Chapter 51

Despite Julia and Grace's constant complaints, the work that needed to be done still had to be done. Layla's burden lightened as she focused on drawing.

No matter how talented a designer was, it was impossible for them to excel in every aspect. This required teamwork. What she needed to do was to create the best design within the remaining two days.

After finally finding five minutes in the afternoon, Layla entered Molly's office.

Molly was throwing files in frustration, and she became even angrier when she saw Layla. Her eyes glared at her harshly, filled with resentment.

"Molly, this is the application form for the employee dormitory. Could you please sign it?" Layla asked politely.

Now she needs something from her too? Molly, of course, wouldn't miss this opportunity for retaliation and coldly refused, "There are no vacancies."

"But I heard that there are." Layla tried to reason.

"Who did you hear it from? Alice? Tell her to give up her bed for you then!" Molly rolled her eyes.

"Even if there are vacancies, I wouldn't sign. When you were mocking me in front of so many people, did you ever think that I am your superior and that you'll have many things to ask for in the future?"

"I didn't intentionally mock you. I just hope that we can work together and improve ourselves."

Molly became even more furious upon hearing this, slamming the table and standing up, "You! Don't misunderstand! I am the team leader! Just because Mr. Marley assigned you a project doesn't mean you can replace me. You have no right!"

"Huh! Mr. Marley doesn't value you that much? Why don't you ask him for a single room, so you don't have to squeeze with other people. Or go find your backer, Mr. Brooks or whoever, let them solve it for you. No need to pretend and beg me."

There was no point in Layla trying to explain about the backer, about her relationship with Nathan.

That bastard was right; Molly believed she had a backer, so it didn't matter whether she actually had one or not.

"Well, I'm not going to sign it for you, so don't even think about it." Molly said, tearing the application to pieces.

"I'm going back to work." Layla didn't say much and walked out of the office, sighing silently.

With Emilia around, she didn't want to go back to the dormitory. Besides, the school was far from the company and it would take her over an hour to commute by bus. With her busy work schedule, it was a waste of time. She had to move closer to the company.

But after browsing through the rental websites, she couldn't find any shared apartments. Even the cheapest one-bedroom apartments were around 700 dollars, which was more than she could afford with her internship salary. It was really a big problem for her.

"Molly refused to sign it for you?" Alice rested her hand on the back of Layla's chair.

Layla nodded in frustration.

"I told you not to go to her. I was scolded for nothing. Actually, the company dormitory is not that great either. There's too much internal competition and office politics. How about this, hold on for one more month. After a month, I'll move out and we can share a place. That way, it'll be at most a thousand dollars each month. What do you think?"

"Of course, that sounds really good!" Layla nodded eagerly.

As long as she saved and lived frugally, she could just afford a thousand dollars for rent. When she had time, she could also take up a part-time job to save money for the 5500 dollars hospital fee.

"Well, that's settled then."

"Great."

Layla returned to the dormitory at almost 10 o'clock, have finished work at 8 o'clock.

The gap under the dormitory door was dark.

She breathed a sigh of relief. After a tiring day at work, she didn't have the energy to argue with Emilia anymore. She just wanted her to move out and live with Vincent as soon as possible.

Taking out her key, she couldn't insert it into the lock.

"What's going on? Did they change the lock?" Layla cursed inwardly. Emilia was being too selfish, treating the dormitory like her own home and not letting her in.

Layla had accidentally learned how to pick locks with a hairpin from Owen when she was younger, but as soon as she tried, the dormitory supervisor stopped her.

"Stop right there! You thief, how dare you try to pick the lock?"

"It's not like that, ma'am. I am a student here and I live in this dormitory. My roommate and I had some conflict, so she changed the lock. I want to open the door, that's why I..."

"A City University student? I haven't even seen you!"

"But I just saw you earlier..."

"Stop with your tricks, leave now, or I'll call security."

The dormitory supervisor was really intimidating. Layla realized that Emilia might have bribed her. It was pointless to continue arguing so late, so she decided to rather just leave.

Layla walked to the school gate but couldn't take another step. She didn't know where to go, so she sat down on the side of the road, hugging her knees.

Across the school was a residential area, lights shining from countless houses, but none were lit for her.

Her mother had abandoned her, her father had started a new family, her boyfriend and best friend had cheated on her... She was the only one she could count on, left all alone.

Vincent had once promised her a home. How ironic that seemed now.

She forced a bitter smile.

With empty eyes, she didn't know where to go.

She couldn't go back to the dormitory and couldn't afford a hotel. Was she supposed to sleep on the streets?

The more she thought about it, the sadder she became. She held her knees tightly, burying her head between her legs.

After who knows how long, her back became stiff.

She heard a car stop, so she looked up and saw a Maybach parked in front of her. The back door opened as if it had been waiting for her.

Layla felt a flicker of hope and looked gratefully at the man in the back seat, seeing a glimmer of light in him for the first time.

She got into the car, letting go of her previous sadness, and asked cheerfully, "Why is it you again?"

Samuel replied with just two words, "Fate, perhaps."

Though he had intentionally made Mr. Vandella drive past her school, he had happened to "find" her sitting there alone, which could also be considered fate.

Layla didn't push him on it and instead smiled wryly, "Well, it does seem like I have quite a connection with Mr. Vandella."

In the driver's seat, Mr. Vandella thought to himself, "Miss Adkins, please don't say things like this. I think being alive is pretty good."

"It seems like I'll be crashing at your mansion again tonight."

"Yes." Samuel replied in a deep voice.

The way she had sat on the roadside, hugging her knees, resembled an abandoned little animal without a home, pitiful. He didn't mind taking this cute little animal home and taking good care of her.

She had no one, but he wanted her!

No one cared for her, but he would be there for her!

He wouldn't let her sleep on the streets or be bullied again.

The air inside the car fell silent for a moment before Layla asked, "Did your work go well today?"

"The same as usual."

"Oh." How was it usually? She only knew he was a senior executive and knew nothing about his work, as he had never mentioned it. He never showed his emotions and kept his heart hidden deep inside.

"In my opinion, there's no such thing as going well or not. When problems arise, they are dealt with, that's all."

That made a lot of sense, and Layla nodded in agreement. The process of progressing is about continuously solving problems.

With a slight smile, she remarked, "I've noticed that you often come up with profound sayings, like a life mentor. After all, you're older and more experienced."

Layla had wanted to praise him for his wisdom in life, but Samuel's focus was solely on being called "older".

This made him slightly unhappy.

But he was only ten years older than her; was that really significant?

Samuel kept a stern face and glanced at her, "Well, age is just a number. Do you think I'm old?"