Bound by Blood

CHAPTER 1

JANE'S POV

I found myself standing at the peak of the building where I work, gazing out from the edge, feeling lifeless and looking like I just got back from hell.

“Is this Life worth it?” I asked myself with a trembling voice.

After losing my grandmother to an illness she had been battling for years, I was left with a huge hospital debt. My grandmother was the only person I had left after my parents died in a ghastly accident.

We were living from hand to mouth, struggling to survive. I even had to drop out of school. I was not complaining because she is present in my life and she's my confidant, Now I'm all alone.

Committing suicide is the only option I have to escape from my loneliness and the huge Debt I have.

One of my legs was already off the building when I felt a warm and masculine hand pulling me off the edge of the building.

"Why did you save me? Why didn't you let me die?" I asked, my voice trembling with emotion.

“Suicide is never an option; when there's life, there's hope”, he said with emotions in his eyes, and he walked away hurriedly.

I watched him walk away with my eyes filled with heavy tears, breathing heavily while holding on to my chest.

After crying for a while, I decided to adhere to what he said: I'm going to work hard to pay my debt, and I'll make my grandmother proud.

I went back to work as if nothing had happened, but I couldn't shake my curiosity about where that man came from. "Does he work here?" I silently mused as I had never seen him in the building before.

After wrapping up a long day at work, I decided to treat myself to a delicious meal at a nearby restaurant before heading home.

**************************************************

I was feeling a bit down at work the next morning, and the dirty, disgusting toilets only added to my frustration. "How can people be so dirty?" I muttered to myself with a disgusted expression.

I kept cleaning With my disgusted look

My colleague Mitchell and I were heading to clean the offices after finishing the toilets, we were discussing the new cleaner recruit. While walking, I was taken aback to see the person who had saved me from attempting self-harm striding confidently with an entourage. I had no idea he was such an important figure.

"Mitchell, do you know who that person is?" I inquired.

"He's the chief executive officer of this company. Rumour has it that he's a jerk," she responded.

"His mother committed suicide for unknown reasons, and since then, his behaviour has worsened," she added sternly.

"I finally understand why he saved me from committing suicide," I whispered.

After work, I went home. I thought of how I was going to pay my debt.

I started applying to various companies, but it was difficult to get a good-paying job because I was unable to finish school.

Still, I kept applying for jobs And wasn't Willing to give up.

Shortly after, I received a message reminding me of my debt and I broke down.

“How am I going to pay this debt” I asked myself, Feeling bitter and down.

After contemplating for a while, I slept off

I had a dream where my I And my grandmother were discussing and laughing as we always do, and then she said “I Know you're hurting, I'm hear to listen and help in any way I can”

“Grandma, I'm tired. I'm so lonely, and I don't know how I will pay my debt; I can barely think straight or even smile because I'm always thinking of how I will pay my debt. I don't even have anyone to talk to” I said tearfully

She smiled and said “Jane, I raised you to be an independent and strong lady who can do anything she puts her mind to. It's understandable to feel this way, but it's left to you to pick yourself up and figure a way to get your life together, I know you can do this, my baby.”

I felt relieved after she said that and she hugged me tightly like a baby, I cried my eyes out while receiving the hug and I said “Grandma I miss you so much”

My alarm rang, and I realised it was morning already and another day of work.

I kept working, and then after work, I tried to apply for menial jobs so I could make ends meet.

I got accepted for a job as a nanny, which is a part-time job where I have to look After a child during the weekend for 3 hours. I started The job and it went well on the first weekend.

Two jobs weren't even enough to pay my bills.

Still, I was hopeful.

I went for my nanny job, and after a while, the mother of the child came in to take over so I could leave, she started shouting and acting aggressive

“Why is the house littered? Why is everywhere not tidy up? Am I paying you to just litter my house?” She said screaming at the top of her voice

I felt embarrassed, and I told her calmly that her child littered everywhere and I was employed to look after her child, not clean.

When I was about to leave, she told me something was missing in her house, and I told her I had nothing to do with it. Unknowingly to me, what I said to her struck a nerve, and she wanted to frame me to teach me a lesson.

I was relaxing at home because I was tired when I heard a knock on my door, and it was the police; I was confused and scared. I didn't know what was wrong,

“How may i help you? I queried.

“You're under arrest for theft” the police responded with a straight face.

I'd never been so confused and shocked.

I replied with wavering voice “you're probably at the wrong house”

“We are here for you” they stated and handcuffed me. The weight of the handcuff was so heavy and disheartening to see.

I eventually got arrested after being reluctant about going with them to the police station. I was so devastated and angry because I knew I did no such thing.

She insisted I take her gold jewellery. I was locked up for days; it was hell; I was mistreated, and I couldn't endure anymore; after I realized I was in a mess, I had to use my earnings from the job to pay her back before I was released.

I was sad, frustrated and devastated.

It felt like something kept pushing me down, this isn't the life I want for myself…I cried and cried.

I was heartbroken, I didn't want to continue to live like that, I want to be debt free and a little less lonely. It felt like I was cursed, Bad things keeps happening like the universe was against me. If I had ended it all already, all of these wouldn't be happening.

I was so angry that I didn't eat when I got home, even though that was an excuse for not having food at home. I slept hungry, cold, and tired.

I took up the courage to go to work the next day because I was in jail for a while and wasn't even sure if I still had a job.

Luckily for me when I got to work, Mitchell already pleaded for me with our manager and he was understanding. She was the only one that asked for my whereabout When I was with the police.

After a long day of getting yelled at by the manager and cleaning like my life depends on it. Mitchell and I were casually strolling towards the company's gate and was about to go home.

I noticed a long escort of cars and Mitchell told me it was the CEO. Someone that looks like he works for him walked towards us and said the CEO wanted to see me. I decided to go and hear him out and bidded Mitchell farewell.