The Billionaire I hate

ZARA Lawson Industries always felt too shiny, too cold, too full of people who thought they were better than everyone else. I didn’t know the billionaire who owned it. I didn’t care. I just wanted to find my mother, get her signature, and rush back to school before the bursar deleted my name permanently. Tuition deadline:Deadly Stress level :Deadly The polished marble floors reflected my cracked shoes, the shoes that had walked miles for a family I no longer had. I tugged at my worn bag and quickened my pace. Everyone around me moved with a confidence I could never afford to have. They wore suits that cost more than my entire life. They spoke in tones that demanded respect. They laughed in whispers that made me feel small. But none of that mattered. I had one thing on my mind: getting my mother’s signature before my life fell apart completely. I walked fast, not even bothering to hide how annoyed I was. They could survive one rude girl brushing past them. I turned to a corner too sharply and bumped into someone My phone fell .His tablet almost did Hey watch where you’re going , he said I didn’t even look up I don’t have time for that ,I said to him quietly ,picking my phone and walking off immediately Excuse me ?he called ,sounding so angry. I kept walking I am talking to you! he said ,footsteps following I finally stopped ,slowly turned,and gave him the most uninterested look. What ?You want me To apologize?I said ,folding my arms He blinked ,shocked Clearly not used to anyone talking to him like that Do you know who No ,I cut him off .And I don’t care Then I turned off and walked away before he could finish his last sentence I didn’t know who he was. Didn’t know his name. Didn’t know he was rich, powerful, and used to people bowing whenever he coughed. I only knew he was annoying. What I didn’t know was this: Jason Lawson had never been ignored in his life… and now, he suddenly wanted to find the girl who didn’t care who he was. JASON Jason stood frozen in the hallway long after the rude girl disappeared. His heart was still beating fast from shock, annoyance, and something else he didn’t want to name. Nobody had ever ignored him. Nobody had ever cut him off . Nobody had ever walked away like he was not important. He hated how much it bothered him. He rubbed his forehead and snapped at his assistant, Mark, who had been waiting nearby. Mark. Who was that girl that just passed me earlier? Mark looked confused. Which girl, sir? Jason’s jaw tightened. The one I bumped into. The one who didn’t apologize. Mark immediately pulled up the office camera feed on his tablet. Let me check, sir. A few seconds later, he paused the video. That’s her,Jason said sharply, pointing. Mark zoomed in on her walking toward the staff area. She went to the third floor, sir, Mark said. That’s the department for lower-grade staff… cleaners, file assistants, couriers. Jason folded his arms. Find out who she came to see. Mark nodded and made a few calls. After a moment, he returned with the answer. Sir… the girl’s name is Zara Peter. She came to see her mother. Jason raised an eyebrow. Her mother works here? Yes, sir. Mrs. Evelyn Peter. She’s one of the cleaners . Jason looked away, annoyed all over again. So the rude girl had a name. And she had the nerve to disrespect him. He didn’t want to deal with it deeply but something in him refused to let it go. “Mark,” he said quietly. “Tell HR to relieve Mrs. Evelyn Peter of her duties. Effective immediately.” Mark blinked in shock. Sir… are you sure? She’s been here for eight years. Jason’s voice was cold. I don’t care. Get it done. Mark nodded slowly. Yes, sir. As Jason walked toward the elevator, he didn’t look back. He didn’t know why he cared so much. He didn’t know why a stranger’s rudeness hit him so deeply. He didn’t know why firing her mother felt… satisfying. He only knew one thing: He was going to find Zara again. ZARA I barely noticed the corridor I was in. My mind was racing. The tuition. The form. The bursar’s warning. My mother, Evelyn Peter, had worked at Lawson Industries for years as a cleaner. She barely made enough to cover our small apartment, let alone my school fees. I had been struggling ever since my father died. He was supposed to be wealthy, supposed to provide, supposed to leave us with security. But his “trusted friend”had taken everything overnight. I don’t even know him . All the money. The assets. The house. Gone. My mother barely kept us alive with the cleaning jobs she picked up in the meantime. And now, the tuition. I was one small envelope away from being expelled. No one cared that I had lost everything. No one would help. I had to fix this myself. I finally reached my mother’s department. Evelyn was busy scrubbing the floor, humming quietly to herself. Her face lit up when she saw me. “Zara! What’s wrong? You look like you ran all the way here . I need you to sign this, quickly. The bursar…” My voice cracked. I was terrified, exhausted, and frustrated all at once. Of course, my darling. Let’s see what it is. I handed her the form. She looked at it carefully and signed. Done. Go. Don’t let them catch you late.” I kissed her cheek and dashed back to the elevator, praying the bursar’s office wouldn’t reject me. Within an hour, Evelyn Peter was called into the supervisor’s office. “Mrs. Peter, we’re letting you go, effective immediately.” She couldn’t believe it. Eight years of hard work, gone. She tried to explain… but HR reminded her firmly: this decision was final. Her cleaning supplies and locker had to be cleared by the end of the day. Evelyn’s hands shook. She barely had time to process it before leaving the building, clutching her bag and wiping tears away. Meanwhile, Jason couldn’t focus on his work. He kept thinking about the girl the way she walked past him, the way she spoke, the attitude, the arrogance, the rudeness. It made him furious… and strangely intrigued. Mark noticed it. “Sir, you’ve been distracted for hours.” Jason didn’t answer. He stared at the hallway, imagining her walking past him again. One thought repeated in his mind: I will find her. That night, as Zara returned to her small, dim apartment, she was unaware of what had happened at Lawson Industries. Her mother had been fired. Their already fragile life just became harder. And she had no idea the boy she had bumped into… the one she had dared to insult… would cross her path again. Somewhere in the heart of the city, in a luxurious penthouse, Jason Lawson was pacing. He didn’t know why he cared about a stranger. He didn’t know what it meant. He only knew that Zara Peter had his attention now, and nothing would stop him from finding.