Jared stepped out of the car in an extremely formal outfit. He had been so busy working that he was late for his nephew's engagement ceremony. The thirty-seven-year-old man walked briskly, followed by two men serving as his aides.
In the Corner family, Jared held the highest position. No one could contradict him. Everyone was afraid of him. His power made everyone submit to him. Besides, his business was capable of supporting the national economy.
"This way, Mr. Madison." An attendant directed Jared. He pointed out the way to the engagement party being held at the hotel's swimming pool.
The man with the strong brow furrowed his forehead when he arrived and saw that the guests were more focused on something in the pool than on enjoying the event. He had heard rumors that Caroline was about to die.
Jared was startled when he heard Caroline's name being mentioned. He wondered what was going on, because he had known Caroline as Jake's girlfriend for the past few years.
Jared looked at his nephew, who appeared to be laughing with another woman in his arms. Jared understood what had happened. He wasn't surprised that everyone was simply laughing and watching while someone was about to die. He understood what the rich people around him were like. None of them had any heart.
Jared took off the black tuxedo wrapping his body. He rolled up his shirt sleeves and jumped into the middle of the pool. Everyone was shocked to see a man leap into the pool just to save Caroline, who was considered worthless trash.
"Isn't that Mr. Madison?" a woman asked incredulously.
Who would have thought Jared would jump into the swimming pool just to save a worthless life?
"There's no way Mr. Madison would jump into the pool just to save that woman!"
"Even if he cared, he could at least ask the lifeguard to do it. He wouldn't get involved himself."
"You're right. Maybe it's just some attention-seeker trying to show off."
The guests exchanged comments among themselves.
Jared carried Caroline, who had gone limp and was unconscious, to the pool deck. The man looked incredibly cool and alluring with his muscular body soaked, his muscles clearly visible.
"Oh my God, it really is Mr. Madison."
They all fell silent as Jared laid Caroline down on the tiled floor beside the pool. The previously noisy atmosphere suddenly became quiet because no one dared to make a sound.
"Uncle, when did you get back? Thalius said you were out of town." Jake asked in confusion as he stepped closer.
Of all of Jake's family members, only Jared had been able to attend the event. Everyone else was too busy with their own affairs.
Jared didn't answer. He pumped Caroline's chest forcefully, hoping her heartbeat would return. He even gave her artificial respiration, then pressed on Caroline's chest again. He repeated this over and over.
"You don't need to do that, Uncle. Just let her die." Jake said it casually.
Jared turned and fixed his nephew with a sharp stare. He had spoiled Jake too much, and as a result, Jake had grown into a man with no empathy who did whatever he pleased.
"What will you do if she dies? Pay off the police so you don't go to prison?" Jared asked sharply.
Jake fell silent, at a loss for words. Even if he had an answer, he didn't dare argue with his uncle.
"I don't want the hotel's name tarnished by a death here." Jared emphasized. He continued performing CPR.
After trying for a long time, Caroline finally coughed, a great deal of pool water spilling from her mouth. She was breathing again, although her body was still extremely weak.
"Thank God, she's finally awake." Jared murmured.
Caroline couldn't believe she had survived death. She had thought she would never make it. No one cared about her.
"Uncle, you saved me, but why?" Caroline asked weakly. She had no strength at all.
Jared didn't answer. He was about to stand when Caroline suddenly threw her arms tightly around him.
Everyone was stunned. Jake even chose to step back because he didn't want to take the risk. He knew how temperamental his uncle was. No woman had ever been able to touch Jared, let alone hug him like that.
"Thank you, Uncle. Thank you for giving me my life back. I can't believe you would save a worthless life. Jake dumped me like trash, and I felt that my life was no longer worth living. But you made me feel that my life had value. I'll do anything you want." Caroline spoke between sobs. She hugged Jared even tighter. She cried until she was shaking with sobs.
Jared was silent. He hadn't felt anything when he had given her artificial respiration by pressing his lips to Caroline's. But the embrace he received and Caroline's tears suddenly made his heart pound. He abruptly stiffened where he stood.
"Caroline, how dare you hug Uncle Jared? Let go of him, because you're trash. You'll only dirty Uncle's body!" Emily said sharply.
Jared's heart was touched. He didn't know what had happened before he arrived at the party, but he could guess after hearing Emily's words.
"Were you trying to kill yourself?" Jared asked seriously.
Caroline shook her head. "I fell into the pool when I was about to go home. I can't die. If I die, who will take care of my parents?" the woman said in a hoarse, trembling voice.
Jared nodded in understanding. "Tighten your arms around my neck." The man spoke gently, then stood up with Caroline in his arms.
"Uncle, what—" Jake's words were cut off before he could finish.
"Get the car ready. We're going to the hospital!" Jared ordered Thalius, the man serving as his aide.
"Yes, Mr. Madison." Thalius quickly ran off to do what Jared wanted.
Jake was speechless. He couldn't believe what had happened. How could Jared care more about someone else's affairs than his own nephew's?
"What's wrong with Uncle Jared, Jake?" Emily asked anxiously.
"I don't know either." Jake answered anxiously.
"What did that woman do to make Mr. Madison jump into the swimming pool just to save her? I wouldn't even dare dream that Mr. Madison would kiss my lips, even if it were only to give me artificial respiration."
"She's so lucky."
"She must have pulled some kind of trick."
The nasty comments continued to circulate after Jared and Caroline disappeared from sight.
Jake could only stand there in silence with a confused expression. He didn't know what had happened. How could Jared, who he knew disliked women, do something like that for Caroline? He wondered to himself.
"Uncle, I'm truly grateful for what you did for me tonight. I don't know how I can repay you. You even paid the hospital bill." Caroline spoke sincerely. She looked at Jared with her beautiful eyes. Her blue eyes looked stunning, perfectly complementing her long blond hair.
Jared remained silent for a while. Caroline would be staying at the hospital that night. The doctor said she could go home tomorrow if her physical condition allowed it.
"None of this is free." Jared finally spoke.
"I understand. I'll pay everything back once I've recovered and found a job." Caroline answered with a smile. She didn't know Jared very well, but she often heard Jake talk about him. She understood that Jared wasn't usually so kind.
"You said you would do anything I wanted, didn't you?" Jared asked to confirm.
Caroline nodded. Jared had saved her life, so she had to repay him.
"Work for me. You'll be my personal assistant and accompany me wherever I want to go. Tomorrow, come to my office wearing a black pencil skirt that reaches mid-thigh and a tight white shirt. Leave the top two buttons of the shirt undone." Jared spoke firmly.
"B-but—" Caroline hesitated. She became frightened because Jared was asking her to come dressed in sexy clothes. She wasn't used to wearing something so revealing.
"You have to repay me, don't you?" Jared asked, one eyebrow raised.
Caroline fell silent. She had already promised to do anything Jared wanted. She couldn't immediately refuse when Jared asked her to do something.
"I'll give you a starting salary of fifty thousand dollars."
"F-fifty thousand dollars?" Caroline repeated nervously. How was that possible? She knew an intern assistant's salary wasn't that high. It was many times more than the actual salary. If she worked for Jared, she would be able to help pay off her parents' debt.
"Give her my business card." Jared ordered Thalius.
Thalius promptly handed Caroline the business card. "Mr. Madison's office address is on it. I'll wait for you tomorrow morning at ten in front of the lobby doors."
Caroline accepted the card hesitantly. She was still torn about accepting Jared's offer.
"I want you to dress up beautifully." Jared instructed her, then left the room.
Caroline could only stare in confusion until Jared and Thalius disappeared behind the door.
Caroline arrived at ten the next morning as promised. However, she ignored Jared's request to come dressed sexily. She wore black slacks and a white shirt with black stripes. She tied up her slightly wavy blond hair so it would look neat.
Although her appearance was so casual, Caroline couldn't hide her beauty at all. She looked radiant that morning.
Thalius waved when he saw Caroline getting out of a taxi. The broad-shouldered man immediately showed her the way to the elevator that would take them to Jared's office on the fifth floor. Caroline couldn't believe Jared was the CEO of Awan Company. The headquarters Jared controlled was in a luxurious twenty-one-story building.
"Do you always welcome new employees like this?" Caroline asked Thalius, since the man was being very kind to her that morning. This was their second meeting, so they still didn't know each other well.
"I'm only carrying out the orders Mr. Madison gave me. If I'm told to be kind, I'll be kind. The same goes the other way." Thalius answered honestly.
The elevator stopped when they reached the fifth floor. Thalius led the way down the hall toward Jared's office. When they arrived, a female employee was seen leaving the room with a disheveled appearance. Her hair was messy, and several buttons of her shirt were undone. The lipstick on her lips was also badly smeared.
What made Caroline even more nervous was the expression on the woman's face. She looked furious and seemed to be suppressing her anger. Caroline began to speculate, thinking the female employee had been forced to serve Jared inside. The thought made Caroline even more frightened. She clenched both hands tightly to hide her nervousness.
"Mr. Madison, Caroline is here." Thalius spoke as he knocked on the door.
"Tell her to come in!"
Caroline took a deep breath, then slowly let it out. She stepped inside after Thalius entered first. She was amazed when she saw the man's office. It was incredibly spacious, grand, and filled with expensive furnishings.
"I want you to fire the woman who was just here!" Jared said immediately after Thalius stood in front of him.
"Yes, Mr. Madison." The man nodded, then left.
"Please sit down." Jared looked at Caroline very gently.
Realizing she would be left alone with Jared, Caroline became even more frightened. She was about to turn around and follow Thalius out of the room, but Jared's request that she sit down made her turn back and take the seat across from his desk. She sat facing Jared.
"These are the files you'll be working on today. Study the information in them, then arrange my meeting schedule with the clients." Jared handed Caroline several folders containing files.
Caroline accepted them. She remained seated, looking at Jared as she waited for her next instructions.
Jared furrowed his brow and looked at Caroline in confusion.
"All right, I'll go." Caroline stood up after realizing that she needed to start working immediately.
"There is an unwritten rule you must follow." Jared spoke as Caroline was about to touch the doorknob.
"What is it, Uncle? I mean, Mr. Madison." Caroline was confused about what she should call Jared.
"Never flirt with any man. You aren't allowed to speak with any male employee besides Thalius and Donny. Those two men are the people I trust. If you need anything, contact them directly whenever I'm unavailable to you."
"Yes, Mr. Madison." Caroline answered, even though she didn't understand what Jared meant. She quickly left and looked for her desk so she could immediately analyze the data Jared had given her.