Chapter 32
Melina was exasperated. It wasn’t fair that Andrew threatened to file a complaint just because she refused to eat with him.
She had assumed he called her over for something important, but it turned out he was just messing with her.
Andrew might be free, but she wasn’t. These past few days, she had been busy looking for new jobs.
Frustrated, Melina sat down with a huff and started eating, burying her head in her food. After a while, she forgot why she was even upset. The food was very good.
Andrew smirked. Somehow, her healthy appetite made the food taste. better to him, too.
By the time Melina walked out of the house, she was stuffed. She glanced back at the building with mixed feelings. She wondered if Andrew merely invited her over for a meal. His sudden change in behavior made her feel uneasy.
But after returning home, Melina pushed her thoughts about Andrew aside and focused on her job hunt. Yet, to her surprise, after several days of searching, no one was willing to hire her. She was asking for low wages and willing to do any kind of work, but still, nothing.
Melina started to feel discouraged by how difficult it was to find work. in the city.
Meanwhile, Linda sat weakly at the Felix family’s house, taking her medicine.
Across from her was a man in a floral shirt. If Melina had been there, she would’ve recognized him as the guy from the party who tried to
Closer 32
throw a drink at her.
“Linda, as long as I’m around, that maid won’t be able to find work. anywhere in Cyntia,” the man, Louis, said.
“Louis, isn’t this a bit much? If Andrew finds out, he’ll definitely blame me,” Linda responded.
“There’s nothing wrong with it. It was my idea, not yours. And besides, I heard that maid’s working at a fish market, dealing with stinky, gross fish. She’s already moved out of Oakread and into some old, rundown apartment. So pathetic! There’s no need for you to worry about someone like that,” Louis reassured her.
“But… Andrew seems to have a special interest in her,” Linda said, her tone filled with sadness, looking fragile and delicate.
Louis, concerned, tried to comfort her. “Don’t overthink it, Linda. No man would choose some worthless rock over a precious gem. Everyone knows that Andrew only has eyes for you.”
A soft smile spread across Linda’s face, and Louis felt a strong urge to protect that smile. As for that maid, he figured that with a little. scare, she’d be out of their lives for good.
Melina had no idea that someone was deliberately sabotaging her job search. Her limited experience with wealthy society made it hard for her to even imagine people wielding that kind of power.
That day, after delivering some fish, Melina was on her way home when a group of people confronted her.
She had a good memory and recognized them immediately–they were some guests from the first time she went to Andrew’s house. Leading the group was the same man in the floral shirt who had tried to throw a drink at her and had kicked over her bucket.
Today, he wore another brightly patterned shirt and matching floral pants.
Melina glanced around, checking to see if anyone was nearby or if she could fight them off.
Louis, however, had toned down his arrogant demeanor this time.
He asked with a wide smile, “Melina, right? We had a little misunderstanding at the party before. We’re here today to invite you out for some fun.”
“Huh?” Melina blinked in confusion at their suggestion.
She clearly remembered how he had treated her last time, so she didn’t believe him for a second. Simple–minded as she might be, sometimes people just had an instinctive sense of danger.
Melina shook her head and refused, “No, I’m busy.”
