(PART I: HOLD ME) Chapter One

PART I: TOUCH ME

"Get out of my sight you slut and never show your face in front of my husband or me, do you understand?!" her boss or ex-boss now it seems, shouted at her for the whole building to hear.

You see she was just doing her job quietly as usual, when Richard---her boss 's wife Teresa suddenly snatched her hair and slapped her. She humiliated her in front of her peers and spoke harsh words and called her names even Google will have a hard time to find.

Who would've thought that she'll be mistaken as a mistress? To a family man who's twice her age at that?

Yes, she needed the money to treat her only Sister Rica, but she wouldn't go as low as to break a family.

"I never did what you're blaming me with. God knows that." she stood up from the ground and started picking up the things she has thrown away.

"'Do not even mention God, you filthy slut!" By now, passers are staring at them but Coreen didn't care at the moment.

When she's done, she faced the wife who overused botox and even Barbie will be ashamed by how much plastic she probably has in her body. No matter how desperate she is over her job, she will not go down her knees and beg someone who blames her while her coward excuse of a boss is just standing and watching like he's watching a movie.

She stood in her face with her head held high. "If you don't believe me then I can't do anything about it. Let me just give an advice as a fellow woman. You got the wrong person and the person you're looking for which is by the way, who likes a fat man with little hair and stinky breath is just around the corner." she motioned at the building and made an act of pointing at someone which is Brenda---the real mistress of her ex-boss.

"But you know what, I can't really blame him. Your mouth can replace a shotgun. If I were you I would fix a marriage that's already on the verge of collapsing. " Coreen shrugged her shoulders and left the wife with her mouth agape.

Coreen smirked at Richard and waved her middle finger at him before walking away with her box. When she's far enough though, her shoulders slumped in defeat. She has no job now. And as if it's that easy to look for a job that quick. Where is she going to get Rica's medical expenses at?

Coreen's sister was only eight years old when she was diagnosed with leukemia. Her parents were killed in a fire inside their home while they were at the playground. She was the only one her sister has now. She swore to her parents' grave that she would never leave her sister until she died.

She remembers how her world collapsed when she learned of her sister's illness. She then spoke to God and asked him why she had not been given the disease instead. Her sister was too young to go through that kind of pain.

She sighed and stared at nothing in particular. She needs to find a job with the same salary or higher, hopefully. Her attention was aroused by the two women talking from where she's sitting. She turned to them before looking back at the road and staring at the passing cars.

"Maybe we can talk about it, Myla."

"I really don't like it, Ma'am. I can't even work for Sir anymore. I feel like I'm going to die of anger." she heard a woman say aloud while crying.

"I'll raise your pay, Myla. Three hundred dollars a day, is that okay? Please, don't quit."

She softly gasps at the amount she heard. 300 dollars a day? What kind of job is that? An artist? A model?

"I'm sorry, Ma'am. I've made my decision. It's been two weeks of hell. Thank you for everything."

She saw the woman walk past her and stared at her retreating back before looking back at the older woman with her head hung low. The woman looks so stressed.

"She was the one who lasted the most. I don't know where else to look," she says mostly to herself but Coreen heard it anyway.

Coreen bit her lips as she wondered if she would approach the woman. But she needed a job and based on what she heard she was willing to pay big! But what if it's illegal?

That's it! She shouted to herself before standing up and approaching the woman defeated woman. She cannot cure her sister with cowardice.

"Uhm, excuse me?" she grabbed the lady's attention.

She raised her head and Coreen saw a tired look on her face. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to overhear your conversation earlier. Are you perhaps looking for a replacement for her?" she asked straightforwardly.

The lady's face brightened and suddenly held her hands, surprising her.

"Yes, that's right! Are you interested, Miss?" she asked eagerly.

"Uhm, what's the job?"

"Housekeeper! A helper for my nephew. He's a little bit of a headache that no one stays longer than a month." she said in defeat.

From being a secretary she would be a maid? But what about it? Her conscience answered. She's well-paid and Coreen is confident that she can do it. Surely there is no one worse than her Uncle and his family?

"Yes, I'm willing," she answered with little hesitation.

Being a maid isn't illegal anyway, Coreen convinced herself. Hopefully, the boss is not a murderer or any of that sort. No matter how much the salary is, she'll not do those things.

The lady hugged her and patter her back enthusiastically.

"Thank you! You're an angel, Miss .."

"Coreen Moretz."

"Coreen! I'm Liza. Can you start immediately like tomorrow?" Liza asked rather eagerly.

Wow, that's fast. But well, the faster she has a job, the better. "Yes."

"Okay. Glad to hear that. Glad I always carry around a contract just in case, you know. Come on, Coreen, let's go inside." Liza held her hand and pulled her inside the coffee shop. She wasn't uncomfortable with it because she finds the lady bubbly and kind, just like her Auntie.

They sat at a nearby table and Liza did not waste any time and placed a contract in front of her with a pen.

"You don't know how many contracts I have printed. Myla? The lady earlier lasted the longest as almost a month. She's the tenth housekeeper this year." Liza informed her with a shake of her head.

Her eyes immediately looked for the expiration and were glad when she found none. Coreen is confident that she can put up with Liza's nephew so the longer she can work, she will. Her job is to clean, cook and extend her patience in all caps. She almost laughed at that. Just how bad her Nephew is? Is he a kid still? Her salary without tax is changed to 300 dollars a day as Liza mentioned earlier. She could buy her sister's medicine and still save a large sum for her surgery. With her former salary of a hundred and thirty-six per day, she could barely afford all her expenses including her sister's medicines so she could only save so little. Close to nothing.

"I'm not going to blame you for giving up right away but please oh please extend your patience, Coreen. My nephew, he was nice when he was a kid but when his mom died because his daddy left them he changed drastically. That child only needs care and love and hopefully, you will stay longer. "

She replied with a smile because she didn't want to be confident and said she would last. What if his Nephew is a monster?

She returned the attention to the contract and frowned slightly while reading the rules. NEVER GET TOO CLOSE TO HIM. NEVER TOUCH HIM. It's all caps. Angry letters. Emphasized.

"What does this mean?" she asked referring to the said rules.

Liza smiled sadly at her. "Royce hates human contact."

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