Chapter 4

His power made my stomach crumble in excitement. I was flabbergasted to think there was a man who gave me an emotion I was trying to hide.

He cleared his throat but his eyes were still on mine after I sat on the chair. He fixed his tie before he elegantly sat on his swivel chair. He was emotionless but powerful when he flipped my application papers.

“Katrina Amara Velasquez,” he uttered.

I almost gasped when he said my name, like I was a good delicacy in his eyes. I swallowed hard, trying to clear my throat when I felt like my throat was getting dry.

“Are you connected to Mr. Albert Velasquez? He's the owner of Velasquez Enterprises,” he added.

My hands trembled in anxiety after he mentioned my father's name. I wasn't prepared that he would ask me that question because whenever I got hired, they were only asking me about my skills and why I wanted to work with them.

“N-No, I'm not connected with him,” I stammered when I denied it. I didn't want my father to know I was applying to his rival company. My father wouldn't like the idea, and he might do his best to remove his embarrassing daughter.

From the moment he kicked me out of our family house, I forgot about him. I have done everything to make him proud of me since I was a child. However, for the simple mistakes I had made, he forgot about them.

“Oh, I thought you were connected to him.” His lips twitched, but his eyes were pierced. He was trying to intimidate me, and it was effective because I wanted to pee at the moment.

“I'm not connected with him. I'm not from the high socialite class," I replied.

He nodded his head before he glanced at me. “I thought you were connected with him. He's one of my competitors.”

He paused for a moment and read my documents. My heart was thumping so fast. I didn't know what I was going to do next once he asked me more about my family background. Perhaps he might have speculated that I was the daughter of Albert Velasquez.

“Are you married?”

My eyes blinked several times when I heard his upcoming question. He asked me, like it was normal to ask me about it. Well, it was normal, and I couldn't understand why I needed to be affected by his presence.

“N--No, I'm not married,” I answered.

He nodded his head before he seriously placed his hand on his chin. He didn't break our eye contact, and it made me want to hide from him.

“Good. I want my secretary to be single because I have a busy schedule. If I hire you today, I want my secretary to always be available for me. You don't need to worry about the payment because I can guarantee I'm not a cheap stake. Since I can pay my employees more, it means I don't want my employees to get lazy when it comes to their work.”

“Ms. Velasquez, I want to be honest with you. I'm not a good and sympathetic boss. So if you're sure to be part of my company—to be my secretary—then I will hire you.” His tone was too dominant.

I nodded my head, then bit my lip to show how hesitant my mind was. As long as he was willing to pay for my hectic work, then it was fine with me. Adeline needed to get her surgery as soon as possible.

I needed money, and I could do anything for the sake of my children. I wanted them to get what their dreams were. Adeline was such a sweet child. If something bad happens to her, Adam might get mad at himself.

“It's fine with me. I need this work..” My tone became hoarse in pain. My savings were such a pain in my head.

“Okay, then you can start tomorrow.” He stood up and then offered his hand. “You're hired.”

I stared at his palm for several minutes before I finally held his hand. My forehead was sweating from nervousness. I felt shy because he might notice I was affected by his aura. I wish my hand wasn't sweating enough.

“You can go directly to the HR office. I will ask Laura to guide you.” He pointed to the door and continued what he was doing inside his office.

Everything happened so fast. After I got fired from my job because of my maniac boss, I finally got a better job. There was a possibility I might get saved from Adeline's surgery too fast.

Adeline and Adam were so happy to know I already had a new job. Terry cooked a delicious meal for us to celebrate my new achievement. I was thankful that she was always with me. I hoped she would never leave me alone. My children loved her as if she were their grandmother.

“You're late!” I heard my boss roar when I finally stepped onto the top floor. My eyes widened in fear when he glared at me like a predator who wanted to devour his prey.

“I'm sorry, but HR asked me to go to their office. Mister McWealth, you can check what time I logged in here at the company.”

He turned his back on me. He was walking so fast that I couldn't follow him. My heart pounded so fast that I couldn't breathe properly. Shit. I didn't want to get fired so fast.

“I don't care about your excuse," he brutally replied. He halted walking and then gave me a death stare. “I will still give you a chance. Don't disappoint me, Miss Velasquez. I want you to be more determined to work with me. I don't like my employees to be late because I'm doing my best to pay them with bonuses. If you will be late again, I will fucking fire you, and I don't mind replacing you.”

My mouth parted in disbelief. He clenched his jaw and then pointed to the pile of papers on my table. I nodded, then rushed towards the table.

“I want them to be done at 3 PM. Make sure you will do it perfectly. I will present this to the shareholders.”

My eyes landed on the pile of papers. I glanced at the wall clock, and I didn't know how I would magically finish these papers.

I massaged my temple when my head throbbed. I was famished, but I couldn't eat my lunch because of the heavy work he gave me.

“Have you already finished the papers? I want to see how you make my presentation.” I heard Mister McWealth speak from the intercom. I sighed and then went to his office after I sent him the presentation I had done for him.

As soon as I stepped inside his office, I could hear him bluntly whisper profanities as if his blood were boiling because of me. He gave me a stern look, which indicated that I should move forward toward him.

“Miss Velasquez, what's wrong with you? Instead of doing your work perfectly, you give me a presentation that a preschool can do!” He screamed, then stood up. He dragged me to sit in his swivel chair and then pointed to the presentation.

“Are you trying to embarrass me to my shareholders? Do you want me to fire you? Why don't you proofread whatever you type here? Argh! Damn it!”

“Leave!”

I heard his heavy breathing before I left his office. I couldn't understand what was wrong with my presentation. I did my best to make it more interesting.

Because I was starving, my chest squeezed, and my head hurt again. He was the only one who gave me confidence. Shit.

“What are you still doing? Why don't you start informing my shareholders about the meeting instead of being dumb in front of my door?"

I lowered my head to prevent him from witnessing how I cried because of how he nags me. I needed to endure how he had treated me because I needed the money so much.

The meeting went well, and what made me more confused was that he still used the presentation I gave him. I couldn't understand what was wrong with it, especially when the shareholders complimented how I successfully did my job. However, Mr. McWealth didn't like the idea that someone was complimenting how good my work was.

“Do your work perfectly. Those shareholders are blind and stupid," he arrogantly uttered when we finally reached the top floor.

I sighed, trying to keep myself from getting emotional. All I needed to do was make sure I did my job well. Perhaps Mr. McWealth was stressed, and that was the reason why he was throwing his madness at me.

However, what made me more upset was when I discovered I was the only one he had always shouted at me. He was pressuring me because of nothing.

“Are you done?” Whenever I heard his tone, my body was rushed, making me want to faint.

“Y--Yes, Mister McWealth. I already sent your presentation.” I stammered when I answered him. I gulped when he nodded his head, but there was a strange emotion in his eyes.

“I want you to be available on Friday. We have a three-day business meeting with Mister Thompson,” he informed me.

After he left, I decided to go to the cafeteria to get some food. He might not be back too fast because he had a private dinner with a woman.

As soon as I was about to go towards the elevator, I was stunned when I saw the man. I had never thought I would say that after five years.

Lance was looking at his wristwatch while he was waiting for the elevator to open. When he was about to glance in my direction, I instantly lowered my head and then turned my back on him. Shit. I wasn't prepared to meet him.