4. The Script

‘Damn it, how could this simp man refuse my request?’ 

‘What's wrong with him?’

‘Did he wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning that his attitude is so different?’

‘Ugh, as repulsed I am by that man, if I were to lose him, it would be disastrous.’

‘I have no other source of funds besides him,’ Amber concluded in disbelief, attempting to pull Glenn back into her charm. 

"Are you having problems? You seem so different," she whispered, not wanting other students to hear her submissive tone to Glenn. 

Seeing Amber's softened demeanour, Glenn smirked condescendingly.

'I just threatened you a moment ago, and now you're like a puppy with its tail tucked between its legs,' Glenn assessed. 

He had never felt so happy in his life before. If Amber had treated him like a doormat all this time, now he didn't want anyone to do the same to him.

 Amber's feigned sweetness wouldn't sway him. No one should trample on him again. 

‘Should I play around with her for now? I guess letting her off easily without a fight would be less satisfying for me. Let's embarrass her first,’ Glenn decided.

"What?! You want to sell your virginity to me as long as I buy the car you want?! My goodness, Amber, I didn't know you were so cheap," Glenn exclaimed, pretending to be surprised. 

Upon hearing that, Amber's eyes widened, and she immediately covered Glenn's mouth. She didn't expect Glenn to behave so outrageously; this man was throwing dirt on her face!

"What are you doing?!" she snapped, her eyes looking towards the other students who were now whispering and gossiping about her.

"Ah... this man was just joking," Amber chuckled to the students who were watching them. 

She tried to salvage the situation, but her efforts were not taken seriously by the others. They already knew Amber had been using Glenn all this time. Their looks were mocking and seemed to strip Amber apart.

Glenn smiled, satisfied at having embarrassed Amber. Meanwhile, Amber saw the man grinning mischievously. That's when Amber knew that the foolish man in front of her was intentionally playing her.

"You!" Amber shouted, about to hit Glenn. Glenn intentionally flinched as if scared. Amber's hand halted in the air.

"I-I'm sorry, Amber, I didn't mean to," Glenn pleaded, sounding apologetic.

Amber panicked; she didn't want people to have the wrong idea about her, as Glenn's behaviour seemed to imply that she was accustomed to being violent towards him. This man was absolutely unbearable!

"Aargh!!" Amber yelled angrily, then turned and left the campus grounds. Glenn smiled contentedly with his retaliation against Amber today.

‘This is just the beginning; the pain of your betrayal must be felt by you too. I'll make it hurt more than what you did to me,’ Glenn vowed.

***

At Amber's residence, her father called for her as he heard Amber enter through the front door. He was sitting on the sofa watching television, a mobile phone in hand, streaming the same program.

Amber frowned, seeing her father at home when he should be working at his small company. Her mother was also sitting on the other sofa, scrolling through social media displaying the socialites in their city and imagining herself among them. She smiled, feeling that her fantasy would soon come true if Amber married Glenn.

Amber sat on a small stool and looked at them, "Yes, Dad?" she asked.

John raised his head to look at his daughter, "You will fulfil the requirements from Glenn last night," he stated without asking Amber's opinion.

Amber stood up; today, she had been completely humiliated by that foolish man in front of the entire campus, and now Dad wanted her to marry that man? She would rather walk into a crocodile pit!

Especially as she had just received a message from Jason asking her to meet; the handsome and intelligent man she adored so much. Jason's message was the only thing that made her smile today.

She had planned to sneak out and meet him at his place after freshening up. Now, Dad was ruining her mood again with his unreasonable request.

"No way!" she refused firmly, crossing her arms to show her parents that she wouldn’t comply easily. 

"You don't have a choice," added her Dad coldly; he looked to his wife for support. Linda sighed, irritated as her social media event was disturbed.

"You can't resist; do as your Dad says," the woman added. 

Amber gaped at her parents. She was wondering what was actually happening and getting into both of her parents' minds.

‘Could it be that the foolish man begged Dad and Mom? Hmm, it must be; he seemed to realize that his actions earlier were unforgivable,’ Amber guessed confidently. 

But she was determined not to lower her pride and quickly accepted Glenn's apology.

"You're dreaming if you think I'm going to be humiliated by that man," Amber replied firmly, sticking to her original stance. 

John Steel sighed heavily, "Sit down and listen to my story," he requested, positioning the stool right in front of him. 

Amber complied and sat. 

"I'm bankrupt, no money left, and I've left a huge debt that I can bear. If you don't become a part of the Smith family, soon enough, we might end up on the streets," her Dad explained. 

Hearing that, Amber couldn't believe it. She looked at her Mom for confirmation, and her Mom shrugged, indicating that her husband's statement was true.

The thought of sleeping on the streets and begging for food made Amber shudder; she didn't want to end up like that!

"Isn't there any other way?" Amber pleaded with her parents.

Mr and Mrs Steel shook their heads firmly. 

"If you become a part of the Smith family, your life will be guaranteed, and you'll have a life you've only imagined, dear..." her Mom persuaded, cupping Amber’s face with her palm. 

"But I don't love him!" protested Amber, rejecting her Mom's attempt to embrace her.

Linda looked furious with her daughter's behaviour. 

"To hell with love! You're destined for a luxurious life, Amber!” Linda shouted. Amber looks at her mom in disapproval.

“What?! Don't even think about marrying that poor man whose parents work as cleaners in our family!" Linda scolded, accurately guessing Amber's thoughts.

Amber couldn't argue because what her mom had said was true. She still hoped that her parents would accept Jason. She was deeply in love with him! She was sure Jason could make her happy. 

"Don't be foolish, Amber. Do you want to work scrubbing toilets for the rich if you marry him?" John mocked. 

Amber's mouth opened, wanting to defend Jason, but she couldn't find the right words, as, at the moment, the man couldn't prove anything to her parents. 

Jason still lived with his parents in their cramped and dirty studio apartment. He worked part-time at the supermarket near their home. They met when they were kids when Jason often followed his Ma and Pa, who worked as cleaners and gardeners for Amber's family.

Lonely, Amber secretly watched the little boy helping his parents. Jason's broad smile and intelligence made Amber fall in love with him until they grew up. 

Her Mom and Dad never liked Amber being close to Jason, so they had to meet secretly to avoid being found out. They often met when Jason's parents were still working so they could be affectionate in that flat without restraint.

Amber, unable to respond to her parents' words and unwilling to comply with their request, turned around angrily, grabbed her bag, and left home, ignoring her parents' shouts asking her to return.

***

She drove the sedan her parents gifted on her 18th birthday and headed to Jason's house. 

The man grinned mischievously as he saw Amber’s car in the driveaway. But his smile faded upon seeing Amber's pouting expression when she entered. 

"What's wrong, baby?" he asked gently, cupping Amber's face with both hands. 

"Mom and Dad told me to marry that foolish Glenn!" she complained. 

Jason fell silent, offering no response. His demeanour surprised Amber; she thought Jason would defend her due to jealousy.

"What? Do you think I should follow their request?" Amber tested Jason. 

He released his grip on Amber and shrugged. Amber was in disbelief; she thought Jason would stand by her!

"What do you expect from me, Amber? I clearly can't meet your lifestyle," Jason explained casually, flopping onto the old, dirty-covered sofa and lighting his cigarette.

"B-but you can work!" Amber retorted.

"What work? What job can I get with only a high school diploma?" Jason pointed out, trying to make Amber face the harsh reality.

"I thought you loved me! I love you, Jason!" Amber cried out, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Jason sighed in irritation, hating it most when women cried.

"Stop it, Amber. Don’t be naïve. You can profit from your beauty," Jason goaded.

"What do you mean?"

 "Marry that foolish man, and I can still be your secret lover.”

Hearing Jason's words, Amber was about to snap, but Jason quickly explained his intention.

“After that, you can introduce me to him; he'll surely heed your every word if you ask him to make me his colleague. If I can get into his company, I will find a way to take over the company from him and make it ours; how about that?" Jason proposed.

Amber's eyes sparkled, “It was like killing two birds with one stone,” she muttered.