Chapter Two - The Countdown

'Who gave such order?' Adrian stood up from his chair, banging his fist on the table making the board members shriek in fear.

'Your father' they chorused like they were under a spell.

Adrian collapsed on his chair in frustration, he never knew his father could go this far to make him get a wife.

'Get out all of you' he said in his hoarse voice as they all scrambled to their feet immediately none wanting to be a victim of his evil wrath

He loosened his tie knot closing his eyes to rack his brain on how to solve the mess he was in.

He felt someone carcass his broad chest making him flinch immediately, he opened his eyes and saw his clerk staring at him with lustful eyes.

'I can see you are ready to beg on the streets again' his threatening voice rang out making her adjust herself in fear.

'Say it or get out' he buttoned up his shirt when he noticed her wide eyes on it.

'Sir we have a candidate applying for the secretary position' she said in a low voice embarrassed that her little plan of seduction failed.

'Send her in' he told her as she bowed her head and left his office deliberately swaying her fake ass.

'Slut' he whispered under his breath eying her.

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Alyssa roamed the whole street of Singapore searching for a job vacancy, her stomach growled in hunger reminding her she had not eaten since she was fired in the morning.

'What a frustrating day' Alyssa groaned approaching a near by cafeteria.

She ransacked her bag hoping to find a meaningful amount but the money on her could not feed a chicken not to talk of a human. She dropped the bag in frustration sighing heavily when she saw a sign board.

An adrenaline of happiness rushed through her veins as the feeling of hunger disappeared immediately as she picked her bag and ran out of the cafeteria, attracting the stares of people, she got closer and read the sign board.

SECRETARY NEEDED IN ADRIAN ENTERPRISE

She flagged a taxi immediately.

'Adrian Enterprise' She told the elderly man riding the tax.i

'$S500' the taxi driver replied like he was in a hurry.

'That is too expensive' She yelled at the taxi driver making him get angry.

'The taxi driver is not for everybody, you can as well use your goddamn legs' he yelled back speeding away.

Alyssa stared speechless almost breaking down in tears at all the insult hurled at her. She adjusted herself and started jogging since she was broke.

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ADRIAN ENTERPRISE

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Alyssa arrived Adrian enterprise reeking of sweat as she jogged all the way to the company. She stared at her ruined mini skirt and uttered a silent prayer in her head. She sprayed her cheap perfume to impress her interviewer.

She stepped into the company making all eyes focus on her jeering and murmuring words to themselves.

'Why does she look so haggard?"

"She looks more like a frustrated bitch" a lady mocked her making the rest burst into laughter.

Alyssa ignored all the jeering, clutching her CV to her chest tightly walking the to the clerk table.

"Hello am here for the job vacancy of the secretary' she smiled at the lady who eyed her with her long eye lashes.

'You are late' the clerk harsh voice shocked Alyssa making her lose her voice for some minutes.

'I'm sorry' Alyssa apologized after regaining her voice.

'Follow me' the clerk commanded her swaying her fake ass in her front.

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ADRIAN OFFICE

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Alyssa swallowed the invincible lump in her throat as she stepped into the cold office, covering the stain on her mini skirt with her CV.

'Good afternoon sir' she greeted the man who had his back facing her.

'Sit' Adrian replied hoarsely as she gulped down nothing sitting nervously.

'Am i safe with this harsh people?' Alyssa thought within herself shifting uncomfortably on the foamy chair.

Adrian almost choked on his saliva as he stared at Alyssa who was the most shocked out of the both of them. Alyssa begged the earth silently to swallow her at that moment.

'I finally ruined my opportunity with this wide mouth of mine' Alyssa regretted how she spoke rudely to him.

'Can i have your CV?' Adrian asked pretending like he knew nothing.

'Does he have short memory?' Alyssa stared intensely at Adrian who checked her CV with his eye brow knitted together.

'Sorry you are not qualified for this job' Adrian told her throwing her CV on the table.

'What do you mean sir? I worked as a secretary in my previous office' Alyssa explained herself feeling hot in the cold office.

'Then it must have been a local company, we deal with high qualifications and the only thing you can offer is your high school certificate' Adrian voice sounded disgusted making Alyssa bit her lips in embarrassment.

'You can leave my office now' Alyssa picked up her CV with her head bent low as she walked to the door.

"Wait" she paused in her tracks when she heard his calm voice thanking her stars.

'When next you are going for a job interview you should dress like classy lady and not a road side beggar' Alyssa nodded her head in shame and walked out of the office with her wobbling feet.

She ran out of the company, crying profusely not minding the stares from the employees.

'Was I too harsh on her?' Adrian thought within himself sighing heavily.

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PENG MANSION

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Adrian drove into his parents mansion roughly, he ignored all the greetings of the staff as he barged into his parents sitting room where he met the curled up in love.

He scrunched his face in disgust clearing his throat to make his presence known.

'Look who we have have here' His mother said cheerfully standing up to hug her son.

His father sipped his wine slowly ignoring him totally.

'Dad, why did you give the board members such order?' Adrian questioned his father angrily.

'You know how much have achieved and what my plans are for the company so getting a wife now is definitely not my priority' Adrian continued hoping to convince his father who has not said a word except sipping his wine slowly.

'Adrian I give you thirty one days to get and nothing will change my decision. You either get a wife within thirty one days or you forget about the company' his father said sternly like a military man.

Adrian looked at his father angrily and then left the house banging the door heavily startling his mother.

'Do you think this will work?' His mother sighed heavily.

'You just watch and see' his father said stroking his moustache.