Chapter Four

"Hello, miss," Wilson said as he walked up to the lady before him.

"How are you doing today?" The lady eyed him from head to toe and replied, "I'm fine." Wilson smiled upon hearing her response.

"That's good," he said. "I'm guessing you know me already."

The lady looked at him before saying, "no, I do not. What do you want?" Wilson was shocked at her response. There was no one who didn't know him. And why did she reply him so sarcastically? Who did she think she was?

Wilson tried staying calm so he would not react to the lady's attitude. He said, "I don't understand how you do not know me. Or aren't you from around here?"

"I actually am not from here," the lady replied. "And if you do not have anything important to say, I would love for you to excuse me cause I really am very busy," she said as she turned to face the worker she had been speaking with. Wilson's mouth hung in shock. Did she just do what he saw her do? How dare she? What rights did she think she had to reply him that way?

Out of anger, Wilson slapped the lady on her cheeks. He didn't know how it happened. It happened as a reflex action

Maybe it was because of the way he treated his servants back at home. They talk back at him and he slaps them. Maybe he was already used to it.

Lucia stared at the man that had just slapped her as tears began falling down her red eyes. She had only come here to ask for a job and not to get harassed by anyone.

"Did you just slap me?" she croaked as tears began falling down her cheeks.

"I'm sorry," the man apologized. "It was just a reflex action. I didn't mean it." Out of anger, Lucia slapped him and walked out of the supermarket.

Wilson held his face in shock. Did he just get slapped? He had never been slepped before and this one felt painful. He turned to Jim who was trying to stiffle a laugh that was already forming in his throat.

"Are you laughing, Jim?" he asked angrily. Jim quickly recollected himself and stood straight.

"No, I'm not sir," he denied. "I wasn't laughing. I just--" Jim could not complete his words as he received a hot slap from Wilson. He held his stinging face in pain.

"Sorry, Jim," Wilson apologized. "I just had to let it out on someone. You just happened to be close by," he said as he adjusted his suit. "Come on. Let's get what we came here for." Jim nodded, holding his face in pain as they both walked down the aisle, ignoring the people watching.

Lucia walked out of the supermarket, down the streets. She couldn't stop thinking of the man that slapped her. Who did he think he was? And why did he slap her? What had she done? She cleaned the tears that were dripping down her eyes as she kept on walking, ignoring the lookers. She stopped by a billboard and stared at the face on it. On the billboard, was the man who had slapped her.

"Wilson Palma," she read the wordings below. "Owner and CEO of Palma-Wilsons fabric Industry, biggest fabric making industry in the whole country." She looked at the picture angrily. "No wonder he's so proud and arrogant," she muttered as she kicked the billboards pole in anger. After kicking the pole to her fill, she turned and walked away.

Lucia kept on walking, searching for places where they were hiring. She found some but they all rejected her because of her backgrounds.

"Where do you come from?" a shop owner had asked.

"I stay at a little community down at the village," she replied and the shop owner scoffed.

"You mean the area booming with cases of stealing?" he asked. Before Lucia could reply, he continued, "I can't hire anyone from there. No, no, no. They will just steal all that I have." The shop owner looked at her disgustingly and said, "I'm sorry but you do not get the job."

Lucia had similar cases with every shop owner she met. Why did they hate her because of where she came from? Wasn't that pure discrimination? Where she came from, nobody discriminated anyone. Except few who were like the one who had harrassed her mother. Apart from them, everyone else lived in perfect unity and harmony. But here in the city, the case was totally different. You would get rejected just because of the area where you came from.

Lucia sighed as she walked past an antique shop. There was no need asking for a job there because she knew exactly what the shop owner would say. 'You're from where?' they would say. 'That home of thieves? I'm sorry but I can't hire you.'

Lucia stared at the shop for some second before sighing. As she turned to walk away, she heard someone call her.

"Hello, young girl," the person said. She turned and saw a short old man walk out of the antique store. "What can I help you with?" he asked.

"Um, nothing, sir," she replied. "I don't think you can help me with what I'm looking for."

"Try me," the man said as he smiled, showing his yellow stained crooked teeth.

Lucia sighed and said, "I'm actually looking for a job."

"Well, you're hired," the man said. Lucia looked at him with a shocked expression on her face. Did he just say what he heard her say?

"I'm sorry, sir, but could you repeat what you said?" she asked. "I really did not hear what you said."

"Well, I said that you're hired," the man repeated.

"Y-you're not going to ask about my background?" Lucia stuttered and the man laughed.

"Why should I?" he said. "It is you I'm employing and not your whole family."

"B-but I'm from the village area," Lucia said and the man laughed again.

"That's where my wife's from, dear," he said, smiling. "You coming from the village does not mean I can't hire you. Besides, I love the village. So peaceful and quiet," he said as he closed his eyes. Lucia wasn't sure he was talking about her village because where she came from was most definitely not peaceful nor was it quiet but she didn't say anything.

"Thank you, sir," she said, smiling. "I really appreciate." She suddenly paused and frowned and the old man quickly noticed the change in her emotions.

"What is it, dear?" he inquired.

"Well, I do not really have anywhere to stay," she explained and the man smiled.

"You can come stay with I and my wife," the man said as he chuckled.

"Thank you so much, sir," Lucia said as she smiled. "I will forever be grateful."

"Sir? You can call me Thomas."