong number.”

I mean, I knew no Alexander in my whole life.

I was about to hang up when he said my name.

“Is this not Emily?“

My eyes widened, and then I remembered. Alexander. Could he be that jerk I went on a date with? Now that I think of it, his voice did sound a bit familiar.

What did he want now? To mock me?

“Are you stalking me now?“

He muttered something I guessed was an insult, but I let it slide because I didn't hear it properly.

“Let's meet tomorrow at the hotel where we first met. I have a proposal for you.”

I cocked a brow. “I'm not in California anymore. The company I-”

I paused when I realized something. I told him I was rich too.

Heck. I thought we'd never have to meet again, but now I have to go on with my lie.

“I'm staying in New York for a while. Is there a problem?“

“Perfect. I'll send you the address. Let's meet tonight.”

I chuckled, mainly because he was funny. His audacity was.

“And why would I even agree to that?“

“Because I'm offering something you cannot ignore." He sounded a bit too cocky and arrogant.

Freak.

“I'll be waiting. 9pm”

With that, he hung up.

I was too stunned to do anything, and I could only stare at my phone until a new text appeared with the address.