The Billionaire's Challenge

With her aching feet from hours of walking, Lillian Marlowe trudged down the ever-bustling road in Swanley. She had been to countless places for job interviews, but no one seemed to want to hire her. As she approached the next address on her list for the day, she felt worried but wished herself luck. "Please, just one yes, " she whispered to herself. She is now facing a big black gate and she knocked twice but no response. Not long after, a Kia model car came into view, approaching the gate. When the car got closer enough, Lillian rushed to it. "How can I help you?" A stern-looking woman asked, eyeing Lillian's worn clothes as she whined down from her car. "Good day, ma'am. I am Lillian, and I am here for the tutoring position," Lillian replied, trying her best to sound confident. The woman raised an eyebrow and then asked. "You are the one from the agency, right? I wasn't expecting….,” she paused for a second, and continued, " someone like you." Lillian could feel a sting from the woman's tone but she continued with her response. "I assure you, I am qualified to teach your child." The woman scrutinized Lillian for a moment and snorted. "I doubt that. Where is your car parked?" Lillian hesitated before saying. "I do not own a car ma'am. I…" Immediately, the woman cut her off. "You mean you do not have a car, and you came here to teach my child? I am not one to deal with a riff-raff at my gate!" Lillian tried to defend herself. "I can actually tutor your child the way you'd love, ma'am." But the woman would not listen. "Shut that dirty thing you call a mouth and get out of my sight! Nonsense! I don't deal with lowlife beings." Lillian felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes as she turned to leave. She heard the woman mutter under her breath, as she drove in. "And make sure you get a decent haircut, for goodness’ sake!" As Lillian walked away sorrowfully, she saw a man having a heated argument with his wife. Instantly, her mind flashed back to the day she met Thomas, her boyfriend. Thomas walked in, charming and confident, on some bad guys that wanted to rape her. He seemed to adore Lillian after he dealt with the guys. Weeks passed and they started dating, Lillian felt she had found her soulmate. But soon, Thomas's behavior changed. He became demanding, asking for money and always needing something from her. Lillian, blinded by love, gave in to his requests, thinking it was normal for lovers. She remembered the first time he asked for money; he said his phone was faulty, and he needed help with repairs. She lent him the little she had saved, thinking it was a one-time thing. Unfortunately, it became a regular request. "Baby, I need some cash for a business opportunity," or he would say, "I misplaced my wallet, can you cover me today?" She recalled the countless times she had handed over her hard-earned money to him. As Lillian drew nearer to the couple, Thomas' words of threat came to her mind before he stormed out of the house two days back. “Why are you just coming?" Thomas stood in her way as she tried to enter the small room they lived in. "I had to make sure everywhere was clean before I left the restaurant,” Lillian replied tiredly. Thomas paved the way for her to enter fully. He snatched her bag from her. “Baby! Baby! Please let me have my back." Lillian pleaded in a sorrowful tone. "Oops! Sorry love. Once I am done, you can have your bag.” He chuckled and began to inspect her bag. “What are you doing?" She asked out of little courage. “What does it look like I am doing?" He barked at her. “Please, I don't have much on me." She said with a shaky voice "This will do.” He said with a devilish smile as he pocketed the money he took and threw the bag at her. “At least let me have some money for my fare to work tomorrow.” Lillian pleaded tearfully. Thomas gave her a stern look before he took his seat beside her. “That is not why I am here. I came to ask for….” He paused to see her reaction. "Money again!" She shouted. Thomas moved closer and grabbed her neck tightly. “Will you shut up and listen to him? I need a sum of Four (4) million, and you are going to get it for me." Lillian's heart skipped a beat. “Four what? Oh my goodness! Where do I get such an amount of money from? And what do you need it for?" “Don't question me, and what I want with the money is my business, not yours." He stood up to take his leave. “But…." “No buts, in fact, I am going to break up with you if you can not get me the money by the time I come for it.” He responded with seriousness written all over his face. “Baby you can't be doing this to me. You know this is not even possible." Lillian tried to make him understand her. "Watch me do it,” he said and stormed out angrily. Since then, she has doubled her work and worked her ass off now and then, despite the kind of shame she receives. A sharp pain in her stomach brought her back from memories to reality. She knew it would come to this; she had not had a decent meal for two days now. Not because she did not have the money to feed herself, but because she was trying to save enough to give to Thomas. Suddenly, in a jiffy, Lillian heard the loud hoot of a Jeep behind her, but unfortunately, it was too late to avoid being struck away by an oncoming Jeep. Immediately, she fell to the ground helplessly. Lillian was rushed to the nearest hospital, groaning in pain as she was wheeled on a stretcher to an emergency room. And finally, her eyes were closed, and a part of her wished she had just died from the accident.