PROLOGUE

I yank my hair out of frustration. "Miss Lou, what is this? This is the only thing I asked you to do, and you couldn't even do it properly!?" I shout, raising the papers I asked my secretary to work on.

"S-Sir, I'm sorry. I'll redo the report," she stammers, her hands trembling, knowing that getting fired from her job is a real possibility right now.

"You will never do this again."

She raises her head, surprised by my statement. "Sir?"

"You will never, ever do this again because you were fired!"

Her lips part in shock. She feels a wave of disappointment wash over her.

"B-But Sir-"

I don't even give her a chance to speak. "Do you understand what I'm saying? I said you were fired! Get out!"

Overwhelmed, she takes a deep breath and bursts into tears as she walks out of the office.

I sit back in my chair, tossing the papers into the trash. I grab my phone and start dialing numbers.

"Manager Lee, please hire a new secretary," I say, hanging up the phone.

I stand up and storm out of my office, seething with anger. Everyone I pass in the building bows their head in respect.

I don't even bother walking until I'm outside the building. As soon as I reach the parking lot, I get into my Porsche and drive away, filled with fury.

Suddenly, I slam on the brakes as a woman runs across the middle of the road. "Fuck! Are you going to commit suicide?!" I shout as my car comes to a halt.

She pounds on my car window, and I quickly roll it down.

"Miss, if you have plans to end your life, don't involve others!" I scold her.

"S-Sir, please, dalhin niyo po ako sa hopital," she pleads, tears streaming down her face. It's only then that I notice her crying.

"W-What?"

Her sobbing intensifies. "Sir, p-pakiusap, kailangan po ako ng lola ko," she manages to say between her sobs.

I tighten my grip on the steering wheel as our eyes meet. There's a strange impact that moment has on me, but I can't quite explain it.

"Get in," I say, opening the passenger door. She swiftly moves towards the seat and enters the car.

Without hesitation, I start driving as soon as she's inside.

"Thank you so much, sir," she says, her voice filled with gratitude and sadness.

"Which hospital?" I ask, my gaze shifting to her trembling hand as she grips her phone. "Calm down, nothing bad will happen to your grandma," I reassure her.

As she provides the address, I speed towards the mentioned hospital.

When we arrive, she quickly gets out of the car. "Sir, salamat po talaga."

"It's alright, go to your grandma now."

Before she completely entered the hospital, our gazes met once again. A peculiar feeling lingers within me as I take another turn of the wheel and drive away from the hospital.