Chapter 2:
1126 Words
“Why is this happening? Why?” Nora said as she wiped away the tears streaming down her cheeks.
Nora huddled in the small corner of the bathroom, tears flowing. She couldn’t believe what she had just seen, the two people she trusted the most had gone into a hotel together. Elias, who she thought was faithful, had betrayed her, and Anna, who always seemed gentle and weak, had stabbed her in the back!
The recent events felt like a dream! She had never even imagined this scenario.
She once believed that their love was eternal, that Elias was the only man in the world who truly loved her. But now, everything had turned to dust.
“Why? Why is this happening?” Nora sobbed, tears streaming down her face.
Her heart felt like it was being squeezed tightly, making it impossible to breathe. Nora clutched her chest, her head bowed to the ground. The strong facade she had shown was just an act. Three years of her youth, Elias was her first love. How could she not feel pain?
While Nora was filled with sorrow and disappointment, a knock on the door and the manager’s voice interrupted her: “Nora, are you inside? Come out now!”
Nora quickly wiped her tears and tried to compose herself. She opened the door, her face still wet with tears.
Her manager, Mr. James, stood there with a stern expression.
“What were you doing in there for so long? The hotel is busy. We don’t have time for employees to avoid work like this,” Mr. James pointed at Nora and yelled. “Do you know your job is to serve the customers, not to hide in the bathroom crying!”
“Nora, I don’t know what’s going on with you, but this is work hours. We don’t pay you to handle personal matters. Remember, this is a high-class hotel! Every action and gesture of yours must follow the rules!”
Ignoring Nora’s swollen, tear-stained eyes, Mr. James continued to reprimand her relentlessly.
Nora hung her head, trying to suppress her sobs.
“I’m sorry, Mr. James,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
“Sorry? What good is that? Do you think saying sorry fixes everything? Immediately leave, clean your face, and resume working.”
Mr. James had no empathy, no compassion at all!
Nora tried to stay calm. She wiped away the remaining tears on her face, then took off her name tag and handed it to Mr. James.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t do this job anymore.”
“What? What did you say?” Mr. James raised his hand as if to slap Nora, but then he realized something was wrong and stopped. Nora wasn’t joking. The employee who always obeyed and agreed seemed different. The weak Nora was no more!
“Yes, that’s right! I said I’m quitting! Hire whoever you want!”
Before Mr. James could react, Nora pushed the door open and walked out.
Tears blurred her vision as she walked, wiping her eyes with her hands. Nora leaned against the wall of the hotel, trying to find her way out.
As she neared the exit, she suddenly bumped into someone. She stumbled and fell to the ground. Pain and resentment kept her sitting there, crying.
“Are you okay?” a warm voice asked, and the man extended his hand to her.
Nora didn’t respond. Her sobs choked her, and her vocal cords hurt, making it hard to speak.
“Miss, are you alright?” the man repeated.
“Do you need me to call a medic?”
“No need.” Nora waved her hand, slowly lifting her head to look at the person in front of her.
A man, approximately thirty years old, stood before her. He wore a luxurious suit, and his wristwatch was a limited edition, hard to buy, even with money.
“You don’t seem okay, miss.” The man spoke softly, helping Nora to her feet.
“I’m fine. It’s none of your concern!” Nora replied awkwardly, trying to stay composed. To hide her tears, she looked away from the man.
“Are you sure?”
“I’m really fine!”
“If this young lady says she’s fine, then let’s go! We have an important meeting to attend,” the man’s assistant reminded him.
“Mr. Anderson, let’s go.” He continued.
Nora froze when she heard the name “Anderson.” She turned around, her face full of suspicion as she looked at the man before her.
Anderson was Elias’s last name. Could it be…?
Could the man in front of her be the CEO of Anderson Corporation? In other words, Elias’s stepfather?
Nora’s head spun, her eyes fixed on the man in front of her.
“If the young lady is alright, then I’ll take my leave!” The man turned and walked directly to the reception desk.
“We’re looking for Elias Anderson,” the assistant said to the receptionist. “Is he here?”
“Sorry, but…”
“We are Elias’s family, and this is his stepfather, Mr. Anderson.”
The man named Anderson cooperated by handing his business card to the receptionist.
The receptionist looked at the business card, wide-eyed and gaping. The man before them was indeed the CEO of Anderson Corporation!
“Yes, yes, he’s in room 1314, sir.” The receptionist nodded repeatedly.
“Thank you.”
Nora stood silently behind, listening to the conversation. As the man turned to leave, she couldn’t contain her curiosity. She approached the receptionist and asked, “Excuse me, who was that man?”
The receptionist looked at her in surprise, but then answered, “That was Mr. Anderson, Elias Anderson’s father. Also, the CEO of Anderson Corporation.”
The receptionist sighed and continued, “He’s even more handsome than I imagined! Just too bad his tastes are a bit unusual!”
The entire city gossiped about Mr. Anderson’s love story with Elias’s mother, Mrs. Watts. Mrs. Watts was twelve years older than Mr. Anderson and already had a child, yet she still won his love. Some people even said she had bewitched Mr. Anderson because their love story was too illogical.
“Nora, are you interested in this, too? The man you just met is merely thirty years old.”
The receptionist’s words fell on deaf ears as Nora mumbled, “Elias’s stepfather.”
Watching Mr. Anderson’s back, a dark plan formed in Nora’s mind. If Elias had betrayed her, she would show him what it meant to “get even.”
Nora wiped away her tears and took a deep breath. She particularly enjoyed dangerous games!
“Elias, our game has just begun!”
- Writer
