Chapter 4. The Trap

"What should I do?" Gabriella sighed while teardrops ran down her cheeks. She's been around checking the debris, but not a single object could be saved.

Photos of her father and mother, the glasses she got for her 10th birthday, and even the polar bear that always accompanied her to sleep. Beautiful memories seemed to be destroyed with those items.

"What should I do?"

"Miss ...."

Gabriella turned to the side. A pair of shabby shoes entered the frame of view. With the remaining strength, she looked up at a man holding the project helmet with both hands.

"Sorry, Miss. It's almost dark. We have to go home. It's not good for a girl to be alone in a place like this."

Gabriella looked back. Tears slowly began to form once again. After swallowing hard, she sighed, "You still have a home to come to, but I ... I have nowhere else to stay."

The man standing next to the girl lowered his head. He had chosen a wrong word.

"Sorry, Miss. I didn't mean to offend. But, don't you have siblings? Or distant family? Stay in their house for a while."

Gabriella didn't reply. She was too sad to explain that she had no one to rely on.

“Or, what if you asked the chairman of the Quebracha company to take responsibility? I heard that he is a wise and friendly person. Maybe, you'll be able to receive appropriate compensation."

Gabriella's fists clenched tightly around her dress. An immense rage had just risen and was filling her self.

"It's useless to ask for accountability. My house will not be back."

"But, at least, you can get some money and maybe ... a place to make a living. That's much better than lamenting a fate like this."

Gabriella was stunned. The worker's advice had slapped her face. What the man said was true. Moving was much better than being still. The person who had destroyed her memories and hopes should not be allowed to win.

Slowly, the girl rose to her feet.

"Do you know the address of this heartless company leader?"

The worker nodded.

***

"What will that woman do?" Max thought in the middle of dinner. The rice on his plate was almost gone, but the debate in his mind was still not over.

"What kind of craziness is she going to do? Tsk, who is the person who paid for her for this play?"

"Sorry, Sir. There's a call from the guard,” a servant said while lowering her head and handing him a cell phone.

Max's eyebrows rose spontaneously. "The guard?"

His question was answered with a nod from the servant.

"Is it possible ... that crazy woman came here?"

Without wasting any time, the CEO answered the call. "What's the matter?"

"There is a girl insisting to meet you, Sir."

Max's expression suddenly turned stiff. "Who is she?"

"Her name is Gabriella."

A sigh escaped directly from the man's mouth.

“It's totally unexpected. Why does she choose to come here?"

"Is there any 'honesty potion' stored in the post?" Max asked using a code.

"Yes, Sir."

The corners of his lips were raised mysteriously.

"Give it to the girl. If she doesn't take two glasses, then don't let her come in."

"Two glasses, Sir?" the guard asked as if unexpected.

"Yes. What's wrong?"

“Isn't that too much? This girl looks very innocent. What if the dosage is too much?"

"Don't be easy to judge by appearance. Her face maybe innocent, but the true character … we don't know.”

"Okay, Sir."

Without stalling for time, Max got up from his chair.

"Your vitamins, Sir." The servant showed some pills in the small container.

"Ah, that's right. Thank you."

Without counting the number of pills provided, the CEO swallowed them all.

“A girl will come here. You don't need to welcome her. Just tell the girl to meet me in my room."

"Your room, Sir?"

"Protocol number one."

The waiter's eyes suddenly widened. “Protocol number one? Is that girl dangerous?"

Max arched a faint smile.

"I don't know yet. Now, hurry up and announce it. This house must be isolated by the time the girl arrives."

"Yes, Sir."

In haste, the servant approached her comrades. She whispered and in an instant, people left their jobs.

"Let's see! Can that girl lie after drinking the honesty potion?"

"What is this? I don't want to drink it!" Gabriella refused, taking a step back.

"Then, you must not come into this house, Miss."

"But, I have to talk to the CEO of Quebracha," the girl said pitifully.

"Then, you must be willing to drink this."

Gabriella grimaced. However, the guard seemed merciless. After sighing in resignation, she raised a glass and sniffed it.

"What is this?" the girl asked when her nose caught a strong scent.

"Just drink it!"

Closing her eyes, Gabriella took a sip of the yellowish potion.

"One more glass, Miss."

"One more?"

The girl frowned, but the guard pressed her hand to raise a new glass. Like it or not, she finished the drink.

As the gates opened, Gabriella coughed. With hands holding her throat, she walked towards the main building which stood majestically in the middle of the garden.

“This guy is so bad. He has such a large land. Why did he destroy my house?" Gabriella muttered before hastening the steps toward the large door.

"Good evening, Miss," a servant greeted with trembling hands. "Please go up the stairs then turn left. Enter the open door. Mister CEO is waiting for you there."

Before Gabriella could say hello, the servant had already walked out and closed the door tightly. Upon hearing the sound of the key turning, the girl's eyebrows lifted in surprise.

"Is this a trap? Why did she lock it?"

Gabriella walked over to the door and tried to open it. "Yes, this door is locked," she sighed anxiously.

After a blink of eyes, the girl's hands were tightly clenched.

“I have come this far. There's no way I'll give up."