Chapter 1

            Kate stared into the mirror, pulling her long, ginger hair into a tight ponytail. Her blue eyes, cold and piercing, glared back at her—a cruel reminder of her father. She hated those eyes. But today wasn’t about her eyes or her father. Today was about survival.

The company was sacking every single employee in her department due to a financial setback, including her. She needed to make an impression, to convince the committee that she couldn't be replaced. She smoothed down her blue satin blouse, paired neatly with black palazzo pants, and stepped into her black stilettos, feeling their familiar pinch.

The Los Angeles streets were already swarming with people, as she made her way to the crowded bus stop. She compressed herself into the packed bus, her body crushed between strangers. This was one of the downsides of living in a tourist-congested city—there was never enough room for the residents. As soon as the bus doors hissed open at her stop, she quickly moved out and made her way to the nearby café, a small diversion she couldn’t afford to skip. She often ran coffee errands for her colleagues—a short reminder of being the only young colleague in her office. Today, the line was long, and her patience was thin. She grabbed the coffee with her name scribbled on the side and rushed for the door, only to crash into someone. Hot coffee splashed, and a string of curses erupted from the stranger. She muttered an apology, her heart pounding. She had no time for a confrontation.

Arriving at the company, Kate slipped into her seat just as Jasmine approached. Jasmine was the closest thing Kate had to a friend here, a small comfort in a place filled with sharp edges and colder stares.

"Kate, I've been waiting for you!" Jasmine's voice cut through the low murmur of the office, her expression shifting into disbelief as Kate approached.

"Yeah... Is there a problem?" Kate asked, her heart sinking at the look on Jasmine's face.

“What happened to your clothes?” Jasmine whispered, her eyes wide with concern. 

Kate glanced down and felt her stomach drop. Amidst the morning's chaos, she hadn’t noticed the dark coffee stain spreading across her blue satin blouse. It stood out like a glaring, damning mark.

“Damn it…,” Kate muttered, her voice trembling as she berated herself. How could she have been so careless today, of all days? The one day that mattered, when she didn’t have a backup outfit, a backup plan—nothing. Panic bubbled up inside her. 

This could be enough to land her on the list of people to be laid off. As if on cue, the committee overseeing the layoffs walked into the office unannounced. Kate felt their eyes on her, particularly from the woman in charge—a scornful, piercing look that seemed to scream that Kate was already counted out. The humiliation burned more than the hot coffee had.

An hour later, the dreaded list was posted. Kate didn’t need to see it; she could feel the weight of it settling on her chest like a stone. But still, her eyes searched for confirmation. And there it was. Her name, Kate Miller, was the first on the list. Her vision blurred with tears as she packed her few belongings into a small cardboard box. This job had been her only source of income, her only stability. Now, with only $200 left in her account, she had nothing to fall back on. She thought of her mother, sick and dependent on her, and the tears fell harder. She didn’t know how she would make ends meet now.

Her phone rang, pulling her back to reality. It was her mom’s caregiver, Onyx.“Hey… How are you?” Kate asked, trying to keep her voice steady.“I’m fine. I just wanted to let you know your mom is running low on her medication. You’ll need to get her some medication on your way back,” Onyx said, her tone swift and to the point. Before Kate could say a word, the call ended. She glared at the phone, an empty feeling settling in her chest making her lifeless. Kate sobs. She has no idea what could be the possible solution to her problem, but she knows she has to keep moving for her mom. She dragged herself to the hospital, every step feeling heavier than the last. It didn’t feel like walking—it felt like staggering under the overload of debt waiting for her. When she arrived, the nurse offered her a seat, explaining that the doctor had to attend to a patient. Kate flops onto the chair, her body trembling. She couldn’t bring herself to visit her mom just yet. She knew she’d break down completely if she did. She couldn’t afford to crumble—not when she needed to be strong for both of them. 

Sebastian tugged at his tie, his frustration building as he poured over the financial Invoices. He needed to close this deal, but the numbers weren’t adding up. His anger deepens, the pressure of the moment nearly unbearable.

“Sir, you have a call,” his secretary, Mr. Albert, interrupted cautiously.

“Whoever it is, tell them I’m not available,” Sebastian yelled, not bothering to look up.

“It’s the Chairman’s secretary,” Mr. Albert replied, his voice faint. Sebastian's head jerked up. 

“Why didn’t he call me directly?”He already did, sir, but you weren’t picking up.

”Sebastian exhaled, rubbing his temples. “Fine, direct the line to me.”

A few moments later, he picked up his phone, already dreading the conversation. “What’s this about?” he said, harshly.

“Sir, you need to return to Los Angeles immediately,” the Chairman’s secretary said, her voice tense.“For what reason?” Sebastian asked, his patience wearing thin.

“Your dad has been diagnosed with stage four cancer,” the Chairman’s secretary uttered her unflattering voice but carrying a weight that made Sebastian’s heart drop. “He only has a few months left, and he has a lot he wants to say to you.”The words hit Sebastian like a big blow.

After losing his mom, his dad had been his only family. And now, he was going to lose him too. He ran a trembling hand through his hair, trying to balance himself.“I’ll be there as soon as possible,” Sebastian managed to say before hanging up, not waiting for a reply. He stared blankly into space, the news sinking in, twisting like a knife. Afterward, he hit the buzzer on his desk.

“Prepare the earliest flight to Los Angeles,” he directed his secretary.

“Los Angeles, you say?” his secretary asked, a hint of shock in his voice.

Sebastian's eyes squinted. “Is there somewhere else I should be?” 

N-No, of course not,” the secretary stammered, quickly backing out of the room. Sebastian didn’t waste time. Within hours, he was on a plane, his mind racing with thoughts of his father and their last conversation. At the hospital, he was escorted into the waiting area. He barely noticed the woman sitting a few meters away, her face pale and worn out as if she’d been drained of all hope. But he didn’t care. 

His mind was fixated on his father and the ticking clock counting down his time.“Mr. Willows, follow me,” a voice broke through his thoughts. Dr. James gestured for him to follow, leading him to a quiet, private room in the VIP area.“Sebastian… my son…” His father’s voice was weak, punctuated by a deep, rattling cough.“Dad… why didn’t you tell me?” Sebastian asked, his voice breaking. “I could have been here sooner.”His father shook his head. “I didn’t want you to be distracted. You have too much on your plate. But now, you need to get serious about your future. You need to get married. Your uncle will try everything in his power to take over the company once I’m gone.

”But Dad, my marital status doesn’t determine my ability to run the company,” Sebastian argued, frustration tightening his voice.“It does,” his father insisted, his tone firm despite his frail condition. “It shows stability and commitment. And my will already states that if you don’t get married within two years after my death, all my assets will go to your uncle. So, make your decision wisely.” His father closed his eyes, signaling the end of their conversation. Sebastian left the room, his mind spinning. How was he supposed to find a wife—one who would convince his father and solve his problem? Then a thought struck him: he could hire one. Women would do anything for money, right? Picking up his phone, he called Jay. If anyone could pull this off without a hitch, it was Jay.