Chapter 3: Chapter 3

<Azaria>

I stopped walking upon hearing that.

"It's in the news, actually. She swindled his investors. She has a huge debt," one of them said.

"she's currently in jail. she's facing multiple charges," another added.

"It's so embarrassing for a woman to be involved in such things," commented a third person.

I moved closer to them to hear their conversation more clearly.

"Did you know that the owner's grandson disowned her? she's not actually the legitimate heir, and the real one hasn't done anything good with her life," a woman interjected, handing a newspaper to her companions who were gossiping.

"And here's more gossip. Have you heard that she frequents the bar? Always with different men. Maybe he's just a promiscuous mess," she continued.

That's when my ears perked up.

"Who's a promiscuous mess?" I asked them, irritated.

The four of them simultaneously turned to look at me.

"What the hell! You're talking about me! I've been listening to your conversation for a while now. Are you getting paid to gossip about me?" I shouted at them.

I had captured everyone's attention now.

"You gossip too much! People who have nothing to do in life! And you!” I pointed to the young woman who looked like she was crazy because of the color of her hair.

"Motherfucker! I will sue you for defamation! You're spreading the word that I'm in jail!” I shouted at her.

I clenched my fist.

I was aware that they knew I had a tendency to become aggressive.

"S-sorry, ma'am," they nervously apologized to me.

"I saw in the newspaper that you're in jail. Here it is," the audacious one even showed me the newspaper.

My anger flared, and I grabbed her by the hair.

Because her companions were angry with me, they ganged up on me.

Some people tried to intervene.

"Guard! Guard! Guard!"

Someone pulled my hair, but I refused to back down and pulled harder at the hair of the two ugly girls.

"What the fuck!"

A loud and intimidating voice stopped us.

Guards arrived and pulled the two girls whose hair I was yanking.

I would never allow myself to be mistreated.

Just as I was about to strike them again, someone snatched my hand.

"Azaria," Nikolai pronounced my name with emphasis, gripping my wrist tightly.

"What are you doing?!" Nikolai shouted at the two women.

"Sir, ma'am attacked me first! She pulled my hair!" the plump prostitute complained.

We were now surrounded by nosy employees.

"How dare you hurt her?!" Nikolai yelled angrily, his eyes scanning the scene.

"Sir, she was the one who attacked first! We just retaliated!" one of them argued.

"You were the ones who started it! You were gossiping about me, saying all sorts of things! You're not paid to spread rumors!" I defended myself.

"The four of you are fired!" Nikolai shouted angrily at them.

"How dare you lay a finger on her!" Nikolai's voice was filled with rage.

They were about to react when Nikolai pulled me away.

I allowed him to lead me to his office. My hair was disheveled, and I looked like a mess.

"What did you do?" he calmly asked me, releasing my hand.

He smelled of sandalwood.

"Why would I fight with you because I confronted your ugly employees? They started it, okay? They were gossiping about me being in jail when I wasn't even incarcerated! Your employees are so nosy!" I complained to him.

"You shouldn't attack them! You're in my company, Azaria. Don't bring your warfreak attitude here," he threatened me and gave me a stern look.

What do people even see in him? He has such a terrible personality.

Look, he's shouting at me.

"How dare you shout at me?!" I shouted back at him.

"I was defending myself! What do you want me to do? Let those ugly people walk all over me?!" I retorted.

"You don't have to entertain everything people say about you!" he stressed.

"What do you know about me, huh?! You should have just stayed away! I can't accept that I have to marry you! And worse, you're defending other people more than me!" I said in disbelief.

"You're a man! Don't you dare turn your back on me!" I threatened him angrily as he turned away from me.

He walked towards his table.

"You're inside my company and should follow the rules."

What rules is this man talking about?

"This may not be my bar, but your employees still look like prostitutes!" I fought back.

His employees have such exotic faces. I saw one of them with tattoos covering their entire body.

He shook his head.

"I didn't expect that you have a sharp tongue. Grandpa is right, and you're a spoiled brat. I heard a lot about you when I was in the States. And, I guess the rumors about you were true."

"I don't care about what you said. Take me home to the mansion now," I commanded him.

I wanted to go home.

That damn driver of my grandpa left as soon as he dropped me off here.

"You came here alone, so probably you can go home alone."

Such a gentleman.

Is this the kind of man my grandpa wants me to marry?! He doesn't even care. We're not even married yet, but his attitude towards me is just awful.

"Take me home because the driver left me! I don't have a car!" I said loudly.

I sat down on the sofa while he was busy on his laptop.

"Later," he said without looking up from his laptop.

"Now!" I insisted.

"If you don't take me now, I'll make a scene in front of your employees!" I threatened.

"I have a meeting," he replied shortly.

So, he'll make me wait?

"Nikolai, if you don't take me now, I will really report you for mistreating me!" I threatened him.

"After my meeting, I'll send you home," he said calmly.

"Now!" I repeated.

Is his meeting more important than me?

I fumed, but he ignored me.

Between the two of us, I was the one with no control.

He takes forever to have a meeting. No one has the guts to make me wait.

I'm the one waiting!

"You borrowed money from grandpa?" he suddenly asked.

"How did you know?" I raised an eyebrow. I haven't even had the chance to do my eyebrows because the police suddenly arrested me earlier, and I just woke up.

"He told me earlier. Grandpa called and planned to give you 25% shares if you agree to marry me. The other 25% will be mine," he explained.

25% is a big share. I wonder how many bags I can buy with that?

If I have shares, I'll have a stake in the company. I smiled secretly.

"If you behave yourself, I'll give you my 25% share. And regarding the money you borrowed from grandpa, you wouldn't need to pay it once we have a son," he said, his eyes widening.

My eyes widened at his words.

If I manage to get his share too, can I kick him out? Hihi. Smart move, Azaria.

"Why didn't he tell me that earlier?!" I yelled at him.

"And a child?! Idiot! I have no plans of having a child with you! And besides, I'll make sure you're the one who will ask for a divorce!"

I'll make it difficult for him.

He ignored what I said.

"He called and told me about these. I don't know why he didn't tell you. Grandpa wants us to get married in two days," he explained.

My eyes widened even more at his words.

Why is everything happening so fast!?

"Damn it! I don't want this!" I reacted.

"I owe him, and I'm doing him a favor."

I locked eyes with him as our gazes met.

"I don't care about your reasons," I snapped at him.

"Grandpa paid off the money you borrowed from Mrs. Cruz and Ms. Farrah," he added.

I swallowed, and my face turned sour.

"Why are they telling him all these things? They should also tell me since I'm the one with the debt."

I left him in his office and encountered a woman entering his office.

Everyone I passed by was staring at me.

I roamed around the building, and when I got bored and tired, I decided to grab something to eat and have coffee.

I was already at the exit when I remembered that I didn't have any money. I got tired from wandering around the entire building.

There was free coffee inside, but I didn't want that. I wanted to buy and stay at a coffee shop, take a picture of myself, and upload it on Instagram. So that people would envy me again.

They deserve to be envious of me because they don't have much money.

I chuckled at my thoughts.

I should work to earn money, not be a burden to my family!

And when I have a child, I'll just pass the responsibility to my parents. The child will enjoy while the parents exhaust themselves working. Just another burden to support.

I passed by some employees who were gossiping. I stopped to listen to their conversation.