CHAPTER 1: HER DOWNFALL

• SMITH'S COMPANY BUILDING

 

Melody hurried as she walked towards her dad's office. Almost all the departments she passed by had their staff putting away their supplies. She did not understand what was happening or whether her dad knew about it.

 

"Dad, what happened?" She asked openly with a mixture of concern.

 

Her breath was still catching, and when she saw her dad, his shoulders slumped, and he seemed to be thinking deeply. Her father looked at her for a moment and looked away before facing the table again.

 

“I don't know what happened. The company is going down, child. I don't know how we can get up. All the investors and board of directors have left.” He was in tears while explaining. "The company is already deep in debt." Then he shook his head.

 

“How did it fall? Why did I just find out now? I thought everything was fine here." She asked in disbelief.

 

She always turned down her dad's wish to lead their company because she didn't think she was ready to lead. She is afraid to make a decision. She is afraid of making a mistake and losing everything her parents worked for.

 

“I—I thought so too, Son. I thought everything was fine. Until the contract between Mr. Sue, I don't understand how it happened; something is wrong with what happened. We didn't get him, and all the board members formed an alliance because they said my management was sloppy." There, the old man's tears gradually began to fall. "I did everything. But the impact of that project on the company was not great, and even the Board of Directors was disappointed and left. I was the only one left, with a huge debt.” He was crying, so Melody quickly approached her father to hug him.

 

Melody could not speak because her mind could not accept what she heard. All she knows is that it hurts, and it hurts even more for her father. Her dad had been in charge of their company for a long time, and it had been thriving since then. Now it has suddenly disappeared in an instant.

 

They both looked when Mr. Wang entered the office. Mr. Wang, along with some other policemen, widened Melody's eyes as she looked at her dad. It tightened his grip on her hand.

 

"Catch that swindler and thief!" yelled Mr. Wang while staring at his father.

 

“D—Daddy, what—what does this mean?” She asked his father. "Mr. Wang?”

 

But he did not answer.

 

"Mr. Alejandro, you are under arrest for the crime of owing millions, fraud, and theft to almost 20% of the share holders of your constituent members.” and the police issued an arrest warrant. "You have the right to remain silent or passive. Whatever you say can be used for or against you in any court. You also have the right to hire a defense attorney of your choice, and if you are incompetent, the government will provide it to you. Do you understand this?”

 

Melody looked at her dad when he nodded. The police started coming and handcuffing his dad.

 

"No, Dad, no!" Melody said, shaking her head. She quickly approached the man who was catching her father and held his hand. "Mr. Wang, my dad is not a thief! H—He can't do that! I'll pay; just don't put him in jail! Please! I'm begging!” she knelt down.

 

“M—Melody, my daughter."

 

"You? I don't believe you. You run away from your responsibility as his daughter and heiress. And as if you can pay off his nearly fifty million debt!”

 

She stopped. She does not believe in the alleged theft by her father. But fifty million? How much does it owe? She looked at her dad, and at the same time, the old man nodded. She slowly stood up and slightly approached her father.

 

"D-Daddy, is it really true?" She prayed that he would be given an explanation that her system could accept.

 

Her father nodded without hesitation. "Forgive me, my daughter. I didn't know it would all come to this. I invested millions in Mr. Severo, but I wasn't the one who stole; all the evidence points to me. There's nothing more we can do, Melody."

 

Melody couldn't speak anymore when the police took her dad out. She gradually became depressed, and her knees seemed to soften. Where would she get such a large amount of money? She doesn't have enough money to pay for it.

 

Her boyfriend, Melvon, entered Melody's mind. She is currently the head manager of her dad's company, and she is sure that he will help her.

 

Melody didn't waste any more time and immediately went to his office. She will not let her father stay in jail for a long time. He was not used to hardship, and he did not know what kind of people were there.

 

She hurriedly ran towards the elevator and went to the floor where his office building was. She was still far away when she heard what seemed to be laughing voices. Gradually, her walking slowed down, and then she frowned.

 

She felt nervous. She looked behind her to make sure no one else had followed her. Melvon's office door was open, and from there, she saw him sitting in a chair, smiling and holding wine.

 

They look like they are celebrating something. But what is that, and why now when the company has failed?

 

“You know, Melvon, you are the real winner! This is all your plan and success! You are so good!” that's the voice of Mr. Chavez, one of the board members.

 

She was even more confused, but her interest grew more intense as to what they seemed to be enjoying.

 

"They can be overthrown very easily. Tsk, that freaking old man and his useless daughter—there's nothing else to do but draw; well, she doesn't get any money from that."

 

The old man's voice was familiar to Melody, but she couldn't make out who it was. Her eyes widened when she saw a woman she didn't expect to see. She sat on her boyfriend's lap and kissed him on the lips.

 

She gasped slightly because of what the woman did.

 

"I don't regret that Daddy and I sent you. You really did a great job, Babe!” Tanny said.

 

Tanny is the president's daughter of the Gutierrez Company. The company has been their company's opponent for a long time. Now, he finally recognized the voice of another old man.

 

Tommy Gutierrez.

 

"How did you manage to spin everything in your hand? knowing that it's hard, right? I'm just curious.” asked Mr. Chavez.

 

“It's basic. Actually, I didn't do anything; it's actually Mr. Aberin's daughter. Melody acted for us. That girl is so easy to spin. Madly falling in love.” Melody could clearly see how Melvon grinned. Her tears gradually fell. "She stole the important file for us."

 

Her eyes widened. The memory of almost a month ago came back to her. They are on a date at that time; it's their anniversary, and Melvon surprises her at a luxury restaurant. That night, Melvon asked her for a file that was in her dad's office.

 

When she asked what it was for, he just said that he wanted to study and prepare for the next project to help her father more and gain more points as her boyfriend. She did not hesitate. The next day after that day, she secretly took a copy of the file from her dad's laptop.

 

"And that file contains the plan and important information about Mr. Severo, the private and big-time client. I negotiated with him, and ta-dah~ We got him! And I didn't expect that the information about share holders and stock funds was also there, so I deleted it. I just turned Melody around in my hands. That woman is easy to get!”

 

"Don't tell me you slept with her!" Tanny said it like a child.

 

"Of course not! She's not my type, babe! You are the only one, and you should know that. She's boring, and my pure intention is to bring down this trash company.” and he kissed Tanny again.

 

"I trusted you, as I trusted you as my unica-hija's fiancé, and I will never regret it!" Mr. Gutierrez said it energetically.

 

She looked at Tanny and Melvon's finger, which now had a ring on it.

 

“Now, we have no enemies. No one dares to compete with us, because as of now, we have the highest share holders, and some of the clients and investors are already with us! Cheers!”

 

Melody didn't know what else to feel. All this time, her boyfriend has been engaged. All this time, the man she first loved just played with her. He only courted her to destroy her father and bring down their company.

 

It turns out that she is to blame for why her father was imprisoned! She trusted too much. She knows that her dad is not really guilty. Her father will not do such a bad act!

 

“My dad didn't steal any share holders! They do it all! These heartless people are to blame for everything!”

 

“But we need to get rid of him. A tree will not die as long as it has roots. So we still need to make sure that old man can't get up.” Mr. Gutierrez seemed to say it angrily. “He needs to die.” He added.

 

She froze when she heard the old man's last words.

 

“I will work on that, Dad.” Melvon replied.

 

“W—What do they mean? Do they intend to hurt or kill my dad?"

 

Melody couldn't hold back anymore and immediately entered the office.

 

“M—Miss M—Melody." Mr. Chavez said this in shock.

 

"Oh, Mr. Chavez. Don't call her Miss or anything like that. She's nothing now." a reminder of Mr. Gutierrez.

 

"Melvon, what does this mean? Why is that girl here? No, wait, that's not what I went for. H—Help me. My father, the police arrested him!” She pretended not to hear or know anything.

 

She was crying and approached Melvon and was about to hold his hand, but Tanny immediately blocked her and slapped her hard, then pushed her to the floor.

 

“Don't try to touch her again, B*tch! I've been waiting for you for a long time! Now the pretending is over! He's my fiancé!”

 

Melody thought that the pain was enough because of what she had heard earlier, but now it was doubled because Melvon was just looking at her as if he hated her.

 

"Hon, W—what is she saying? Is it true?" She asked tearfully. It was as if her heart was torn into pieces during those times.

 

“Don't call him that name! It's fvcking disgusting!” Tanny shouted even more, annoyed.

 

"Let her go, Babe. That one is so pathetic, and then you're going to punish her? Don't lower your level for her." Melvon stood up and grinned at Melody. "Your father deserves to go to jail. He is a frivolous leader and a thief. And you heard it right: Tanny is my fiancé; you're such a fool; that's why you're so easy to fool. You and Alejandro are really father and daughter. Both of you are stupid.”

 

"N—No. That's not true."

 

“If I were you, just focus on your drawing instead of imitating your useless father!“ Mr. Chavez yelled, and then they came together at the same time.

 

“But her drawing is trash too!" Tanny added, and loud laughter rang out again. "Let's go out of here! We must not stay with this worthless and trashy company any longer."

 

“That's right!”

 

“Good bye, loser! Follow our advice!” Mr. Gutierrez said, and they left while laughing.

 

She was crying while closing her eyes and repeatedly remembering what happened and what she heard. This is all her fault! If she had not allowed herself to trust others, all of this would not have happened!

 

Now, she needs to do something because her dad is in danger.

 

She stood up, and when she left the office, their staff was there. looking at her and whispering as if she were the most pitiful person in the world. She knew they heard and saw what happened. Maybe it was Melvon's plan too—to embarrass her.