"What did you mean by failing my interview?" Lisa frowned at her best friend in confusion.
Sofia sighed. "All the documents and interviews were professional. I don't know why they rejected you."
Lisa sighed and ruffled her hair. "Don't think too much, bebes. Maybe they don't even need a secretary."
"But I need this money! How am I supposed to feed myself?!"
"You won't stay at home, I promise. And guess what?" Sofia smiled.
Lisa rolled her eyes. "Not interested. Today is already a bad day..."
"The Donovans accepted your request to teach their only son extra lessons!" Sofia giggled as she brought out a file.
Lisa looked at her in disbelief. "This isn't a prank, right?"
Sofia rolled her eyes. "What kind of prank will make me print these expensive files, huh?"
Sofia went through the files and suddenly screamed happily. "Yes!! Yes!!" She had been eyeing this contract ever since she came to this country. Being new and broke, getting a job as a homeroom teacher for the most powerful family in business and politics was a big deal. She applied, but she didn't think much about the result.
Their salary was 30% higher than a company secretary's. Even the company she wanted to apply for didn't pay that much.
"You were chosen out of two hundred people, congratulations!"
Lisa was stunned. "Two hundred people? What's so special about the boy?" she frowned.
"Eh? You mean Ezekiel?" Sofia chuckled. "I won't be surprised if you don't last up to a week. But you'll still get paid even if you fail to tame him. The Donovan family is special, that's why so many teachers want the job."
"You said I won't last a week? Why?"
"You're new here, that's why. He's just Twenty but has the temper of a twenty-five-year-old man."
"Are you serious?" Lisa gasped. Sofia nodded. Lisa was glad she met Sofia when she first came here, or else who would be giving her updates?
"I'm telling you," Sofia said, "he used to skip classes in school, and he's the only heir to their company. That's why they want someone to teach him business properly."
"But don't you think he's too young for that? At his age, I was eating, sleeping, and playing around," Lisa muttered.
Sofia shrugged. "You can't say that. Things are different for rich people. He even has a younger sister, Greatness. She's just fifteen and already studying abroad. She's collected six awards at her age! So tell me, how many awards did you have?"
Lisa blinked. "One."
Sofia burst into laughter. "One award at twenty-seven?!"
"Hey, don't mock me! At least I have peace of mind and I can do whatever I want. That's the best award ever!"
"Well, just be patient with Ezekiel. Don't go there acting like his elder sister."
Lisa pointed at herself. "So am I not old enough to be his elder sister? Is a seven-year gap a joke to you?"
"Ah, relax. That's not what I mean. I'm saying don't act bossy because you're older. He's very arrogant and rude, I'm telling you."
"So how do you want me to act?" she crossed her arms.
"Like a friend. I've seen him once, and I can tell he needs a therapist."
"Hahaha!"
Sofia sighed. "It's not funny. He's unserious too. Maybe he's just lonely."
"If he's lonely, why the fvck does he keep chasing teachers away? Shouldn't he be happy his parents are hiring people to help him?"
Sofia ignored her and pushed a file forward. "These are the rules you must follow. You'll start on Monday."
"That's just a day after tomorrow, too fast," Lisa sighed, scanning the rules. "No short skirt? No revealing clothes? Is he a bad boy or what?"
"I think those rules are fine for the 20–22-year-olds female teachers. You're not exactly in that category since you are older, but still follow them to avoid problems."
"I'll wear my suit. I just want to teach him for six months to save up money. I'm not even interested in this job."
She looked around and smiled faintly. "I should thank you, Sofia. You let me stay in your house even when you barely knew me. Thank you so much. Don't worry, I'll pay you back."
Sofia stood up. "After your poem, go wash the dishes."
Lisa rolled her eyes. "I won't spare you when I finally make it!"
"Stop daydreaming about using the Donovans' money, baby girl. You might not even last a day before he fires you."
"Then I'll surprise you!" Lisa pointed at her.
"Ah, that would be better. There's a big prize for anyone who lasts a month," Sofia chuckled and walked out.
Lisa stared at the file in a daze. "Why would he be that scary?" she mumbled, grabbing a pen. "I need to make these six months work. I need that money to stand on my own."
It's not like she had much teaching experience, but she graduated from a top university as a first-class student. Teaching a high school boy shouldn't be a problem, especially in business studies.
After signing everything, she sighed in relief. Being chosen out of two hundred people was one success, but keeping the job was another battle.
Her phone suddenly rang. She checked the caller ID, and her eyes turned cold. After hesitating, she picked it up. "What do you want?"
"What kind of question is that, Lisa? Am I not your boyfriend?"
Lisa's face darkened. She couldn't believe this shameless man still called himself her boyfriend after what he did. "Be careful, Desmond. Don't ever call this line again. We're done."
"Wait, what did I even do? I don't understand you…"
"Don't think I don't know you're dating my step-sister behind my back! You should've just said you don't love me. I hate lies!" she snapped, her voice trembling with anger.
"What?" Desmond laughed. "You're very smart, Lisa. I only pitied you because men keep dumping you. After all, you stand on sex after marriage. You're always looking for marriage! This is a new era, no one cares about those old traditions anymore. Clara, your younger sister, knows how to please a man. Unlike you old, broke bitch..."
Lisa hung up immediately and clenched her fists. "Jerk!"
Before her mother died, she once told her that the most important thing in a relationship isn't sex or even love, it's happiness.
Once a couple is happy, they can overcome anything together. Love alone isn't enough. If one person isn't happy, because of something… for instance the in-laws, cheating, or family pressure, then even love won't save them.
But hearing her ex call her an "old bitch" broke her heart. Desmond was only her second boyfriend. She had always kept herself for her future husband, but men nowadays only wanted fun before dumping the woman.
"Okay, okay, stop crying," she told herself quietly. "You've got a golden job to start on Monday, and today is just Saturday."
She wiped her tears, but it still hurt.