Chapter 4

Miranda stands in front of the headquarters of Scott Corporation Group, looking up at the huge empire-building that consists of 56 floors. Her eyes thrill the building, she has been friends with Emily and knows everything about Scott's generation through her but never in her life did she expect that the Scotts have grown this far globally.

After tidying herself for the second time today, she pushed the revolving door.

"Hello, I'm looking for Mr Austin" Marinda softly smile.

The receptionist lady turns to Marinda looking at the woman's appearance shortly her gaze changed to glaring in aversion and she utters "Miss do you have an appointment with the CEO?"

Marinda replies with a simply "Sorry, no"

"Then kindly walkout."

The receptionist lady said sounding pissed, Marinda only studies the lady, she doesn't understand why the lady was rude all of the sudden.

She exasperates, her hands rummaging inside her bag finding something then her gaze returns to the lady, coldly she enunciates putting Austin's name card on the table.

"Tell your boss, Marinda Sean is here."

The receptionist's stiff she was taken aback by the lady who was calm just a few seconds change like a flip of paper with a sudden cold ambience.

"S-Sure j-just a second" The receptionist stuttered.

Within a minute the lady hangs up the cellphone her grin brimming "Sorry for my manners miss Sean, the boss's assistant will be here soon."

Marinda rolls her eyes, bringing back her attention to her phone. There is nothing she hated more than people who look down on others.

"Sorry for the wait miss Sean"

A man in a black suit stampede toward Marinda, his face shows how brilliant and professional his appearance is.

"Please come with me!"

That being said the man turns around leading Marinda, the receptionist pondering in disbelief since her years of working here this is the first time her boss's assistant escorted a lady to meet the boss.

Then, thinking again the lady's surname was... 'Sean' the receptionist astonish remembering Marinda's surname.

With the assistant help, Marinda reaches the first floor which was the CEO's office, upon reaching the office the assistant stop telling her to open the door by herself.

"Yes, it's all done tell him that."

Marinda's hand paused at the doorknob hearing Austin's cold voice cold and distant, resembleing a "frozen snowman" not thinking too much she knocks.

"Come in"

She walks in, her sight falls on Austin who stood not far from the glass wall, under the glittering light Austin's attractive complexion was adorned perfectly.

His eye still focus on the phone, Austin exasperatedly inquiries but if a person heard him quite well his voice could be found in apprehension.

"Where is she?"

Marinda replied optimistically.

"Right here."

Austin turns his head over, those dark eyes of his nitrate then returned to his usual smiley eyes.

"Ahh, miss Miranda kept her promise as expected!"

Austin swirled to his chair, maintaining a friendly atmosphere, and looks close-up at her.

"Mr CEO should we get to business... well you should be happy I always keep my word even with someone queer."

Sitting on the other side of the desk, she inspect the man's eyes which were dejected with slight mockery.

Uninterested in the conversation Austin raised his hand and directly put the agreement paper in front of her "Please sign it."

Marinda probed every single sentence written on the agreement, the calm pressure in the office sudden change dramatically to frigid.

After a moment of dead-lock, Marinda eventually scoffs, lean back on the chair and let out "You want to use me to repay your debt, not only that but I should work under you for five years of my life to pay your debt... Austin Scott, are you looking down on me?!"

Marinda arrogantly stare at Austin's side and bitterly laughed to herself.

She couldn't imagine, what was she thinking when coming here?

Was she, Marinda Sean now easy to oppress out of unreasonable purpose...

"I'm not trying to tie you to your life miss Sean"

"My company is about to be bankrupt this contract is the only way for both you and me to survive through these five years together."

"...To survive five years paying your debt..."

Marinda stood and rebuked "Do you think a designer like me will be would oppress by someone else's mistake, why in my right mind would I sign a lifetime contract for five years."

Yes, Marinda Sean is no other than a designer of the top International designer family of Seans, Sean's generation was always unbiased in their reactiveness and talents in the design world.

No one has dared to look down on them yet for the first time in many years, the once upon new generation heir of Sean's is looked down on and to survive by being tied to another person's arrears.

"I won't ratify!"

She turned to leave just that instant she was about to open the door, Austin's voice clouded her brain.

"With those manners of yours, just how far are you going to deny you're a nobody now!."

Veering around, glares at him with hot, cold and disdainful eyes, retorting "You know nothing about me."

"Yet, I get your situation." Austin confidently speaks.

"Miranda everyone present there knows what happen that day also knows your ties has been broken, you've no identity, no family, no support and no means to survive... what good are you to the world."

A mocking smile ascends onto his handsome feature, "Shouldn't you be happy to consider surviving even if it means selling five years of your freedom to the company"

"Little Miss!"

Austin drags the name sounding sweet to his lips with a cunning smile "The debtors are willing to give me a limited time to pay as long as I found someone who's professional in the world of global designers."

"And a woman who was dragged to the mud is my best option."

Pushing the contract in front, he said "Consider this an owning repayment, I help you survive for the expenses of your life for five years and you help my company back to its former root!"

Marinda, filled with sense of desperation and bitterness, walks over to the contract. Each step she takes is marked by the collision of pain and the weight of her predicament.

But today she's paying her debt in a way she never considers will happen in her lifetime, and with gritted teeth, she hesitantly signs.

"You don't hate me right?"

Austin mumbled, Marinda glared back at him with a pitiful smile "You're more pitiful to me."

"Eh? little miss is hurtful", his hand tapped on the cellphone.

"Sir!"

"Come over"

Austin's assistant hurried in, "Yes, Sir!"

"...Take her to the director's office"

"...What?" The assistant body was rigidly shocked by his boss's command as he glance at Marinda.

The director's office which was shut for a while now will finally be open, yet to no one but this lady whose, appearance and outfit were ordinary.

Was she even worth the position?

With that question in his heart, he leads they way. After walking out Austin swivels his chair facing the glass window he place his fragile hand to cover his face a cold smile gradually profile on his thin lips.

He picks up the phone within a few minutes the other side pick up.

"What is it?"

A deep voice sounded on the other side impatiently.

"The woman is with me."