Chapter 3

“Shut the fuck up and open the darn car before I lose it.” He said angrily and a feeling of gut anger filled me up so much that I threw caution to the wind and stood firmly, facing him eyeball to eyeball.

“You think coming to harass me is good enough? Do you think I’m someone you can just push around? Damn it. I’m not a 12-year-old girl you can threaten with what, a small knife.” I said, wondering when to stop, but then the anger at the memory of my father trying to make me his puppet and this stranger pushing and ordering me around made me so furious that my chest heaved so hard and I started to cry. Tears flowed from my eyes in torrents and this stranger looked at me like I had gone crazy. He looked around knowing that my outbursts may bring someone to the alley to come to rescue me, and his face softened.

“I’m sorry for threatening to kill you. I just hate uncooperative people.” He said and I didn’t know when I fell into his body. I sobbed heavily, my pain concerning my father’s nonchalant attitude towards me filling my heart, and I wanted to do was pour it out and this stranger looked like the best option. I sobbed heavily continuously and grabbed his clothes. His body was rigid, probably because was assaulting was using him as a cry shield, but I didn’t give a hoot about it at this moment.

“How did I get myself into this shitty situation. This is a big mess.” He mumbled to himself and I heard him. That statement made me feel even worse. My father thought I was an unworthy child, and this stranger thinks I’m a mess. I took two steps backward and cleaned the tears from my eyes.

“Okay, go ahead. Take everything that I have. You too think I’m a mess, and my father calls me unworthy because I am a woman. Humans are all the same everywhere.”I said and opened the car for him. Without looking at his face twice I walked away, not caring where I was. I was tired of being looked down on by men, and even humans in general, and all I want is to end it all.

I walked aimlessly and all my head was filled with the negative statements I had heard from my father and other people.”Ho, can a woman lead an empire?” “Go and get married, you do not have what it takes to lead my company.” “You are useless. You do everything wrong.” “I wish I had a son instead of one useless female.” “What does she take herself for? A man?” “Why not get married and rear children? And leave the men to do business.” “How did I get myself into this mess?”

These words swam in my head and my tears blinded my eyesight. My heart clutched in pain and my heart hurt so much. Why can’t I be treasured for who I am? I thought and cleaned my teas. I realized that I was standing at the shores of a sea. Should I just die? Won’t I be ridding the world of a human who is less competent, useless, and not worthy of everything? I closed my eyes and walked into the water. I could hear a peaceful voice call me. I closed my eyes allowing the water to carry me away. Then slowly the water filled my ears, my eyes, my mouth, and my Nose. Peace, wonderful peace. I’m safe…….

THIRD-PERSON POV.

Hendricks followed her slowly and quietly at the back wondering where she was going. At first, he had been happy to have gotten a rich young lady who had lost her way to his turf. But remembering her cry outbursts, he decided to see for himself what the mysterious thing about this lady was.

He noticed that where she was headed was the community seaside, and he didn’t like the feeling he was getting. He noticed her bend over and clutch her heart, and it took all his willpower to not go help her. He decided to stay back and watch her. He looked in alarm as she walked into the sea and saw her body move with the water.

She started to sink, and Hendricks couldn’t control himself any longer. He ran into the water, dived, and managed to get her out of the water before it could do her any more damage. He lifted her out of the water and put her on the bank of the river, then started to press her chest, in a bid to remove the excess water that might have entered her body. She coughed out lots of water, and then opened her eyes slowly and noticed him hovering over her.

“Thank goodness you’re awake.” He said and she sat up and looked at his face. “I’m sorry I said that to you. Here take my hand. I’ll drive you home.” He said and gave her his hand. Jane took his hand and stood up and nodded slowly. He led her to where the car was, sat her inside it, and ignited the engine. He made a U-turn and then drove out of the alley into the main road. He looked at her face, and even though she was awake, she didn’t look like her mind was in the present. He looked at her and wondered what could have pushed her into trying to take her own life. I always believed that the rich had no problems. But here Is a rich heiress trying to take her own life. He wondered.

“Um, Lady.” He said and Jane turned to look at him.

“Jane, my name’s Jane.” She said slowly.”Okay, Jane. Can I have your house address?” He asked and she gave it to him. Within five minutes, he had arrived at her gate and he killed the engine.

“We have arrived.” He said and she looked at the gate and nodded. Jane’s eyes darted to the cardboard and checked the time. It was nine pm already. She looked at the stranger that tried to mug her but still went ahead to save her life.

“Thank you for saving me. What’s your name? So that I’ll know how to repay the favor or who to repay the favor to.” She said and he hesitated, wondering if it would be the best thing to do.

JANE’S POV.

“Hendricks. That’s my name.” He said and I nodded.

“And no matter what it is that is making you have a nervous breakdown, I hope you conquer it. I’m sorry for saying that to you.” He said, opened the car door, pulled a nose mask, and then came down from the car, and walked away. I went to the driver’s seat, and then honked, signaling the gatekeeper to open up the gates for me. The gates opened and I drove to the garage and parked my car. I walked into my living room and was met with the glares of my father and the look on two other people’s faces.

“Where have you been?” My father thundered, but I didn’t even flinch. I looked at him in anger and then I heard a very familiar voice. “Hi, Jane.” I looked and noticed that on the chair, between the two people who were there, sat the very reason I was refusing to get married.