1 Chapter 1

Dim light at her table, soft music playing at her back, a cup of coffee beside her laptop... She felt nothing but a warm emotion flowing in her heart but her mind says otherwise. She's been thinking a lot. And she feels like she can't breathe anymore.

'What went wrong? '

Everything was normal days ago but now it seems like it is a blank page of a book... Dull, plain, sad...no it was lonely. Because it was deeper than sadness. And why does she feel lonely all of sudden? She's been living the life she wanted ever since childhood. So what might happen?

She exhales a lump of air, trying to make herself feel a little better... but that didn't happen as planned as well. She's so confused and she doesn't know what to do anymore.

And then suddenly, she saw a small piece of paper. Then a realization hit her mind. Maybe it was the reason why. Maybe HE is the reason why she's feeling confused and bothered. She then slowly bit her lower lip to stop herself from crying. She's just moved on from the dark past she's been living her whole life. And now she has to encounter a much darker situation. She's tired of this kind of life. When can she have her freedom? When can she find peace?

Then she felt something moist flow from her cheek. Tears....again. When will these tears stop coming out of her eyes? She's so sick of them. With a little courage she found within her, she grabbed the paper and went out immediately. Afraid of changing her mind. She grabs her favorite sweater with a stitch on it then her keys forgetting that she only wears indoor slippers.

On the way to the place she hates now, her heart is beating fast. She has never been this nervous before. And she is not sure what will happen next.

After a few, she arrived in front of the highest gate she's never seen. And she felt suffocated once again.

Why did she end up here?

(Two days earlier)

"Riiiiiiiing....Riiiiiiiing...Riiiiiing"

A loud sound of a ringing phone wakes her up. With a little frown on her face, she gets up slowly, confused about her surroundings. She noticed the clock that says it was 8:15 in the morning. Who will call her at this time?

And only one person has her telephone number, and that is her manager, and as far as she knows, she's out of the country at the moment. She didn't even have a cellphone only for the reason that no one will contact her except her manager and she barely goes out. With a lot of questions playing in her mind... another 'Riiiiiing' sound makes her out of bed instantly.

She inhales and answers the phone with a weak voice. "Hello?" she bet the person on the other line barely heard her.

"Hi! Good morning! Can I speak with Ms. Merry Jones?" with another frown she inhales once again feeling a little bit nervous.

"Speaking, who's on the line please?" she said a little louder than before.

"Oh, hello Ms. Merry! I'm sorry f I call you this early..."

'You bet, I was only asleep for 2 hours and that's thanks to you...' She hopes she can say this but the shy and polite girl within her didn't allow her to so instead she said

"No, it's okay.. How can I help you?" her soft voice makes the person on the other line feels empathy toward her.

"Thanks then Ms. Merry, well this is Jake Simpson from Freedom Bank, and I called to inform you that the Jones Residential House was auctioned last week and someone won the bid."

A deafening silence went on the line, basically because she didn't respond to what the other line just said to her.

"Hello? Are you still there Ms. Jones?" she didn't help but just nod her head not knowing that the person won't see her nodding.

"Why?" the only words left her mouth

"Ahm... what do you mean?" she heard him ask.

"Why was it auctioned? I was not informed about it, what happened." She starts to panic. She was feeling sleepy a while ago but now she was awakened by fear. Fear of losing the most precious thing she has.

"Well, because your guardian, Ms. Candid Smith, mortgaged the property 5 years ago and did not make any payment for the amortization for the past years. Last month the bank sent you a mail, informing you about the possible foreclosure. But we didn't receive any response from your side. So the bank decided to foreclose the house and put it on auction. It will be best for you if you find a time to visit the bank within this week so we can explain further the terms of your mortgage." she's mad, yes she is. But she doesn't want to be mad at this person mainly because he was just doing his job. With another nod, she said "I will come today Mr. ahmmm..." forgetting the name of the person she was talking to a couple of minutes already.

"Jake Ma'am, Jake Simpson, and please remember my name as it will also be the same name you will be looking for once you're here at Freedom Bank."

"Okay, thanks, Mr. Simpson. I'll see you later." with that she slowly put down the phone and bit her lower lip slowly.

She stares at the photo frame hanging on the wall.

'Why is it that even though you're not here anymore, you still try to ruin my life? Why?' she thought and she feels sad all of a sudden.

But not wanting to remember all her nasty memories of the woman everyone calls her guardian, she went back to her room and prepares to leave.

------------------------

"Good morning, I am looking for Mr. Jake Sison?" she asked the girl at the counter of the bank. She looks at her with confusion written all over her face.

"I'm sorry, but maybe it's Jake Simpson?" she bit her lip and nod her head feeling embarrassed but the girl at the counter smiled at her warmly.

"May I know your name Ms.-?"

"Yes, its Merry Jones." she softly say. The girl looks down and find her name on the scheduled list of clients.

"Oh alright, I think he's waiting for you. I will assist you to his office, come this way please." she nods and follows right away. Afraid of being misled.

They stopped in front of a closed door that has a sign "Bank Manager". She instantly felt nervous. It will be the first time for her talking with a person such authority.

"Mr. Simpson, Ms. Jones is here. Merry Jones." the girl announced and they both heard the man said "Thanks Ms. Mitch, please let her in." the girl then face her.

"As you heard Ms. Jones, you can come in." she again smiled at her and left. With her heart beating fast, she pushed the door and went in.

"Hi Ms. Merry, good morning!" a man, with his 50s maybe, stood up and stretch his arm for a hand shake, with hesitant look on her face she accepted his hand and felt a little bothered.

'Stay calm Merry... stay calm..' she reminded herself pulling her hand from the firm handshake.

"Please have a seat." the manager said.

When the manager's sure that the client is comfortable sitting in front of him, he started to pull out some files and put them on the table. Folder after folder, it was three folders now when he stopped and looks at her.

"These are the records of your mortgage Ms. Jones. Feel free to browse or take a look at It." she takes all the folders and put them on her lap.

The first folder was named 'Jones Residential House' she opens it and reads after. And then maybe after a couple of minutes, she gasps. The mortgage is not a joke. All necessary documents are there.

Her parents' death certificates, her birth certificates, the title of the house were all there. And the most shocking information she read was the amount her guardian took from the bank.

"$250,000?" she louder said to herself.

"Yes Ms. Jones, but that was the initial loan amount. If you had read the term number 4 it was payable for 5 years with 5% interest plus bank fees. So basically,.." he said while pointing the other folders so she puts the 2 folders on the table. Jake opens another folder and show her. "If we will compute that it would be $337,500 now. Since 5% for 5 years it will become 25% now plus $25,000 bank fees. That was lower compared to our bank fees now since this term was 5 years ago. "She looks at the man and then at the folders again.

"You mean to say I have $337,500 debt?" she almost whispers her words.

"Yes Ms. Merry, you're not informed by this?" the man asked her... and she immediately turned her head to him.

"Yes, I mean No. I wasn't informed about this." then the manager once again pulled out some paper from the folders...

"Then why was your signature was here?" she gasps again as she took the paper and confirmed that it was indeed her signature.

"You know Ms. Jones, this type of transaction is very sensitive. One missing requirement then you're not qualified anymore. As you can see, your guardian has provided everything, that it was really hard not to qualify her application. But I am feeling a little bothered now looking at your reaction. It looks like, you knew nothing about this. But the damage has been done. The foreclosure was processed last week and your property is now put on the market. No, actually it wasn't in the market anymore, since someone like to buy it now. The only remedy I can offer is that, you pay the amount written and we'll decline the buyer's offer." she looks at the man trying not to cry..

"But I don't have money Mr. Simpson," she barely said and she looks down trying to comprehend what's really happening. The manager felt empathy once again as he knows that the girl in front of her was deceived.

"Then... I don't think why we won't accept the offer Ms. Jones." she still is looking down at her lap.

"But that was my parents' house. They build it for our family. The only thing that keeps me living..." she didn't intend to voice out her thought but the man already heard her.

"I don't know how can I help you anymore Ms. Simpson, but at least hear out the buyer's offer then decide afterwards, deal?"

"I don't have a choice now, do I?" and the manager felt really bad now. As he can see how the girl keeps her best not to cry in front of him.

Merry stares at the folders once again 'How amazing Ms. Candid really is that she passed all the assessments in the biggest and wealthiest bank in the country.' she thought.

"Okay we'll just wait for the buyer's lawyer, he'll drop by to submit the contract..." she nods her head and remained silent as they are waiting. As if on cue a knock on the door startled the both of them.

"Mr. Simpson, Mr. Black is here to see you.." the manager stood up as fast as he heard the name and rushed to the door. He immediately open it and let the man in.

"Mr. Black, what a surprise, I thought Mr. Dale will come. Please have a seat,"

The man walks towards the table. But instead of sitting in clients chair he sat at the managers' swivel chair. She slowly looks up and when she turns her head to the newcomer she noticed that he is already staring at her. With a frown face she looks away. She's never comfortable at meeting strangers' eyes. Well, everyone's' eyes for that matter.

"Oh, Mr. Black, this is Ms. Merry Jones, the owner of the property you saw from the auction. Ms. Jones, he's the buyer." the manager introduced both of them to each other.

So she's required to meet the newcomer's eyes and greet him properly as a polite girl that she is. She turns her head again and she tried her best not to turn away. "Good morning Mr. Black." she said. She wanted to be more confident but it was louder than a whisper instead.

The man looks at her straight in her eyes. She's waiting for him to greet her back but he just stares at her. Feeling uncomfortable she turns away and looks down at her lap.

"Good morning, Ms. Jones." not feeling good about the man's gaze she remained looking down as she just nodded her head. "Well, what now Jake?" he casually said to the manager, who is obviously a much older than him. But he refer to like a younger man than him. She felt irritated. She hated disrespectful human being. Because honestly, respect is not expensive as it was free for everybody to have.

"Well, Mr. Black, Ms. Jones here is interested about your offer." she was just listening. She didn't want to say a word, because honestly she felt overwhelmed about everything that's happening to her. Then suddenly, she heard the man stood up and she immediately look at him and their eyes met. But this time she doesn't feel uncomfortable at all and she didn't look down as well. Her heart is beating fast as she stares at the man's blue eyes. 'What a marvelous color you have there.' she thought. But that was what she thought as she heard the man replied.

"Thank you." feeling embarrassed about her spoken thought she turns her head away from the man. Her face felt hot all of a sudden. And she remembers the color of tomato to compare to her face now.

The man clears his throat and said "Why don't we go at my office instead? I realized that I didn't bring the contract with Me." the sound of the man tells her that he won't take no for an answer.

'He may be liked my property that much.' she thought once again feeling happy that the thought remains in her head and not spoken.

"What do you think Ms. Jones? Would that works for you?" asked by the manager and she nods her head slowly.

"Please let me know the address so I can follow afterwards." she softly say.

"No, I'll take you with me, no need to give you the address." he said and started to walk out from the room. She immediately gets up from her seat and said much louder than her meek voice.

"I have my own car, just please let me know the address." she's not riding a car with a stranger on it, never. The man saw the determination in her eyes and he thought 'What's with this girl? Every girl would kill just to be with me.' but he shakes off that thought and looks at the manager and nod his head, telling him to tell her the address of his building.

The highest and most extravagant building in the country, but he guess the girl has no idea just like she doesn't have any idea who was she talking with. He smirks as he turn to open the door. 'What an interesting girl.'