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Chapter 4_ Daddy's Spoiled Boy

After an eventful night at the bar with Chloe, Arya awoke the following day feeling refreshed and well-rested. It was clear that she knew how to pace herself in a bar, as she arrived at the city Park in just under ten minutes to meet her important client from her secondary business.

With a professional smile on her face, Arya greeted Mr. Jackson, the client in question. "How are you, Mr. Jackson? What can I assist you with today?" she inquired.

The man, appearing to be in his late fourties, smiled in return. "I am well, thank you. I am here to express my gratitude. To be honest, when I first met you, I had little hope for my daughter, Selma - with her mood swings, sudden outbursts of anger, and lack of self-confidence. But you came along, and everything changed. I couldn't believe my eyes, and now, looking at her today, I can tell that your work is done. You have tamed the untameable. May I ask, what is your secret?"

Arya's smile remained as she replied, "All it takes is time and patience."

"Hmm... And perhaps more time than patience," Mr. Jackson remarked.

"It varies depending on the case, but overall, it's important to learn how to listen," Arya elaborated, and Mr. Jackson nodded in understanding.

"You have truly done a remarkable job. Selma wanted to come along and say goodbye to you. Now that your services are no longer needed, she would also like to thank you," Mr. Jackson continued. At that moment, a young teenage girl with short blonde hair emerged from the car to join them.

Despite the lingering feeling that her babysitting services were no longer required and the uncertainty of where she would find another client to earn extra money, Arya's smile returned upon seeing Selma. The teenager had been a challenging charge, but now it seemed that their time together had come to an end.

"She has learned how to overcome obstacles, maintain discipline, and..."

Selma interjected, cutting off Mr. Jackson before he could finish his sentence about her learning to overcome obstacles and stay disciplined. "And that losing is the only way to learn how to win," she chimed in, sporting a dazzling smile that highlighted her two dimples.

Arya smiled and opened her arms for a hug, proud of Selma's progress. Selma reciprocated the gesture and held on for a moment, whispering a heartfelt thank you. In that instant, Arya knew that Selma's success was worth more than any amount of money.

"Let's keep in touch, okay? I'll follow you on Instagram," Selma suggested as they parted ways.

Arya declined, explaining her lack of time for social media, but offered to exchange emails instead. Selma nodded, smiling, before joining hands with her father and walking away.

As Arya watched them leave, she couldn't help but think, ‘I'm glad Selma is doing better, but solving her problems means a whole new set of problems for me.’ With a sigh, she headed home, deciding to catch up on household chores and bills that she didn't have time for during the week. Exhausted, she collapsed into bed and was quickly consumed by sleep.

====

It was Monday morning, and Arya arrived at Franko's Enterprises. She was escorted to her new office by Maranello, who introduced her to her new co-worker.

The spacious office had two desks, one on the right and one on the left, leaving plenty of room in between. Arya followed Franko into the room and was surprised to see another person there.

"Arya, this is Kane. You two will be working together from now on," Maranello announced.

Arya's stomach tightened as she recognized Kane as the ‘binder's douche.’

"Kane, this is Arya. She exudes grace and charm, and she is a top-tier employee in this company. I am certain that the two of you will excel in working together." Frank commented, as he gestured towards Arya. Kane flashed a grin at her, holding out his hand in greeting.

"How delightful, Tigress. It appears I am now your partner for the time being!" Kane whispered, his captivating voice sending a thrill down her spine.

Arya struggled to swallow the lump in her throat before she replied, "The pleasure is truly mine, Kane."

Franko's narrowed gaze shifted between the two of them as he asked, "Do the two of you have a previous acquaintance?"

"No, sir." Arya was quick to respond, while Kane remained silent as he winked at her.

"Very well, I wish you both a productive day." With those words, Franko exited the office, leaving Kane and Arya alone.

‘So, the conceited individual's name is Kane... wait a minute! Could it be that he is Franko's son? Please, let that not be the case. I pray that he is simply someone with the same name,’ Arya thought to herself as she analyzed the way Kane walked to his desk, plopped onto his chair, and propped his feet on the table.

"So... I have heard that you are some sort of local celebrity around here?" Kane remarked casually as he picked up an apple from his desk and took a bite.

"Am I?" Arya retorted curtly, giving a disapproving look at his unprofessional attire and demeanor.

"Certainly. You are the only person in the world who would choose the subway over a free car," Kane said mockingly.

"And why should it matter to you how I get to work?" Arya snapped.

"Come on, working for a car company and yet using public transportation? Now that is truly amusing," Kane commented, causing Arya to roll her eyes in annoyance.

"Sure... and I suppose those who work for soda companies should only drink water? That must be equally amusing," Arya countered.

"It is not my fault if you cannot grasp the irony," Kane responded nonchalantly.

Arya scoffed, "We all understand your intentions. And by the way, you ought to dress appropriately for a professional setting. How can you arrive dressed like that?"

Kane was putting on a polo shirt, with a crisp white button-down that was unbuttoned and fluttering over his chiseled body. with sported ripped jeans and expensive, rugged sneakers.

"Just so you know, this outfit costs six months' worth of your salary." Kane boasted.

"What a waste of money. Burning it would have been more productive." Arya quipped.

"What?!" Kane exclaimed.

"You heard me. And since you seem to enjoy throwing away money, I assume you're not spending your own but your parents' instead. Daddy's spoiled boy." Arya continued, a smirk forming on her lips as she saw Kane's face twist in realization. She knew she had hit a nerve.

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