"I didn't steal the money, Dad! I'm not the one who signed up the contract!" said Carolina, going into her knees. Her agitated father looked at her furiously, and snorted. He sighed heavily his lips trembling. "You didn't sign it? I told you if you need any money, you can get it from my personal account, and not from my business account. Do you know how much money I have lost? My company is now bankrupt!" yelled her father. She couldn't believe the pain that her father had to go through for her. "Dad, I'm sorry I didn't mean to hurt you. Trust me, I'm not a thief!" she said, busting into tears. "You have made my life miserable! Go away from here and please, never come back!" he added, almost slapping her.
Chapter 1 The party
~~***PROLOGUE***~~
"Dad, I didn't steal the cash! I didn't sign the contract either!" Carolina said, falling to his knees. Her irate father snorted as he glared at her angrily. He let out a loud moan, his lips quivering.
"You didn't sign it? I told you that you could get money from my account rather than my corporate account if you needed it. Do you have any idea how much money I lost? My business is now bankrupt!" her father shouted. She was shocked by the suffering her father had to endure on her behalf.
"I apologize for hurting you, Dad; I didn't mean to hurt you after doing everything to me, I'm not a thief, believe me!" she exclaimed, breaking down in tears.
"You've made my life a living hell!" He continued, almost smacking her, "Leave now and never return!" she cried bitterly and angrily. It was the only opportunity she would ever have to spend time with her father, but if she made one dumb error, she would lose everything.
"Dad, please... Why should I subject you to that? Do you believe I could use any of your funds, Dad? Daddy, all I need is your love," she wiped the tears from her red, swollen eyes and exclaimed, "I don't need any money!" Her fear was evident on his lifeless face. She had no other option except to leave the room right away since she couldn't prove her innocence.
She gave him the gold watch and the iPhone that he had gifted her at the homecoming party before leaving. While shaking, Mr. Marcus filled his glass with wine and began to sip away his fears.
Carolina couldn't believe she was leaving the house in such a humiliating manner after having entered it so joyfully. The largest party ever held in Chicago was planned for her by her father. Nothing upset her as much as witnessing her father's suffering. She heard a low mutter before she even opened the door.
"I instructed you to deposit the cash into my account prudently without raising any red flags, right? What have you done to me? I needed the entire amount deposited into my account, how could you have forgotten, Mark? Have you forgotten that I searched for this girl for years solely for this transaction? I'll have no choice but to chop your head if you make even one error that suggests my wickedness!" she yelled. Carolina halted her sobs and paid close attention. She bit her finger, trembling.
"Indeed, ma'am. Everything I did followed your plan. Is it ethical to abuse this little girl, though? If she gets sent to jail for a crime she didn't commit, further, will, it affect her life?" said someone who she recognized automatically.
His voice caught her off guard. She occasionally checked her hand to be sure she wasn't dreaming.
"You want to lead the company, right? Then you are free from having any concern for her. It doesn't matter if she is murdered or sentenced to life in jail. Is that clear? All I care about is the money!" she growled. Hearing how anxious she was, his tone suddenly shifted.
"Yes, ma'am. I will do anything that you want," He said, his voice trembling.
"Go and make me proud as I plan how to persuade my husband to appoint you as the company's CEO. And again, don't mess up with my life!" she commanded.
The sound of her shoes exiting the room was audible to Carolina. Mark prepared himself, took a glance in the mirror, and then left. He saw her standing by the apartment building's front door.
"Carolina, what's the matter with you?" he took her hand and questioned, "What happened, darling?" She turned to look at him with rage. She had never felt like slapping him hard since they first met. Despite feeling weak, she clenched her fingers into a fist, prepared to smash his dental formula. She was incapable of harming the only person she had ever loved in the entire universe. But how could he violate her feelings in exchange for a job promotion?
Three months earlier...
Chapter 1. The Party
~~***~~***~~
She sat there uncertain of what to do. She had never driven a Mercedes-Benz before. Never in her life had she envisaged herself driving such a lavish vehicle. She was unable to believe it. She sat in her father's luxurious car after spending more than seventeen years in the streets, fighting for survival. Mark, who was seated next to her, occasionally caught her eye and then turned to look to the side. Her mouth wouldn't stay closed.
"Oh, my goodness! Do you mean my father owns this car? And you people work for him? Oh, no, is my father a wealthy man?" she inquired as she gazed out the window at his father's productive fields.
He owned a sizable ranch with numerous cows and laborers. Mark spoke a lot less. He caught her eye as she grinned at him, but pretended that her comments had no effect.
"Why don't you communicate with me? Am I smelling unclean?" she inquired, a little perplexed, "I'm talking to you in a black suit," Mark murmured and nodded softly She couldn't comprehend what he said. After having a glance outside the vehicle, she turned back to face Mark.
"I'm I hurting? When I'm filthy and ill-dressed, how am I supposed to approach my billionaire father? Pooh, seeing her crazy daughter will astonish my papa. That's irrelevant right now, though. As I prepare to face him, I'm growing worried. I want to urinate since my stomach feels gassy. Do you have restrooms near his residence? I feel like I need to urinate a lot to calm my nervousness. Isn't that the approach that psychologists advise is best?" she asked, smiling at him.
Mark laughed as he gave her a grin. He had just met the world's funniest woman for the first time in his life. She spoke without stopping and with the craziness of a mad woman. Even if it wasn't required, she said anything that came to her mind. The car made a turn and drove through the gigantic gates of the Marcus condominiums.
"Oh, no. Do you mean this is my father's home? I hear some speakers making noise; is there a disco going on? You people, what's wrong with you? You're watching me like a cartoon but saying nothing. Am I so dull?" she chuckled loudly. On rare occasions, she would lean against his chest and touch his intimate parts. Mark found her actions amusing. There was nothing he could do rather than comply with Mr. Marcus' demands of dropping her home.
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